Official Arizona Thread! Veggies in the Valley?

[lareepqg]

I am not finding one in the search engine...but AZ has so many different grow-zones, I wonder if it would even be worth it.

Maybe I should just start a "Veggies in the Valley" thread.

ANYWHOO....I am here is Phoenix proper, doing my year-round, 3-seasons gardening thing. Hello to all!

Laree

 

[ChrystalGail]

Hi Larissa!

I didn't want you to feel lonely... I, too, do the veggie gardening down here in Casa Grande. Well, actually this will be my first year wuth it down here, but I was pretty successful in Mesa. I'm doing raised beds this year, so the weeds won't be so bad!

What do you usually plant?

Chrystal

 

[lareepqg]

Thanks...I was lonely.

I like to grow the weird stuff. I REALLY like things that are weird colors. IE- purple brussels sprouts and yellow carrots. I tend to stay away from things I can buy for $.25 at Sprouts. I also grow things that are heratige or have had all nutritional content genetically bred out for mass production. Maybe that is a little contradictory, but---meh.

We were/are remodeling the house, and last August had to abandon all water lines to the backyard. So- I didn't get to grow anything but grass until late August. It was a lot of work cleaning out the garden.

Some items were Just "tossed in" because the seeds were a little older. I know most seeds will keep 4-5 years in the fridge, but I order from Baker Creek and T&M---so there needed to be more room in the seed drawer for when the catalogs come in!

ANYWHOO--here is what I planted.

A Peas - "Canoe"
B Peas -"Snowpeas, Asian"
C Peas - " Asparagus" or "Thai Winged"
D Bean-Climbing-"Blauhide"
E Bean-Climbing-"Kabouli black garbonzo"
F Bean-Climbing-"Goldfield"
G Bean-Climbing-"Chinese Red Noodle"
H Bean-Climbing-"Taiwan Black"
I Bean-Climbing-"Borlotto Lingua di Fuoco" or "Fire Tongue"
J Brussels Sprout-"Falstaff"

1 Basil-"Greek"
2 Basil-"Purple Ruffles"
3 Basil-"Purple Delight"
4 Basil-"Cinnaom"
5 Basin-"Ararat"
6 Basil-"Lettuce Leaf"
7 Basil-"Lemon"
8 Savory-"Summer"
9 Dill-"Mammoth"
10 Brussels Sprout-"Falstaff"
11 Brussels Sprout-"Catskill"
12 Parsley-"Extra triple curles"
13 Raddichio-"Red Verona"
14 Courgetter-"Tricolor F1"
15 White Scallop
16 Yellow crookneck
17 Cherry Tomatoes (plants) "Sweet 100"?
18 Egg-Plant (plants) Icihban
19 LOTS AND LOTS of tomato & Potato volunteers popping up
20 Just bought an apple and a nectarine/peach/etc cocktail tree
21 Lettuces "Romaine/Buttercrunch/Bibb"
22 Various onions & garlic
23 Lots of beneficial flowers

CARROTS
Yellowstone
Atomic Red
Purple Dragon
Cosmic Purple
Zino
And a few randoms from China-free from the USDA


Have I mentioned I am an accountant? I am terribly organized about some things....I have an Excel Spreadsheet "map" that feeds into my Outlook. It tells me when to plant & when to harvest. I am so much crazy, in one little package.

 

[ChrystalGail]

I am so much crazy, in one little package.

HaHaHa! You sound just like me! Just ask my husband. He knows I'm crazy. For goodness sake. We had our son April 2nd. Moved to Casa Grande June 1st. Bought chickens & goats before we actually moved. Now I have 240 quail eggs in my homemade incubator along with Welsummer, RIR, and White rock eggs! I also have 22 chicks, 2 horses, 3 bunnies and 3 cats! All MY animals!!! Well, I guess the kittens are my sons, but pretty much my idea. Not to mention I have a new project just about every week! I've made soap, scrapbook, card making, quilted, made dresses for my girls (not to mention costumes galore), bred rats, chickens & goats, make my own baby food, and so much more that my poor tired brain can't even think of right now... And talk about little package! I'm only 5 feet tall!!!!!

Sorry if I'm rambling, it has been a LONG day!

Chrystal

 

[injunjoe]

Thanks...I was lonely.

I like to grow the weird stuff. I REALLY like things that are weird colors. IE- purple brussels sprouts and yellow carrots. I tend to stay away from things I can buy for $.25 at Sprouts. I also grow things that are heratige or have had all nutritional content genetically bred out for mass production. Maybe that is a little contradictory, but---meh.

We were/are remodeling the house, and last August had to abandon all water lines to the backyard. So- I didn't get to grow anything but grass until late August. It was a lot of work cleaning out the garden.

Some items were Just "tossed in" because the seeds were a little older. I know most seeds will keep 4-5 years in the fridge, but I order from Baker Creek and T&M---so there needed to be more room in the seed drawer for when the catalogs come in!

ANYWHOO--here is what I planted.

A Peas - "Canoe"
B Peas -"Snowpeas, Asian"
C Peas - " Asparagus" or "Thai Winged"
D Bean-Climbing-"Blauhide"
E Bean-Climbing-"Kabouli black garbonzo"
F Bean-Climbing-"Goldfield"
G Bean-Climbing-"Chinese Red Noodle"
H Bean-Climbing-"Taiwan Black"
I Bean-Climbing-"Borlotto Lingua di Fuoco" or "Fire Tongue"
J Brussels Sprout-"Falstaff"

1 Basil-"Greek"
2 Basil-"Purple Ruffles"
3 Basil-"Purple Delight"
4 Basil-"Cinnaom"
5 Basin-"Ararat"
6 Basil-"Lettuce Leaf"
7 Basil-"Lemon"
8 Savory-"Summer"
9 Dill-"Mammoth"
10 Brussels Sprout-"Falstaff"
11 Brussels Sprout-"Catskill"
12 Parsley-"Extra triple curles"
13 Raddichio-"Red Verona"
14 Courgetter-"Tricolor F1"
15 White Scallop
16 Yellow crookneck
17 Cherry Tomatoes (plants) "Sweet 100"?
18 Egg-Plant (plants) Icihban
19 LOTS AND LOTS of tomato & Potato volunteers popping up
20 Just bought an apple and a nectarine/peach/etc cocktail tree
21 Lettuces "Romaine/Buttercrunch/Bibb"
22 Various onions & garlic
23 Lots of beneficial flowers

CARROTS
Yellowstone
Atomic Red
Purple Dragon
Cosmic Purple
Zino
And a few randoms from China-free from the USDA


Have I mentioned I am an accountant? I am terribly organized about some things....I have an Excel Spreadsheet "map" that feeds into my Outlook. It tells me when to plant & when to harvest. I am so much crazy, in one little package.

Welcome to the board!

You sound like fun!

 

[lareepqg]

Thanks! I am fun..in my own special way.

Chrystal...I am afraid to show my husband your post. He might think we are twins seperated at birth.

Except I am the runt in my family at 5'11". My younger sister is 6'5". I suppose "little package" is a matter of perspective.

 

[ChrystalGail]

Chrystal...I am afraid to show my husband your post. He might think we are twins separated at birth.

Except I am the runt in my family at 5'11". My younger sister is 6'5". I suppose "little package" is a matter of perspective.

"Runt!" You realize you are almost a foot taller than me?!?! Well, I am used to it. My mom is 5'. My grandma is 5' and my great grandmother was 5'. I didn't have a chance! My oldest girl on the other hand looks like she may break the trend. She is 4 and almost as tall as her 6 year old brother! But, the younger one is tiny like me!

Well, I went to Home Depot yesterday and bought my veggie garden for this fall! I'm getting some scrap wood tomorrow from a friend and hopefully will have beds this coming week! I have PLENTY of "aged" horse manure to till in to amend the soil. Hopefully I will be able to plant by the end of the week!

Here is what I got (it's kinda boring compared to yours Larissa, but it works for us!):

Oregon Sugar Pod II Peas
Nutri-Red Carrots
Scarlet Nantes Carrots
Easter Egg Radishes
Buttercrunch Lettuce
Black Seeded Simson Lettuce
Mammoth Dill
Swish Chard
Sweet Spanish Yellow Utah Jumbo Onions

I'm going to be putting in a herb box as well and I want to have:

Lavender
Dill
Mint
Cilantro
Parsley
Basil
Thyme
Rosemary

I'm also going to try to grow some stuff for the chickens, goats and rabbits. Here is my wish list:

Millet
Dundale Peas
Cayuse Oats
Golden Flax
Sorghum
Delgold Tabacco
Pumpkins (next year)
Dent Corn (next year)

I've done some research and this seems like a good blend to begin growing feed for chickens at home. And, since I have 2.5 acres, I figure "what the heck, I've got the room!" I bought some flax seeds and millet seeds at the grocery store organic dept. today. I'm going to give them a try and see how they do...

 

[injunjoe]

Wow ladies I can't wait for some pictures of all these great veg.

There sure is a long list of goodies!

I would think a photo of each at harvest or at least growing would be so good for the site and all the members alike.

I see a great deal of new members over the last few days.
Kind of a migration it would seem?

Is this a trend or just the seasonal change one should expect?

 

[Sam The Yam]

You have another Arizona gardener joining you from Peoria!

 

[injunjoe]

Well welcome to the board!

Is there a shortage of cams in AZ?

Lots of great plants mentioned.

A least give me a some Flax!

Or a little Thyme.

A picture or two would just be Mint!

And this I must see!
2 Basil-"Purple Ruffles"