Arizona Gardening in July | Growing In The Garden

Low Desert Arizona Garden in July

Wondering about low desert Arizona gardening in July? All of these pictures come from my garden in Mesa, Arizona this month. Gardening in Arizona in July can be difficult; planting the right plants in the right location at the right time and watering them correctly is critical for success. Read my “Ultimate Guide for a Summer Garden in Arizona” for more hot weather gardening tips.

Gardens grow year round in many parts of Arizona, but it’s important to know when to plant to ensure success. I use this planting guide for guidelines of when to plant vegetables. Much of what was growing in my garden in June is also growing now in July. Hope this gives you a glimpse of Arizona gardening in July.

Check out the end of the post for my low desert July garden checklist and what I will be planting this month.

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Low Desert Arizona Gardening in July

Vegetables growing in the low desert Arizona garden in July

Melons are producing well. This year I planted Hopi yellow watermelon, Chimayo melons and cantaloupe. Be sure to water regularly and keep the plant healthy. Provide a trellis or ladder for the growing plants to keep them up off the ground.

Several varieties of peppers are producing in the garden this month. These serrano peppers take the heat well. Bell peppers can get sunburned if fruits get direct sun; provide some shade if scalding is a problem.

The last of the tomatoes on the vine have ripened. It is too hot for pollen to be viable for new tomatoes to develop. After removing the final fruits, I pulled out the plants and will plant new ones at the end of the month.

Cucumbers. I’ve harvested a steady supply of Japanese, Collier, Lemon and Burpless cucumbers. Cucumbers do best on a trellis, with even watering and mulching with compost. Pick cucumbers young and pick them often to encourage production. Production slows or even stops this month as temperatures heat up. Pull plants if necessary if pests or diseases are an issue.

Flowers growing in the low desert Arizona garden in July

Arizona gardening in July wouldn’t be the same without sunflowers! They are everywhere in my yard and I love it. There are many reasons to plant sunflowers: they provide shade, can be used as a trellis, attract wildlife and pollinators, and they are so simple to grow from seed in nearly any spot in your yard.

Learn how to grow and harvest sunflower seeds in this article I wrote for Kellogg Garden.

Yellow Dot is a vigorous ground cover that grows rapidly in well-drained soil and can grow in full sun or shady areas. It looks great most of the year and provides a living mulch to trees in the heat of the summer.

Globe Amaranth thrives in the heat with consistant watering. I like to harvest the flowers for cut flowers. I’ve planted this in my flower beds as well as throughout my garden beds to attract pollinators. This article shares my 10 favorite flowers for hot summers.

Tecoma is in full bloom and doesn’t mind the heat. Hummingbirds and pollinators love it. This is a great addition to an Arizona garden landscape.

Zinnias are a champion of Arizona gardening in July. They are best grown from seed; you can plant them all summer long. Don’t get water on the leaves as they can burn in the sun if you do this. Give them consistent moisture and enjoy the lovely blooms! They are also an excellent cut flower.

Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine is a fast grower and available in several different colors. Great greenery and filler even in the hottest months. This vine is easy to start from cuttings; root in water first and then plant, it’s that simple. Regular watering keeps it lush.

Looking for more ideas of flowers that can take the heat of an Arizona summer? This article shares my favorite ones with tips for how to grow them.

Fruit trees in the low desert Arizona garden in July

Anna apples are finishing up. The birds got a few of them before I could harvest them.

Citrus is developing on all the citrus trees throughout the yard. Last month the trees self-thinned and the fruit that is left on the tree is growing well. The monsoon rains and higher humidity this month are appreciated by the citrus trees.

Several citrus trees around the yard have sun damage on the leaves from the hot dry month of a typical June.

Herbs in the low desert Arizona garden in July

Lemon grass is growing fast. I’m a newbie at this herb and still learning what to do with it. Prairie Homestead has a great article on using and growing lemongrass if you would like more information.

Rosemary is doing great and doesn’t mind the heat. It’s best not to prune it this month, but you can harvest it as needed for recipes.

Basil is the champion herb of summer. Be sure to keep it pruned and try different varieties to mix things up. This article shares how to grow basil.

Low Desert Arizona Garden in July To-Do List:

Fertilize sweet potatoes with a balanced fertilizer.
Clear out squash and other plants that have stopped producing or are showing signs of heat stress and disease to make room for monsoon and fall planting.
Don’t prune or fertilize most plants. Most are in summer dormancy in order to survive. Pruning can expose new parts of a plant to sunlight damage, and fertilizing can cause stress in plants as well.
Water evenly. Hopefully the monsoon humidity and added moisture comes to the low desert this month. A rain gage is helpful to see how much rain you received. If you measure .5 inches of rain, turn off your water timers! You can also insert a screwdriver into grass or rocks to determine whether to water. If it passes easily into the soil, you can wait a day or two to water. Monitor plants for signs of stress, and make sure plants are getting enough water and have good drainage.

What to plant in the low desert of Arizona in July

Pepper and tomato transplants at the end of the month or beginning of August
Snap beans in the middle of the month
Carrots at the end of the month or beginning of August
You can also plant Armenian cucumbers, basil, shallots, pumpkin, corn, winter squash, black-eyed peas, pinto beans, and a final planting of yard-long beans or cantaloupe for the year.
Flowers that can be planted this month: yellow cosmos, globe amaranth, kochia, vinca, purslane and sunflowers.