Desert Gardening.

[desertlzbn]

I have been gardening here in the desert for 5 or 6 years now, and if you are also trying to garden in a desert area, I HIGHLY recommend the book "Desert Gardening" by George Brookbank, it is a very informative and great book to use as a month by month planting guide. He is not organic, but has many good ideas. He is also a master gardener st the U of A ext. center.
There is also another great book "Extreme Organic Gardening in the Desert", by David Owens

[Worth1]

I dont live in exactly a desert but I will check it out if I can remember.


Worth

[darwinslair]

Originally Posted by Worth1

I dont live in exactly a desert but I will check it out if I can remember.


Worth

No, I am pretty sure you live in a desert. <grin>

Though you are hoping it is just temporary and you go back to just blistering hot WITH rainfall instead of without.

Tom

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by darwinslair

No, I am pretty sure you live in a desert. <grin>

Though you are hoping it is just temporary and you go back to just blistering hot WITH rainfall instead of without.

Tom

I live 100 east of the desert.


Worth

[b54red]

Originally Posted by desertlzbn

I have been gardening here in the desert for 5 or 6 years now, and if you are also trying to garden in a desert area, I HIGHLY recommend the book "Desert Gardening" by George Brookbank, it is a very informative and great book to use as a month by month planting guide. He is not organic, but has many good ideas. He is also a master gardener st the U of A ext. center.
There is also another great book "Extreme Organic Gardening in the Desert", by David Owens

I don't garden in the desert but other than the humidity I thought that's what I was doing last season. We reached 100 in May and hovered near it til late October with almost no rain all summer.

I tried using a heavy mulch of Cypress and was amazed at how it kept my beds moist and cool. It worked so much better than any other mulch I have tried in the past. It cut my watering by more than half and during the worst heat it kept the soil cool enough to put out transplants in June, July and August without losing but a few. Usually when I set out transplants for fall toms in the middle of the summer I lose 90% within a week of being set out. I don't know if it is readily available where you live but you might want to check out Lowes or Home Depot and try it if they carry it.

[darwinslair]

<grin> have you burned over yet? Have you had a season of good rain without losing your plants to the summer heat in the last few years? Is there oil under your feet and a yearning to wrap white towels around your head when you go outside?

Tom