Curious what you should plant in Tucson in July? It's a great time in the low desert! Let's talk about what you can grow in July in Tucson.

tucson average temperature graph july highlighted
Tucson average daily high drops from 102F to 98F over the month of July.
Overnight average lows hover around 76F throughout July.

Planting

Cover Crops & Forage

1st Half of July

BROADCAST IN FIELD:

Alfalfa, Millet, Sesame, Sorghum, Sorghum-Sudan (hybrid), Sudangrass, Sunn Hemp


DIRECT SOW / DRILL IN FIELD:

Buckwheat, Cowpea, Sunn Hemp


2nd Half of July

BROADCAST IN FIELD:

Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Cowpea, Millet, Sesame, Sorghum, Sorghum-Sudan (hybrid), Sudangrass, Sunn Hemp


DIRECT SOW / DRILL IN FIELD:

Buckwheat, Cowpea, Sunn Hemp


Warning!

if you're using sorghum, sorghum-sudan, or sudangrass as forage, understand that these grasses produce prussic acid and cyanide under certain conditions which may affect some livestock. Do thorough research before grazing animals on these.

Herbs

1st Half of July

SOW INDOORS:

Lemongrass


DIRECT SOW IN FIELD:

Devil's Claw, Lemongrass


HARDEN OFF & TRANSPLANT TO FIELD:


2nd Half of July

SOW INDOORS:

Lemongrass


DIRECT SOW IN FIELD:

Devil's Claw, Lemongrass


HARDEN OFF & TRANSPLANT TO FIELD:

Devil's Claw, Lemongrass


Fruits & Vegetables

1st Half of July

SOW INDOORS:

Cannabis (Autoflower or Photoperiod), Chili Pepper, Cowpea, Cucumber, Eggplant, Melon, Okra, Summer Squash, Sweet Pepper, Tomato, Tomatillo, Winter Squash


DIRECT SOW IN FIELD:

Cannabis (Autoflower or Photoperiod), Corn, Cowpea, Cucumber, Eggplant, Melon, Chili Pepper, Okra, Pole Bean, Potato, Summer Squash, Sweet Pepper, Tomato, Tomatillo, Winter Squash


HARDEN OFF & TRANSPLANT TO FIELD:

Cannabis (Autoflower or Photoperiod), Cowpea, Eggplant, Hot Pepper, Melon, Okra, Sweet Pepper, Sweet Potato, Winter Squash


2nd Half of July

SOW INDOORS:

Cannabis (Autoflower or Photoperiod), Cabbage, Chili Pepper, Cowpea, Cucumber, Eggplant, Melon, Okra, Summer Squash, Sweet Pepper, Tomato, Tomatillo, Winter Squash


DIRECT SOW IN FIELD:

Cannabis (Autoflower or Photoperiod), Corn, Cowpea, Cucumber, Eggplant, Hot Pepper, Melon, Okra, Pole Bean, Potato, Sorghum, Summer Squash, Sweet Pepper, Tomato, Tomatillo, Winter Squash


HARDEN OFF & TRANSPLANT TO FIELD:

Cannabis (Autoflower or Photoperiod), Cowpea, Cucumber, Eggplant, Hot Pepper, Melon, Okra, Summer Squash, Sweet Pepper, Sweet Potato, Tomato, Tomatillo, Winter Squash


corn and amaranth desert gardening tucson july
Corn with an undercrop of white amaranth in Tucson

Seen here in late-July, lush from monsoon rains.
This crop was started in late-May.

corn and amaranth in desert garden sand along drip lines
The same crop as above, seen 2 months earlier,
fighting against the desert June "dry summer" heat,
low humidity, and no rainfall for months

Grains, Seeds, & Cereals

1st Half of July

BROADCAST IN FIELD:

Millet, Sesame, Sorghum


DIRECT SOW / DRILL IN FIELD:

Buckwheat, Corn


2nd Half of July

BROADCAST IN FIELD:

Buckwheat, Millet, Sesame, Sorghum


DIRECT SOW / DRILL IN FIELD:

Buckwheat, Corn


Flowers

1st Half of July

BROADCAST IN FIELD:

Arizona Poppy, Coreopsis, Cosmos, Desert Marigold, Desert Senna, Gaillardia, Lavendar, Marigold, Mexican Hat Flower, Pentas, Portulaca, Vinca, Zinnia


DIRECT SOW / DRILL IN FIELD:

Cosmos, Four O'Clock, Hollyhock, Mexican Sunflower, Sunflower


2nd Half of July

BROADCAST IN FIELD:

Arizona Poppy, Coreopsis, Cosmos, Desert Marigold, Desert Senna, Gaillardia, Lavendar, Marigold, Mexican Hat Flower, Pentas, Portulaca, Vinca, Zinnia


DIRECT SOW / DRILL IN FIELD:

Cosmos, Four O'Clock, Hollyhock, Mexican Sunflower, Sunflower


Harvesting

Produce

1st Half of July

Amaranth (leaves), Basil, Carrot, Catnip, Chili Pepper, Chives, Eggplant, Epazote, Lemon Balm, Melon, Mint, Okra, Oregano, Parsnip, Pole Bean, Potato, Purslane, Rosemary, Sage, Summer Squash, Sunflower Seeds, Sweet Pepper, Thai Basil, Terragon, Thyme, Tomatillo, Tomato, Winter Squash, Zucchini


2nd Half of July

Amaranth (leaves), Basil, Carrot, Catnip, Chili Pepper, Chives, Eggplant, Epazote, Lemon Balm, Melon, Mint, Okra, Oregano, Parsnip, Pole Bean, Potato, Purslane, Rosemary, Sage, Summer Squash, Sunflower Seeds, Sweet Pepper, Thai Basil, Terragon, Thyme, Tomatillo, Tomato, Winter Squash, Zucchini


Seed Saving

1st Half of July

Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Kale, Strawberry, Summer Squash, Sweet Pepper, Swiss Chard, Tomatillo, Tomato, Winter Squash


2nd Half of July

Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Kale, Strawberry, Summer Squash, Sweet Pepper, Swiss Chard, Tomatillo, Tomato, Winter Squash


Cut Flowers

1st Half of July


2nd Half of July


Weeding

Weeds to Pull

Bindweed

Cowpen Daisy

Spurge

More Tucson Planting Guides

« June   

Check out the Tucson
planting guide for June


« June Planting Guide  

   August »

Check out the Tucson
planting guide for August


  August Planting Guide »

All Months

Find the full list of Tucson monthly planting guides here


All Monthly Guides

Know some plants I missed for July in Tucson? I'd love to hear from you in the comments!