What to Plant in July in Arizona

Are you wondering what to plant in July in Arizona? I’ll show you which seeds to start indoors and what you can plant outside in July. 

Planting in July means giving yourself an extra round of your favorite warm-season crops and, if you time it right, the best tomatoes of the year. This article will guide you on what to plant in July and provide tips for success.  

In this post, I’ll share my top picks for vegetables, herbs, fruit, and flowers to plant in Arizona in July, along with indoor seed-starting options and helpful tips for staying successful in the heat. No matter what you’re planting good soil, deep watering, and afternoon shade will go a long way.

For a printable checklist and information about July gardening tasks for the low desert, read this article.

Plant with confidence—every month!
Gardening in Arizona’s low desert can be tricky, but you’re not alone. My monthly planting guides are made for gardeners in Phoenix, Tucson, and areas in the low desert below 3,500 feet. Know what to plant, when to plant it, and how to keep growing throughout the year.

Want even more detailed help?
For a full planting calendar and month-by-month guidance, check out my Arizona Planting Calendars and Guides. Learn proven techniques for success in the garden—sign up for an online or in-person class.

Key Guidelines for Planting in July

July is typically the hottest month of the year in the low desert. Monsoons may or may not bring humidity and moisture, so if you’re going to plant in July in the low desert, you must: 

• Plant seeds a little deeper; soil is cooler, and they won’t dry out as quickly. Most seeds will sprout quickly in the warm soil.  
• Plant crops that are adapted to high temperatures.
• Provide shade if needed.
• Water correctly.
• Have good soil.
• Mulch your garden well.

 For July’s planting list and room to track monsoon observations, learn more about the Low Desert Garden Planner or buy it in my shop.

For more information about how to have a successful summer garden in Arizona, read this article.

Harvesting Tips for July

Harvest crops early in the day when temperatures are cooler and their moisture content is higher. Bring harvests inside right away to prolong storage life and increase food quality.

Here’s a tip for cucumbers after harvesting: Immediately immerse them in cold water to disperse “field heat” to increase storage life and keep cucumbers crisp. 

Want more information about gardening in Arizona? This blog post shares seven tips for how to grow a vegetable garden in Arizona. 

What Can You Harvest in July in the Low Desert of Arizona?

We can garden year-round here in the low desert, and it seems there is always something to plant and harvest. Weather patterns vary, and some years higher than average heat and lack of rain can make gardening more challenging. However, If you’re following my planting guide, here are some of the vegetables it’s possible to harvest during July. I’d love for you to leave a comment and let me know what you’re harvesting right now.

(click on the link to read “How to Grow” articles about each crop)

Vegetables:

Amaranth, Armenian Cucumbers, Asparagus Beans, Beans, Borlotti Beans, Butternut Squash, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Malabar spinach, Okra, Peppers, Sunflower Seeds, Summer Squash, Tomatillos, Tomatoes 

Herbs:

Basil, Dill Seeds, Lemongrass, Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbena, Mint, Oregano, Parsley Seeds, Sage, Stevia, Rosemary, Thyme

Fruit:

Apples, Blackberries, Cantaloupe, Chichiquelite, Figs, Grapes, Ground Cherries, Passionfruit, Watermelon

If you’ve harvested more than you can handle, try out some of these delicious recipes with your harvest:

• Blistered Chinese Long Beans with Garlic, Ginger, and Sesame
• Best Recipes for Anna Apples
• Zucchini Lemon Poppy Seed Bread with Fresh or Freeze-Dried Ingredients

What’s Blooming in July in the Low Desert of Arizona?

(Click on the link for each flower’s “How to Grow” blog post.)

Angelonia, Bee Balm, Celosia, Coleus, Coreopsis, Cosmos, Desert Milkweed, Echinacea, Four O’Clock, Gaillardia, Gazania, Gomphrena, Lisianthus, Passionflower, Portulaca, Ratibida, Rudbeckia, Salvia, Scabiosa, Shasta Daisy, Skyflower, Statice, Strawflower, Sunflower, Tithonia, Vanity Verbena, Vinca, Yarrow, Zinnia

What to Plant Outside in July in Arizona: Vegetables, Herbs & Fruit

After July 15 (or when monsoon season begins)

• Eggplant (T)
• Ground Cherry (T)
• Pepper (T)
• Tomatillo (T)
• Tomato (T)

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

Arizona Vegetable Planting Guide helps you learn when to plant vegetables in Arizona and whether to plant seeds or transplants.

Find out what to plant each month in this planting calendar for Arizona’s low desert.

Which Seeds to Start Indoors in July: Vegetables, Herbs & Fruit

(Click the link for seed sources.)

Arizona Vegetable Planting Guide helps you learn when to plant vegetables in Arizona and whether to plant seeds or transplants. For more ideas about summer seeds to plant now, see this list of heat-tolerant crops that are worth growing from seed in hot weather.

Looking for seeds that truly perform in the garden? Explore my favorite seed varieties and see the seed-starting supplies I recommend on Amazon.

What to Plant Outside in July in Arizona: Flowers

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

• Angelonia (T)
• Cosmos (sulfur) (S)
• Gomphrena* thru the 15th (T)
• Purslane/Portulaca (ST)
• Sunflower (S)
• Vinca (T)
• Zinnia (ST)

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

Which Seeds to Start Indoors in July: Flowers

(Click the link for seed sources.)

The Arizona Annual Flowers Planting Guide helps you learn when to plant flowers in Arizona and whether to plant seeds or transplants. This blog post explains how to start seeds indoors.