We are new to the forum. My Girlfriend, Kate, and I, Todd decided to build a raised garden. Well our small project has quickly turned into a large endeavor. We started last year, getting a late start and suffering through some irrigation problems during our Hot Phoenix summers. We did well, but this year we are hoping to have tremendous success. We got an early start and our weather has been incredible for us. We have enjoyed ourselves, but we are struggling with aphids and other pests, and looking for overall guidance. We are still figuring out how and when to harvest half of it.
About the Garden:
24" raised garden - approx 300 sqft. It forms a perimeter to a central patio area. Additional gardens are 12" raised gardens 4'x8' and two at 4'x6.5'
Tomatoes - Approx 30 -20 different varieties
Peppers - Approx 30 - 22 different varieties
Cucumbers - 4
Butternut Squash- 1
Pumpkins - 3 - 2 types
Corn - 28 - 4 types
Goji Berries - 2
Grape - 1
Misc Berries - 6
Beans - 23 - 4 types
Tomatillos - 5 - 2 types
Red Leaf Lettuce
Kale - Green and Red -7-8
Red Cabbage
Bak Choi 3
Tree Collard
Romanesco
Cheddar Cauliflower
Leeks 6
Garlic 12
Green Onions 5
Peanuts 4
Quinoa 10
Various Melons - 6-7
Pak choi
Carrots - 5 3-4' rows 5 different
Beets 2 different 3 rows
Random Lettuce
Brussel Sprouts5
Swiss Chard 4
Rhubarb 1
Rhadish - 5
Spinach - 7-10
More I am sure- We are pretty dense and it's still early in the growing season
Random herbs and flowers are in 24 pots handing on the wall.
Aphids - are a major issue right now. Does anyone have recommendations? This year , we have relied solely on the irrigation, but we will start hand watering with the sprayer in the evenings to spray them off the plants. We read about soap and neem oil but they seem to be detrimental to the beneficial insects along with possibly the plants.
We would like to bring in benficial insects but came here for recommendations on sources.
Any other organic remdy ideas that we should try?
Harvest - at what point do we start taking cuttings of the various greens to add to salads. Same with beets and carrot greens ( we are worried to damage the plant and growth.
We have a hold over shishito pepper from last year- producing 12 peppers currently. When do we harvest the various peppers? We had been harvesting shisito when they are red, but we don't know when we should harvest green ones.
Any advice would greatly appreciated. We are total Newbies. Being in Phoenix, any specific advice for surviving the Summer heat and having a could fall harvest will also be appreciated.