When you make thoughtful plant selections for a winter garden, it will be more beautiful and diverse come spring. Because our winter weather is so mild in Tucson, there are many flowers, vegetables, and plants that thrive when planted in January. Late winter planting gives them time to establish roots and grow so that your garden is perfectly primed for warmer spring weather. Horticulture Unlimited can provide expert guidance and assistance with gardening and landscape design in Tucson, AZ. Here is our guide on what to plant in Tucson in the winter, and when.
Choosing the Right Plants for January Gardens in Tucson
Before you begin plant selection, do some research on local low-desert planting design to determine which flowers, vegetables, and plants will thrive in January weather. You should also consider your existing native accent plants and grasses, perennials, evergreen shrubs, and deciduous trees and shrubs to determine how much space you have, and how late-season plants will contribute to the overall color and beauty of your outdoor spaces. Some of the best cool-season plants for Tucson include:
- Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, kale, arugula, collards, and mustard greens
- Root vegetables like carrots, beets, radishes, turnips, and parsnips
- Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower
- Snow and snap peas
- Herbs like cilantro, dill, parsley, thyme, oregano, and sage
- Hardy annuals and flowers like desert grasses, verbena, pansies, snapdragons, dianthus, and cyclamen
- Cover crops like clover
January Landscape and Gardening is the Foundation for Future Growth
Late winter is the ideal time to start seeds for spring crops, transplant hardy plants from one area to another, and generate staggered harvests. Early January is also the perfect time to focus on your future plans for your garden. After you remove weeds, dead grasses and plants, and overgrowth, you can prepare beds for spring planting. Refresh your soil based on the needs of your future plants, adding the nutrients needed to support warm-weather growth. The best vegetables to add to your garden in early January are leafy greens, root vegetables, onions and garlic, peas, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower. You can also plant native and drought-tolerant plants like succulents, desert grasses, and verbena, as well as cold-hardy annuals like pansies, snapdragons, and petunias.
You can start tomato and pepper seeds or plants indoors so that they are ready to move outside in February, and plant winter vegetables so that they can establish roots in time for higher spring temperatures. If you have cold-hardy plants that benefit from filtered light or that don’t need as much sun, you can transplant them to shady areas so that other plants can take their place in the sunny spots. Just remember that some frost-tender plants will still need protection throughout January and February, so keep an eye on the weather and use towels or frost cloth to protect them on cold nights.
How Horticulture Unlimited Can Set You Up for Success
If you need personalized guidance on landscape and gardening design in Tucson, Horticulture Unlimited is the perfect partner. We can offer local resources, advice, and tips for gardening and plants, including what you should plant and when. We also offer ongoing garden and landscaping maintenance that will ensure your plants thrive and grow. Call us today or contact us online to set up an initial consultation for residential or commercial garden and landscape design.