Low Desert Planting & Harvest Calendar = Main harvest

Brought to you by the Urban Farm, Matt Suhr and Greg Peterson K E Y = Potential extended harvest season
For information on classes and events offered on gardening and sustainability visit XX = Ideal planting time
our website at www.urbanfarm.org and add yourself to our email newsletter X = Good planting time
or email [email protected] or to contact Matt Suhr - [email protected] * = Can be planted (with protective measures)
t = Set out transplants

Hardiness Temp J F M A M J J A S O N
(unprotected) J A F E M A A P M A J U J U A U S E O C N O D D
A N E B A R P R A Y U N U L U G E P C T O V E E
N B R R Y N L G P T V C C
Crop 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Comments
1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 15
Artichoke-- Globe 20 *t *t t t X X XX X X * t * t * t Light frost helps first year harvest.
-- Jerusalem <0 X X X X X X X Can be invasive.
Arugula 15 XX XX X * * X XX XX XX XX XX XX May be planted thickly.
Asparagus <0 * X XX XX X X * t t t t Don't harvest until 3rd year.
Basil 32 XX XX XX XX X t X t X t X t X X X X X X X X X X Start indoors in winter.
Bean--Blackeye 32 X X XX XX XX XX XX XX X X X * Performs well in full summer heat.
--Fava 20 * XX XX XX X Dislikes heat.
--Garbanzo 25 * X X * * XX XX X X * * Stays low to ground.
--Green snap 32 * XX XX * X XX * Seed will rot if planted in cold soil.
--Lentil 25 * X X * * XX XX X X * * Harvest entire plant and thresh when dry.
--Lima 32 * X XX X * * X X X Does best with trellis.
--Pinto 32 * XX XX * * X X * Harvest entire plant and thresh when dry.
--Soy 32 * XX XX * * X X * Use special varieties for edamame.
--Yardlong 32 X X XX XX XX XX XX XX X X X * Black-seeded types do best.
Beet 25 X XX XX X * * X XX XX XX X * * * Be sure to thin if you want big beets.
Bok Choy 22 *t *t * X XX XX XX X t X t X t X t Bolts quickly in Spring.
Broccoli--head 25 X XX XX X t X t * t * t t Light frost improves flavor.
--Raab 25 X XX X * X XX XX XX X X X X Pick frequently to maintain production.
--Romanesco 27 * XX XX X t X t * t * t Allow 15" spacing between plants.
Brussels Sprout 22 * XX XX X * t t t Only early hybrids do well."Oliver" is best.
Cabbage--Chinese 24 * X XX XX XX X t X t * t Heads form quickly. Be sure to thin.
--standard 26 t * XX XX XX XX X t X t * t t Red varieties take a little longer to head.
Carrot 23 X XX XX X * X XX XX X X X X X Slow to sprout--mix in a few radish seeds.
Cauliflower 27 * XX XX X t X t * t * t Fold leaves over exposed heads.
Celery 28 * X X X *t t t Often stringy and bitter in desert conditions.
Cilantro 28 X XX X * * X XX XX X X X X Flowers attract beneficial insects.
Collards 25 X X * * X XX XX X X X X X Light frost improves flavor.
Corn--flour 32 * XX XX X * * X X XX X Allow to totally dry on stalk.
--ornamental 32 * XX XX X * * X X XX X Plant in blocks for good pollination.
--popcorn 32 * XX XX X * * X X XX X Harder kernals than flour corn.
--sweet 32 * XX XX X * * X XX XX * Supersweet var. need very warm soil to sprout.
Cucumber--Armenian 32 * XX XX X X X X X X X X X * Withstands heat better than standard types.
--standard 32 * * XX X X * * XX X Harvest frequently for best quality.
Dill 27 X X X * * X XX X X X X Very easy from seed. Does not transplant well.
Eggplant 32 XX XX XX X X tX t X t X X X X X X * * X Best production in Fall.
© 2006 by Matt Suhr and The Urban Farm Page 1
Low Desert Planting & Harvest Calendar = Main harvest

Brought to you by the Urban Farm, Matt Suhr and Greg Peterson K E Y = Potential extended harvest season
For information on classes and events offered on gardening and sustainability visit XX = Ideal planting time
our website at www.urbanfarm.org and add yourself to our email newsletter X = Good planting time
or email [email protected] or to contact Matt Suhr - [email protected] * = Can be planted (with protective measures)
t = Set out transplants

Hardiness Temp J F M A M J J A S O N
(unprotected) J A F E M A A P M A J U J U A U S E O C N O D D
A N E B A R P R A Y U N U L U G E P C T O V E E
N B R R Y N L G P T V C C
Crop 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Comments
1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 15
Endive 25 * * X XX XX X X * Pull leaves over center to blanch.
Fennel--bulbing 27 X XX XX X * * * X XX XX X X X X Can be harvested at any size.
--herb 25 X XX X * * X XX XX X X X X Flowers attract beneficial insects.
Garlic 10 * X XX XX XX X * * Harvest when tops die back.
Jicama 32 * X XX XX X X X X X X * Does well with trellis.
Kale 22 X XX XX X * X XX XX XX XX X X X Pick outer leaves for continual harvest.
Lavender 0 t t t * X XX X * Needs sandy soil.
Leek 15 X X X * * XX XX XX X X X X Pile dirt over stalks to blanch.
Lettuce--head 28 X XX X * * X XX XX X X X Allow 8-12" per plant for big heads.
--leaf 28 X XX XX X * * XX XX XX XX X X Won't sprout in hot soil.
Melons 32 * XX XX XX X X X X X X X * Rich soil, lots of H2O, lots of room.
Mint <0 t t t t t t t t t t t t Can be invasive. Doesn't come true from seed.
Mizuna 25 X X * * * X XX XX XX XX X X Good as baby greens or full-size.
Mustard Greens 27 X X * * X XX XX XX X X X Light frost improves flavor.
Okra 32 X XX XX XX X X X X X X X * Pick frequently to maintain production.
Onion--bulb 15 t t * X XX XX X X t *t t Harvest when tops die back. Use short-day type.
--multiplier 15 t t t t t t t t t t t t t Don't produce seed. Divide to propagate.
--scallion 15 X X X X * * XX XX X X X X Use long-day type.
Oregano <0 t t t t t t t t t t t Keep flowers trimmed for best leaf production.
Parsley 20 X XX X * * XX XX XX X X X Very slow to germinate. Otherwise easy.
Parsnip 25 * * XX XX X X X X Dig root before flower stalks form.
Pea--English 26 X XX XX * * X XX XX XX XX X X Does best with trellis. Blooms are frost-tender.
--Snap 26 X XX XX * * X XX XX XX XX X X Does best with trellis. Blooms are frost-tender.
--Snow 26 X XX XX * * X XX XX XX XX X X Does best with trellis. Blooms are frost-tender.
Pepper 32 XX XX X X X X X X X X X X X * * X Start indoors in winter. Best harvest in Fall.
Potato 32 * t t t * Harvest when in full bloom. Red potatoes do best.
Pumpkin 32 * XX XX XX X X X X X XX X * Plant June 15 for Halloween.
Radish 25 XX XX X X * * X XX XX XX XX XX Do best when day-length is short.
Rutabaga 26 * X XX XX X X * Harvest before flower stalks form.
Sage <0 XtXt t * X X XtXtXt Many varieties with different requirements.
Spinach 22 XX XX X X * * X XX XX XX XX XX Bolts quickly in Spring.
Squash--summer 32 * XX XX XX XX X X X X X X XX XX * Pick frequently to maintain production.
--winter 32 * XX XX XX X X X X X XX X * The longer they are left on the vine, the sweeter.
Sunflower 32 X XX XX X X X X X X X X XX XX * Quite drought-tolerant
Sweet Potato 32 * t t t t t t t t t Cure tubers in warm place before storage.
© 2006 by Matt Suhr and The Urban Farm Page 2
Low Desert Planting & Harvest Calendar = Main harvest

Brought to you by the Urban Farm, Matt Suhr and Greg Peterson K E Y = Potential extended harvest season
For information on classes and events offered on gardening and sustainability visit XX = Ideal planting time
our website at www.urbanfarm.org and add yourself to our email newsletter X = Good planting time
or email [email protected] or to contact Matt Suhr - [email protected] * = Can be planted (with protective measures)
t = Set out transplants

Hardiness Temp J F M A M J J A S O N
(unprotected) J A F E M A A P M A J U J U A U S E O C N O D D
A N E B A R P R A Y U N U L U G E P C T O V E E
N B R R Y N L G P T V C C
Crop 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Comments
1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 5 1 15
Swiss chard 26 X XX XX X * * * X XX XX XX X X X Pick outer leaves for continual harvest.
Thyme <0 t XtXt t t * XtXtXt t t t t Prefers sandy soil.
Tomatillo 32 X XX XX X XtXtXt X X X X X X X XX * Easy.
Tomato 32 XX XX X t t t t X X X * X Do best with 30-50% shade cloth.
Turnip 25 XX XX XX X * * * X XX XX XX XX XX XX Best flavor in cool weather.
Watermelon 32 * XX XX XX X X X X X X X * Rich soil, lots of H2O, lots of room.

Hardiness Note Hardiness temperature, in degrees Fahrenheit, is the point at which damage occurs in exposed plants. Extent of damage depends
on length of exposure, as well as micro-environmental factors. Covering plants with frost cloth can give anywhere from
2 to 10 degrees of extra protection. Coverings are most effective when suspended close to,
but not in contact with, the plant.
Microclimates The exact season of growing depends greatly on your particular microclimate. A microclimate is any area of your yard
that is warmer or cooler than the rest of the yard such as planting next to a block wall that retains heat into the night.
Many frost sensitive plants can be grown through the winter in milder Valley locations, though with slower growth rates.
Likewise, with appropriate shading many heat-sensitive crops can be grown into the summer months in
outlying areas with cooler nights, though quality and vigor will be reduced.

© 2006 by Matt Suhr and The Urban Farm Page 3