Growing vegetables can be one of the greatest joys in gardening. Success in growing vegetables in the Gila River Valley rests on planting at the correct time of year. For most vegetables that is late summer or early fall, however you can plant for spring vegetables if you start very early.
Soil Preparation
Soil preparation is one of the most important steps in producing healthy plants. It is vital that your garden receive an annual application of manure or other organic material. Commercial fertilizers alone will not get the job done. For the best soil preparation, apply manure at least 2” deep, spade or till it in, and water well two to three times before planting.
Planting Dates
Asparagus: January or February.
Beans, Green Bush: August thru mid-September or late January thru early February for a spring crop. Spring crops will not produce as heavily as fall crops. Easily damaged or killed by frost.
Beans, Pole: Mid-July thru mid-August. This is not viable as a spring crop because the blooms do not set well when hot weather arrives.
Beets: September is the best time to plant beets. They may be planted thru all the fall and winter months but should not be planted after the end of January. Hot weather causes beets to become tough. Frost does not damage them.
Broccoli: September thru November. Broccoli is easily started from seed.
Brussels Sprouts: September thru November.
Cabbage: Mid-August thru November. This is not viable as a spring crop because it does not do well once hot weather arrives.
Cantaloupes: March thru April. Plant for a fall crop in mid-July.
Cucumber: March or August. Cucumbers benefit from a large shovel full of manure several inches below the surface. Water regularly when cucumbers are setting to avoid bitterness.
Carrots: January thru February or August thru December. Carrots grow best as a fall crop. Carrots will keep in the ground thru winter.
Chard: September thru January. Chard is best as a fall crop.
Eggplant: Mid-February thru mid-March.
Lettuce, Head: August thru November. Lettuce planted in January or February will not do well once hot weather hits.
Lettuce, Leaf: Mid-September thru October. Lettuce can be planted January thru March but the harvest season will not be as long as if planted in fall.
Okra: April thru May. Okra is a hot season plant and it is not suggested to attempt an earlier planting.
Onions, Green: September thru January.
Onions, Dry: Mid-October thru mid-December.
Peas, Green: Plant first crop mid-August. Successive planting may continue until mid-September. For a spring crop plant November thru December. Do not plant after January 1st. Peas do not like hot weather and will not produce a good crop if planted to mature in April or May. Plant peas heavily in double rows because peas like a lot of company. Frost will damage blossoms, but not the plants. If peas start blooming during freezing weather just ignore them. You will have a lot of peas by the end of January.
Peanuts: Mid-March thru April. Peanuts love hot weather and need loose soil.
Potatoes: January thru February. Plant 4″ to 5″ deep. When they come up begin mounding soil up around the plant but do not completely cover. Continue this as the plant grows until a wide high mound is built. Potatoes will not set nor grow properly unless they have a deep bed to grow freely. Plant early red and white varieties. Baking potatoes do not grow well here.
Pumpkins: Mid-July for a Halloween harvest.
Radishes: September. Successive planting may continue thru February. Radishes become woody after hot weather arrives.
Rhubarb: September thru December. Rhubarb is not very successful here.
Spinach: September thru December.
Squash, Summer: Mid-February thru April. Zucchini, Scallop, Crookneck, Cocozelle, etc.
Squash, Winter: Mid-July. Butternut, Acorn, Turban, Hubbard, etc.
Sweet Corn: February thru mid-March. For fall crops plant in August.
Sweet Potatoes: Mid-March thru mid-May.
Tomatoes: Mid-February thru mid-March. When planting from seed start in flats inside your house anytime during the winter so they will be at least 2” high at time of planting. It is best to let them grow 8” to 12” before transplanting. Protect from frost.
Turnips: September thru December. Turnips planted in September will stay in the ground all winter, becoming sweeter after the frost. Turnips planted in December will mature as the weather begins to get hot and will quickly become woody and strong tasting.
Watermelons: Mid-February thru March.
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