Despite the desert’s harsh conditions, two short growing seasons make it strangely forgiving
Many gardeners new to the Mojave assume that the long, warm days and abundant sunshine translate to a long growing season for ornamental gardens and vegetable crops. However, the reality is that the low desert areas of the Mojave, like where we live in southern Nevada, experience two short growing seasons per year—a fact that is crucial for gardeners, especially those cultivating vegetables.
The Growing Season Starts Very Early
Our first growing season typically begins in late winter, with ideal planting times for cool-season crops like leafy greens, root vegetables, and brassicas occurring from late January through March. Tomatoes can also be started in the middle of this first growing season if they are protected on cool nights, either with water walls or in a greenhouse.
This early start is essential, as temperatures can climb rapidly in the spring, often reaching sweltering levels by May. When gardening friends in more temperate climates are just starting their gardens, southern Nevada gardeners are already making salsa and eating tomato sandwiches. By getting a head start, you can ensure a bountiful harvest before the intense Mojave heat arrives.
Think of Summer As a Kind of Winter
Summer is a time of dormancy in the desert. Many of your ornamental plants will slow their growth, and some will adopt drought-resistant strategies, like losing their leaves. This same thing happened in your temperate friends’ gardens during the winter. Plant growth slows, often going underground in the winter. In the desert, your ornamental plants will instead wait for water, either from your hose or rare desert rains, to flower and put on new growth.
The same applies to your vegetable garden. Most vegetables will stop producing. For example, tomatoes will not set fruit when temperatures get into the mid-90s, let alone the scorching 110-degree temps that our area often sees. Some gardeners will continue to water these summer plants and use shade cloth to protect them from the sun, keeping them alive until cooler weather begins. But it is far easier to remove your plants—let the few veggies that can stand heat (think peppers, some eggplants, some squashes, and some native beans) do their thing. In the desert, summer is a time to contemplate and enjoy the indoors.
Fall Offers a Second Chance in the Vegetable Garden
The second window of opportunity opens in the fall. As temperatures moderate in September and October, a new round of vegetables can be sown, including leafy greens and brassicas, beans, peas, root crops, and some squashes. Many herbs can be planted now, especially cool season herbs like dill and cilantro. This autumnal growing season often extends well into December, providing gardeners with a second chance to enjoy a successful harvest.
“Life starts all over again…in the fall.”
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Our desert’s warm, sunny winters can also be leveraged to extend the growing season even further. Many vegetable crops, when provided with appropriate cold-weather protection (think row covers or cold frames), can overwinter quite successfully in this climate. The abundant winter sunshine ensures that these plants continue to thrive, setting the stage for an early spring harvest.
The Desert is Challenging and Strangely Forgiving
While southern Nevada’s bimodal growing seasons may initially seem challenging, this unique climate pattern can be forgiving for gardeners who plan accordingly. If you didn’t get your garden planted in spring, fall gives you a second chance!
By aligning planting schedules with the region’s seasonal rhythms, and taking advantage of the Mojave’s mild winters, it is possible to cultivate a diverse array of vegetables and other plants throughout the year.
This may mean discarding ideas you inherited from temperate regions—planting peas on St. Patrick’s Day and tomatos on Mother’s Day won’t work here. But by understanding the nuances of our unique growing seasons, you can have a thriving, productive garden.
Mojave Gardener 