The Potted Desert View

The Potted Desert View
This blog is for you, the native or transplanted desert dweller. Our harsh and varied desert climates continually present a challenge for gardeners. Those of you who have moved from a colder climate such as the mid-west or New England, you have most likely tried to find container gardening information that tells you how to grow the kind of garden like you had 'back home.'

Search here to find answers to your potted garden questions.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Vegetable Garden Information - A Free Resource from the Master Gardener Program

Use our Master Gardner program through the UA Cooperative Education program for your plant information. 

Vegetable information can be found at

And to save you time - for your winter garden:
Cool-season vegetables include beet, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, lettuce, onion, pea, potato, radish, spinach and turnip. Because they are hardy or frost tolerant and germinate in cold soil they can be planted in winter or early spring depending on location. For best quality these crops need to mature during cooler periods rather than in the heat of the summer.

Monday, November 7, 2011

November Potted Garden Tips

If you are not on my Potted E-News list, maybe you want to be!! Click here to sign up!
In the meantime, here are Novembers tips:

Our Yard of Winter Flowers - ready to go out to our clients!
  
It is definitely time to plant your winter annuals. Have fun with different textures and colors! Remember not to combine too many colors in one pot.

Keep watering your pots. When you plant new flowers, be sure you do not let those tender new roots dry out.

 
Roses in November (adapted from the Rose Society of Tucson)

We hope you are enjoying your fall blooms!


Water - if you do not have any annuals in your pots with your roses, you should water every other day.

 
Feed:

  • Continue your water soluble fertilizer, until the fall shows are over.
  • Toward the end of November, you no longer want to encourage new growth.
  • Let your roses have a brief rest period for the winter.

Pests:
  • Keep a watchful eye for powdery mildew. As the nighttime temperatures cool off, the conditions are right for this fungus.
  • At the first signs of mildew on your roses, spray with a fungicide such as Funginex.
  • Unless you have a mildew problem, you should not need to spray.

 If you need any help or have any questions, email me!

Cold Snap Here - Great local Tucson information

The average early frost for Tucson is November 15. Today is only the 7th but here we are with a forecast of 35 degrees tonight. So those living in the colder regions of Tucson and Southern Arizona - beware!

I suggest you bring in your tender tropicals and cover any plants in question. No - this is not a deep freeze but with the warm temperatures we have been having, we have new growth on our plants. Those that are rated as frost tender need to be protected.

For great information on proactive garden planning, check out this article from yesterday's AZ Daily Star.

In the meantime, this weekend will be a great time to plant your winter annuals!