What plants need, and how the Gulf climate changes the rules

Plants everywhere need the same basic things: light, water, air, nutrients and the right temperature. In the Gulf, the calendar is turned upside down: the cooler months are the main growing season and summer is the hardest time to grow.

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The five basic needs

• Light: plants make their food from sunlight. Gulf News gardening experts say most vegetables and herbs need about 6 to 8 hours of sun a day, while leafy greens can cope with some shade.
• Water: roots need steady moisture, but the RHS warns against prolonged waterlogging, which starves roots of air.
• Air: roots breathe too, which is why drainage holes and loose, crumbly soil matter.
• Nutrients: plants in pots have limited compost, so the RHS says they need occasional feeding.
• Temperature: each crop has a comfortable range. One Dubai landscaping specialist quoted by Gulf News suggests about 10 to 18C for cool-weather crops.

The UAE growing year

• BBC Good Food Middle East describes two broad seasons: a hot season from June to September with high temperatures and strong sun, and a cooler season from October to May.
• The same guide lists the cooler months for most vegetables and herbs, including leafy greens, carrots, radishes and herbs such as basil, parsley and coriander.
• Experts quoted by Gulf News suggest planting cool-weather crops towards the end of November or early December, so different sources give slightly different start dates. Watch the weather rather than the calendar alone.
• The UAE Year of Sustainability planting guide includes a Ministry of Climate Change and Environment table of the best times to plant crops such as lettuce, tomato, cabbage and carrot; use it as your local reference.

Summer: heat, sun and strategy

• Gulf Business reported National Center of Meteorology forecasts of 40 to 45C for most of the UAE in early summer, with some areas passing 45C.
• The RHS notes that strong sun and wind are the main limits on balconies and rooftops, and that leaf scorch can happen even when plants are well watered.
• BBC Good Food Middle East says some heat-tolerant crops, such as okra, aubergine, hot peppers and melons, can be sown around May to June and grown through the hot season, and that cucumbers and pumpkins need shade cloths and proper watering.
• As general advice for beginners, summer is a good time to rest pots in shade, keep tough herbs alive and plan for the autumn, rather than starting new seedlings.

Preparing before the season

• An Emirati farmer quoted by Khaleej Times advises preparing your plot at least a month before the planting season begins.
• He suggests clearing old plants and weeds, loosening the soil, and starting seedlings in shade as the weather cools before moving them into fuller sun.
• He also advises against planting the same crop in the same spot every season: rotate crops or let the soil rest.
• For pots, preparation means checking drainage holes, refreshing tired potting mix and cleaning containers.

Reading your own space

• Gulf News notes that south-facing balconies get the most sun, east-facing ones get gentler morning sun and west-facing ones get hot afternoon sun.
• Spend one day noting when direct sun reaches your windowsill or balcony, and for how many hours. This tells you what you can grow.
• An east-facing spot with morning sun suits leafy greens and herbs well; a very hot west-facing spot may need shade in the afternoon.
• As a general rule, light indoors drops sharply as you move away from a window, so keep edible plants as close to the glass as possible.