What to plant this week in Scottsdale, AZ
With last frost officially behind us on Jan 30, Scottsdale gardeners are fully in the thick of winter-to-summer transition week. The intense February heat means immediate attention to soil moisture retention and shade structures for your newly sown beans and squashes.
The next 7 days
Scottsdale, AZGrowing in Scottsdale right now
- The 'rock desert' clay soils here drain fast; water deeply early morning so roots establish before the midday sun scorches them.
- Use heavy mulch immediately around transplants like okra and sweet corn to keep root zones cool and reduce evaporation in our dry climate.
- Avoid planting tomatoes or peppers directly now as they struggle with late winter temperature swings common in the Valley; wait for soil to warm past 65°F.
- Monitor wind erosion on sandy patches near the East Valley floor, especially when heavy rains finally arrive.
Sow this week
26 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)
- 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
- Sow heat-loving seeds directly into warm soil after the last frost date passes.
- Thin out dense seedlings like beans and corn to ensure proper air circulation.
- Apply a light layer of mulch around established plants to retain moisture as temperatures rise.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites are waking up early due to dry conditions; inspect undersides of basil and marigolds daily before they explode in population.
- Watch for aphid swarms on young zinnia and cosmos seedlings that thrive in our warm microclimates even now.
- Ants may be tending honeydew-producing insects near squash vines, potentially weakening plants before the main growing season.
Watering this week
Provide deep, consistent watering at the soil line to encourage strong root development in these heat-loving annuals.
Succession sow bush beans every two weeks throughout this spring window to ensure a continuous harvest all summer long.
Scottsdale gardening questions
3Can I plant tomatoes outside this week or should I wait?
Do not plant tomatoes into the ground yet; Scottsdale soil is still too cool and temperatures can drop unexpectedly after Jan 30. Start them indoors in a sunny window for another two weeks before hardening off.
Which beans grow best in our hot dry climate right now?
Bush beans, pole beans, and scarlet runner beans are excellent choices to sow today since they tolerate the intense February sun well.
Is it safe to harvest garlic now or should I wait?
Garlic is in the active bulking phase and can be harvested soon, but check for dry papery skins before pulling.
Other cities in zone 9b
10See the full zone 9b guide → · Plan your Scottsdale garden in SproutGuide →