What to plant this week in Palm Springs, CA
In Palm Springs, the heat is already turning up with no frost worries since your last one was back in mid-January. This week marks peak harvest season for a massive list of summer staples like acorn squash, cucumbers, and melons while you sow cool-season radishes to break up the soil.
The next 7 days
Palm Springs, CAGrowing in Palm Springs right now
- Plant directly into hot, rocky desert soil rather than trying to transplant delicate seedlings that will wilt instantly in our intense sun.
- Mulch heavily around water-intensive crops like okra and pumpkins to retain moisture during dry spells common across the Coachella Valley.
- Take advantage of the mild nights to sow Daikon Radish and Lisianthus now, as they thrive in temperatures well above freezing.
- Monitor your water usage carefully; many listed vegetables like squash and beans are thirsty and will struggle without consistent irrigation.
Sow this week
2 crops- Daikon Radish
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
43 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
- 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
- Succession sow bush beans and cucumbers every two weeks to extend your summer harvest window.
- Mulch around newly planted okra and summer savory to retain moisture as temperatures climb.
- Deadhead zinnias and cosmos frequently to encourage continuous blooming through the heat.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for aphids clustering on the undersides of new Zinnia and Cosmos blooms where humidity gets trapped at night.
- Check Corn, Edamame, and Sunflowers frequently for corn earworms which become active as temperatures climb past 90°F.
- Inspect squash vines and beans for squash vine borers that can quickly girdle stems in our sandy soil.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to reduce evaporation and keep soil consistently moist but not soggy during this warm season.
Harvest zucchini and yellow summer squash daily when they are young to prevent them from becoming tough and seedy.
Palm Springs gardening questions
3Can I still sow vegetables now or is it too late?
It is not too late; you should plant Daikon Radish and Lisianthus immediately as the only cool-season options available for sowing this week. All other listed crops like beans, corn, and melons are heat-loving plants that thrive in our current climate.
Which of my summer harvests will be ready to pick soon?
Look closely at developing fruits for color changes and firm rinds; overripe melons will drop from the vine before you notice.
Do I need to worry about frost damage this week?
You can safely work outdoors without covering tender plants like Basil or Shiso, allowing them to grow vigorously under the full sun.
Other cities in zone 10a
6See the full zone 10a guide → · Plan your Palm Springs garden in SproutGuide →