What to plant this week in Santa Fe, NM
Santa Fe gardeners are in the thick of late summer heat as the first frost doesn't arrive until mid-October, giving you ample time to harvest your melons and squashes before winter sets in. With nighttime lows dipping toward single digits now, focus on protecting sensitive crops like basil while enjoying the long, dry growing season that defines our high-desert climate.
The next 7 days
Santa Fe, NMGrowing in Santa Fe right now
- Our dry desert soil drains quickly during summer storms; water deeply but infrequently to encourage deep root growth for your pumpkins and sweet potatoes.
- Santa Fe's intense afternoon sun can scorch young seedlings of cilantro or lettuce if not planted in partial shade by late August.
- Take advantage of our unique elevation by layering straw over winter squash now to prevent rot from the occasional heavy rain that breaks our dry streak.
- Monitor soil moisture closely; while we don't need to water daily, plants like okra and cucumbers still require consistent hydration during these hot weeks.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
45 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Celery
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Leek
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsnip
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Keep a close eye on pollinator-friendly flowers like Cosmos and Zinnia to ensure good seed set.
- Harvest bush beans and cucumbers frequently to encourage continued production throughout summer.
- Protect young transplants from late spring chill with row covers if an unexpected cold snap occurs.
- Plan succession sowing for cool-season crops now so they are ready as the weather cools in October.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for aphids clustering on the undersides of zinnia and cosmos leaves as temperatures stay warm into October.
- Check tomato vines and beans for spider mites, which thrive in our dry, dusty Santa Fe air this time of year.
- Keep an eye out for cutworms cutting at the base of young bean plants, especially after recent rains.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to reduce evaporation and prevent fungal issues on leafy greens.
Save seeds from your best-performing varieties like French Marigold and Zinnia to start your next season's garden early.
Santa Fe gardening questions
3Is it safe to harvest my basil and shiso now or should I wait?
Since your first frost isn't until October 24th, you can continue harvesting these herbs regularly without worrying about a freeze. However, keep them sheltered from the strong afternoon winds that can dry out their leaves.
How do I protect my winter squash and pumpkins before the ground freezes?
Mulch heavily around your squash plants with straw to retain moisture and prevent fruit rot as temperatures drop toward single digits at night. You should also begin pulling back the foliage if you plan to store the squash indoors, though they can stay in the garden until a hard freeze.
Can I still sow any seeds this week given our dry conditions?
With no specific sow dates listed for current conditions, it is best to wait on new sowing until after our next significant rainfall or when soil moisture improves. Focus your energy now on harvesting the produce that is ready like cantaloupe, honeydew, and yellow summer squash.
Other cities in zone 6b
12See the full zone 6b guide → · Plan your Santa Fe garden in SproutGuide →