What to plant this week in Palm Springs, CA
With temperatures hovering just above the 30°F floormark and frost dates firmly in the past, Palm Springs gardeners are deep into the long growing season. This week is all about sowing heat-lovers like watermelon and okra while your early basil and beans begin their first harvests.
The next 7 days
Palm Springs, CAGrowing in Palm Springs right now
- Protect cool-season crops from occasional late-night temperature dips near 30°F with row covers if a cold front moves in from the north.
- The region's dry, sandy soil drains quickly; ensure you water newly sown seeds like bush beans deeply to encourage root establishment before relying on infrequent rains.
- Alkaline local soils often lock up nutrients for tomatoes and squash; test your pH this week or amend with compost to prevent tip burn on young plants.
- Take advantage of the intense summer sun by providing afternoon shade cloth for delicate seedlings like shiso and nasturtium to prevent scorching.
Sow this week
27 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- 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 fast-growing bush beans every two weeks to ensure a steady harvest through the heat.
- Pinch back the tops of basil plants regularly to encourage bushier growth before they flower.
- Apply a light layer of compost around established squash and melons to conserve moisture in the dry air.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites can thrive in the dry, hot conditions; inspect the undersides of zinnia and cosmos leaves weekly for webbing.
- Aphids often gather on new growth of pole beans and sweet corn in this microclimate; encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs by planting French marigolds nearby.
- Snails may seek out soft lettuce alternatives or young nasturtium shoots during rare cooler, humid nights from coastal intrusions.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the early morning to reduce evaporation and keep foliage dry throughout the day.
If your sweet corn is tasseling now, plant another row immediately for a second harvest later this summer.
Palm Springs gardening questions
3Can I still transplant seedlings into the hot Palm Springs soil right now?
Since there are no frost risks and temperatures remain mild enough for sensitive starts, you can gently acclimate transplants to the sun over a week before planting them out. However, keep in mind that many of your listed crops like basil and beans grow faster from direct sow this time of year.
My watermelon seeds aren't sprouting even after watering; is it too hot?
Palm Springs soil can dry out instantly under the sun, so ensure you are soaking the planting hole or using a mulch ring to retain moisture for those cantaloupe and watermelon seeds. If they still fail to emerge within 7 days, re-sow deeper as the heat might push the seed down before it cracks.
Which of my current crops should I be harvesting immediately versus waiting?
Focus on picking basil, bush beans, and cucumber daily while they are young for peak flavor, but let your zucchini and summer squash grow larger before cutting. Your okra and scarlet runner beans can wait a few more days as they develop their signature pods.
Other cities in zone 10a
6See the full zone 10a guide → · Plan your Palm Springs garden in SproutGuide →