There are two growing seasons in Phoenix: from mid February until the end of May, and from September to mid November. As a result, nation-wide calendars are ill adapted to our needs. This is the first version of our calendar. I am sure that there are still a lot of information that could be added, or even corrected. Please send us an email to give us your input.

  January
The only winter month in Phoenix. - Spray dormant shrubs.
- Last chance to plant bare roots trees and shrubs.
- Prune roses and deciduous fruit trees.
- Monitor freeze warnings
- Plant summer bulbs.

What to sow:
African Daisies, Ageratum, Alyssum, Bachelor Button, Calendula, California Poppy, Candytuft, Carnation, Clarkia, Delphinium, Everlastings, Gaillardia, Globe Amaranth, Godetia, Gypsophila, Helichrisum, Hollyhocks, Larkspur, Lupines, Nicotiana, Pansy, Petunia, Phlox, Pinks, Poppy, Salpiglossis, Scabiosa, Shasta Daisy, Snapdragon, Sweet Peas, Sweet Sultan, Sweet William, Verbena, Viola

In the vegetable garden
- Plant bare roots asparagus and strawberries.
- Plant cabbage, carrots, lettuce, potatoes, radishes.

Citrus
This month is the coldest of the year. Stay on the lookout, and pay attention to the freeze warnings. You can then decide if you want to protect your trees. Young trees, should be protected, particularly, sensitive species like limes. Citrus trees are mostly dormant, they still need some water. They are generally shedding some leaves. All the fruits are all ripe, enjoy!

  February
Possible frosts until mid February. The growing season starts then in Phoenix. Since the growing season is so short, don't lose time. We need to give as much time as possible to plants and trees to grow before the punishing summer heat.
- Weed prevention with pre-emergence herbicide.
- Complete rose and deciduous tree pruning.
- Start spring planting.
After the 15:
- Start fertilizing: use a calendar to keep track of your fertilization program.
- Start planting frost tender plants and shrub.

What to sow:
African Daisies, Ageratum, Alyssum, Bachelor Button, Basil, Carnation, Clarkia, Delphinium, Everlastings, Gaillardia, Globe Amaranth, Gloriosa Daisy, Godetia, Gypsophila, Helichrisum, Hollyhocks, Larkspur, Lupines, Nasturnium, Nicotiana, Pansy, Petunia, Phlox, Pinks, Poppy, Salpiglossis, Scabiosa, Shasta Daisy, Snapdragon, Sweet Peas, Sweet Sultan, Sweet William, Verbena, Viola.

In the vegetable garden
- Plant beets, bush beans, cantaloupe, carrots, corn, eggplant, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, radishes, summer squash, tomatoes, watermelon.

Citrus
This is the time to fertilize.  The trees are getting ready to start growing buds.  Depending on the species, they can be early or late in the month.  Most species start blooming late February or early March.  Water once or twice this month.

March
- Weed prevention: weeds are starting to grow fast, that's when they are easier to control.
- Keep on with spring planting.
- Start planting for summer.
- Check your watering system, everything needs more water.
- Fertilize

What to sow:
Ageratum, Alyssum, Balsam, Basil, Scarlet Runner Bean, Celosia Cockscomb, Cosmos, Dahlia, Delphinium, Four O'clock, Gaillardia, Gloriosa Daisy, Godetia, Gourds, Hollyhocks, Kochia, Lupins, Marigold, Nasturnium, Petunia, Pinks, Portulaca, Salpiglossis, Salvia, Shasta Daisy, Sunflower, Thunbergia, Verbena, Vinca, Viola, Zinnia

In the vegetable garden
- Plant beets, bush beans, cantaloupe, corn, eggplant, peppers, radishes, summer squash, tomatoes, watermelon, winter squash

Citrus
Damaging frosts are not expected anymore, it is a good time to remove any frost damaged or dead area.  The trees are showing up a lots of new buds and growth, start thinking about painting the exposed areas to prevent sunburn.  Now is also a good time to plant 5-gallon citrus. Water deeply once this month.

April
- Weeding: April and May are the worst months. If you have done your homework in winter, you should be all right, else do your best and plan for more prevention next year.
- Except for bedding plants, your summer planting should be finished now: summer really starts in May in Phoenix, so it is your very last chance. It is the best month for tropical plants like Bougainvillea, Lantana, Citrus, etc.
- Weed and feed your Bermuda grass lawn. It starts growing when the night temperature stays above sixty. Re-seed bare patches.
- Remove dead flowers and fertilize roses after each bloom period for a final crop before hot weather.  

What to sow:
Balsam, Basil, Scarlet Runner Bean, Celosia Cockscomb, Cosmos, Dahlia, Four O'clock, Gaillardia, Gloriosa Daisy, Gourds, Hollyhocks, Kochia, Marigold, Nasturnium, Portulaca, Salvia, Shasta Daisy, Sunflower, Thunbergia, Vinca, Zinnia

In the vegetable garden
- Plant cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, pumpkin, summer squash, watermelon, winter squash.

Citrus
Remove any citrus you did not eat, since they fall from the tree. It is still a good time to plant citrus. Check that all the trunk parts of citrus and young trees that are exposed to the sun are painted white. This keeps them cooler and protects them from sunburn. Use white latex paint diluted with water (1 volume white flat latex paint for 1 volume water).  The dry air and warmth mean that you need to increase watering to every two weeks.

  May
- Weeding: summer is coming, bermuda grass is actively invading flower beds.
- Stick to your fertilizing program. It is a good time to use acid fertilizer with plants needing it. Check plants for chlorosis (yellowing of the leaves).
- Thin fruits, to increase their quality and prevent them from dropping as the heat sets in.
- Mulch wherever the sun is shining directly on the dirt to keep the roots cool.
- Protect your Sago palms from direct sun to prevent them from yellowing.
- Check your potted plants, except for the toughest most resistant, they might need to be watered twice a day. Keep the pot out of direct sunlight to avoid cooking the roots.
- Check your drip watering system for the coming summer heat. Verify the ground humidity around all plants. Check your drippers every other day to see if any popped out now that heat is making the hoses softer.
- Replace bedding plants like petunias that won't take the heat.
- Finish the cleanup of last winter frost damage.
- Check that all the trunk parts of citrus and young trees that are exposed to the sun are painted white. This keeps them cooler and protects them from sunburn. Use white latex paint diluted with water (1 volume white flat latex paint for 1 volume water).

What to sow:
Garden Balsam, Celosia Cockscomb, Cosmos, Dahlia, Four O'clock, Gaillardia, Gloriosa Daisy, Gourds, Hollyhocks, Kochia, Marigold, Portulaca, Salvia, Shasta Daisy, Sunflower, Thunbergia, Vinca, Zinnia

In the vegetable garden
- Plant cantaloupe, pumpkin, winter squash.

Citrus
Keep on increasing watering, once a week is a good rhythm for established tree when the weather is hot.  The leaves curl up if the tree is stressed by the lack of water. After some of the newly set fruits drop, you can fertilize the tree.  If the tree is still small, consider removing more of the small fruit to avoid exhausting it. You might need to treat if caterpillars attack the leaves.

  June
A hard month for young plants, it is very hot and very dry. Concentrate on helping your plants survive.
- Stick to your fertilizing program.
- Check that all the trunk parts of citrus and young trees that are exposed to the sun are painted white. This keeps them cooler and protects them from sunburn. Use white latex paint diluted with water (1 volume white flat latex paint for 1 volume water).
- Cut your grass higher (2 to 3 inches) to decrease the water use.
- Check your drip watering system. Verify the ground humidity around all plants. Check your drippers every other day to see if any popped out now that heat is making the hoses softer.
- Plant pumpkin, winter squash.
- Start collecting spring bulbs after their leaves die naturally. The exceptions are daffodil bulbs that can stay there, flourish over summer. Daffodil bulbs are toxic, so they are generally safe in the ground.
- It is a good time to plant palm trees.

What to sow:
Garden Balsam, Celosia Cockscomb, Cosmos, Four O'clock, Gaillardia, Gloriosa Daisy, Gourds, Kochia, Marigold, Portulaca, Shasta Daisy, Sunflower, Thunbergia, Vinca, Zinnia

Citrus
Water deeply once a week or more. Some mulch will keep the roots cooler and conserve water.  Keep the mulch away from the trunk.

  July
Even hotter than June until the monsoon starts and humidity starts arriving from the gulf of California. Gardening is almost at a standstill.
- Stick to your fertilizing program
- Check all your plants on a regular basis to see if they get enough water. Deep water your trees (irrigation is great).
- Check your drip watering system. Verify the ground humidity around all plants. Check your drippers every other day to see if any popped out now that heat is making the hoses softer. It is good to check the drippers every 2 weeks to see if they are not clogged.

What to sow:
Celosia Cockscomb, Cosmos, Gaillardia, Marigold, Shasta Daisy, Sunflower, Vinca, Zinnia

In the vegetable garden
- Plant bush beans, cantaloupe, eggplant, pumpkin, summer squash, watermelon, winter squash. They will produce in the fall. Shade your young plants.
How to say when melons are ripe.

Citrus
Water deeply once a week or more. Some mulch will keep the roots cooler and conserve water.  Keep the mulch away from the trunk.  Keep on the lookout for signs of sunburn, and paint any part of the trunk that is exposed to direct sun.

  August
The monsoon is bringing little relief, so the air is not as dry. This is the beginning of the summer growing season in the desert.
- Hold on trimming plants for another month to prevent sunburn.

What to sow:
Gaillardia, Marigold, Nasturnium, Shasta Daisy, Zinnia

In the vegetable garden
- Plant bush beans, corn, eggplant, peas, summer squash, tomatoes.

Citrus
Time to fertilize again.  This will help to have bigger fruit for many of the trees, and might help new growth that should come when the weather gets cooler.  Water deeply once a week or more. Too much water can result in chlorosis.

  September
The weather is cooling down, but the monsoon is finished, water needs are still high. Planting is not as hard on the plants if you wait until the night temperature falls in the 70's to do your plantings.

Annuals and perennials to sow:
African Daisies, Alyssum, Aster, Bachelor Button, Bells of Ireland, Calendula, California Poppy, Candytuft, Carnation, Clarkia, Columbine, Delphinium, Forget-Me-Not, Gaillardia, Godetia, Gypsophila, Hollyhocks, Larkspur, Lupines, Nasturnium, Nicotiana, Pansy, Petunia, Phlox, Pinks, Poppy, Salpiglossis, Scabiosa, Shasta Daisy, Snapdragon, Stocks, Sweet Peas, Sweet Sultan, Sweet William, Verbena, Viola

In the vegetable garden
- Plant beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, eggplant, garlic, lettuce, peas, radishes.

Your lawn:
It is time to decide if you are going to overseed your lawn with winter grass.  If you are not, high nitrogen fertilizer will keep it green longer.

Citrus
You can now start decreasing the watering frequency.

  October
The weather is cooling down, that's now that you want to plant citrus, but also your winter bloom and vegetable.
- A great month to do your planting, the nurseries are loaded with container grown plants.
- It is also the right time to divide perennials
- Time to sow wild flowers.
- Plant impatiens in shady, frost protected area of the garden

What to sow:
African Daisies, Alyssum, Aster, Bachelor Button, Bells of Ireland, Calendula, California Poppy, Candytuft, Carnation, Clarkia, Delphinium, Forget-Me-Not, Gaillardia, Godetia, Gypsophila, Hollyhocks, Larkspur, Lupines, Nasturnium, Nicotiana, Pansy, Petunia, Phlox, Pinks, Poppy, Salpiglossis, Scabiosa, Shasta Daisy, Snapdragon, Sweet Peas, Sweet Sultan, Sweet William, Verbena, Viola

Bulbs:
You can plant bulbs that have low chilling requirements (they don't need a cold period before starting to grow):
Amaryllis, Anemone, Calla, Daffodil, Iris, Muscari, Oxalis, Ranunculus, Sparaxis (harlequin flower), Watsonia
Put bulbs that need chilling in your fridge for 6 to 8 weeks:
Crocus, Hyacinth, Tulip

In the vegetable garden
- Plant artichokes, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, garlic, lettuce, peas, radishes.

Your lawn:
The nights are getting cool enough, it is time to sow winter grass.  If you don't do it, fertilize again your bermuda, to keep it green as long as possible.

Citrus
Water less often.  The fruits start showing some color as they are exposed to cooler night temperatures.  If the fruit has been damaged by heat or lack of water, it might split.

  November
- Get ready for freeze warnings that can happen any time from the very end of November until late February
- Citrus start being ready to pick.
- When the nights start cooling down, sow winter grass (annual rye grass) if you want your lawn to stay green.
- Plant spring bulbs tulip, daffodils, hyacinths, muscaris.

What to sow:
African Daisies, Alyssum, Bachelor Button, Bells of Ireland, Calendula, California Poppy, Candytuft, Carnation, Clarkia, Delphinium, Forget-Me-Not, Gaillardia, Godetia, Gypsophila, Hollyhocks, Larkspur, Lupines, Nicotiana, Pansy, Petunia, Phlox, Pinks, Poppy, Salpiglossis, Scabiosa, Snapdragon, Sweet Peas, Sweet Sultan, Sweet William, Verbena, Viola

In the vegetable garden
- Plant artichokes, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, peas, radishes.

Citrus
Slow down the watering to once every 3 weeks, or once a month. Start getting ready to protect the young trees on frosty nights. You might want to consider wrapping protection around the trunk of your young trees. Early-ripening fruit might be ready to pick.

  December
- Plant artichokes
- Plant bare root trees and shrubs when they become available at the end of the month.
- Rake the leaves fallen from the trees, most deciduous trees like ashes, elms, apricot trees, peach trees start losing them after the first frosts. They keep losing them until the end of December. Beware that any frost sensitive plants growing in their shade will be losing their protection.

What to sow:
African Daisies, Alyssum, Bachelor Button, Bells of Ireland, Calendula, California Poppy, Candytuft, Carnation, Clarkia, Delphinium, Everlastings, Forget-Me-Not, Gaillardia, Globe Amaranth, Godetia, Gypsophila, Helichrysum, Hollyhocks, Larkspur, Lupines, Nicotiana, Pansy, Petunia, Phlox, Pinks, Poppy, Salpiglossis, Scabiosa, Snapdragon, Sweet Peas, Sweet Sultan, Sweet William, Verbena, Viola

In the vegetable garden
- Plant artichokes, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, peas, radishes.

Citrus
Continue picking fruit. Watch for freezing nights. Fruit on the ouside of the tree is more exposed to frost and should be picked first.

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