California Low Desert (Coachella and Imperial Valleys) planting calendar

What to plant each month in California Low Desert (Coachella and Imperial Valleys)

The main garden season runs from September through March. Lettuce, brassicas, roots and onions grow through the cool, sunny winter, and frost is light and infrequent. Melons, squash, cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers are planted January-March so they produce before the intense heat of May. Summer highs above 110°F stop most vegetables except okra, and late-summer plantings of melons and squash are risky because whiteflies peak then. The months below follow the planting calendar for California Low Desert (Coachella and Imperial Valleys) from the Cooperative Extension sources listed.

1. January

   Plant: asparagus, basil, beets, black-eyed susans, cantaloupes, cilantro, cucumbers, dill, kale, leeks, lettuce, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, poppies, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons, zucchini

2. February

   Plant: asparagus, basil, black-eyed susans, cantaloupes, cilantro, cucumbers, dill, eggplants, green beans, hollyhocks, kale, marigolds, oregano, peppers, petunias, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, snapdragons, sunflowers, sweet peas, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

3. March

   Plant: asparagus, black-eyed susans, cantaloupes, cosmos, eggplants, green beans, hollyhocks, kale, marigolds, okra, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, radishes, ranunculus, sunflowers, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini

4. April

   Plant: asparagus, cantaloupes, cosmos, marigolds, okra, pumpkins, radishes, sunflowers, zinnias

5. May

   Plant: asparagus, cosmos, marigolds, okra, pumpkins, sunflowers, zinnias

6. June

   Plant: cosmos, marigolds, okra, pumpkins, sunflowers, zinnias

7. July

   Plant: sunflowers

8. August

   Plant: green onions

9. September

   Plant: broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celery, collard greens, eggplants, garlic, green beans, green onions, lettuce, marigolds, peas, petunias, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips

10. October

    Plant: beets, black-eyed susans, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cilantro, collard greens, dill, garlic, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, petunias, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, snapdragons, spinach, sweet peas, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers

11. November

    Plant: beets, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, cilantro, dill, garlic, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, lettuce, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sweet peas, swiss chard, thyme, turnips, wildflowers

12. December

    Plant: beets, black-eyed susans, carrots, cauliflower, cilantro, dill, kale, lettuce, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, thyme

Planting months by plant

Cities in California Low Desert (Coachella and Imperial Valleys)

• Indio, CA
• Palm Desert, CA
• Cathedral City, CA