© Phoenix Farms / phxfarms.com 2010
Anyone who lives here knows what the Valley of the Sun is hotter than!
By the first part of May, things begin warming up, but that's just a taste of
what's to come. By late May, dreaded summer begins.
The things planted in the fall and early spring will have hit their peak, and will decline rapidly as the heat builds.
A few determined cool weather plants might make it through the summer for a second season - geraniums can be nursed along from year to year, but it's usually easier just to replace them.
Amazingly, some hot-weather loving plants will thrive: melons, squash, eggplant and okra are very happy in the heat. Armenian cucumbers flourish, and are prolific producers. Ditto loofa and other gourds
By the first part of May, things begin warming up, but that's just a taste of
what's to come. By late May, dreaded summer begins.The things planted in the fall and early spring will have hit their peak, and will decline rapidly as the heat builds.
A few determined cool weather plants might make it through the summer for a second season - geraniums can be nursed along from year to year, but it's usually easier just to replace them.
Amazingly, some hot-weather loving plants will thrive: melons, squash, eggplant and okra are very happy in the heat. Armenian cucumbers flourish, and are prolific producers. Ditto loofa and other gourds
Things to do: Put in pumpkins for a Halloween harvest. Shade peppers, tomatoes and other sun-sensitive plants to help them survive the summer for a fall harvest season.
Water properly. Easy to say, but it can be difficult to gauge. High temperatures combined with a breeze can dry plants out rapidly. Use shade cloth for certain plants. Enjoy the moisture the monsoon brings – the plants will love it.Later in the season, prepare beds for a fall planting.