Gardening in Arizona

MidniteRae

Anyone have any tips? It will be in a raised bed (except for the watermelons). We won't be planting any flowers, just fruits, veggies, and herbs. We just bought a tomato plant, 2 different pepper plants, and a strawberry plant. We also got some seeds. When would be the best time to plant watermelons, cantaloupe, and lettuce(caesar lettuce-[the back of the packet says tastes like romaine and has the texture of butterhead] if that matters). Is it too late to plant the seeds? Oh and they all they say full sun.

 

Emily227

I recommend getting a Sunset Western Garden book. It's considered the Bible for Western gardeners. You can also use their website www.sunset.com to get tips as well.

Inkful

Ditto on Sunset being the go-to resource for western gardeners- I'm a new gardener and refer to them daily.  Also, your local master gardener program will probably have the kind of info you're searching for.  Our local master gardener group has a booth at the local farmer's market, and I picked up a sheet with info about planting various fruits and veggies.

flame

I third Sunset.  They are the best, especially for desert gardeners. The garden book folks mentioned is more a great resource for landscape plants IMO, although the veggie section is great.  But the actual magazine has a great section each month on what you should be doing in the garden.  And that gives great veggie tips.

Where in AZ are you?  There's a difference between Tuscon versus Phoenix versus Flag, etc. It may be too late for lettuce unless you area at elevation.  Lettuce and greens hate the heat and wilt/bolt.

 

juno

flame:

I third Sunset.  They are the best, especially for desert gardeners. The garden book folks mentioned is more a great resource for landscape plants IMO, although the veggie section is great.  But the actual magazine has a great section each month on what you should be doing in the garden.  And that gives great veggie tips.

Where in AZ are you?  There's a difference between Tuscon versus Phoenix versus Flag, etc. It may be too late for lettuce unless you area at elevation.  Lettuce and greens hate the heat and wilt/bolt.

 

I agree with all of this.  I actually tried to consult my WG book for you when you first posted, but there was no guidance on seed starting times.  You might be able to get away with lettuce in some shade, depending on how hot it is, but it doesn't seem to work for me as well as it does for some other gardeners.  You might try a few in sun and a few in shade and see about when they bolt.  That would be great info for you for next year.  Trial and error is the best gardening teacher I've had!

vrangel6

I'm assuming you're in Phoenix.  Melons are a go right now, but lettuce might not do so well.  Your tomato plants should do well if they get some afternoon shade and your pepper plants should be ok too.  My strawberries stopped producing in May, but that could have been a fluke.

The Phoenix Permaculture Guild will host their first of 4 classes entitled "Vegetable Garden Design for the Desert" on Saturday if you are interested.  And in Phoenix.  Good luck with your garden!

http://www.phoenixpermaculture.org/events/vegetable-garden-design-for