South of Flagstaff Vegetable Gardening
South of Flagstaff vegetable gardening is usually done down around Sedona, Cottonwood, and Camp Verde. These lower, warmer regions grow fruits and vegetables in abundance, as illustrated by the photo at top. For Flagstaff vegetable gardening, the growing season in the high altitude areas just South of Flagstaff are too short to grow most vegetables without protection. We'll talk about hot houses and cold frames later in this discussion.
But first we need to think of gardening space because... the plot isn't always square. You can use traditional garden plots, strips, beds, and even pots. Why are Flagstaff vegetable gardening plots traditionally square or rectangular, just as they are in other localities? There's no requirement that your garden be this shape. I've had round vegetable gardens, triangular ones, long strips bordering the house or driveway, and other shaped gardens. You can tuck a few vegetables into this and that corner. The idea is to have enough garden area to grow some of what you eat. Not many of us have the space to do it in one plot. So do it in in a greenhouse and several plots, strips, and beds.
I like salsa makings myself.
In addition, some other vegetable garden favorites deserve
some space...
The list could go on and on, but the space available
and growing season for
vegetable gardening is often limited.
Buy plants or start from seed? The Flagstaff vegetable gardening season can
be extended by starting seeds or plants indoors. Another strategy that extends the garden bounty is to stagger planting
times... a few plants this week, several more in a couple of weeks.
Finding the plants and seeds early The
other answer? Drive down to Sedona or Cottonwood to buy plants and seeds when
their growing season starts.
Vegetable gardening
with non-hybrid seeds is very satisfying to many. My personal problem with
these suppliers, is their "package deals only." I do not want 12
varieties of tomatoes. All of these strategies can help keep your garden producing. You
just need to be sure you have enough plants in together to facilitate
pollination.
Greenhouses and such
Greenhouses, cold frames, and similar devices can be purchased as kits or home
built from scratch. Books and other information is available on-line, naturally.
Use the Google search box above and enter a keyword phrase such as gardening greenhouse kit
or gardening cold frame kit to see many ads and other resources on
the subject.
Rotation by family
If you grow tomatoes and peppers (same family) in a strip beside
the house, you should grow them in another location next year, say in a strip
beside the driveway. You can grow squash or another crop family where you had the
tomatoes and peppers last time.
Crop rotation should be done by plant
family , not just by plant.
Preparation and amendments Fertilize as needed during the growing season. The proper amount
of food, water, and light are the fuels powering your garden.
Sun and shade
I recently received this email from a
visitor...
Editor: I beg to differ
with you on gardening - I have been gardening in Flagstaff and Blue
ridge for 30 years and have always had a harvest. The local nurseries do
carry appropriate varities of veggies. I grow successfully tomatoes,
chilies, squash (both winter and summer) eggplant, early spring veggies,
and herbs. Not corn takes to much water. Yes sometimes you do have to
provide protection but you CAN garden successfully in Flagstaff. Anybody
reading your website will get the idea that you cannot veggie garden in
Flagstaff, it just takes a little more work thats all. Flagstaff has a
wonderful master gardener program and its members are aalways willing to
share info and tips. Look for their articles on gardening in the Flag
paper. Thank you
Vegetable gardening South of Flagstaff certainly is possible! This
visitor received a message that I did not intend to deliver. My message is that
you can grow vegetables and herbs at high altitude... if we adapt and
make the extra effort.
Eating and canning If you have the growing space and ambition you can raise
vegetables and can them. Many like the home processed, healthy, no chemicals
added, good taste and cost savings. Of course those cost savings come after the
first year, when you buy the jars and other canning supplies.
Flagstaff vegetable gardening suppliers
include Home Depot and Wal-Mart. On-line suppliers have better selections of seeds,
plants, books, and many other vegetable gardening products. You can find
suppliers by using the Google search box below and a keyword phrase like gardening supplies
or vegetable seeds, or herb seeds.
You can also grow herbs indoors and out, and they're
very useful.
Additional herb information is available to you. Try running a Google search using the keyword phrase medicinal herbs.
The Herb Companion
is a good herb magazine.
Flagstaff vegetable gardening can be done
successfully, by you and your neighbors!
Gardening Books
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