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kutulu · 06-11-2010, 08:32 AM

After 2 years of not landscaping out back yard, we started growing vegetables last spring (Phoenix). We planted 2 different tomato plants, a green bell pepper, an herb garden, squash and two types of watermelon. The squash got attacked and died out, the tomatoes didn't do much but the watermelon was amazing. They ended up covering about a 10x10 area and gave us a lot of fruit. We got a couple tomatoes but they spent the whole summer looking dead.

We stepped it up in the fall, planting broccoli, lettuce, spinach, more herbs, rainbow chard, red beets, golden beets, and rainbow carrots. All were huge successes. The carrots, beets and chard took a long time to be ready for harvest but we got great yields. Some of the beets were up to nearly 2 lbs. The lettuce and spinach lasted all season, you just cut what you need and it keeps growing back. We had so much broccoli we got sick of it. We also planted onions and garlic.

As a bonus, in Phoenix, you get two tomato/bell pepper harvest seasons and this one was great. We couldn't use all the cherry tomatoes.

This spring we planted five types of heirloom tomatoes, four red and yellow bell pepper plants, zucchini, watermelon, and another melon. The zucchini plant is a nice producer. We get about 2-3 per week. The onions and garlic are almost ready. The melons are moving along. The tomatoes just started producing and they are great. There are tons of beautiful tomatoes but now it is 100-110 out and the tomatoes and peppers are getting destroyed by the sun. The same is happening to the new bell pepper plants. I'll build a shade system for them this weekend and hope to salvage what is left on the vines.

We also have apple, orange, and lemon trees and three grape vines. The apples are almost ready for the first harvest. The citrus might give something this season. The grapes are almost ready.

Our dirt is awesome. It is soft to dig through, very easy to put a shovel all the way down. We haven't used any amendments or fertilizers, only organic mulch when planting and then every now and then as it erodes.

06-11-2010, 08:32 AM	#8 (permalink)
kutulu Junkie	After 2 years of not landscaping out back yard, we started growing vegetables last spring (Phoenix). We planted 2 different tomato plants, a green bell pepper, an herb garden, squash and two types of watermelon. The squash got attacked and died out, the tomatoes didn't do much but the watermelon was amazing. They ended up covering about a 10x10 area and gave us a lot of fruit. We got a couple tomatoes but they spent the whole summer looking dead. We stepped it up in the fall, planting broccoli, lettuce, spinach, more herbs, rainbow chard, red beets, golden beets, and rainbow carrots. All were huge successes. The carrots, beets and chard took a long time to be ready for harvest but we got great yields. Some of the beets were up to nearly 2 lbs. The lettuce and spinach lasted all season, you just cut what you need and it keeps growing back. We had so much broccoli we got sick of it. We also planted onions and garlic. As a bonus, in Phoenix, you get two tomato/bell pepper harvest seasons and this one was great. We couldn't use all the cherry tomatoes. This spring we planted five types of heirloom tomatoes, four red and yellow bell pepper plants, zucchini, watermelon, and another melon. The zucchini plant is a nice producer. We get about 2-3 per week. The onions and garlic are almost ready. The melons are moving along. The tomatoes just started producing and they are great. There are tons of beautiful tomatoes but now it is 100-110 out and the tomatoes and peppers are getting destroyed by the sun. The same is happening to the new bell pepper plants. I'll build a shade system for them this weekend and hope to salvage what is left on the vines. We also have apple, orange, and lemon trees and three grape vines. The apples are almost ready for the first harvest. The citrus might give something this season. The grapes are almost ready. Our dirt is awesome. It is soft to dig through, very easy to put a shovel all the way down. We haven't used any amendments or fertilizers, only organic mulch when planting and then every now and then as it erodes. Last edited by kutulu; 06-11-2010 at 08:34 AM..