CITYSunTimes Web Exclusive October 2009
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CITYLife
Time To Prepare Fall Gardens
Arizona Nursery Association (ANA) member retailers are reporting increased interest in home vegetable gardening this year. According to Jonathan Manning, manager of Elgin Nursery, sales of vegetables plants were up phenomenally this past spring. With this increased interest, Arizona Nursery Association member retailers have prepared a Fall Planting Guide in order to assist home gardeners to prepare their gardens for fall.
Jay Harper, Harper’s Nurseries, encourages homeowners to take the time to properly prepare their soil prior to planting. “The soil will still be ready to plant in the same day so taking the time to amend the soil increases your garden’s chance to thrive,” says Harper. He recommends mixing compost, gypsum, bone meal and an all purpose fertilizer into your soil to obtain the proper soil mix.
Great plants to start in your garden right now, which do very well even for the novice gardener, are tomatoes and peppers. If you are ready to try something a little more adventurous, you might want to plant artichokes or strawberries later in the fall. Now is also the best time to begin the root and leaf crops which you start from seeds or seedlings, including lettuces, cabbages and carrots. Most ANA member nurseries are stocked with these plants throughout the Valley and you can refer to the following table for a complete guide for when to plant.
For the ANA member retail location nearest you, visit azna.org. For additional information, visit elginnursery.com or harpersnursery.com.
VEGETABLE PLANTING DATES FOR FALL |
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ASPARAGUS |
Oct. 1-Mar.1 |
KOHLRABI |
Sept. 1-Dec. 1 |
BEET |
Sept. 1-Mar. 15 |
LEEK |
Sept. 1-Jan. 1 |
BROCCOLI |
Sept. 1-Dec. 1 |
LETTUCE, HEAD |
Sept. 1-Jan. 1 |
BOK CHOY |
Sept. 1–Feb. 1 |
LETTUCE, LEAF |
Sept. 1-Mar. 1 |
BRUSSELS SPROUTS |
Sept. 1-Dec. 1 |
MUSTARD |
Sept. 1- Jan. 1 |
CABBAGE (PLANTS) |
Sept. 15-Jan. 1 |
ONION, GREEN BUNCH |
Sept. 1-Feb. 1 |
CARROT |
Sept. 1-Mar. 1 |
ONION, DRY (SEEDS) |
Oct. 15-Jan. 1 |
CHARD |
Sept. 1-Mar. 1 |
ONION, DRY (SETS) |
Nov. 1-Feb. 1 |
CAULIFLOWER |
Sept. 1–Feb. 1 |
PARSLEY |
Sept. 1-Jan. 1 |
CHINESE CABBAGE |
Sept. 1-Jan. 1 |
PARSNIP |
Sept. 1- Jan. 1 |
CELERY |
Sept. 1–Oct. 1 |
PEA, SPRING |
Oct.15-Dec. 15 |
COLLARD |
Sept. 1-Jan. 1 |
RADISH |
Sept. 1-Apr. 15 |
ENDIVE |
Sept. 1-Jan. 1 |
RUTABAGA |
Sept. 1-Feb. 1 |
GARLIC |
Sept. 1-Dec. 1 |
SPINACH |
Sept. 1-Feb. 1 |
KALE |
Sept. 1-Dec. 1 |
TURNIP |
Sept. 1-Feb. 1 |
Get Gardening Help From The Masters
For in-depth information on growing fruits and vegetables in Arizona, try the Arizona Master Gardener Manual administered by the Arizona Cooperative Extension, which is part of the University of Arizona’s College of Agriculture. Visit ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg.
CITYLife Web Exclusives | CITYSunTimes October 2009