Growing veggies in Arizona summers is totally doable—but it’s all about choosing the right crops, using smart watering, and protecting plants from the brutal sun. Here’s how to rock a summer veggie garden in the desert heat 🌞🌿:
🥕 Vegetables You Can Grow in Arizona Summers
✅ Heat-Loving Champs
These thrive in full sun and high temps:
| Veggie | Tips |
|---|---|
| Okra | Loves heat; super low-maintenance. |
| Sweet Potatoes | Plant slips, give lots of room to spread. |
| Armenian Cucumbers | Actually a melon—thrives in full sun, very productive. |
| Black-eyed Peas | Drought-tolerant and good nitrogen fixers. |
| Eggplant | Needs consistent water and mulch, but grows great in heat. |
| Peppers (esp. hot varieties) | Shade cloth helps prevent blossom drop. |
| Melons (Cantaloupe, Watermelon) | Need lots of space, full sun, and regular deep watering. |
| Tomatillos | More heat-tolerant than tomatoes, and super productive! |
☀️ Summer Gardening Tips for Success
💧 1. Water Deep and Infrequent
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Water early AM or after sunset to reduce loss.
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Focus on deep root watering rather than frequent shallow watering.
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Use drip systems or olla pots if you can.
🛡️ 2. Use Shade Cloth (30–50%)
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Afternoon shade = happier plants.
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Easy DIY: stake some PVC pipe + cloth = instant veggie cabana.
🍂 3. Mulch Everything
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Add 2–3 inches of organic mulch (straw, shredded leaves, wood chips).
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Keeps roots cool and holds moisture.
✂️ 4. Prune Strategically
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For bushy plants like peppers or eggplant, light pruning increases airflow and reduces sunburn on fruits.
🌿 5. Fertilize Lightly
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Heat stresses plants; avoid heavy feeding. Use mild organic fertilizers (like fish emulsion or compost tea) every few weeks.
🐜 6. Monitor Pests
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Spider mites, aphids, and squash bugs are common. Hit them early with insecticidal soap or neem oil in the cool parts of the day.
📆 Timing Tip
In Arizona, you can grow two big veggie seasons:
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Spring (Feb–April) and
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Fall (Sept–Nov)
Summer is great for the heat-tough group, but tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, and broccoli will bolt or fry—save those for cooler months.
A&P Nursery For All Your Gardening Needs
With 4 east valley locations our team can help you find the perfect trees and plants to take your landscape from ordinary to extraordinary. In addition to selling trees and plants we partner with companies that will plant your trees or plants and care for them as long as you wish. That means all you need to do to get your landscape looking it’s best is stop by and browse our trees, choose your favorite, and leave the rest of the work to the pros.
Call or stop by one of our 4 locations today!
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