Fertilizing Citrus

Don't forget to fertilize your citrus trees this weekend!  Citrus should be fertilized three times per year:  around Labor Day, Valentine's Day and Memorial Day.  Here is a great chart with more information on this subject:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcals.arizona.edu%2Fmaricopa%2Fgarden%2Fhtml%2Fpubs%2FMC91.pdf&ei=f-tEUMzQINDSigKM-IGADg&usg=AFQjCNFI4JqpaCVb5R2BOUJ70A45JOhAMQ

Ready, Set, Plant!

It's one of my favorite times of the year - cool season planting time!  Despite our hot temperatures, late August/early September is prime time for planting your cool season veggies.  Over the next couple weeks, spend some time preparing your beds so you have a successful crop of yummy fall vegetables. 

I have cleared 2 of my 3 beds for planting, and am adding some beds to my veggie patch.  Take a look:

In the back of the photo, under the sunflower art, will be a new 3x6 raised bed.  I plan to plant all flowers in here for a colorful backdrop to the veggies.   I amended the bed in the middle of the photo with my compost that cooked over the summer.  This 2x5 bed will soon be full of kale, lettuce, swiss chard and broccoli. 

This is a new raised 3x3 bed that will be filled with soil and planted as well.  It is made of recycled wood and plastic so it won't rot or splinter.  I am going to let my kids plant this one with seeds of their choice.  The more exposure children have to the seed to plant process, the more likely they are to eat vegetables!

If you are unsure of what to plant this time of year, refer to this fantastic Vegetable Planting Guide for Maricopa County:  http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1005.pdf

Another great reference is 10 Steps to a Successful Vegetable Garden: 
cals.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1435.pdf

Get moving and happy planting!

Sweet Salvage

I recently was introduced to this fantastic store by a friend.  It is only open for four days a month, and is located in the antique district on Phoenix on 7th Avenue.  I just adore this birdhouse I found last week:

It is hard to stay focused and expect a long line if you arrive right at 10am, but don't be discouraged!  The line moves quickly and there is enough merchandise for everyone to find treasures.

Address:  4648 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix  85013
Phone:  602-279-2996
www.sweetsalvage.net

They will be open again on August 16-19, September 20-23 and October 18-21st.

Happy Shopping!

A Gardener's Refrigerator

I recently posted a photo of my car trunk on a typical day.  Well, here is the current status of my second refrigerator. 

This is what happens in my house when your pumpkins ripen a little early.  Yikes!  The good news is I harvested all the pumpkins so I have just enough room to keep them happy until Halloween.

July Heat

Not much flourishes in our 110+ temperatures except for a few sunflowers.  I have four different varieties, but the Mexican Sunflower is my favorite. 

I think I'll spend most of the this month reading seed catalogs and preparing for a large fall planting!

Stay cool.....

A Gardener's Trunk

At any given time, my car is transporting some type of plant material.  Soil, transplants, seeds, empty pots, bugs, garden tools - you name it.  Most people keep car emergency kits in their trunk.  I keep a garden emergency kit:  clippers, a trowel, extra seeds, empty bags for plants, zip-ties and a couple of my favorite plant reference books.

We are selling our old house and I've been busy propagating as many plants as possible from my beloved gardens of the past.  Yesterday, my trunk was full of transplant treasures:

Look closely and you'll see iris, daylilies, pencil euphorbia and osteospermum.  A good day at the office, indeed!

Squash on the Way

This year, I planted some different varieties of squash other than zucchini.  So far, so good.  I have beautiful squash blossoms for color, as well as small squash forming on the vines.  

Butternut Babies

Butternut Squash:  this vine is going to take up a very large area.  I'm not sure I chose the best location for it, so we will have to tread carefully through the covered garden path.   

Teenie Golden Scallopini Squash

If these plants produce like my zucchini did last year, be prepared to receive some on your doorstep.  We'll be making roasted squash, bread, squash tacos, quiche - you name it.  Squash smoothies anyone? 

All Things Purple

My favorite color in the garden right now is purple.  Check out these purple beauties!

If you don't like to eat artichokes, you can still benefit from planting them in your garden.  Just let the bulb go to bloom, sit back and enjoy.

This garden sits outside my kitchen window.  The little purple flower is Love in a Mist.  I grew these from seed (Botanical Interests) and it has been blooming for almost two months.  This is a MUST for your garden next year.

Another favorite:  Sea Lavender.  I grouped three of these together and love the various shades of purple.  It enjoys partial sun and regular water.  I haven't had much success with lavender in the past, so I'll stick with this variety.  Ooh la la!

Peach Delight

Last weekend I went on the Arcadia Edible Garden Tour.  I have been to these gardens before, but I always learn something new and get great ideas.  Here is what I learned:

• The Farmyard grows beet greens and Swiss chard in the summer.  Plant in a space with morning sun and afternoon shade.  She also uses a seaweed fertilizer that helps the soil retain moisture during the hot months.  I planted the seeds this morning so my experiment has begun!
• I want a peach tree.  We recently cut down a dead orange tree and I have been thinking of possible replacements.   I will try the Desert Gold variety as I understand it does well in the low desert.  I sampled some of the tastiest peaches ever from two gardens on the tour and it sealed the deal for me.

• Grow grapes on an arbor?  Maybe.  This is a possibility for my future arbor in my vegetable garden.  I currently have grapes growing along a wire in between some posts, but thought the arbor would provide better support.  This one at Boho Farm looked so pretty.  The only downfall is that grapes are deciduous so the arbor would be bare for part of the year.

• Use re-mesh to keep out unwanted critters in your garden or for a shade structure.  Why didn't I think of this?  Re-mesh is great as a support for vines too.   I'm definitely heading to Lowe's today for some remesh for our school garden as we are putting in shade structures tomorrow.

The Season of Sunflowers

Sunflowers are emerging and/or in bloom in yards everywhere.  There are so many varieties of these beauties so a sunflower garden is a must.  Here are four varieties planted in my garden:

Lemon Queen

Giant Sunflower - up to 8 feet tall

Ooh la la, my latest discovery!

Mexican Sunflower

 My favorite seed source for sunflowers (and just about everything else) is Botanical Interests.  Check out their beautiful selection!  http://www.botanicalinterests.com.

Palo Verde Beauty

It's official - I am in love with my Palo Verde trees.  We have three of them in our front yard, my favorite being the one that sits directly outside the arch to my front patio.  Its canopy is quite large so it feels like my whole front yard is under a bright yellow umbrella.  Take a look:

Gorgeous!  Palo Verde trees make a huge mess but it is worth the clean-up.  I love pulling into the driveway and laying my eyes on this beauty.  The limbs and branches are all twisted and gnarled - adding even more charm.

View from below

If you don't have one of these in your yard, go get one!  Desert adapted, low water use and stunning!

Sunday Mornings

Today is my first lazy Sunday in many weeks and you can guess how I'll be spending it - in the garden.   My list of work to do is long, but it can wait while I check the progress of my summer veggies.   I've been using a seaweed fertilizer from Sweet Garden Organics and it seems to be creating happy plants.  Take a look:

Cucumbers for Jack

Anaheim peppers 

Grapes!! 

Artichoke

Zucchini

Green Zebra Tomato

Bush Snap Bean

It's not too late to sow seeds for summer.  You can still plant black eyed peas, yardlong beans, Armenian cucumbers, jicama, okra, summer squash, tomatillos and watermelon.  Gotta love gardening in Arizona - you can plant and harvest almost every day of the year

Support Local Seed Companies

I have discovered a new seed company, Sweet Garden Organics!  Their store is in Show Low, AZ but you can order seeds online at www.sweetgardenorganics.com.   Here are some packets I bought on a recent garden tour:

Lavender:  I have never tried lavender from seed, and haven't had much success with it as a transplant.  I planted the seeds and am anxiously waiting for a bud.

Edamame:  Edamame are replacing my row of snap peas I finally retired to the compost.  They are alternated with a Bush Snap Pea from Seeds of Change.

Squash:  Crookneck Squash is a favorite of mine.  See the trellis I made for it below:

I took two trellises, turned them upside down and tied the top with wire.  This made a night upright growing space in the middle of a bed for my squash.  I don't have much vertical space in my garden so I have to be creative!

I typically never fertilize my plants with anything but my own compost, but am trying this seaweed fertilizer.  You water it in, once per week.  It is supposed to help the plants hold moisture - a bonus during our hot summers. 

Real Gardens, Real People Tour

I toured seven gardens today on the Real Gardens, Real People tour sponsored by the Master Gardening program at University of Arizona.  It was a beautiful day and north Scottsdale has some amazing views!  Here are a few plants I saw that would be good additions to any desert landscape:

Echinopsis sp.:  the blooms on this cactus are spectacular.  Blooms come in a variety of colors.  I would recommend you locate this cactus in a well-viewed area of your garden as it is a show stopper.

Tiny Tangerine Bulbine, Bulbine frutescens:
This plant is unique and dainty.  I saw it planted singularly as well as in clusters and it looks lovely either way.  Plant along a walkway so it is visible.  I love it!

Jerusalem Sage, Phlomis fructicosa
This was in a few of today's featured gardens.  The texture of the leaves is soft and soothing to the eye.  A nice alternative to the more popular sage varieties.













Other plants that caught my eye: 
Bergaalwyn Aloe, Aloe Marlothii 'Berger'
Aeonium, Aeonium undulatum
Forest Cabbage Tree, Cordyline banksii
African Mallow
Star Jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides
Pine Needle Milkweed, Asclepias linaria   

New Beginnings

March is the month to turn over your garden - pull out the cool season veggies and plant the warm season seeds.  As I take out my beautiful chard, plentiful snap peas, kale, onions and cabbage, I initially feel sad to see them go.  After a couple days, however, I am so excited about the new possibilities that I am over the past and lovin' the present!  Here is to the beginning of a fantastic spring and summer!

Flowers are sprouting and blooming - including freesia, clover, lilies, poppies, daffodils and Bells of Ireland.   Sunflowers, hollyhock, bee balm and zinnia seeds are in the ground.

Last summer, I planted two Thompson Seedless Green Grapes vines.  I am looking forward to clusters of this golden fruit!  This year I will add two more vines, but of the red variety. Let's hope the birds don't find the grapes in my backyard corner.  My little guy, Nick, is so excited for endless grapes!!

Cucumbers are the first to sprout.  My son, Jack, loves cukes and pickles so this bed has his name on it.

Two artichoke bulbs appeared today.  This is a huge artichoke plant so I hope to enjoy many, many fruits this year.  

Spring Pots

In order to have your pots full of blooms year round, you need to plan ahead.  I am getting better at "pot management" (sounds illegal) and this spring, my approach seems to be working.  Here are some of my pots:

Front Porch Welcome Pot:
Nasturtium, vinca (can be a perennial in AZ), pink geranium (behind egg sign) and a yellow snapdragon that is a surprise return from last spring.  I planted the nasturtium seeds in early fall when the vinca was still going strong.

More Front Porch Pots:

Left Pot:  Red geranium, pink petunias, nasturtiums, two daffodils, and an Asiatic lily that will bloom closer to summer.  I will put a smaller sunflower variety and/or zinnia in this pot shortly for the hot summer months ahead.

Right Pot:  The pink flower is mainly clover I was given from my old neighbor, Jodi.  It is a perennial that is very hardy and spreads.  There is an orange lily sprouting in the middle of the clover that will keep this pot colorful in the summer.

Pool Deck Pot:
This yellow nasturtium is one of my favorites.  Typically, they are orange or pink so the yellow is a sweet alternative.  Narcissus just finished blooming so I left their stems for a tall, green background.  I have a mystery plant in the back left corner (maybe a daisy?), some pink vinca in the middle and purple allysum down below.  I have thrown so many seeds in this full-sun exposure pot over the past year that I am never quite sure what will appear next.  Pink and white cleone seeds from my mom's garden in NJ are in here - let's hope they pop soon!

Side Porch Pot:
The centerpiece of this pot is purple mustard.  I saw this gorgeous veggie on an edible garden tour and loved it.  More narcissus remants and a Oriental Star Gazer lily growing in the right lower corner.  I also have a dahlia in here from my aunt Terri in NJ.







Vegetable Garden Pot:  This pot contains basil, freesia and calendula.  I also recently planted some hyacinth bean vine seeds to grow up the post behind it and along my grapevine supports.  This pot gets full afternoon sun which is scorching in the summer so I will have to put something super durable in here soon.  Sunflowers!  An orange Mexican sunflower will add color and some shade for the vegetable bed located directly in front of this pot. 

 

Plant your pots full to the brim.  They can handle more than one or two plants at a time.   Grow up, down and in the middle.  Mix vegetables, herbs and ornamentals as long as they share watering needs.  Grow plants from seed to save money as annual transplants can get costly if you have large pots.  

Happy Potting!

Watch Where You Step!

As I walked around my yard today, I was careful to not step on volunteer plants.  I have little surprises everywhere!  I love volunteer plants and don't dare move them.  If they are happy in a small crack or under a tree, I leave them alone.  Here are my finds of the day:

 Vinca under a palm tree

 Mother of Millions (Kalanchoe daigremontiana) under my fountain, between pots

 Mystery plant in between bricks on patio

Purple mustard greens in brick crevices

If you compost you too will be sure to have volunteers once you spread your soil in your garden.  Birds, the wind and water can also transport seeds or plants all over your yard.  Nature at its best!

Lesson Learned: Artichoke

Last fall, I moved my artichoke from a pot to my square foot garden.  Little did I believe (although I read) this plant would grow so big.  Check this out:

If you look closely, the plant is in the back corner square of this 4x4 garden.  It's growth has now shaded all 3 adjacent squares so nothing can grow in them.  Moving it again is going to be a big job as these roots are sure to be deep.  I will have to wait until after its bud production later this spring.

The artichoke is a perennial that can grow up to 6 feet in diameter, and 3-4 feet in height.   It needs so much space that it is often used as a landscape plant as opposed to placing it in a garden.  They grow best in sun, in a rich, loose, well-drained soil.

Be sure to consider the FULL growth potential of your plant when choosing its location.  Moving plants is always an option (and one I fully encourage), but it is stressful on a plant to be moved.  If planting veggies in a square foot kit, place your sprawling, high growth veggies on the corners and encourage them to sprawl outward.  Leave a few feet around the perimeter of your square foot garden for growth of plants.  Last summer, I planted squash on a corner and it grew outward about 4 feet!  Tomatoes are tall and will shade adjacent plants so plan accordingly.


Good luck and let's hope this artichoke provides me with some yummy buds!

Bean, Kale and Chard Soup

As I harvest all remaining cool season vegetables from my garden (making room for warm season ones), I am enjoying finding ways to use them in the kitchen.  My friend, Cory, recommended trying kale and chard in a cannellinni bean soup.  The result?  Fantastic soup! 

The color of the greens in the saute pan is gorgeous.  I wanted to eat it just like this, but continued on with the soup recipe.

The verdict in my house was a solid thumbs up.  I have many more greens and am considering a second batch for the freezer.

Kale, Chard and Bean Soup (combo of Cory Pfitzer and Martha Stewart recipe):

3 Tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
5 garlic cloves, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
1 bunch Swiss chard, stems removed and chopped
1 bunch kale, stemmed removed and chopped
4 cups chicken stock
2 cups cold water
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
2 cans cannellini beans
1/4 tsp  oregano
1/4 tsp  basil leaves (or 1/4 c fresh basil, chopped)
1/4 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp parsley  (or 1/4 c fresh parsley, chopped)
1 Tbsp course salt
1/4 tsp pepper
Fresh Parmesan cheese

Place olive oil, onions and garlic in large saucepan over medium heat.  Saute for 3 minutes, add chopped celery.  Cook 3 minutes and add Swiss chard and kale.  Continue cooking for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.   Stir in tomatoes and dry spices and cook for 3 more minutes.

Add 4 cups of chicken stock and 2 cups cold water.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes.  Add cannellini beans and simmer for 10 more minutes.   Soup should be pretty dense.  Serve with fresh Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top and fresh bread.  

Enjoy!