Hey everyone! I'm in Phoenix, and I believe I'm in zone 9b/10a. With our warm weather lasting quite a while, I'm curious if there are any specific vegetables that I should start indoors. Or is it okay to plant directly in the soil? Thanks for your help!
3 Answers
Just a heads up, desert soil can be pretty alkaline and low in nutrients. Most plants prefer a pH between 6 and 7, so you might want to amend your soil with some compost for better growth.
I’ve been gardening in Sedona for 14 years, and I learned the hard way about how different it is in high desert areas. I suggest looking up regional gardening tips for Phoenix since the growing seasons there can be totally different from mine. Just do a quick Google search to find relevant resources!
You can definitely plant a lot directly in the ground! Beans, peas, carrots, cucumbers, and squash tend to do really well here.
I've done a lot of testing in desert soils, and as long as you adjust your feeding and watering for drainage, you can grow in it just fine. Clay is a bigger issue since it can lead to waterlogging, but if you work with the soil properly, you'll be okay.