What to Plant in March in Arizona
March is a race against the heat in the low desert garden. With warm temperatures ahead, knowing what to plant in March in Arizona is key to getting warm-season crops established before summer arrives. If you plant too late, many crops will struggle once the heat sets in—so don’t wait!
This month, you can plant fast-growing vegetables like squash and cucumbers, heat-loving crops like okra and peppers, and staple herbs like basil and oregano. If you’re growing in containers, now is also a great time to set up oyas or irrigation to keep your plants evenly watered as temperatures rise.
Whether you’re direct seeding, transplanting, or refreshing your garden beds, March is one of the busiest planting months of the year. Keep reading for a full list of what to plant in March in Arizona, along with tips to help your garden thrive.
For a detailed planting calendar and month-by-month guidance, check out my Arizona Planting Calendars and Guides. If you’re wanting more information on what to plant and when, this planting calendar for Arizona is one I refer to all year long.
I have a blog post like this for each month of the year. You can do this, I’ll help! For those in the low desert areas (below 3,500 feet), such as Phoenix or Tucson, this guide will help you confidently garden during the cooler months.
Tip: If you’re looking for garden tasks to do this month, see the Arizona Garden in March blog post and printable checklist.
Key Takeaways
- March is crucial for planting warm-season crops in Arizona; timing your planting is essential to avoid heat stress on plants.
- You can grow fast-growing vegetables like squash and cucumbers, as well as heat-loving crops like okra and peppers this month.
- Prepare your garden by adding worm castings and inspecting your watering system to ensure plants receive adequate moisture.
- Use a soil thermometer to check temperatures, targeting ranges suitable for different crops before planting.
- Consider starting seeds indoors for a head start on summer favorites, and don’t forget to plant flowers for beauty and pollinators.
Article Outline:
- March YouTube Videos
- Garden Harvests in March
- What to do before you plant this March in Arizona
- Vegetables, Herbs & Fruit to plant in the low desert in March in Arizona
- Vegetable, herb, and fruit seeds to start indoors during March
- Flowers to plant in the low desert in March
- Flower seeds to start indoors in the low desert in March
- How to Maximize Your Harvest
- What About Overwintered Peppers, Eggplants, and Tomatoes?
March YouTube Videos
Ready to dig deeper? My gardening classes make it easy to grow with confidence, no matter your experience level.
Garden Harvests in March
While you prep for spring in your low desert Arizona garden, enjoy this month’s harvests of cool-season vegetables, herbs, fruit, and flowers.
Asparagus harvests begin in late February and continue throughout March. Harvest stalks that are at least ¼ inch in diameter. Let smaller stalks grow through the summer to give energy to the roots.
If you aren’t growing asparagus, consider dedicating a 4-foot by 4-foot raised bed for growing it. Plant asparagus November through February in the low desert of Arizona.
What to do before you plant this March in Arizona
To prepare your garden for new plants, add about 4 cups of worm castings to each 4×8 bed, then top off the beds with compost or raised bed mix to replace the organic matter used last season. Keep feeding worms in any in-bed vermicomposting bins to maximize casting production and microbial life in your beds.
After that, inspect your watering system. Fix leaks or clogged emitters and ensure every area of the bed is getting water. Time how long it takes to reach 12 inches deep—this will guide you on how long to water each session.
I use the garden grids from Garden in Minutes in my raised beds. (Use code Angela10 to save $10 off $100 or GITG5 to save 5 percent on any size order.)
Monitor Your Soil Temperature
Use a thermometer (this is the one I use) to check several spots at the depth where seeds or roots will be planted, leaving it in place for a few minutes each time. Do this in the mornings for about a week to see if temperatures are consistently within the ideal ranges for your chosen crops:
- 55°F (13°C) – Corn, Tomatoes
- 65°F (18°C) – Cucumbers, Peppers
- 70°F (21°C) – Beans, Melons, Squash
- 75°F (24°C) – Pumpkin, Okra, Eggplant
Get more details about how to check your soil temperature in this guide.
Want more information about gardening in Arizona? This blog post shares seven tips for how to grow a vegetable garden in Arizona.
Vegetables, Herbs & Fruit to plant in the low desert in March in Arizona
- Amaranth (S)
- Armenian Cucumber (ST)
- Basil (ST)
- Bean (Lima) (S)
- Bean (Tepary) (S)
- Blackberry (T)
- Buckwheat
- Cantaloupe (ST)
- Carrot (S)
- Chamomile (T)
- Chives (ST)
- Corn (S)
- Cucamelon (T)
- Cucumber (ST)
- Eggplant (T)
- French Tarragon (T)
- Garlic Chives (T)
- Ginger (rhizome)
- Grapes (T)
- Ground Cherry (T)
- Hyssop (ST)
- Jerusalem Artichoke (tuber)
- Jicama (ST)
- Lavender (T)
- Lemon Balm (T)
- Lemon Grass (T)
- Lemon Verbena (T)
- Luffa (ST)
- Malabar Spinach (ST)
- Marjoram (T)
- Mint (T)
- Onion (Green) (S)
- Oregano (T)
- Papalo (ST)
- Parsley (ST)
- Pepper (T)
- Pumpkin (ST)
- Radish (S)
- Rosemary (T)
- Sage (T)
- Sesame (ST)
- Sorghum (ST)
- Stevia (T)
- Summer Squash (ST)
- Sunflower (S)
- Sweet Potato (slip)
- Thyme (T)
- Tomatillo (T)
- Tomato (T)
- Turmeric (rhizome)
- Watermelon (S)
- Winter Squash (ST)
After March 15th
- Okra (ST)
- Peanut (S)
- Roselle Hibiscus (ST)
(Click the links to read “How to Grow” articles on my website.)
SEED, TRANSPLANT, OR BOTH? S = Seed T= Transplant
For March planting dates and notes pages to record what works, learn more about the Low Desert Garden Planner or buy it in my shop.
Vegetable, Herb, and Fruit Planting Guide for the Low Desert of Arizona
The ultimate resource for gardeners in arid regions with hot summers and mild winters—designed specifically for the low desert of Arizona.
It features information on how and when to start seeds indoors and when to transplant them outside for nearly 100 different fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
Vegetable, herb, and fruit seeds to start indoors during March
If you want an early jump on summer favorites, starting seeds indoors can give them a head start before the soil outside is warm enough. For more details, check out my guide on how to start seeds indoors. If you prefer direct sowing, many crops can go straight into the ground once outdoor temperatures and soil conditions are right.
(Click the link for seed sources.)
- Luffa
- Malabar Spinach
- Okra
- Parsley
- Roselle Hibiscus
- Sweet Potato (start slips)
Looking for seeds that perform in the garden? Check out my favorite seeds.
Perpetual Vegetable, Fruit & Herb Calendar shows you when to plant vegetables in the low desert of Arizona and whether to plant seeds or transplants. See it in my shop.
Flowers to plant in the low desert in March
Don’t forget the flowers (even if you think of yourself as just a vegetable gardener). Pick a couple from these lists. You’ll love the beauty and pollinators they add to your garden.
(Click the link to read “How to Grow” articles on my website.)
- Alyssum (ST)
- Amaryllis (bulb)
- Angelonia (T)
- Bee Balm (ST)
- Canna (rhizome)
- Chamomile (T)
- Coleus (T)
- Coreopsis (ST)
- Cosmos (S)
- Creeping Zinnia (ST)
- Dahlia (tuber)
- Desert Milkweed (T)
- Dusty Miller (T)
- English Daisy (T)
- Feverfew (T)
- Four O’Clock (S)
- Gaillardia (ST)
- Gazania (T)
- Geranium (T)
- Gomphrena (T)
- Hollyhock (ST)
- Lisianthus (T)
- Mahogany Splendor (T)
- Marigold (ST)
- Nigella (ST)
- Petunia (T)
- Portulaca / Moss Rose (ST)
- Purslane (ST)
- Rain Lily (bulb)
- Ranunculus (pre-sprout corms)
- Rudbeckia (ST)
- Safflower (S)
- Salvia (T)
- Spilanthes (T)
- Sunflower (S)
- Tithonia (ST)
- Vinca (T)
- Wild Hyssop (ST)
- Yarrow (T)
- Zinnia (ST)
SEED, TRANSPLANT, OR BOTH? S = Seed T= Transplant
Plant New Roses
Plant roses in March to give them time to establish strong roots before the summer heat arrives. I get mine from Heirloom Roses—take a look at my favorites and use this discount code GARDENAZ26 to save 20% all year.
Flower seeds to start indoors in the low desert in March
Want to get a jump start on summer flowers? Start some of these flowers indoors now.
(Click the link for seed sources.)
The Perpetual Annual Flower Planting Calendar, available in my shop, helps you learn when to plant flowers in the low desert of Arizona and whether to plant seeds or transplants.
How to Maximize Your Harvest
To make the most of our short spring season, give warm-season crops the sunniest spots in your garden. When planting in March, proper spacing is key—crowded plants compete for nutrients and water, so thin seedlings early and often. Water consistently at first to help seeds and transplants establish, then gradually transition to deeper, less frequent watering to encourage strong roots. Add mulch to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. These simple steps will help your plants thrive and maximize your harvest before the heat arrives.
What About Overwintered Peppers, Eggplants, and Tomatoes?
If you’ve successfully overwintered these plants, they’re already ahead of the game. After your last frost date, check their health. If they have sturdy stems and new growth, prune back any damaged areas to just above where new growth is visible—this signals the plant to start growing. Fertilize to give them the nutrients they need to recover and thrive.
Read the complete guide to pruning peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants after winter here.
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Can I grow hollyhocks in a raised bed with my vegetables?
Sure. They will take up some of the room, but you can. I would add them to the back of the beds as they can grow tall.
Did that new trellis you mentioned in the video come in?
Yes! I’ve loved them. The Garden in Minutes tomato cages: https://glnk.io/9ym2y/growinginthegarden5pl Use code Angela10 to save $10 off $100 or ANGELA to save 7% on any size order