Hello! This will be my first attempt at a vegetable garden in Las Vegas. I'm planning a raised garden bed, I refuse to deal with digging too deeply into the ground due to all the rocks! I ordered plum tomatoes, zucchini, jalapeño, habanero, and bell peppers, watermelon, snap peas, and cantaloupe. Based off your planting calendar, I missed the boat planting tomatoes indoors in December. Can I still start them now (late Feb) and expect decent results? Also, how much sun do these fruits and vegetables need? Right now, where I want to make my garden is still in the shade at noon. However, I know summertime will be a different beast, due to relentless sun and heat. Here's a picture I took on the side of the house where I'm thinking of planting my goods (south side of yard) taken at approx. 11am. I'd definitely appreciate some expert advice. Thanks, Krissy

to ATP!

No, not yet. Well, its too late snap peas; they should be planted in the fall.

You have shortened your growing season by a couple months but it's so long, a couple months won't hurt anything. Your soil may be warm enough now to direct sow your peppers and tomatoes. Wait another month and direct sow your cantaloupes, zucchini and melons.

In your climate, all your veggies might benefit from some afternoon shade but that's what shade cloth was invented for. Tomatoes and hot peppers will take a lot of heat and sun but bell peppers will not. The melons (or at least the fruit) will have to be protected also.

Have fun! I'm envious; my fingers are just itching to get in the dirt.

Daisy

Welcome to All Things Plants, @krissyreck !

I really have no idea about gardening in your zone... but I would say go ahead and give it a try, experience is really the best teacher! Plant some seeds now and then maybe at 1-month intervals, and see what happens

You know a good way to get vege garden info is from your local nursery. I know it gets hot, hot, hot where you are so I'd say start those tomatoes now. On the whole I grow most of my tomatoes from starts, it's just easier than from seed and they are cheap in six packs. The weather here on the central coast of California has been unusually hot and I'm thinking I should be starting tomatoes and melons now myself. I agree with Weedwacker, there is no teacher like experience.