Starting a Farm in Arizona

Arizona’s agricultural landscape is a testament to resilience and ingenuity, molded by its arid climate and strikingly varied terrain. Despite harsh conditions like searing heat, low humidity, and mineral-rich soils, the state ranks as a top producer of lettuce, citrus, cotton, and dairy. Yuma takes center stage as the “Winter Lettuce Capital of the World,” feeding much of the nation when colder regions go dormant.

Stretching across USDA zones 4b to 10a, Arizona offers dramatically different gardening experiences. In low desert areas like Phoenix and Tucson, strategic crop timing enables year-round gardening: cool-season staples such as lettuce, carrots, and kale thrive from fall to spring, while summer ushers in hardy, heat-loving crops like okra, eggplant, and Armenian cucumbers.