Ideal Time to Plant Anything in the Desert

Q. Is it too late to plant new plants?

Yes, thats my shoe on a soil we will soon plant to vegetables. But not without adding compost at a rate of about 1/3 to 1/2 by volume to that soil.

A. October and most of November are good times to plant in the Eastern Mojave Desert. The ideal time for planting is in the fall and spring. No one argues that but plants are for sale 12 months of the year. Early fall is when I encourage people to plant. Late fall and winter is not the “ideal time” for planting but you can still plant. When planting, always avoid the intensely hot summer months of the desert.

Always Better in the Ground

It is always better to plant in the ground rather than wait for a better time. Just make sure the planting area is suitable for the plant. Plants do not establish their roots in soil as quickly when the soil is cold. One growing season is all that is necessary when staking most new plants.

Know Your Plants Ancestry

If it’s genealogy is the Mediterranean region or arid parts of the world, it most likely performs best with wood chips covering the soil surface rather than rock. Plants originating from the desert Southwest tolerate rock and poor soils better but don’t necessarily grow to their full potential in that type of soil.

Should I use Rock?

Plants that perform best surrounded with rock mulch covering the soil surface are plants that originate from the deserts of the Southwest. If the soil is poor to begin with, covering it with rock will not improve it. 

Be Sure the Soil Drains

All plants perform better with additions of organics like compost mixed into the soil surrounding the roots when its lacking. Some, like cacti and succulents, require less but they all of them grow better with amended soil provided there is good drainage. All plants that originate from deserts prefer soils that drain water. Plants that originate from wetter places, but can handle the heat, are usually more tolerant of wetter soils.