Raised Bed Gardening in the Desert (Arizona)?
Does anyone have experience at raised bed gardening in Arizona
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ElizabethB
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 2105
- Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2012 12:53 am
- Location: Lafayette, LA
Not in Arizona but in south Louisiana where we have extremes of either too much rain or not enough. I have practiced square foot gardening for many years and have wonderful production in a small space with much less work of row gardening. It is also much easier to control water. I have soaker hoses in my boxes. The night before water days (yeah we have those also) I bring the hose from the house to the garden. I have an inexpensive timer that I set to go off in the wee hours of the morning. By the time the sun hits my garden my plants are well hydrated and ready to face the sun and the heat.
Just my opinion. If you do decide to go with square foot gardening do get the book - second edition. I have both editions.
BTW - I really like growing my tomatoes and cucumbers vertically.
Good luck and happy gardening
Just my opinion. If you do decide to go with square foot gardening do get the book - second edition. I have both editions.
BTW - I really like growing my tomatoes and cucumbers vertically.
Good luck and happy gardening
Yes, I do to an extent.
Your seasons in the Phoenix area are very different than "normal", in that your species selections must be chosen wisely.
The spring season starts in late January, and you have until late may before you start getting obnoxiously hot temps that are detrimental to the plants.
Covers of sun screen, like that material used on window screens, to block part of the sunlight, are very helpful.
I got best results when I had ample mulch for moisture retention, used soaker hoses in the morning and late afternoon, and watched closely fire heat stress on the plants.
I always made sure I got my leaf crops pulled before the temps started hitting 95, and minimized the stuff I had growing through the hear of summer.
Your seasons in the Phoenix area are very different than "normal", in that your species selections must be chosen wisely.
The spring season starts in late January, and you have until late may before you start getting obnoxiously hot temps that are detrimental to the plants.
Covers of sun screen, like that material used on window screens, to block part of the sunlight, are very helpful.
I got best results when I had ample mulch for moisture retention, used soaker hoses in the morning and late afternoon, and watched closely fire heat stress on the plants.
I always made sure I got my leaf crops pulled before the temps started hitting 95, and minimized the stuff I had growing through the hear of summer.
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Gary350
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 7730
- Joined: Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:59 pm
- Location: TN. 50 years of gardening experience.
You will do best not to use raised beds. Arizona Co-op extension suggests 3" of manure or organic material tilled into 3" of soil gives you 6" of planting soil. Plant your seeds then use soaker hose to keep seeds wet until the plants come up. Once plants are up water morning, noon and evening few minutes each time. When plants get taller you don't need to water much there is plenty of water 3" below the surface.