Gardening for Hot and Dry Climates
For those of us trying to grow Mango trees outside of the tropics or in marginal climates, growing them in containers is the way to go. Here in the Phoenix, Arizona desert, we’re considered growing zone 9b, which is fringe conditions for growing mangoes. …
If you’ve ever had the chance to eat a mango from the tropics, you probably immediately fell in love. It’s a totally different experience from the mangoes commonly found in the grocery store. Much of the mangoes shipped are of inferior quality, go through irradiation …
Imagine living in a desert climate and the amount of time it would take to water your garden on a daily basis with nothing but a garden hose. Well, this was the story of my life for 8 years. Both my current residence and previous …
Pruning fruit trees is one of those ongoing maintenance tasks that can scare a lot of new gardeners. Although it can often times be critical for a thriving fruit tree, it really doesn’t need to be that imposing. Fruit trees can be quite forgiving and …
Making sure that you have your fruit tree in the right location is paramount for a healthy tree. It’s common to wonder about the foundation of your house or other structures when planting your fruit tree. At planting a tree may appear tiny, but fast …
If you live in a hot climate where winters are fairly mild, you may wonder if it matters when you plant your fruit tree or when would be the optimal time to plant. In more temperate climates with the traditional four seasons, it’s pretty obvious …
For those of us living in urban settings, growing fruit trees in containers can be such a rewarding experience. As someone that lives in the Arizona desert, many people are amazed that fruit trees can survive in containers in our extreme heat. I’ve had success …
For those of you that are new to growing fruit trees, one of the scariest things to do is to cut or prune your tree. We often think we are going to hurt the tree or it’s too painful to sacrifice some of the growth that …
One of the challenges of growing fruit trees is being patient. When you purchase a fruit tree you dream of harvesting the wonderful fruit from your tree, but it can be several years before that dream becomes a reality. So, if you’re an impatient gardener, …
Living in the Arizona desert where temps are routinely over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you’d never think that cold would be an issue with growing fruit trees. Surprisingly, we can occasionally get below freezing temps. One unique thing about the desert is since we have relatively …
When growing fruit trees, it generally isn’t recommended to grow from seed. Grafting, air layering, and rooting cuttings are typically the recommended ways to propagate fruit trees to ensure that you get quality fruit. Since a lot of seedlings don’t always replicate the parent tree, …
Over the years I’ve spent gardening in the Arizona desert, it’s come with its challenges. I wanted to look at some of the potential hurdles that you may face with keeping fruit trees healthy in hot, dry climates. I hope that through some of my …
There is nothing better than eating fruit off your backyard fruit tree, but in an urban backyard you are limited on space. When I first started gardening I had no idea that you could grow fruit trees in containers. When I think of a tree, …
When I started getting into tropical fruit trees I began to go to various ethnic grocery stores to try different types of fruit that I had never tasted before. I know that store bought fruit isn’t always at optimal quality, but at least it gives …