Desert Fall Planting Schedule-Vegetables

Right From The Beginning. Fall is a great time to plant a garden in the low desert. This is the time to grow a surplus of cool weather veggies. The fall planting season for desert dweller begins from September and lasts to November. You can have a beautiful edible vegetable garden by following good gardening practices. Right from the beginning is the best time to give your plants a fighting chance against disease and weed growth. The single most important thing you can do for your garden is add organic matter. Our desert soil has tons of nutrients but lacks the organic matter that exists up in northern and eastern parts of the country. First-rate soil begins with adding lots of organic matter such as compost and mulch into your beds and desert soil. These organic materials break down and give the veggies nitrogen so they can grow, as well as give the soil workability.

Location....Location...Location is a phrase often used for real estate, but it is a term to keep in mind when planning where your veggie bed is going to be. Take some time to evaluate where your vegetable bed will be planted. Is there going to be enough sunlight to generate proper growth for your plants? Keep in mind that the sun changes from season to season and morning to afternoon. Migrate outside to physically check the space in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon to see if you will have at least 6-8 hours of sunlight in your garden spot. This is the amount of sunlight most vegetables need for vigorous growth and fruit set in the cooler fall months.

Water seems to be most new gardeners' dilemma. This is the time to evaluate your water situation. Is your garden close to a water source? How are you going to get water to your garden? The closer your water source the better. It can get monotonous as the weeks drag on, and you having to lug a hose all over your yard to water your garden. The best option for me is a drip system, and takes much of the work out of the day to day garden tasks. Evaluate your time, and budget to determine your best watering options.

Getting your vegetable plot off the right foot, will give you more confidence to garden, and you will reap enormous rewards at the end of the season. What could be better than having safe, fresh vegetables and herbs you picked from the garden you grew?