new to AZ gardening... (sun question)

14 years ago

and I'm clueless. 10 years of Michigan gardening...and I've moved to the desert.

Apparently the sun is different here...I'm aware of moisure differences/needs, but I am uncertain how the suns rays work in terms of what plants are needing.

Here's the situation.

I live in an apt. with a south facing balcony. I want to do some vegetables (cukes, tomatoes, peppers, etc....) and herbs (lavender, rosemary and sage).

My balcony is mostly shaded by the roof overhead, although I have been told that because it is south facing and because I'm in AZ, the sun rays are still plentiful and I would be able to grow things needing full sun. It seems very bright out there in general, even though it is technically shaded. The front 12" of the balcony gets direct sun for a few hours during the day

What will I be able to do out there in terms of light requirements and plants?

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Comments (6)

jkochan
14 years ago
The overhead shade will help, but with the temperatures that were having right now, it's tough, especially for container plants. As far as light, there is probably plenty for them to survive. You will need to watch the water though, it can be tricky. You will see your plants wilt down in the afternoon and want to water them. Be careful. Plants will wilt because they can't take up enough water to keep up with transpiration from the leaves.If they haven't bounced back by late evening or morning they may need more water.If you over-water at these temperatures and the soil stays too moist you're inviting fungi and root rot. The lavender, rosemary and sage should do okay with less watering. Likewise the peppers. Tomatoes and cukes are a little more difficult. A moisture meter helps take the guess work out and they're not expensive. There are a few that have a light meter built-in. The plants that are lacking light will start to grow toward the light and start looking "leggy" rather that full. Rotate your pots every week or two to help keep the growth balanced. One way to help keep the soil temps down is to water with ice cubes anduse mulch in your pots to slow evaporation from the soil.Hope this is of some help.
grant_in_arizona
14 years ago
Welcome to the desert! Jkochan's tips are great as always. I'll just add that veggies can be a bit of a headache here in the Valley in summer, but there is light at the end of the tunnel: in winter the sun will be lower in the sky and will probably shine a bit more on your patio and that will be a good thing then because it will be cooler too.

You'll be able to grow a lot of leafy plants all winter long, plus many of the herbs that also do well in summer. If you tire of babying your summer stuff, think about pots full of beautiful swiss chard, or kale, or spinach and lettuce all winter long. Yummy! I do grow a lot of veggies autumn through spring, but in summer I mostly stick to herbs. Tomatoes are nice in later winter through late spring, but in the heat of summer they get cranky and they stop setting new fruit when nighttime temps are insanely high.

Let us know what you try, and how it works out. I'm adding a link to a great book for veggie gardening in the deserts. You can find it online and at any large book store in the Valley.

Keep us posted!
Take care,
Grant

Here is a link that might be useful: Extreme Gardening (veggie gardening in the deserts)
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roots3003
14 years ago
I'm a nexb to AZ gardening as well, but i'm also from Michigan. Welcome to the desert!! I'm also struggling to adapt to the intense heat and sun out here. Good luck!
phoenixtransplant
14 years ago
Never in all of my Michigan gardening years would I have thought of any of the "issues" we have to contend with down here. But the ancient dwellers gardened so can we.
Welcome!
roots3003
14 years ago
Don't you just love the soil here compared to MI? trade in your shovel for a jackhammer haha..seriously, if you haven't bought a pick axe yet, you will need one.I actually bought one those post hole diggers when I first moved here, it got returned real quick.
grant_in_arizona
14 years ago
You know, a good, strong, solid pick axe really IS a good purchase (along with safety glasses to protect your eyes from flying rocks/debris). After several years of bruising the bottoms of my feet trying to get a shovel into summer soil, I got a pick axe and it's been one of the best garden tools I've ever purchased. I use it all the time now for big holes or small.

Happy gardening everyone,
Grant

new to AZ gardening... (sun question)

Comments (6)

jkochan

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