Now
34°C · Clear
Today
34° / 19°
Soil 6 cm
30°C
First frost
—
Gardening in Albuquerque
AI field guide · refreshed weeklyAlbuquerque Gardening: Early Fall Planting & Harvest (Sept 8–14)
Zone 7b with 59 days until first frost (Nov 6). Soil at 30°C (86°F) is still warm enough for cool-season crops to germinate quickly. You're in the sweet spot: hot days cool enough for seed germination, nights dropping into the high teens. Frost-free days are tightening—prioritize fast-maturing varieties now.
Sow outdoors now
Spinach (Space or Bloomsdale)
Direct sow now; germinates in 7–10 days at 30°C soil, ready to harvest in 40–50 days before hard frost. Thin to 10 cm (4 in) apart.
Lettuce (Buttercrunch, Jericho)
Sow every 2 weeks through late September for continuous harvest. Germinates fast in warm soil, matures in 45–60 days.
Radish (Cherry Belle, Icicle)
Ready in 25–30 days; sow in succession. Tolerates light frost and fills gaps between slower crops.
Arugula (Roquette)
Germinates in 5–7 days, harvest in 30–40 days. Peppery leaves thrive in Albuquerque's low humidity and cool fall nights.
Peas (Sugar Snap, Oregon Sugar Pod)
Sow by mid-September; germinate in 10–14 days, flower in 50–60 days. Install trellis now to save space.
Start indoors now
Broccoli (Calabrese, De Cicco)
Start seed indoors now; transplant in 4–5 weeks (early October) for harvest before first frost. De Cicco produces side shoots after main head.
Cabbage (Early Jersey Wakefield, Stonehead)
Sow indoors; transplant in 4 weeks for October planting. Stonehead is compact and cold-tolerant.
Kale (Lacinato, Winterbor)
Start indoors now; transplant in 5 weeks. Flavor improves after light frost; both varieties handle Albuquerque's dry wind well.
Harvest now
Tomatoes (remaining)
Pick any full-sized green fruit before first frost (Nov 6). Ripen indoors on a windowsill or in a paper bag with an apple.
Peppers (hot & sweet)
Harvest mature peppers now; plants will slow as nights cool. Leave some on plant to ripen if frost is still weeks away.
Summer squash (if still producing)
Pick regularly to encourage more fruit. Vines may slow in next 2–3 weeks as soil cools.
Tasks this week
- Water deeply after sowing—soil at 30°C dries fast in 30% humidity. Mulch new beds to retain moisture.
- Install row covers or frost cloth now for tender seedlings; you'll need them by late October.
- Deadhead spent summer flowers and cut back herbs (mint, oregano) to encourage fall growth.
- Scout for spider mites and whiteflies in hot, dry conditions; spray neem oil in early morning if needed.
- Amend beds with 5 cm (2 in) compost before planting cool-season crops to boost nitrogen.
Watch out for
- Extreme wind (up to 40 km/h mid-week) will desiccate seedlings and transplants—stake young plants and water more frequently.
- Albuquerque's low humidity (30%) and intense sun will stress newly sown seed; keep soil consistently moist for 2–3 weeks.
- Cutworms are active in fall—use collars around transplant stems or apply diatomaceous earth around base of plants.
The gardening note for Albuquerque, every week
One email, Sunday evening. Unsubscribe anytime.