Vegetable gardening in Rillito AZ 85654 can be a wonderful hobby that anyone in Rillito AZ 85654 can start regardless of age. Usually when people start this hobby they quickly get hooked on to it. Even though it is simple, there are a lot of things which you have to learn if you want to take on gardening seriously. You should take steps to educate yourself and increase your knowledge of becoming a good gardener in Rillito AZ 85654. Thankfully there are many ways available now through which you can acquire the necessary knowledge.

In this article, we shall discuss a few key points when you are just starting out with vegetable gardening. I shall also mention a few other sources where you can get additional information.

1. Decide what vegetables want to grow in Rillito AZ 85654. You need warm for some vegetables while others need colder climates. So the place where you stay and the season can play an important role in selecting the vegetables you want to grow. Cabbage, lettuce and peas need cooler climates. These vegetable plants should get sufficient amount of time to mature before the weather becomes warm otherwise they may die or seed prematurely. On the hand, tomatoes, cucumbers and sweet corn grow well in warm climates. They need average temperatures between 60-95 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. When you have selected a vegetable, the next step is to research the soil quality in your home where you want to plant the vegetable. You have to make sure that the soil is really suitable for the vegetable you are trying to grow.

3. After confirming the soil condition, the next step would be to decide on a suitable spot in your garden in Rillito AZ 85654. The spot you choose for planting the vegetables should be such that it should not cause disturbance or inconvenience to you or other family members.

Secondly, the spot should receive a good amount of sunshine and adequate wind. The garden should ideally receive 6-8 hours of sunlight every day in Rillito AZ 85654. Sunlight provides energy to plants to convert carbon dioxide into sugar which they use for food. If the plants do not receive sufficient sunlight, they may not give fruits even if the plants look green and healthy. Carrots, tomatoes, radishes and beets need at least 6-8 hours of direct light every day. Plants such as lettuce, which are grown just for their leaves, can grow nicely in the shade and don’t need direct light from the sun. In fact they may need some protection if the sun is too bright and shiny.

4. When you start a garden and try to maintain it, you may encounter various difficulties from time to time. You have to acquire knowledge of how to maintain your garden and what steps are needed to prevent the plants from damage. If you know someone who has experience in gardening, you can take the help of that person. If not, you have to do the research yourself. Google can be your best friend when you are looking for a solution to a specific problem.

You can also get hold of a few good books on gardening in Rillito AZ 85654. You can browse through hundreds of such books on Amazon. You can even read blogs on this topic where gardening experts share their tips and techniques. YouTube is another wonderful source for people who are visual learners who prefer watching instead of reading.

While spring officially begins March 20, the just completed warm (sometimes hot) February means gardeners in southern California need to get an early start to the growing season.

Add Plants That Attract Good Bugs: Attract good bugs (ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies) to your yard by adding plants they love. Plants that appeal to good bugs are yarrow, dill, fennel, marigolds, coriander and buckwheat. The good bugs will eat the bad bugs (such as aphids, ants and whiteflies) that can cause havoc in your garden.

Give Plants And Trees A Nitrogen Boost: Now is the time to give your garden a shot in the arm with nitrogen fertilizer. Plants usually need to be fertilized only once in March at the beginning of the spring growing period and again in September in Rillito AZ 85654.

Don’t Give Weeds A Fighting Chance: Because February was unusually warm, the minimal rain that fell prompted weeds to sprout in southern California. Weeds can easily become out of control and much harder to remove as they take root. A natural way to protect gardens from weeds is by using mulch. This top dressing will crowd out weeds before they gain a foothold. Weed first before applying. Mulch at least two to three inches deep around trees, shrubs, flowers and plants. Make sure the mulch does not touch the tree trunks.

Plant Vegetables and Herbs from Seed: After the last chance for frost (around mid-month) and the soil warms, cultivate your vegetable garden soil down about one foot. Mix in organic soil planting amendments. Plant warm-season vegetable seeds including tomatoes, peppers, green beans, cucumbers, squash, eggplant, onion, potatoes, spinach, turnips and corn. It’s also the time to plant herbs from seed such as basil, mint, oregano, parsley and rosemary. You can even still plant cool-season vegetables including broccoli, lettuce, cabbage and kale. Vegetables that can be planted year round are carrots, beets and radishes.

Keep Plants Looking Full By Dividing Perennials: After a few years, perennials tend to form in clumps. These clumps become scraggly and big bare spots form within the plants. To avoid this, divide perennials and place the new plantings in other areas of the yard. When dividing a perennial, make sure you dig deep under a clump so you lift the root system out intact. Remove any portion of the clump that looks dead or diseased. Large clumps can be divided further. Place the divided clumps in holes that fit the root base. Mix in soil amendment and water. This is a cost-efficient way to add to your flower garden.

Keep Your Garden Manageable: It may be tempting to create a sprawling garden filled with all kinds of vegetables. Because of water restrictions projected still to be in place for summer and beyond, consider downsizing your workspace so your garden requires less water in Rillito AZ 85654. Raised beds are a good option because there is less chance of soil erosion and water runoff.