# What to plant in Dubai, month by month

Canonical: https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant · Updated: 2026-10-05
Source: Ghaf Gardens (https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant)

Dubai's growing year runs backwards from the temperate gardens most guides are written for. The new year starts in September with soil preparation, the real planting happens from October to March in mild, steady weather, and the summer from June to September is about keeping what you have alive. Pick a month below to see what to sow and plant, what is flowering or fruiting, what jobs to do, and what to watch out for, all rated for Dubai's heat.

Every plant list on these pages is drawn from the sowing and planting windows in our plant library, so the lists grow as the library does. Temperatures come from the Dubai International Airport 1991 to 2020 normals.

## The twelve months

| Month | Verdict | Mean high / low °C | To sow or plant | In flower or fruit |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [January](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/january.md) | Bloom and harvest begin | 24.4° / 15.3° | 38 | 31 |
| [February](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/february.md) | Peak bloom, peak harvest | 26.1° / 16.4° | 56 | 38 |
| [March](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/march.md) | Last great month: bloom, harvest, final planting | 28.9° / 18.6° | 67 | 60 |
| [April](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/april.md) | Last planting, then shade and mulch | 33.7° / 22.3° | 33 | 70 |
| [May](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/may.md) | Heat-lovers only: mulch and shade now | 38.2° / 26.1° | 12 | 62 |
| [June](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/june.md) | Survival month | 40° / 28° | 4 | 53 |
| [July](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/july.md) | Peak heat: survival month | 41.5° / 31.2° | 0 | 45 |
| [August](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/august.md) | Survival month, with next year's plans | 41.9° / 31.5° | 3 | 43 |
| [September](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/september.md) | Gardening's new year: prepare the soil | 39.5° / 28.9° | 25 | 45 |
| [October](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/october.md) | Prime planting month | 35.9° / 25.4° | 90 | 46 |
| [November](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/november.md) | Prime planting, in comfortable weather | 30.7° / 21.1° | 80 | 48 |
| [December](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/december.md) | Prime planting, cool and calm | 26.5° / 17.4° | 43 | 38 |

## The four seasons

- [Winter (Dec–Feb)](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/season/winter.md): Bloom and harvest. The bloom season
- [Spring (Mar–May)](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/season/spring.md): The last window. The last planting window
- [Summer (Jun–Sep)](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/season/summer.md): Survival season. The survival season
- [Autumn (Oct–Nov)](https://plantguide.ae/what-to-plant/season/autumn.md): Planting season opens. Planting season opens

## FAQ

**When is the best time to start a vegetable garden in Dubai?**  
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.

**How do I build a raised garden bed in Dubai?**  
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.

**Which garden plants cope with shade in Dubai?**  
Shade here still means heat, so choose plants rated for it. In our library, [Elephant ear](https://plantguide.ae/plants/elephant-ear.md) rates highest for shade outdoors, [St Augustine grass](https://plantguide.ae/plants/st-augustine-grass.md) and [Zoysia grass](https://plantguide.ae/plants/zoysia-grass.md) are the shade-tolerant lawn grasses, and [Snake plant](https://plantguide.ae/plants/snake-plant.md), [ZZ plant](https://plantguide.ae/plants/zz-plant.md) and [Pothos](https://plantguide.ae/plants/pothos.md) suit sheltered or indoor spots. Plant shade species in autumn like everything else.

**How do I keep plants alive in a Dubai summer?**  
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.

**Can I plant anything in the Dubai summer?**  
A short list. Okra, Malabar spinach, sweet potato, [Vinca](https://plantguide.ae/plants/vinca.md) and [Portulaca](https://plantguide.ae/plants/portulaca.md) 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.

**Is October really the best month to plant in Dubai?**  
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.

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Climate of Dubai (1991 to 2020 normals)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Dubai)
- [DEWA: Irrigation advice](https://www.dewa.gov.ae/en/consumer/sustainability/sustainability-and-conservation/irrigation)
- [FAO: Date palm planting](https://www.fao.org/4/y4360e/y4360e0f.htm)
- [The National: UAE gardening guide, what to plant and when](https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/home-garden/2024/05/05/gardening-uae-summer-plants/)
- [Gulf News: Winter gardening in the UAE](https://gulfnews.com/friday/home/winter-gardening-in-the-uae-a-budget-friendly-guide-to-growing-your-own-vegetables-1.1733397053629)
- [Gulf News: Flower-planting drive keeps Dubai in bloom](https://gulfnews.com/uae/environment/flower-planting-drive-keeps-dubai-in-bloom-1.1172222)
- [MoHRE: UAE midday break policy, 15 June to 15 September](https://gulfnews.com/uae/government/midday-outdoor-work-ban-returns-across-uae-for-22nd-year-1.500567381)
- [RHS: Watering plants wisely](https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-jobs/watering)