Join the PositiveBloom Arizona Garden Club

In Arizona, the garden runs on its own calendar. In the low desert, summer is the season to protect and maintain, while fall through spring is prime growing time — so the goal each week is simple: shield what's growing now and get ready for the biggest planting season of the year.

Give your survivors every advantage — shade cloth over sensitive plants, and trust the true desert performers like okra, Armenian cucumbers, tepary beans, and sweet potatoes to power through the heat. When monsoon moisture arrives, your garden will breathe easier. Meanwhile, start planning the fall garden now: once temperatures break, the desert's best season begins.

Watering is where many desert gardeners run into trouble. Deep, early-morning watering that soaks well below the surface beats a light daily sprinkle every time — shallow watering in our alkaline soils leads to shallow, heat-stressed roots. Basins around plants and a thick layer of mulch make every gallon count.