What to plant this week in Mesa, AZ
Mesa gardeners are deep in the heart of the long growing season, where last week's frost is a distant memory and the heat builds steadily toward its annual peak. This week marks the perfect window to start cool-season daikon radishes indoors or out before they get too tough, while your summer squash varieties like zucchini and butternut are ready for immediate harvest.
The next 7 days
Mesa, AZGrowing in Mesa right now
- Mesa's intense afternoon sun means shade cloth is essential for delicate seedlings like cosmos and fennel that can scorch quickly in direct heat. The city's alkaline desert soil drains fast and holds little moisture, so apply a thick layer of organic mulch to conserve water for your okra and cowpeas.
- With no frost risk until mid-December, you have plenty of time to plant hardy perennials like Vinca or annuals like Zinnia now; they will thrive in our typical 200+ days of frost-free weather. If your garden spots are compact due to Mesa's sprawling urban layout, use vertical trellises for pole beans and cucumbers to maximize limited ground space.
- Monitor soil moisture closely during this dry spell; while summer rains are rare, the occasional monsoon storm can turn heavy clay patches into mud that washes away fine-rooted plants like garlic or nasturtiums.
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 exploding in population on heat-stressed leaves of acorn squash and basil, causing stippling that looks like tiny yellow dots; a strong water spray to the leaf undersides helps knock them down before chemical intervention.
- Aphids often cluster on the tender new growth of Malabar spinach and shiso basil during these warm months, requiring regular inspection and perhaps an insecticidal soap application if colonies spread rapidly.
- Flea beetles are actively chewing circular holes in young transplants of French marigolds and garden verbena, so keeping plants slightly crowded or using row covers can deter them from damaging the foliage.
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.
Mesa gardening questions
3When is the best time to plant Daikon Radish seeds in Mesa?
This week is ideal for sowing Daikon radish directly into the ground or starting them indoors, as they prefer cooler soil that still warms up well enough for germination without risking a frost. Plant now while temperatures are moderate before the mid-June heat slows down root development significantly.
How do I manage watering for my Squash harvest in Mesa's dry climate?
Squash varieties like Acorn, Butternut, and Delicata need consistent moisture to prevent blossom-end rot, so water deeply at the base of the plant rather than wetting the leaves where fungal issues thrive. Apply a 3-to-4-inch layer of straw or wood chip mulch immediately around the crown to lock in moisture for your desert summer.
Are there any frost-sensitive flowers I can add right now for continuous color?
Absolutely; you can confidently plant Zinnias, Cosmos, and Sunflowers this week as they will bloom beautifully through the intense Mesa heat. These annuals are perfectly adapted to our zone 9b conditions and will thrive in the open, sunny spots where your vegetables grow.
Other cities in zone 9b
10See the full zone 9b guide → · Plan your Mesa garden in SproutGuide →