Arizona Garden in January

What grows in low desert Arizona gardens in January? I’ll show you. All of these pictures come from my garden in Mesa, Arizona. 

Low desert includes elevations below 3500 ft in the Southwest, such as the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas.

We garden in many parts of Arizona year-round, but we can’t grow everything all year. Take a look at what’s growing this month, and let me know what’s growing in your garden in the comments.

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Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy for more information.

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“Anyone who thinks gardening begins in the spring and ends in the fall is missing the best part of the whole year. For gardening begins in January with the dream.”

– Josephine Nuese

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Low Desert Arizona Garden in January​

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January is often the coldest time in the low desert Arizona garden. Although it’s colder, it doesn’t mean you should stay inside this month. There are important garden tasks that need to be done this month, such as pruning roses and fruit trees (see a list of garden tasks for January below). Harvests from fall plantings continue throughout the month as you plan for your spring and summer garden. 

Keep reading for garden inspiration, a January garden checklist, and a list of vegetables, herbs, and flowers to plant in your Arizona garden in January.

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Vegetables growing in the low desert Arizona garden in January

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Tips for growing flowers in the low desert Arizona garden in January

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Most annuals will do well in our cooler winter and spring seasons when chosen carefully. As temperatures heat up, these annuals will die. Keep a garden journal of what worked in the past and what didn’t.

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Fruit trees in the low desert Arizona garden in January​

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• Plant bare-root fruit trees this month. Look for trees that have low chill hours (less than 400), mature early, and self-pollinate. 
• Deciduous fruit trees should be pruned before bud break this month. 

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Herbs in the low desert Arizona garden in January ​

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Low desert Arizona garden in January to-do list:​

• If you didn’t start seeds indoors for tomatoes, eggplant, melons and peppers in December, get them started this month. The seedlings will be ready to plant by February or March. 
• Continue planning for February and March plantings. This is seed catalog season; get ideas you would like to try and order seeds. My favorite seed companies with great catalogs are Baker Creek Seeds, Botanical Interests, and Seed Saver Exchange. Look at your garden and plan where you will plant everything. Research different varieties to see which do well in Arizona. A good rule of thumb is to look for short-season crops. Be sure to rotate where you plant each year. 
• Are you going to grow sweet potatoes this year? Start your own sweet potato slips so they will be ready to plant in March. This article explains how to start sweet potato slips. 
• Buy organic turmeric and ginger for planting out in March. Learn how to pre-sprout ginger and turmeric in this blog post.
• Plant spring flowering annuals this month. (See list below)
• Plant pre-chilled (at least 6 weeks in fridge) tulip and hyacinth bulbs this month.
• Plant cold-tolerant trees, bushes, and perennials and be sure to protect new plants from freezing temperatures. 
• January in Arizona is a good time to plant deciduous fruit trees. Look for varieties which require less than 400 chill hours, have early maturing fruit, and are self pollinating.
• Bare-root roses are in-stock at local nurseries – it’s a great time to plant roses. 
• This is the last month to plant strawberries. Space strawberries 12 inches apart. Plant strawberries with crown of plant above soil line. Mulch and water strawberries well.  
• January in the low desert of Arizona is a good month to propagate succulents so they establish roots before summer heat. 
• Wait until mid-to-late February to plant frost-sensitive plants such as lantana and hibiscus.
• Begin planting blackberries at the end of the month. 

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Watering:

• If we get a heavy rain, trees and shrubs may not need supplemental watering. If not, water shrubs and trees no more than once every 14-28 days.  Wateruseitwisely.com is a helpful resource for landscape watering guidelines.
• Do not over-water annual plants this month. Water to a depth of about 6 inches, and allow top of soil to dry out before watering again. 
• Check containers with a moisture meter or make sure top inch or so of soil has dried out before watering. 
• Water established citrus trees once every 3-4 weeks. 
• Water established fruit trees once every 10-14 days.

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Pruning:

• Frost-tender plants such as hibiscus and lantana should not be pruned this month. 
• Prune established roses this month. Clean up all fallen leaves and debris from around roses to discourage disease and insects.  
• Prune dead branches out of cold-hardy trees and shrubs.  
• If deciduous fruit trees have been slow to drop leaves, remove any remaining leaves to encourage dormancy. 
• Deciduous fruit trees should be pruned before bud break this month. Prune dead, diseased, broken and crossing branches and water sprouts (branches shooting straight up from limbs of trees). Consider treating fruit trees with horticultural oil before bud break as well. 
• Do not prune citrus trees in January.

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Fertilizing:

• Fertilize deciduous fruit trees at the end of this month. Water well before and after fertilizing. 
• Fertilize established fig trees in January.  Aged manure is a wonderful way to feed figs.

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Protect from freezing temperatures (below 32 degrees F.):

• Have burlap or frost cloth on hand to protect newly-planted citrus, small lemon and lime trees, and other frost-sensitive plants from frost.
• Plants in containers are more susceptible to freezing temperatures than ground ones.  
• If freezing temperatures are expected, water citrus trees deeply to help protect them from frost. 

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Yard clean-up:

• Clean-up around fruit trees. Decayed fruit is inviting for pests.  
• Save all the fallen leaves. Bag leaves and let them begin to decompose; then spread them on plants as leaf mulch in spring. If you compost, they are a great addition to the compost pile. 

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What to plant in the Arizona garden in January:​

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Vegetables, Herbs & Fruit to plant in the low desert in January

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(Click the link to read “How to Grow” articles on my website.)

SEED, TRANSPLANT, OR BOTH? S = Seed T= Transplant

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Vegetable, herb, and fruit seeds to start indoors during January

(Click the link for seed sources.)

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Flowers to plant in the low desert in January

(Click the link to read “How to Grow” articles on my website.)

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Flower seeds to start indoors in the low desert in January

(Click the link for seed sources.)

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