I feel like I threaten to start a garden every week or so, generally right after spending more than I care to on produce at Sprouts, but hey...where do you even start such a venture here in the desert? Thankfully, the fine folks at the Community Food Bank have a new helpful video on gardening here in the Old Pueblo, plus they have a bunch of classes in October to help you take the next steps:
Soil and Compost Saturday, October 4
Rainwater Harvesting Thursday, October 9
Planting a Healthy Garden Saturday, October 11
Backyard Chickens Saturday, October 11
Garden Basics Intensive Tuesday, October 14
Water Saving Irrigation - Saturday, October 18
Wormania! - Saturday, October 18
Sustainable Design - Friday, October 24
Irrigating with Gray Water - Saturday, October 25
Diseño Sostenible - Saturday, October 25
Soil and Compost - Friday, October 31
All About Soil - Saturday, November 1
La Tierra y el Abono - Saturday, November 1
Planting a Healthy Garden - Friday, November 7
Seeds and Sprouts: Gardening for Kids - Saturday, November 8
Fruit Trees: Selection, Care, Pruning and Propagation - Saturday, November 8
Cultivar un Jardín Saludable - Saturday, November 8
Wormania! - Saturday, November 15
Home Canning, Freezing and Drying - Thursday, November 20
For gardening info and resources galore, check out the Food Bank's website.
Tags: community food bank , tucson gardening , tucson gardens , community food bank garden program , Video
An offer from the Arbor Day Foundation:
Everyone from Arizona who joins the Arbor Day Foundation in September will receive 10 free Arizona cypress trees as part of the Foundation's Trees for America program.
Through Trees for America, everyone is encouraged to plant trees that will benefit the environment and improve the quality-of-life. With one million members, the Arbor Day Foundation is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees.
"Arizona cypress trees can be used as an ornamental tree, as a windbreak or privacy screen or as a living Christmas tree in your landscape," said Matt Harris, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. "These trees will also add to the proud heritage of Arizona's 25 Tree City USA communities. For the last 38 years, Tree City USA has supported effective urban forest management across Arizona, and planting these trees will enhance the state's tree-planting tradition."
The trees will be shipped postpaid at the right time for planting between October 15 and December 10. The 6- to 12-inch trees are guaranteed to grow or they will be replaced free of charge. Planting instructions are enclosed with each shipment of trees.
New members of the Arbor Day Foundation will also receive The Tree Book, which includes information about tree planting and care.
To receive the free Arizona cypress trees, send a $10 membership contribution to Ten Arizona Cypresses, Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, NE 68410, by September 30, 2014, or join online at arborday.org/september.
Tags: Arizona cypress , Arbor Day Foundation , free trees
A magical summer occurrence unique to the Southwest and Tucson is almost upon us. We're not talking about July's watermelon eegee's; our late-afternoon monsoon showers; or making more than two lights in a row on Ina Rd.
Bloom Night is nigh.
According to Tohono Chul Park's Director of General Services Lee Mason, the legendary Queen of the Night Cereus flower, aka Peniocereus greggii, is poised to bless us with her annual one-night-only appearance.
I've been watching the Queen all weekend. On Friday afternoon it appeared to be on the verge of something happening. On Saturday they broke out of the stall stage (appears the change in weather had the desired effect) and on Sunday they were definitely moving. This morning they are in the 80 to 90 MM range, which tells me Bloom Night will happen sometime in the next 5 to 7 days. I will keep you informed so stay turned!
The exact date of the bloom, however, is a mystery, thus is the allure of the Queen of the Night. The legend has been passed down through generations, from the oral history of the Tohono O'odham to a modern email notification list you may join here.
The Bloom of the Night even has its own fragrance line! I personally prefer it to I-10 & Prince's "Odor de Effluent."
We will keep you informed of the progress, but until then, check out some of the history of the Night Bloom and tips to better prepare yourself for this annual event.
Tags: Tohono Chul Park , Queen of the Night , Bloom Night , cereus , Peniocereus greggii , desert bloom , flash mob , Tohono O'odham , Video
The Potted Desert Edible Garden
1. Get in another planting of all your cool season veggies, if you have room. Go ahead and transplant some more greens for an early spring salad. (Spinach, all lettuces, mesclun, swiss chard, kale)
2. Get your garden ready for the warm season planting. But, be ready to cover if it freezes again.
Tags: Marylee Pangman , container gardens , potted desert garden , summer flowers , Winter flowers , potted cactus , Potted Desert , Tucson garden , Southern Arizona , snowbird garden
1. Deadhead your flowers weekly. Be sure to pinch them back to the originating stem, not just the flower. This will support continuous bloom.
2. Cut back ornamental grasses to just above ground level in February.
3. Fertilize your potted plants every two weeks with a water soluble fertilizer. Best applied with a hose applicator.
4. Plant color annuals such as pansies, petunias, larkspur, primrose, poppy, stock, violas, alyssum, snapdragon and marigolds (warmer areas only.)
5. Watch shallow-rooted newly planted annuals, which can quickly dry out with spring winds.
6. Adjust watering schedule according to winter rains.
Want to keep your money out of the compost heap? Sign up for the Desert Potted View and our Free Monthly Potted Garden tips - sign up at Potted Desert Newsletter.
Tags: Marylee Pangman , container gardens , potted desert garden , summer flowers , Winter flowers , potted cactus , Potted Desert , Tucson garden , Southern Arizona , snowbird garden
Fertilize your citrus around Valentine’s Day Special Attention Needed in February
1. Water both the day before and immediately after applying granular fertilizers.
2. Use a granular fertilizer according to the directions on the package. Size and age of the trees determine how much fertilizer you use.
3. Fertilize mature trees away the trunk, meaning the outer two thirds of the ground of the leaf canopy where the most active roots are.
4. Give the trees a deep soaking watering after applying the fertilizer.
5. Newly planted trees do not need fertilizer the first 1-2 years after planting).
6. Note: Whether you use Ammonium Sulfate, Ammonium Phosphate or Citrus Food fertilizer it's important to read instructions because the amount of fertilizer need per year will vary depending on the age, size, and type of citrus tree. For example, a medium-sized adult tree 5-6 years after planting needs 6.2 pounds of Ammonium Sulfate per year (split into three applications). Grapefruit trees 5 or more years after planting need half the amount for other citrus.
7. Continue to pick your citrus. You do not need to harvest all of the fruit just because the trees come into flower. Grapefruit and Valencia oranges will continue to sweeten while left on the trees.
(Source: Pima County Master Gardener Program)
Tags: Marylee Pangman , container gardens , potted desert garden , summer flowers , Winter flowers , potted cactus , Potted Desert , Tucson garden , Southern Arizona , snowbird garden
Pruning Use bypass pruners that work similar to scissors. Anvil-type pruners will crush your rose stems.
Tags: Marylee Pangman , container gardens , potted desert garden , summer flowers , Winter flowers , potted cactus , Potted Desert , Tucson garden , Southern Arizona , snowbird garden
1. Plan your tropical garden near your home, part of your seating area. Since the majority of the plants require heavily filtered light, you can make the garden be part of your outdoor living area as you appreciate similar conditions.
2. Plan the flooring to be as cool as possible. Non-reflective colors in earthtone or blue hues work well. You might add an outdoor carpet to the seating area.
3. Think in levels or layers of plantings as you would see in a tropical garden. Low plantings around the seating areas in low pots will do well. Also bordering walkways. Then mid-height plants in taller pots or pots up on pedestals or pots with trellises for some vines.
4. Further back towards walls or further from the patio, you can think about larger plants and trees, still trying to keep the layered effect of the three heights of plants in the landscape. Perhaps a couple citrus or palm trees or an evergreen Pistache tree with a mixture of hibiscus and a blue leafed agave such as the Agave colorata. And definitely keep in mind your Bougainvillea and Birds of Paradise- both tropical (shade) and Mexican (sun)!!
Tags: Marylee Pangman , container gardens , potted desert garden , summer flowers , Winter flowers , potted cactus , Potted Desert , Tucson garden , Southern Arizona , snowbird garden
The south side of my home is shaded by my neighbors towering oleanders. This is really the walkway to the back yard but I was able to transition the 8 foot wide side yard into a mini oasis which tends to be about 10 degrees cooler than other areas of my landscape. One side gets mostly shade all day long and the side along the house gets heavy sun making it the more challenging area. This area is therefore also protected from some of our lighter freezes.
Many plants that we have come to know as ‘house plants” are actually tropical plants that cannot survive the cold temperatures that most of the United States experiences. We are familiar with names like Pothos, Dracaena, Philodendrum and other common house plants. In full shade and with cold protection when the temperatures go below 40, these are tropical wonders for our patio oasis. However, once temps plummet below freezing, you will want to take the plants inside your home or Arizona room.
Plants that will tolerate more sun (but still will want afternoon shade most of the year are the Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus, Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta), Day Lilies offer clumps of arching sword-like leaves and can be evergreen, semi evergreen or deciduous depending on the species, Agapanthus, Butterfly Iris, Cordyline and Coleus.
Tags: Marylee Pangman , container gardens , potted desert garden , summer flowers , Winter flowers , potted cactus , Potted Desert , Tucson garden , Southern Arizona , snowbird garden
What is your gardening resolution for 2014?
Mine is to continue to supply you with container gardening tips that will help you grow successful desert potted gardens all year long!
Have a safe and happy New Year! See you in 2014!