What to plant in Dubai, month by month

October and November. Broccoli, cabbage, root crops and herbs go in from October, with lettuce and spinach following in November once nights cool, and the harvest runs through winter. Heat-lovers such as cucumbers, courgettes and tomato transplants can start in September with afternoon shade. Begin small: one sunny raised bed or a few large pots, fast crops, compost-rich soil and a drip line on a timer.

Choose a site with morning sun and some afternoon shade, make the bed about 1.2 m wide so you can reach the middle from either side, and fill it with clean sweet soil blended with compost and a little aged manure rather than native ground. Run drip irrigation, and mulch 5 to 7 cm deep. Build it in late August or September so the soil settles before the October planting rush.

Shade here still means heat, so choose plants rated for it. In our library, Elephant ear rates highest for shade outdoors, St Augustine grass and Zoysia grass are the shade-tolerant lawn grasses, and Snake plant, ZZ plant and Pothos suit sheltered or indoor spots. Plant shade species in autumn like everything else.

Water deeply and early, finishing before about 7am; DEWA advises avoiding the middle of the day. Mulch 5 to 7 cm deep, hold 30 to 50% shade cloth over young plants, choose heat-adapted species, skip fertiliser and heavy pruning, and check drip lines weekly. Above all, do not overwater: push a finger 5 cm into the soil first.

A short list. Okra, Malabar spinach, sweet potato, Vinca and Portulaca will go in through May and June if you can shade and water them carefully. Chilli, aubergine and cucumber can be started in trays, in shade, from August. Everything else is better left until September or October, when the soil is warm and the air is cooling.

For most trees, shrubs, lawns, bedding and vegetables, yes. October is the first month since April when the average high falls below 36°C, and the soil is still warm enough to push roots. Palms are the main exception: FAO guidance for hot climates puts the best date palm planting window at mid-February to mid-March.