Gardening in the Desert
Each spring, we plant a vegetable garden in our yard. It always seems to be somewhat of a science experiment and I love it! I wouldn’t say that I have the greenest thumb, but I am all about doing what it takes for my tomatoes, peppers and herbs to grow. I have a little desert gardening advice to share with you. Put your own twist on your garden and enjoy your harvest!
Plan
I like to make a plan prior to planting to determine what we will get the most use out of. I then head to a nursery and select a variety of seeds and plants that will work best for our garden. I tend to use more plants than seeds. The plants are heartier and I have had more success with those. Another factor is timing, sometimes, like this year, I get to my garden later than expected. In this case, I wanted plants that already had a good start and would likely do well once transplanted.
When shopping for your plants, keep in mind the amount of sunshine your garden will have on a daily basis. Do your plants require full sun? Partial sun? How much space will each crop require? Prior to planting, I recommend lying out your plants and/or seed packets to get an idea about spacing. Fortunately, the container for the plant or seeds will have recommended spacing between plants.
A Theme is Always a Good Idea
If you’re thinking about having a theme for your garden, I have a few favorites.
Cocktail Garden - Many cocktails call for an herb or two. Your cocktails will be full of flavor when you add the ingredients straight from your garden. Mint, rosemary, basil, sage and lavender are great choices.
Salsa Garden - If you love salsa, plant all that you need to make a fresh pico de gallo all summer long. Tomatoes, jalapeños, onions, garlic and cilantro will do the trick!
Pizza Garden - Do you ever make pizza at home? Plant these toppings for your pizza; tomatoes, basil, peppers, rosemary, oregano, basil and parsley.
A Few Tips:
Plant vegetables and herbs that you know that you are going to eat. For instance, I love tomatoes, so I make sure that these are planted each spring. I know between making salsa and eating the tomatoes right off the vine, that the tomatoes will not go to waste.
Don’t forget to water! I’m definitely guilty of killing a plant or two because I didn’t water the plant often enough. Make watering the garden part of your daily routine. Watering your plants early in the morning or in the evening should help keep your plants happy throughout the summer.
Prevent your pets from getting into your garden. Build a barrier around your garden, use raised beds or pots that are out of your pets line of vision.
Normally, after our last freeze you can begin your summer garden preparation. I often start the process in March, but hey sometimes things come up and you get to things when you can. If you haven’t started your seasonal garden yet, do so as soon as possible.
What do you plan on having in your garden this year?