What & When to Plant in Your Fall Garden in Tucson

Fall is a wonderful time for planting in the Tucson area. But what should you plant this fall? And when, exactly, is the best time for fall planting?

As usual, the answer is “it depends”! Some plants grow better from seed while others are best started from transplants. Some can withstand more heat, others prefer cooler temperatures.

To help you get your flowers, vegetables, and herbs off to the best possible start, we’ve listed them below by optimal planting date and whether they should be started from seed or transplant.

September 1-October 15 – Seeds

September 1-October 15 – Transplants

October 15-November 1 – Seeds

October 15-November 1 – Transplants

September 1-October 15 – Sow From Seed

TYGR seeds

Vegetables

  • Arugula
  • Beet
  • Bok Choy
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • TYGR-carrot

    We have successfully grown carrots in an elevated planter in our Tucson garden

  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Celery
  • Chia
  • Chicory
  • Chinese Cabbage
  • Cilantro
  • Collards
  • Escarole
  • Fava
  • Garbanzo
  • Greens
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Leek
  • Lentils
  • Lettuce
  • Mache
  • Mustard
  • Onion (green bunching/scallion)
  • Parsnip
  • Pea
  • Radish
  • Rape
  • Rutabaga
  • Turnip
  • Spinach
  • Swiss Chard
TYGR coriander

Coriander, also known as cilantro, should grow well in your fall garden

Herbs

  • Anise
  • Borage
  • Caraway
  • Chives
  • Cilantro
  • Dill
  • Fennel
  • Garlic
  • Lavender
  • Lemon Balm
  • Marjoram
  • Mint
  • Oregano
  • Parsley
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Thyme

Flowers

  • African Daisy
  • TYGR forget me not

    Don’t forget about forget-me-not!

  • Aster
  • Begonia
  • Calendula
  • Coreopsis
  • Delphinium
  • Dianthus
  • Foxglove
  • Flax
  • Forget me Nots
  • Gaillardia
  • Geranium
  • Gazania
  • Hollyhock
  • Nasturtiums
  • Penstemon
  • Sweet pea
  • Alyssum
  • Petunia
  • Phlox
  • Poppy
  • Coneflower
  • Ratibida
  • Rudebeckia
  • Ranunculus
  • Verbena
  • Violet
  • Salvia
  • Statice
  • Snapdragon
  • Larkspur
  • Lobella
  • Lupine

September 1 – October 15 – Plant as Transplants

TYGR lettuce seedling

If you enjoy salads, be sure to add plenty of lettuce to your fall garden

  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Chinese Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Celery
  • Cilantro
  • Dill
  • Fennel
  • Kale
  • Lettuce
  • Mustard
  • Parsley
  • Spinach
  • Swiss Chard

October 15 – November 15 – Sow From Seed

TYGR strawberry plant

Along with all of the vegetables mentioned, now is the time to plant strawberries

Vegetables (and one fruit)

  • Beets
  • Carrots
  • Garlic
  • Greens
  • Lettuce
  • Mustard
  • Pea
  • Radish
  • Turnip
  • Strawberries

Flowers

  • African Daisy
  • Ageratum
  • TYGR nasturtium

    Nasturtiums should grow well in our cool fall temperatures

  • Alyssum
  • Aster
  • Baby’s Breath
  • Begonia
  • Bells of Ireland
  • Bishop’s Weed
  • Butterfly weed
  • Clendula
  • Candy Tut
  • Carnation
  • Clarkia
  • Coral Bells
  • Coreopsis
  • Cornflower
  • Delphinium
  • Desert Marigold
  • Desert Milkweed
  • Desert Zinnia
  • Dianthus
  • English Daisy
  • Evening Primrose
  • Echinacea
  • Flax
  • Forget-me-not
  • Gaillardia
  • Gazania
  • Geranium
  • Globe mallow
  • Gloriosa Daisy
  • Hollyhock
  • Larkspur
  • Lobelia
  • Lupine
  • Mexican Hat
  • Nasturtiums
  • Nemesia
  • Ornamental Cabbage
  • Painted Daisy
  • Penstemon
  • Petunia
  • Phlox
  • Pincushion Flower
  • Poppy
  • Primrose
  • Ranunculus
  • Rudbeckia
  • Shasta Daisy
  • Snapdragon
  • Statice
  • Stock
  • Strawflower
  • Sweet Pea
  • Verbena
  • Viola
  • Violet
  • Yarrow

Herbs

TYGR garlic chive

Garlic chives are different from garlic or chives.

  • Anise
  • Borage
  • Caraway
  • Catnip
  • Chervil
  • Chives
  • Cilantro
  • Dill
  • Fennel
  • Garlic Chives
  • Lavender
  • Lemon Balm
  • Marjoram
  • Mint
  • Oregano
  • Parsley
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Winter Savory
  • Thyme
  • Yarrow

October 15 – November 15 – Plant as Transplants

TYGR cabbage seedlings

Cabbage seedlings can be planted during most of the fall in Tucson

  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Chinese Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Celery
  • Cilantro
  • Collards
  • Dill
  • Fennel
  • Kale
  • Lettuce
  • Mustard Parsley
  • Spinach
  • Swiss Chard
TYGR

You’ll have plenty of cabbage to harvest before you know it

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