Tomato Gardening in Albuquerque?

[mathfed]

Does anyone know much about vegetable gardening, and tomato gardening in particular, for Albuquerque? There is a job opportunity there that I think I have a pretty good shot at. I would hate to get the job and move to find out I can't grow a garden because of the heat. I have been checking their local weather on weather.com, and it doesn't look like their temperatures are that much different than here (SW Ohio). I don't know if I could live somewhere where I couldn't maintain a garden in the summer. I find it really therapeutic. It may sound dumb, but not being able to keep a garden would probably be a deal-breaker for me.

[Ruth_10]

The temperatures you can deal with, more or less, by adjusting your gardening season. Plus, I think Albuquerque has some elevation. What I would look closely at is water. Will you be able to get water to your garden when it needs it? Also think about the soil. Caliche clay is quite common in NM and it really isn't much good for growing garden vegetables. That could be worked around using raised beds or containers.

I have family in Alamagordo, NM, which is in the southeastern part of the state. The elevation there is about 4000 ft. They have not been successful growing tomatoes, but I think they are trying to grow them as a summer crop rather than a spring crop.

Seems to me there is someone on the forum who gardens in NM. Anyone remember who that is?

[feldon30]

I have a friend in Albuquerque, NM.

To make up for the fact that there isn't really a good local nursery in Albuquerque, every spring there is a Master Gardeners plant sale and get together where my friend successfully found transplants of dozens of popular Heirloom tomato varieties.

As for the zone, I believe it's 7a with cooler temperatures at night and very low rainfall. Sounds like ideal tomato growing weather to me. If there are problems with drought and watering, I'm not aware of them. Stink bugs and fungal problems are largely a non-issue. Spider mites are the biggest enemy.

Hail is rare but must be considered. I think the biggest challenge might be wind, which can be pretty fierce and knock over plants that are not established and/or staked.


Albuquerque Master Gardeners
August Albuquerque Tomato Tasting Fiesta
Gardening Calendar
NMSU Publications
NMSU Vegetable Varieties for Albuquerque [PDF]

[mathfed]

Thanks Ruth and Feldon.

[elkwc36]

I was raised in NM. Alb. is like most of NM. the soil can change quite a bit within a small area. They do lots of gardening along the Rio Grande river valley. Like Feldon said there will be wind and heat. A lot of good gardening in the area though. I wouldn't be too concerned about that. Jay

[maryinoregon]

You might also check the Seeds of Change catalogue to see what they have to offer. I don't know if they talk about growing conditions at all. My favorite garden store always offers Seeds of Change seeds as well as our local Territorial Seeds. They are usually a good match for our summer weather.

[feldon30]

And Seeds of Change is located in San Juan Pueblo, NM, although visits to the farm are apparently not permitted for insurance reasons.

[rnewste]

mathfed,

My son lives 20 miles east of ABQ in Tijeras, and they have a nice and productive tomato garden. As mentioned already, water is the big element out West. He had to spend $9000 to have a 300+ foot well drilled last year.

Another bit of advise. Coming from Ohio, you may not be used to all the "critters" that inhabit the area. He regularly has rattlesnakes on his 3 acre property (he is in a rural area) as well as other non-human friendly insects. The ABQ area is very dusty, and his PC is a mess whenever I visit with dust penetrating everywhere.

Before making a permanent commitment to transfer there, I would suggest you take a weekend visit. Many people just love the area and would not think of living anywhere else (my son included), but it is a totally different lifestyle and climate than you come from in Ohio. Forget the Zone 7a temperature range comparison.......

Ray

[Worth1]

Welcome to NM if you decide to live there.
I used to live right next to the state and my wifes grand mothers mother or something like that was the states first female democratic party chairman or should I say chairlady of the state.

Real friendly people live there and there is so much to do and see.

Snow in the mountains, desert, lava beds, bears, prong horns and the list goes on.

Like was said before to grow tomatoes you will have to change your way of thinking to NM thinking.

If you like melons you can grow some real good ones there.

All you need is water.

I love NM.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKG65ZqwlLc

Worth

[Ruth_10]

Worth, you know what they say in New Mexico.

So far from heaven, so close to Texas.