What to plant this week in Tucson, AZ
With the last frost officially behind us in Tucson, your garden is ready to push into full spring and early summer production this week. While the air still holds a dry chill near 25°F at night, focus on harvesting your warm-weather giants like watermelon and squash while sowing quick Daikon radishes for a winter crop.
The next 7 days
Tucson, AZGrowing in Tucson right now
- Soil here often bakes hard in the intense sun; incorporate organic matter or mulch heavily to retain moisture after this week's potential rain showers.
- The monsoon season is still months away, so rely on deep infrequent watering rather than daily sprinkling to avoid root rot in our sandy loam.
- Protect young transplants from late spring cold snaps that can dip near 25°F overnight, especially if a front moves through before the January 30th average passes.
- Take advantage of Tucson's mild winter warmth to sow Daikon radish now; they will mature by next fall when summer heat strikes again.
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
- Monitor squash vines for powdery mildew as humidity fluctuates, which can spread quickly in our still-dry air before the rains arrive.
- Watch for aphids clustering on new growth of Cosmos and Zinnias, especially if overhead watering wets the foliage.
- Check garlic plants for winter heaving or bulb rot if soil remains wet too long during this brief rainy window.
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.
Tucson gardening questions
3Can I still plant tomatoes outdoors in Tucson this week?
Not yet; while the frost date has passed, night temperatures can still dip near 25°F which will damage young tomato seedlings. Wait until consistent daytime highs stay above 70°F and nights stabilize above 40°F before transplanting sensitive crops.
What should I do with my maturing watermelons if they start to rot on the vine?
Harvest any fruit that is fully colored but not yet soft, then cut a small patch of skin underneath to prevent further decay. Remove heavily rotted vines immediately to stop fungal spores from spreading to your healthy Honeydew and Cantaloupe crops.
Is now the right time to sow Daikon radish in our sandy soil?
Yes, sowing Daikon radish now is ideal for Tucson because the cool nights slow their growth rate, resulting in larger roots by next winter. Keep seeds lightly covered and water gently, as our fast-draining sand can dry out a seed row quickly.
Other cities in zone 9b
10See the full zone 9b guide → · Plan your Tucson garden in SproutGuide →