Vegatable gardens? (Maricopa: gated, live in, food)

[markas214]

I saw the fruit tree thread. What's the potential for growing tomatoes and other vegatables? I know the soil is very coarse and rocky at least from what I've seen. Also what about watering? Both fruit trees and vegatables.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by markas214

I saw the fruit tree thread. What's the potential for growing tomatoes and other vegatables? I know the soil is very coarse and rocky at least from what I've seen. Also what about watering? Both fruit trees and vegatables.

The soil is actually great in many parts of the valley - in the areas that were formerly irrigated farmland. If you live in an area near mountains, you probably can't grow anything - I've had no luck at all in Estrella - unless you go with raised beds of topsoil you bring in.

Otherwise, you can grow melons and such in the summer and pretty much anything that grows in the east in the summer can be grown in winter here. Tomatoes are hit and miss because they go in in early spring but a heat wave will make them drop the buds. My MIL grew great tomatoes for many years. There are varieties that are best for this climate.

[AzDreamer]

There is an Arizona gardening forum at Gardening in Arizona - GardenWeb

[snowthedirtbub]

We have had good luck gardening in Arizona, we've grown peppers, cucumbers, banana squash, corn.

[cap1717]

The trick to gardening in AZ (well, one of the tricks, at least) is to get the "season" thing right. Summer is not the growing season. We actually have two short growing seasons. . . one in the spring, and one in the fall. With frost / freeze protection, many food crops can be grown all winter. Best source of both general and specific information is the Maricopa County Cooperative Extension Service, Master Gardener Hotline. I believe they also have an online question and answer board.