Desert regions can yield abundant vegetable growth.
Whether you like tomatoes, avocados, potatoes or corn, it is possible to grow vegetables year-round in Las Vegas, Nevada. Apartment dwellers can grow vegetable gardens in containers and homeowners can grow from plots in the ground. Pay attention to temperatures and care for your soil and you will have an abundant edible garden, even in winter. Does this Spark an idea?
Planting and Harvesting
Most gardeners wait until the last frost date before planting their garden. In Las Vegas, the last frost date is April 3rd but it is not necessary to wait that long. Las Vegas gardeners can plant cold season vegetables such as radishes, cauliflower and lettuce as early as February. Nighttime lows reach the mid-30s Fahrenheit, but these vegetables can tolerate light frost. Harvest your cold weather vegetables in April, when the cool temperatures keep them at their peak flavors. In April, plant hot weather crops such as watermelon, beans and peppers.
Stagger your plantings throughout the seasons and you will have a continuous supply of garden vegetables.
Protection
Your vegetables will do best with adequate shade. Southern Nevada's sun can damage leaves and otherwise stunt and injure plants. Near a tree or under a canopy is a good option for garden location. Dappled shade is also a good source of sunlight.
Irrigation
Consistent watering produces a better crop. Vegetables, regardless of growing region, require approximately 1 inch of water per week. Make watering count and lay mulch around your plants in order to retain moisture. Investigate irrigation options. Many vegetable gardeners use soaker hoses, drip irrigation and micro spray systems. These systems water plants from the base up, decreasing the amount of water wasted through evaporation. Another advantage to these systems is the ability to adapt each water emitter to levels suited for a specific plant.
Container Gardening
Las Vegas' dry, hot conditions can make gardening a chore, even for an avid gardener. You can avoid having to spend hours in the hot sun by planting your vegetables in containers. Gallon-sized planters can hold individual plants and complement your outdoor decor. Container gardens add interest to your patio or deck and allow you to garden in comfort.
Container gardens do not require the same amount of weeding as gardens planted in the ground, nor do you have to get on your knees to work the soil. Containerized vegetables benefit from potting soil mixes, fertile soils that your desert garden's earth cannot provide. Specialized vegetable varieties are bred for container gardens, which are compact and produce high yields. Water container gardens twice daily, since they tend to dry out quickly.
Tags: Container gardens, container gardens, frost date, Gardening Vegas, last frost, last frost date
