Vegetables grow in Arizona as well as cactus.
Arizona has several climate zones. In the mountain regions, the climate has four distinct seasons with cold winters. Growing vegetables in those regions takes place in the spring and summer. In the desert regions, which include Tucson and metro Phoenix, vegetables grow all year long. Plant cool season vegetables in late fall through February. Plant warm season vegetables March through the end of May.
Instructions
Soil Preparation
1. Dig the soil down to a depth of 24 inches. Add a 4-inch layer of compost. Desert soil is poor in nutrients because there isn't a lot of falling debris such as leaves to enrich the soil. Add a 1-inch layer of gypsum. Arizona has alkaline soil and the water is alkaline. Most vegetables prefer acidic soil. The gypsum counteracts the alkalinity.
2. Dig up and remove any caliche. Caliche is hardened calcium carbonate and is common in Arizona. It looks like a whitish beige rock with an opaque powdery surface. Occasionally you'll find a layer of caliche. When that happens break it into pieces with a pick axe and remove the chunks. Caliche prevents the soil from draining properly. It also interferes with the strong root growth of plants.
3. Rake smooth.
Cool Season Vegetables
4. Plant seeds as soon as the temperature stays below 70 degrees at night and doesn't go above 85 degrees during the day. Usually that's in mid to late October. Cool season vegetables include leafy greens, peas, lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower. Plant carrots, radishes, parsnips and turnips as well. Broccoli and cauliflower planted from seedlings do better than from seed.
5. Cover the seeds with 1/8 inch of soil, with the exception of peas. Dig a 6-inch trench for peas. Add 2 inches of aged manure or compost. Cover with an inch of soil. Plant the peas in the now 3-inch deep trench 4 inches apart. Cover with an inch of soil. As the peas grow fill in the trench.
6. Water as needed. Rain happens infrequently in Arizona but it does occur. Vegetables need 1 1/2 inches of water per week, more when temperatures are higher. Test the soil by digging down a few inches. If the soil is dry at 3 to 4 inches, add water. If it's damp, wait a few days.
7. Feed every two weeks with a water soluble fertilizer diluted to half strength.
Warm Season Vegetables
8. Select varieties that have a shorter time to maturity. That may sound counter-intuitive because the summers are long and hot, but that's the problem. Once temperatures reach over 100 degrees on a consistent basis, which happens in June, fruit set stops. Choosing early varieties means you'll get mature tomatoes, peppers and eggplant before the heat sets in.
9. Plan the garden so it receives afternoon shade from about 2:00 p.m.
10. Plant seedlings of tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. Plant seeds of beans and squash. Corn is a space hog; most Arizona gardeners don't have the room for it. Corn is tricky as well since the dry hot summer breezes dry out the pollen from the tassels before they can pollinate the silks.
11. Water every three days during weather below 105 degrees and every other day when temperatures are above 105 degrees. Plants may wilt on the off days but as long as the soil is damp 3 inches below the surface, don't water. The exception is when temperatures are over 115 degrees. Cool down the plants with a misting of water. Cover with sheeting or shade cloth.
12. Feed every two weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half strength.
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