What to plant?
Now here's a question with a simple answer. Grow what you like to eat... and
what'll grow well South of Flagstaff.
I like salsa makings myself.
- Tomatoes
- Cilantro
- Sweet onions
- Chilis
In addition, some other vegetable garden favorites deserve
some space...
- Corn
- Green beans
- Green onions
- Cucumbers
- Lettuce
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?
Our short growing season around Flagstaff often dictates the varieties of vegetables we use. Planting
varieties that bear quicker, plus some that bear a little slower extend the
fresh veggie season for us.
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 local suppliers do not have the vegetable plants and seeds you need to get
started early. I've found two answers for that problem. The first one is the
internet. You can use
the Google search box below and enter a keyword phrase such as vegetable seeds
or herb seeds to find ads for on-line suppliers.
The
other answer? Drive down to Sedona or Cottonwood to buy plants and seeds when
their growing season starts.
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
One of the big advantages of vegetable gardening in smaller plots is it facilitates crop rotation.
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
Prepare the bed ahead of time. It's a good idea to continually build up the
soil. At the end of the season you could add manure and
turn it under. It�ll have several months to break down and add nutrients to
your soil.
Fertilize as needed during the growing season. The proper amount
of food, water, and light are the fuels powering your garden.
Sun and shade
Some plants demand full sun and thrive with the hot sun beating down. Other
plants need filtered sunlight or partial shade. You must give them what they
want. A portable frame and shade screen work well for sun tender plants.
Eating and canning
Probably the main attraction of raising your own vegetables is that home grown,
garden fresh taste. No store or even a farmer's market can beat it!
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!
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