Mesa Seed & StartSowing calendar for the low desert
Dates are for elevations under 2,000 feet. Add two to three weeks for Tucson and the foothills.
| Month | Sow | How |
|---|---|---|
| September | Penstemon, desert marigold, globe mallow | Sow on the surface, keep damp for ten days, then stop fussing. |
| October | Brittlebush, lupine, owl clover, poppies | Best month of the year. Rake seed into gravel before the first winter rain. |
| November | Milkweed (after cold stratifying), chuparosa cuttings | Thirty days in the fridge in damp sand works for milkweed. |
| January | Palo verde and mesquite (scarified) | Nick the seed coat with nail clippers and soak overnight. |
| March | Fairy duster, desert lavender | Bottom heat helps. Move to deep pots as soon as the first true leaves show. |
| June | Arizona poppy, devil's claw, summer grasses | Sow dry and wait for the monsoon. They know when. |