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Fall Planting Tips from Our Chief Gardener
August 10, 2020Fall is the perfect time of year to plant trees and shrubs as well as fertilize citrus trees, rose bushes, and a variety of grass lawns. Take it from Raymundo Ocampo, our Chief Gardener here Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort and Spa. “Fall is the time of year when Arizona’s desert gardeners start preparing garden beds to grow seeds and transplant our vegetables and herbs. Desert region soil has very limited organic matter, and due to high PH, is highly alkaline,” he explains. He recommends the following tips to prepare your soil for a successful planting season:
Cultivate your garden beds—dig into the soil to make sure that the roots will have no resistance growing.
Add organic matter—you could use peat moss, horse or chicken manure, or add your own compost.
Add soil sulfur—it will counteract the alkalinity and help to make nutrients in the soil more available to plants.
Add fertilizer that contains nitrogen and phosphorus—ammonium phosphate 16-20-0 is preferred.
Use one to two pounds of 16-20-0 fertilizer per 100 square feet—spread evenly over the soil and rototill before planting.
He goes on to suggest that the best seeds to plant this season include leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce, chard, cabbage, collards, kale, and mustard greens, as well as bulk vegetables like broccoli and fresh herbs like garlic, onions, and cilantro. While you tend to your garden and wait to harvest the rewards of all your hard work, stop by our Chef’s Garden for more inspiration and to see where we grow the majority of our farm-fresh fare.