Luckily, this period is usually fairly short, and with the great monsoon season the dryness ends and the dry summer turns into a wet summer. But maybe this is a good time to remind ourselves that gardening in the desert is something we all love.

1. We can grow food all year round. There is always some kind of vegetable or fruit you can grow. in Tucson, 5 growth periods Winter (November-February), Spring (February-April), Dry Summer (May-mid-July), Monsoon (July-September), Autumn (October-November) Set according to the weather season. . ). Exotic plants grow quickly thanks to the abundance of sun and can get freezing nights in winter, but usually not enough to harm cool season crops. With 5 beautiful and unique seasons, you can enjoy a wide variety of seasons.

2. A wide variety of plants can be grown. Thanks to the abundant sun, there are few plants that we cannot grow. Our main limiting factors are soil properties and water supply. Luckily, it doesn’t take long to take advantage of the rain. Please refer to the following.

3. It rains enough to water many plants cheaply or for free. The Tucson Valley receives 10 to 12 inches of rain per year. Learning about rainwater harvesting is very important for desert gardeners and will provide you with plenty of water for free. The easiest and cheapest option is passive rainwater collection. Some install tanks to extend the rain supply.

4. Lots of sunshine. If you have too many plants, you can shade them, but you can’t add sunlight that isn’t there. Many plants cannot grow without sunlight. Thanks to the sun, plants can grow rapidly here. But only if you have the right amount of water and the plants are happy with the soil they are given.

5. Many environmental stressors have simple workarounds. For example, desert air and wind drying can be mitigated by organic mulch, planting shelter plants, using them as walls and berm barriers, and similar strategies. You can add organic matter to the soil to reduce alkalinity and increase nutrients. Shade the plants during the worst heat of summer so they can survive. And since the winter months usually don’t have many cold nights, many plants can survive all year round.

6. There are many wonderful native plants that are as beautiful as they are attractive. From stunning flowering trees like ironwood to beautiful little shrubs like Arizona cotton and everything in between, we have a wide variety of native plants that will thrive in your garden and be a resource for wildlife. We stock seeds. Read my “Plants of the Month” article to check out some of them. Another great resource is the Arizona Native Plant Society. List of Native Plants (14 pages) You can use it in your garden.

7. There are many people who can help with gardening and answer questions. Our beautiful desert is home to many plant lovers.of University of Arizona Extension Services has a wealth of publications Intended for gardeners and growers.of Pima County Master Gardeners Questions can be answered and issues discussed, and it serves as a great starting point for new gardeners. Additionally, there are some excellent local nurseries with knowledgeable staff. You can also volunteer with various plant groups to learn more. And don’t forget the special gardening interest groups.