You would probably get more responses if you had a particular question about a plant you are planning on planting, such as what tomato or Pepper would grow best in the desert. Also, search Newbie in seed exchange and find one that shows how to activate private message so people can pm you.

That said, tomatoes and peppers are pretty easy to grow in containers, if the containers are big enough. Cherry tomatoes tend to be easier than big tomatoes, such as beefsteaks. Bell peppers are hard to grow in hot climates. but hot peppers and banana peppers do well in hot areas. In the desert you are probably going to need afternoon shade.

Try to get information from people in your area. I am in semi tropical area with over 50 inches each year. I have different problems than you would have. Yo

Get in touch with your county extension office. They will have good free advice on gardening in your area. Good luck with your gardening. Try to start small and remember, with each failure you can learn something, and over time things will get easier. We all make mistakes even after years of gardening.

I garden in the desert. Pole and bush beans did really well for me. So did cucumbers. Squash do great. It really makes a difference where in the desert you are, I live at 4500 feet and it's not as hot as sea level a few hours from where I live. Planting dates vary greatly based on zone. We can get down as low as 10 degrees in the winter. So far this winter has been very warm. Mulch things well.

There is an Adopt a Newbie thread where you can be adopted by a seasoned gardener that knows your growing zone. Check it out.

As few seeds to get started, check out the Newbie Seed Project. There are also instructions there as to how to set up your messaging, etc. (2nd post in thread)

Samantha, Click this link to check out Val's offer.

Newbie Seed Project Jan 2018

There are short-season and long-season deserts, too. What kind of soil do you have? Is it sandy, clay, loam, clay loam, etc.?