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Getting your Raised Bed Ready for Planting Season

Getting your Raised Bed Ready for Planting Season

Planting season is an exciting time of the year. Everything becomes a blank slate and you get to prepare for the upcoming harvest. It does take a bit of preparation and some hard work to ensure your bounty will be plentiful. When it comes to 

How to Grow a Loquat Tree in Hot, Dry Climates

How to Grow a Loquat Tree in Hot, Dry Climates

I had a chance to sample a Loquat off a tree from a local nursery. This was another one of those fruits that I had never even heard of until I began getting more entrenched in growing fruit trees. For us local gardeners, we joke 

Growing Plum Trees in Hot, Dry Climates

Growing Plum Trees in Hot, Dry Climates

I always assumed that Plum trees grew in more temperate climates. I remember climbing into some trees as a kid in Northern Michigan and feasting on juicy plums. When I first purchased a home in Arizona, I discovered plum trees at the local big box 

15 Ways Gardening Makes Us Happier

15 Ways Gardening Makes Us Happier

When I started my gardening hobby several years ago, I had no idea the effects it would have on shaping my life. I really intended just to grow a fruit tree and a couple vegetables. I figured that would be the extent of it, not 

Easy Edibles to Grow in Hot, Dry Climates

Easy Edibles to Grow in Hot, Dry Climates

Gardening in hot, dry climates like the desert southwest can present many different challenges. It took a lot of trial and error early on for me to become successful at growing in the Arizona desert. When you get started gardening, you want to be able 

Growing a Mulberry Tree in Hot, Dry Climates

Growing a Mulberry Tree in Hot, Dry Climates

As a kid growing up in Northern Michigan, we had a few mulberry trees nearby. I loved climbing the tree and beating the birds to the tasty mulberries. Mulberries tend to get a bad rap here in Arizona due to the pollens that can cause 

Growing Mango Trees in Hot, Dry Climates

Growing Mango Trees in Hot, Dry Climates

If you’ve never tried a fresh mango off the tree, you’re missing out. The stringy unripe mangos from Walmart just don’t cut it. Grocery stores have started to introduce some better quality mangos, but for the most part, they’re Tommy Atkins variety, which is a 

Should I Grow Fruit Trees from Seed

Should I Grow Fruit Trees from Seed

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, 

Growing Jamaican Cherry in Hot, Dry Climates

Growing Jamaican Cherry in Hot, Dry Climates

I’m always looking for plants and trees that will get my kids excited about gardening. I believe that gardening is such a worthwhile experience for kids that teaches so many valuable lessons. If you’re looking for an amazing fruit tree that your kids will love, 

Maintaining Healthy Fruit Trees in Hot, Dry Climates

Maintaining Healthy Fruit Trees in Hot, Dry Climates

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 

Growing a Jujube Tree in Hot, Dry Climates

Growing a Jujube Tree in Hot, Dry Climates

The only Jujube that I had ever heard of up until a few years ago was the chewy candies. I had a chance to sample a few of the fruit form of Jujube from a local international market and they were good. My wife and 

Growing Sugar Apple in Hot, Dry Climates

Growing Sugar Apple in Hot, Dry Climates

I am currently growing several different Annona species in my backyard in the Arizona desert. These trees are mostly experimental in our climate, since they typically require a good amount of humidity to set fruit. Let’s take a look at growing sugar apple in hot 

Growing Acerola Cherry Tree (Barbados Cherry) in Hot, Dry Climates

Growing Acerola Cherry Tree (Barbados Cherry) in Hot, Dry Climates

I grew up in Traverse City, Michigan otherwise known as the cherry capital of the world.  The climate in Michigan is drastically different than the Arizona desert where I reside now.  I did a lot of research on the possibilities of growing a Cherry tree 

Growing Fruit Trees in Containers in Hot Climates

Growing Fruit Trees in Containers in Hot Climates

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,