I have been an avid vegatable gardener here in central New York for
years. We are moving to the Phoenix area and recognizing that there
are some unique challenges to growing vegetables in a desert
climate, I am looking for recommendations for particular varieties
of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and other that will do well if
properly cared for.
In My Garden Blog
December 20, 2007
Southwestern Deserts
By
Cathy Cromell,
Phoenix, AZ
'Gemini' rose performs well in the desert.
Gift Plants for Gardeners
Have you ever received a plant gift that you didn't like? Me neither! Giving a plant is a surefire way to bring a smile to a gardener's face, and you can make the event more personal by matching the plant with the person.
A Rose By Any Other Name
Years ago I interviewed a woman who had a lovely rose garden filled with dozens of varieties, but the first one she pointed out to me was the hybrid tea that also happened to have her first name. It obviously gave her pleasure and I've remembered that over the years, remaining on the lookout for plant varieties that match the names of my friends.
Rose varieties are bestowed with monikers of all sorts of famous people, but there's also plenty of "regular" names from which to choose. Other plants provide options as well. I've had luck finding daylilies, glads, sweet peas, veggies, and even citrus with an appropriate name. Generally, I have to do a little poking around through online catalogs and databases, but that's part of the fun! Another good place to spot named varieties is at a major plant and flower show. England's Chelsea Flower Show was a treasure trove of possibilities, although I had to be content with seed packets. If matching someone's name proves elusive, consider their hobbies, interests, and even astrological signs.
Plant Collectors
The plant collector can be the easiest or the hardest person to buy for. On the one hand, any plant in their chosen addiction will likely please them, but if they already have a shade house stuffed to the gills, you may feel hard-pressed to come up with something unique. Casually ask what it is about this group of plants that excites them, or if there's a special species or variety they've been seeking. Who doesn't like to talk about their favorite plants? You'll soon have a good idea of what quickens their pulse, and they'll be touched when you later present them with the very plant they've been yearning for!
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Comments on Gift Plants for Gardeners
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We welcome your questions and comments about this column. If you have gardening questions unrelated to the column, please ask them on our message boards.
Al in New York
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Cathy Cromell
I'm sure you'll enjoy desert vegetable gardening as we have 2
distinct growing seasons, which allow for year around crops. For
most veggies, the variety is not that important in the desert; the
trick is to know which vegetables thrive in which season, and to
improve garden beds with plenty of organic matter. Tomatoes,
eggplants and peppers are all warm-season crops, but they must be
planted early (between Feb 15 and March 15 in the Phoenix area) to
establish before the real heat hits. Although peppers and eggplants
all do well, selecting tomato varieties that thrive is important.
Below are a variety of previous columns on growing tomatoes and
veggies in our seasons. You can also scan through the Previous
Reports for other topics that may interest you. If you have other
questions, feel free to write.
http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/inmygarden/2315
http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/inmygarden/1900
http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/inmygarden/1716
http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/inmygarden/1563
http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/inmygarden/334