What to plant this week in Las Vegas, NV
With average lows hovering near 25°F and the last frost date firmly in late January, Las Vegas gardeners are deep into full-season production this week. While transplanting isn't currently necessary due to our hot start, focus your energy on sowing Daikon radishes now and harvesting the massive crop of squashes and melons ready for the table.
The next 7 days
Las Vegas, NVGrowing in Las Vegas right now
- The intense desert afternoon heat can scorch young foliage; provide afternoon shade cloth for any new sowings like Daikon radish to prevent bolting. Our alkaline, clay-heavy soil often causes iron chlorosis in leafy greens; amend beds with compost or use chelated iron if leaves turn yellow.
- Watering efficiency is critical during this dry spell; apply mulch heavily around squash and melons to retain moisture and suppress weeds that thrive after rare rain events. Avoid overhead watering on hot days to prevent rapid evaporation and fungal issues in crops like basil and borage.
- Plan your winter crop rotation now; since garlic is listed for harvest soon, clear those beds immediately to prepare soil amendments before planting next year's cool-season varieties.
Sow this week
1 crops- Daikon Radish
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
44 crops- Acorn Squash
- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Butternut Squash
- Cantaloupe
- Celosia (Cockscomb)
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Delicata Squash
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Morning Glory
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Purslane
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Spaghetti Squash
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Start succession planting cool-season greens now that the ground has warmed up slightly after the last frost date.
- Apply a light layer of mulch around established squash and melons to retain moisture as summer heat approaches.
- Divide and transplant perennials like borage and verbena while they are still dormant or just starting to grow.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites are aggressively attacking succulents and leafy greens due to the dry heat and lack of rainfall; mist plants early in the morning or use insecticidal soap. The Colorado potato beetle and squash bugs are voracious this week on all cucurbits like zucchini, butternut, and acorn squash.
- Caterpillars including loopers and hornworms are feasting on tomatoes and peppers alongside our summer corn; inspect the undersides of leaves daily for egg clusters or damage.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the early morning to conserve heat and reduce evaporation during these mild days.
Harvest your acorn and butternut squash soon while the skin is still hardening to ensure long-term storage success.
Las Vegas gardening questions
3Can I still plant flowers in this scorching heat?
Yes, but timing is key; sow annuals like Zinnias, Cosmos, and Celosia now so they can establish roots before the peak summer burn. Avoid planting delicate perennials or frost-tender bulbs that cannot tolerate our rapid temperature swings.
My Daikon radishes look slow to germinate this week—what should I do?
Soil temperatures in Las Vegas can sometimes stall germination; ensure your seedbed is consistently moist and consider covering the area with a light row cover to retain heat. Keep the soil damp but not waterlogged, as dry pockets will prevent these roots from breaking through quickly.
I'm harvesting Zucchini and Butternut Squash today; how do I know they are fully mature?
Look for heavy weight on the vine and a dull sound when tapped; zucchini should be plump while butternuts need firm skin that resists fingernail punctures. Cut stems with several inches of vine attached to prevent rotting at the harvest point.
Other cities in zone 9b
10See the full zone 9b guide → · Plan your Las Vegas garden in SproutGuide →