September in Arizona’s low desert alerts the shift from summer season’s intense warmth to barely milder days, making it a perfect time to refresh your backyard. The solar’s angle is altering and decreasing. Whereas the temperatures are nonetheless heat, the cooler mornings and evenings present an ideal window for starting the transition into fall and winter planting. This text will discover what to plant in September.
The low desert consists of elevations beneath 3500 ft within the Southwest, such because the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas.
What to Do Earlier than You Plant Throughout September in Arizona
As you resolve what to plant in September (and upcoming months) in your low desert backyard, take into consideration what you get pleasure from rising probably the most. Which cool-season crops do you most sit up for within the backyard? Which meals style finest from the backyard? What do you’re keen on having quick access to? Mid-September and October are prime cool-season planting months.


Put together beds for planting (this submit tells you ways). Add compost, worm castings, and different natural matter to the soil.
If you happen to’re not going to plant for at the very least a month, then plant a final spherical of canopy crops–black-eyed peas early within the month or buckwheat later within the month. The vegetation don’t need to get very giant earlier than they’re chopped and used as natural matter to profit your soil.
In case your backyard hasn’t been rising properly, take into account having your soil examined. I exploit this take a look at package from Amazon. Primarily based on the soil take a look at, add a balanced fertilizer if wanted.
Take time to harden off your seedlings appropriately to allow them to alter to the warmth. Study extra on this article.
Present additional shade and water for brand spanking new plantings.
Need extra details about gardening in Arizona? This weblog submit shares seven ideas for learn how to develop a vegetable backyard in Arizona.
What to Plant Outdoors in September within the Low Desert: Greens, Herbs & Fruit


When planting, take care with transplant stems. Deal with by roots or leaves; they will develop extra of each. Harm to the stem could be deadly to the plant.
(Click on the hyperlink to learn “How one can Develop” articles on my web site.)
All month lengthy:
*After September 15 (or when nighttime temps start to drop)
SEED, TRANSPLANT, OR BOTH? S = Seed / T= Transplant
Pay shut consideration to the climate this month. If temperatures are nonetheless within the 100s and the nights are nonetheless sizzling, wait to plant cool-season crops. A soil thermometer is useful. If the soil temperatures are at or above 85°F, the soil continues to be very heat–wait to plant. Seeds like lettuce and cilantro want cooler soil. Discover ways to verify the soil temperature on this weblog submit.


Arizona Vegetable Planting Information helps you be taught when to plant greens within the low desert of Arizona and whether or not to plant seeds or transplants. When you plant, use the What to Harvest in September in Arizona information to know when every crop is prepared.


Which Seeds to Begin Indoors in September: Greens, Herbs & Fruit
(Click on the hyperlink for seed sources)
Need seeds you possibly can rely on? Check out my go-to varieties and the seed-starting provides I depend on.


Flowers to Plant Outdoors in September in The Low Desert
(Click on the hyperlink to learn “How one can Develop” articles on my web site.)
All month lengthy:
Child’s Breath (ST)
Begonia (T)
Bells of Eire (S)
Dianthus (T)
After September 15 (or when nighttime temps start to drop):
SEED, TRANSPLANT, OR BOTH? S = Seed / T= Transplant


Flower Seeds to Begin Indoors in September
(Click on the hyperlink for seed sources)


Arizona Annual Flowers Planting Calendar helps you be taught when to plant flowers in Arizona and whether or not to plant seeds or transplants.


Make plans for planting roses subsequent month. Choosing the proper varieties helps guarantee your roses survive the summer season warmth. Roses resembling Memorial Day, Iceberg, Mom of Pearl, and Julia Baby are glorious selections as they’re recognized for his or her resilience and talent to resist excessive temperatures.
I get all of my roses from Heirloom Roses. I like that they’re own-root roses (no grafts!) and have the very best requirements for illnesses. You recognize you’re getting sturdy, disease-free roses with robust roots whenever you get them from Heirloom Roses. Use Code GARDENAZ20 for 20% off any rose order by means of December 31, 2025. Order now and have them shipped if you end up able to plant (as much as 8 months later).
For a deeper dive into gardening subjects like those lined on this submit, take a look at my on-line and in-person gardening lessons.
Learn “Arizona Backyard in September ” for a printable guidelines and details about September gardening duties for the low desert.
Incessantly Requested Questions: What to Plant in September in Arizona’s Low Desert
Elevations beneath 3,500 ft within the Southwest, together with the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas. Many gardeners are in zones 9a–10a.
Sure. Days are nonetheless heat, however cooler mornings and evenings assist new plantings set up. Mid-September and October are prime cool-season planting months.
Beans, cucumbers, summer season squash, tomatoes, and peppers as transplants, eggplant transplants, edamame, floor cherry, tomatillo, cucamelon transplants, I’itoi onion bulbs, seed potatoes, and shallots.
Carrots, beets, radishes, turnips, peas, lettuce and endive, arugula, spinach, Swiss chard, kale, collards, inexperienced onions, parsnips, rutabaga, bok choy, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, kohlrabi, mustard, and strawberry transplants.
If soil is 85°F or hotter, wait. Lettuce and cilantro want cooler soil to germinate properly. Examine with a soil thermometer and plant as soon as nights and soil temperatures start to drop
S = sow from seed. T = plant a transplant. Use seeds for fast crops like radishes and arugula. Use transplants for longer crops like tomatoes, peppers, and plenty of brassicas.
Sure. Give gentle afternoon shade and hold seedbeds evenly moist. Plant within the morning to cut back stress.
Sure. Step by step improve solar and out of doors time over 5–7 days. Begin with morning solar, shield in the course of the hottest hours, and hold soil constantly moist.
As temperatures ease, water deeply however much less typically. Hold the highest inch of soil moist for brand spanking new seeds and transplants till roots set up.
Sow a fast cowl crop. Use black-eyed peas early within the month or buckwheat later. Chop and incorporate whereas nonetheless tender to feed the soil.
Sure. Add compost and worm castings to refresh natural matter. If progress has been poor, use a soil take a look at and add a balanced natural fertilizer if wanted.
Plant transplants after September 15 when nights start to chill. Hold crowns at soil stage, mulch properly, and water constantly.
Begin broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, collards, parsley, lettuce, onions from seed, celery, and Swiss chard for October transplanting.
All month: marigold, dianthus transplants, geranium transplants, child’s breath.After Sept 15: calendula, alyssum, nasturtium, snapdragon, inventory, cornflower, larkspur, delphinium, petunia transplants, decorative cabbage and kale.
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