Yuma AZ is warmer than Las Vegas. Yuma sits on the border of Arizona and Mexico. Its latitude sits between 32 and 33 degrees North latitude (Las Vegas is closer to 36 degrees north of the equator).
Yuma's elevation is only about 140 feet above sea level (Las Vegas is about 2000 feet above sea level). Both elevation and latitude play major factors in determining winter low and summer high temperatures.
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| Latitude and Longitude map of Arizona. Yuma AZ is near the border with Mexico and at 140 feet of elevation above sea level. Tucson AZ, even though lower in latitude than Yuma, is at 2400 feet of elevation above sea level which accounts for most of its colder winter temperatures and warmer summers. https://www.mapsofworld.com/usa/states/arizona/lat-long.html |
Because of its warmer winter temperatures, Yuma can grow some of the more tender nopales (such as Copena V1 and F1 and better tasting!) from Mexico than we can in our colder winters in Las Vegas. We can grow cold hardy nopales but they are not as tasty as the more tender Copena types. Winter freezing temperatures affect both pad (nopales, nopalitos) and fruit (tuna) production.
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| Freeze damage to Copena nopales growing in Las Vegas during the winter of 2007-8. |
To make the planting/harvesting adjustment from Yuma to Las Vegas, consult local temperatures but it will be about 6 weeks forward in the spring months and about 6 weeks backward in the fall months.
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| Even though this crop calendar is for seed production, the planting dates would be the same. |
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