What to plant this week in Palm Springs, CA
With last frost historically occurring mid-January and current lows hovering around 30°F, Palm Springs gardeners are in the thick of a long, hot growing season where winter crops like squash and beans are already ripening. While you have no immediate frost risks to worry about, the focus this week is on maximizing harvest before the summer heat intensifies and managing moisture efficiently.
The next 7 days
Palm Springs, CAGrowing in Palm Springs right now
- Plantings are now strictly warm-season; do not attempt to sow cool-weather crops as soil temperatures remain too high for germination.
- The region's unique alluvial soil retains water poorly, so apply mulch heavily around squash and melons to prevent rapid evaporation during the day.
- Since there is no transplant window currently, focus on direct sowing beans and corn into prepared beds rather than moving seedlings outdoors.
- Monitor irrigation closely; while rains are rare, the intense sun can dry out sandy-loam soils within hours of watering.
Sow this week
33 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
35 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- 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 pole beans every two weeks to ensure a steady harvest throughout the growing season.
- Pinch back the tips of basil and summer savory regularly to encourage bushier growth and prevent flowering.
- Apply a light layer of mulch around newly transplanted squash and pumpkins to retain moisture as soil warms up.
Pest & disease watch
- Aphid colonies often build up quickly on the tender new growth of watermelon and cucumber vines during these warm months.
- Spider mites become a serious threat to basil and shiso when humidity drops below 50% in the valley air.
- Cucurbit beetles frequently target young pumpkin and zucchini seedlings, requiring physical hand-picking or row covers.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants every 2-3 days during this hot season to keep roots cool and productive.
Harvest young zucchini fruits daily when they are small to signal the plant to continue producing more fruit.
Palm Springs gardening questions
3Can I start my summer squash seeds indoors this week?
No, you should always direct sow warm-season crops like yellow summer squash directly into the ground in Palm Springs. Indoor starting is unnecessary because soil temperatures are already consistently above 70°F, which triggers germination instantly once planted.
My basil plants are looking wilted and sticky; what's wrong?
This is likely an aphid infestation common to our dry climate when the temperature climbs high. Spray the undersides of leaves with a strong jet of water or apply insecticidal soap immediately to stop the colony from spreading.
How much water should I give my winter squash plants right now?
Provide about 1 to 2 inches of water per week, applied deeply and infrequently to encourage deep root growth. Avoid wetting the leaves directly in the afternoon sun to prevent fungal issues on the pumpkins.
Other cities in zone 10a
6See the full zone 10a guide → · Plan your Palm Springs garden in SproutGuide →