March is a race towards the warmth within the low desert backyard. With heat temperatures forward, understanding what to plant in March in Arizona is vital to getting warm-season crops established earlier than summer time arrives. When you plant too late, many crops will battle as soon as the warmth units in—so don’t wait!
This month, you possibly can plant fast-growing greens like squash and cucumbers, heat-loving crops like okra and peppers, and staple herbs like basil and oregano. When you’re rising in containers, now can be a good time to arrange oyas or irrigation to maintain your crops evenly watered as temperatures rise.
Whether or not you’re direct seeding, transplanting, or refreshing your backyard beds, March is among the busiest planting months of the 12 months. Maintain studying for a full record of what to plant in March in Arizona, together with suggestions to assist your backyard thrive.
For an in depth planting calendar and month-by-month steering, take a look at my Arizona Planting Calendars and Guides.
I’ve a weblog publish like this for every month of the 12 months. You are able to do this, I’ll assist! For these within the low desert areas (under 3,500 ft), similar to Phoenix or Tucson, this information will allow you to confidently backyard throughout the cooler months.
Tip: When you’re in search of backyard duties to do that month, see the Arizona Backyard in March weblog publish and printable guidelines.
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March YouTube Movies
Backyard Harvests in March


When you prep for spring in your low desert Arizona backyard, get pleasure from this month’s harvests of cool-season greens, herbs, fruit, and flowers.
Asparagus harvests start in late February and proceed all through March. Harvest stalks which can be at the least ¼ inch in diameter. Let smaller stalks develop by way of the summer time to offer vitality to the roots.
When you aren’t rising asparagus, think about dedicating a 4 foot by 4 foot raised mattress for rising it. Plant asparagus November by way of February within the low desert of Arizona.
What to do earlier than you plant this March in Arizona
To arrange your backyard for brand new crops, add about 4 cups of worm castings to every 4×8 mattress, then high off the beds with compost or raised mattress combine to exchange the natural matter used final season. Maintain feeding worms in any in-bed vermicomposting bins to maximise casting manufacturing and microbial life in your beds.


After that, examine your watering system. Repair leaks or clogged emitters and guarantee each space of the mattress is getting water. Time how lengthy it takes to achieve 12 inches deep—this can information you on how lengthy to water every session. I exploit the backyard grids from Backyard in Minutes in my raised beds. (Use code Angela10 to save lots of $10 off $100 or GITG5 to save lots of 5 % on any dimension order.)


Monitor Your Soil Temperature
Use a thermometer (that is the one I exploit) to verify a number of spots on the depth the place seeds or roots can be planted, leaving it in place for a couple of minutes every time. Do that within the mornings for a couple of week to see if temperatures are constantly inside the splendid ranges to your chosen crops:
55°F (13°C) – Corn, Tomatoes
65°F (18°C) – Cucumbers, Peppers
70°F (21°C) – Beans, Melons, Squash
75°F (24°C) – Pumpkin, Okra, Eggplant
Get extra particulars about the best way to verify your soil temperature on this information.
Need extra details about gardening in Arizona? This weblog publish shares seven suggestions for the best way to develop a vegetable backyard in Arizona.
Greens, Herbs & Fruit to plant within the low desert in March




After March fifteenth
Bean (Lima) (S)
Bean (Bush & Pole) (S)
Bean (Yardlong) (S)
Edamame (S)
(Click on the hyperlinks to learn “Easy methods to Develop” articles on my web site.)
SEED, TRANSPLANT, OR BOTH? S = Seed T= Transplant
Vegetable, Herb, and Fruit Planting Information for the Low Desert of Arizona


The last word useful resource for gardeners in arid areas with scorching summers and delicate winters—designed particularly for the low desert of Arizona.It options info on how and when to begin seeds indoors and when to transplant them outdoors for practically 100 completely different fruits, greens, and herbs.
Vegetable, herb, and fruit seeds to begin indoors throughout March
If you need an early leap on summer time favorites, beginning seeds indoors may give them a head begin earlier than the soil outdoors is heat sufficient. For extra particulars, take a look at my information on the best way to begin seeds indoors. When you favor direct sowing, many crops can go straight into the bottom as soon as out of doors temperatures and soil situations are proper.


(Click on the hyperlink for seed sources.)


Perpetual Vegetable, Fruit & Herb Calendar reveals you when to plant greens within the low desert of Arizona and whether or not to plant seeds or transplants. See it in my store.
Flowers to plant within the low desert in March


Don’t neglect the flowers (even should you consider your self as only a vegetable gardener). Choose a pair from these lists. You’ll love the sweetness and pollinators they add to your backyard.
(Click on the hyperlink to learn “Easy methods to Develop” articles on my web site.)
Alyssum (ST)
Amaryllis (bulb)
Angelonia (T)
Bee Balm (ST)
Canna (rhizome)
Chamomile (T)
Coleus (T)
Coreopsis (ST)
Cosmos (S)
Creeping Zinnia (ST)
Dahlia (tuber)
Desert Milkweed (T)
Dusty Miller (T)
English Daisy (T)
Feverfew (T)
4 O’Clock (S)
Gaillardia (ST)
Gazania (T)
Geranium (T)
Gomphrena (T)
SEED, TRANSPLANT, OR BOTH? S = Seed T= Transplant
Plant New Roses


Plant roses in March to offer them time to determine sturdy roots earlier than the summer time warmth arrives. I get mine from Heirloom Roses—check out my favorites and use this low cost code GARDENAZ20 by way of 2025 for a 20% low cost.
Flower seeds to begin indoors within the low desert in March


Need to get a leap begin on summer time flowers? Begin a few of these flowers indoors now.
(Click on the hyperlink for seed sources.)


The Perpetual Annual Flower Planting Calendar, out there in my store, helps you study when to plant flowers within the low desert of Arizona and whether or not to plant seeds or transplants.
Easy methods to Maximize Your Harvest
To profit from our brief spring season, give warm-season crops the sunniest spots in your backyard. When planting in March, correct spacing is vital—crowded crops compete for vitamins and water, so skinny seedlings early and sometimes. Water constantly at first to assist seeds and transplants set up, then step by step transition to deeper, much less frequent watering to encourage sturdy roots. Add mulch to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. These easy steps will assist your crops thrive and maximize your harvest earlier than the warmth arrives.


What About Overwintered Peppers, Eggplants, and Tomatoes?
When you’ve efficiently overwintered these crops, they’re already forward of the sport. After your final frost date, verify their well being. If they’ve sturdy stems and new development, prune again any broken areas to only above the place new development is seen—this indicators the plant to begin rising. Fertilize to offer them the vitamins they should recuperate and thrive.
Learn the whole information to pruning peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants after winter right here.














