What to plant this week in Tucson, AZ
With Tucson temperatures still hovering well above the 25°F minimum, your garden is in full summer stride right now. This week marks a critical harvest window for heat-loving crops like bush beans, cucumbers, and okra that have been thriving under our intense sun since the last frost of mid-December.
The next 7 days
Tucson, AZGrowing in Tucson right now
- Our seasonally dry soils require consistent moisture retention; water deeply at dawn to reduce evaporation from our hardpan clay layers.
- With no transplants needed this week, focus entirely on direct sowing heat-tolerant varieties like Malabar spinach and Thai basil into prepared beds.
- Monitor soil moisture closely after monsoon rains or sprinkler cycles, as rapid drainage in our canyons means plants dry out faster than they get watered.
- Take advantage of the current harvest surge to clear space for quick succession crops like French marigolds and nasturtiums.
Sow this week
34 crops- Basil
- Black-Eyed Susan
- 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
36 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- 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
- Start succession planting for bush beans and summer squash now to ensure a continuous harvest through the heat of August.
- Pinch back the tops of Basil, Shiso, and Thai Basil regularly today to encourage bushier growth and prevent flowering.
- Divide overcrowded Sunflowers or Zinnias if they are becoming leggy, replanting them for a fresh round of blooms.
Pest & disease watch
- Aphid populations on newly emerged sunflowers and zinnias need immediate treatment before the heat spikes further this week.
- Watch for spider mites clustering on the undersides of yellow summer squash leaves, which thrive in our low humidity.
- Inspect cutting edges of harvested watermelons and cantaloupes for cutworms, as they become more active during warm evenings.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of vegetable plants during the hottest part of the day to keep roots cool and soil moisture consistent.
Interplant fast-maturing Bush Beans with slower-growing Pumpkins or Winter Squash to maximize space in your garden bed.
Tucson gardening questions
3When is the best time to harvest my okra this week?
Pick your okra pods early in the morning when they are still tender and no longer than 2 inches long. Leaving them on the plant too long makes them tough and fibrous, ruining the texture.
My sunflowers look healthy but have small white bugs; what should I do?
These are likely aphids, which can transmit viruses in our dense urban gardens. Spray the undersides of leaves with a strong jet of water or apply an insecticidal soap immediately to prevent colony growth.
Can I sow bush beans directly now or should I wait for cooler weather?
Bush beans love Tucson's current heat and can be sown directly right now. They mature quickly in our long growing season, so plant them 2 inches deep about every week for a continuous harvest through the summer.
Other cities in zone 9b
10See the full zone 9b guide → · Plan your Tucson garden in SproutGuide →