Join me as Nicole shares her journey into desert gardening, from innovative composting techniques to future plans for expanding her garden. In this inspiring exploration of gardening, discover tips on worm composting, creating lush spaces, and the potential of beekeeping.
Gardening is more than just a hobby; it’s a rewarding journey that connects us to nature, nurtures our creativity, and provides a sense of accomplishment. In this blog post, I had the pleasure of speaking with my mother-in-law, Nicole, a passionate gardener in Southern Arizona whose love for plants and sustainable practices shines through in every project she undertakes. From her innovative approach to composting and worm farming to her plans for expanding her garden and welcoming bees, Nicole shares valuable insights and tips that can inspire anyone, regardless of their gardening experience. Join us as we delve into her gardening philosophy, explore her favorite features, and discover the exciting plans she has for the future of her garden. Whether you’re a seasoned green thumb or just starting your gardening journey, there’s something here for everyone to learn and enjoy!
Getting Started with Desert Gardening
How did you get into gardening?
As a young kid, we had a lot of land growing up, which was cool, but we didn’t do anything with it. I remember this little grassy area, and I begged my dad to start a garden there. He said, “Okay, we’ll get to it,” but we never did. Even though we didn’t get to it, I always wanted a little garden or grassy area to grow plants. Unfortunately, my dad was busy working all the time, so it never happened. But the desire to learn about gardening was always there.
In 2019, we finally started our garden here, right before the pandemic. When the lockdowns happened, everyone else started gardening too, but we had already begun. During 2020, when there was a shortage of dirt and compost, we had just managed to get everything going. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and I finally had the time and space to do it.
I know your dad was into woodworking and things like that. Was that more after he retired? Because I’m surprised he didn’t do gardening earlier. I know he was doing beekeeping too, right?
Right. He was very much into woodworking. He loved anything with wood—chopping wood, doing his firewood. If he had more time, he probably would have gardened earlier. He was a business owner, always working and pulled in different directions. Once he retired, he did more woodworking and also started his own garden. In Monterey, they had a lot of deer, so he had to build an entirely enclosed area to protect it. He had that garden for a couple of years before he passed away. It was damp and cool up there, so he was figuring out what he could grow and couldn’t. It was interesting to hear him discuss putting up fences to keep deer from eating his lettuce. He was learning all the challenges of gardening in Northern California. It’s something he would have loved to do if he had more time.
Learning About Desert Gardening
So, I know you’re very crafty and you’re constantly learning new things. What was it like learning about gardening? Because, other than the desire to do it, it’s not something they teach in school.
I literally knew nothing about gardening. I thought it was just going to be, you know, you buy a plant from the garden center, you stick it in the garden, and that’s it. But you learn pretty quickly, especially with vegetable gardening, that it’s more involved. It’s not intense or hard; you just have to learn about your environment. That was the hardest thing.
Is that where the zones come in?
Definitely, learning your zone is crucial. The hardiness zone is about your cold months. Flagstaff, for example, is 6b or D, I think. There are different parts of Flagstaff that are different zones because you have some areas that are high desert. In contrast, I’m in growing zone 9, so from 6 to 9, there’s a huge difference. In zone 9, you have a longer winter and it’s not as hot. The hardiness zones are more about winter temperatures rather than summer heat. Zones 9 and 10 have hardly any cold, hard winters, and as you go higher, the winters get longer and colder.
What’s unique about the low desert is the summer months. While other parts of the country can grow like crazy in the summer, it’s like our winter. The high temperatures of summer aren’t necessarily lethal to all plants, but they don’t grow as well. It’s better than everything freezing in the winter, though.
The winters are probably more unforgiving. The summer can be managed, and it goes back to learning and experimenting. My garden has changed over the years as trees have grown, and I’ve tried to be intentional with placement. It’s like managing the sun, heat, and water. Water is a big deal here; you need a lot of it.
Learning about soil has been a whole other journey—understanding what good soil needs and how to make it. It’s like a science project, figuring out the nutrients and what makes the soil healthy. Different vegetables need different nutrients, like potassium or nitrogen.
You said you learned a lot from YouTube. How did that help?
YouTube is amazing. There are so many resources for desert gardeners. I learned everything from YouTube and found channels that are specific to my area, although there aren’t many in Tucson. There are a few in Phoenix, which is slightly different but still helpful. Phoenix is hotter, and their winters are less cold, so there are some differences, but generally, the same desert landscapes and arid climate.
Where your garden is also matters. For example, is it next to the house where it gets shade? There are so many variables, and it’s fun (and sometimes frustrating) to figure out how these variables affect your garden. But the great thing is plants grow. If you kill a plant, it’s okay. You can plant another one. Seeds are cheap, and it’s okay to experiment.
Challenges & Successes in Desert Gardening
What do you always find does the best in your garden?
I love growing flowers, and I’ve had great success with Zinnias. They love the heat and thrive in full sun. Sunflowers and herbs have also done well for me. We have a few fruit trees that are doing well. I can grow a lot of mint, oregano, parsley, and thyme. Even thyme, which can be tricky, has grown well here. Squash usually does well too, but this year was tough. A friend who owns one of the local nurseries mentioned she also had a poor squash yield, so it might have been something in the air. Normally, I can get a good harvest of yellow squash, zucchini, and pumpkins.
Tomatoes have been hit or miss. Last year, they did great, which I think was due to the monsoon season. Monsoon season here is unique because it’s late summer, not early summer like in most places. This year, the monsoon season wasn’t great, and I didn’t get many tomatoes. However, lettuces do well here because of the mild winter.
Peas and beans are another success story. I grew a lot of green beans, particularly a variety called Spirit beans. They are thin, long, and can grow up to a foot or two in length. They’re fun to watch grow, and you can either dry them or pick them young to use as green beans. Peas are also fun to grow and are more of a cool-season crop.
You mentioned you had a lot of baby carrots?
Yes, I love growing carrots in my vegetable garden, especially the multi-colored varieties. It’s like a treasure hunt because you never know what you’re going to get—how big they’ll be, how long, what colors. I just throw the seeds and see what comes up. Carrots are probably one of my most successful crops, particularly in the fall and winter. Late spring and summer can be challenging for other crops, but carrots always do well.
Favorite Garden Features
What’s your favorite feature of your garden?
My favorite feature of my garden? I think I love going out to my garden at night, or at dusk, because I added some lights up there. I really like the feel of it at night, especially in the summer when it’s hot during the day. I don’t want to be out there all day in the heat, but at night, it’s peaceful and fun to look around.
I’ve added more decorative elements this summer, and one of them was lights. It’s become a special place at night. I also love incorporating old, nostalgic pieces of machinery or wood and metal rings from a tractor. For instance, there’s this old forge, which is all rusted out and has become this cool, weathered basin. It looks perfect in the garden.
I’m on the hunt for old pots and items that can withstand the weather, like old pots, baskets, and things that can be out in the sun and rain. They add character, even if they weather over time. We’re also thinking about adding water features for extra decor. I want the garden to be not only productive with vegetables but also a pretty place where I can just be. It’s nice to sit, look at things, and enjoy the outdoors.
I’m trying to strike a balance between producing vegetables and creating a beautiful, enjoyable space. It’s a bit tricky, but the garden has become a place where I can hang out, enjoy the peace, and appreciate the effort I’ve put into it.
Time Commitment & Routine
How much time do you put into your garden on a weekly basis?
It varies. I’ve definitely gone through periods where I’ve totally neglected my garden for weeks because life happens. But now that I’m semi-retired, I’ve made it a point to check on my garden every morning. It’s become a part of my daily routine to go out there, even if it’s just to make sure everything looks okay.
I check to make sure nothing’s wrong, like if one of the sprinkler or hose ends has popped off. It’s a common occurrence, so I just want to make sure everything is functioning properly. Sometimes there’s nothing to do, and it’s just a quick 10-minute check. But I’ve gotten into the habit of doing this every morning for several months now.
On weekends, I tend to spend more time in the garden, especially if I have specific tasks to complete, like pulling out weeds, digging up plants, or moving things around. I can spend up to two hours working in the garden on those days. Sometimes I go up there multiple times a day just to hang out or to check on a project I’m working on. This summer, I made a lot of changes to my garden, like a drip irrigation system and shade cloth, so I’ve been spending more time there.
I’ve experienced the full spectrum—from neglecting my garden for weeks and seeing it suffer, to being very consistent and seeing it thrive. Consistency definitely makes a big difference in how the garden looks and performs.
Advice to Early Gardeners
If you could go back and give advice to Nicole from 2019, who was just starting her garden, what tips would you give based on what you’ve learned so far? What mistakes did you make, and what did you do well?
That’s a great question. If I could go back, I’d probably say just try it, because you have nothing to lose. In the beginning, I was really conservative with what I planted and where I planted it. I tried to control every little detail, thinking, “This plant is only going to get this big,” or “I’ll plant this many things here.” But plants have their own agenda, and you learn quickly that you can’t control everything.
Let go of the grip a little. Plants are meant to grow, and they will. Pay attention to the information on the seed packets or plant tags—they’ll tell you how big the plant will get and how much space it needs. Plan ahead a bit, but don’t assume you can control every aspect. Just try things out and see what happens. If you kill a plant, it’s okay—you’ve learned something for next time.
Become a garden writer: keep notes and track what you do. This has been incredibly helpful for me. There are hundreds of varieties of tomatoes, squash, and other plants, and what grows best in your region can differ from what grows best elsewhere. Documenting which varieties work well, when you planted them, and how they performed can be invaluable.
Note the variety, the timing of planting, and the conditions. For instance, if you plant tomatoes in early spring one year and late spring the next, see which did better. It might sound intimidating, but it’s not. It’s fun and helps you learn. I feel like I’m just now, after four or five years, starting to get the hang of it. Keeping a journal makes it easier to remember all the little details.
How about starting plants—do you usually buy seedlings, or do you start from seeds?
It depends. Some plants, like native plants, are better started directly in the garden because they don’t like being transplanted. Seed packets will usually tell you if they are recommended for direct sowing or starting indoors. I’ve learned a lot about starting seeds indoors over the years, and I often do both.
Sometimes I start seeds indoors to give them a better chance once they go outside, and other times I just sow them directly. I also don’t hesitate to buy seedlings from the store, especially if it’s late in the season. There’s no shame in that. It’s a great way to get started without the hassle of starting from seeds, and it helps you focus on other aspects like watering and caring for the plants.
It’s okay to start with seedlings, especially in the beginning. It helps you learn step by step without being overwhelmed. You can always try starting from seeds later as you get more comfortable.
Worm Composting
Tell me about your worms.
I started getting interested in worm composting after hearing people talk about it. I tried this thing called in-bed worm composting, where you dig a hole in each garden bed, put in some cardboard scraps, kitchen scraps, and worms. The worms eat through the scraps and produce worm castings, which are really beneficial for the garden.
Worm castings? Is that just a nice way of saying worm poop?
Yes, exactly! But it’s incredibly good for the garden. My first attempt wasn’t very successful because I forgot to maintain the moisture and didn’t bury them properly. But I kept hearing about the benefits of worm castings and decided to look into making my own. Store-bought castings are expensive and not as fresh.
I went down the rabbit hole of worm farming and composting. YouTube was a great help in figuring out how to create a bin. I started with a simple plastic container, punched some holes for air, and added some compost, dirt, shredded cardboard, and the worms. They need grit to process food, so I added finely powdered eggshells too.
That’s really interesting. How do you maintain the bin?
You have to keep it moist and give them food every week. It takes a couple of months for them to work through everything initially. Eventually, you’ll get rich worm castings you can use in your garden or make worm tea from, which is a liquid form of the nutrients.
Worms are generally good for the soil as they process organic matter and leave beneficial castings. However, some types of worms might eat plant roots, so it’s good to know what kind you’re using. Nightcrawlers and red wigglers, for instance, are great for the soil.
Composting
Let’s talk about composting.
Composting is so fun! It’s like a science experiment, tinkering and learning as you go. The composting process is fascinating. Years ago, I never would have imagined I’d be so interested in it, but here we are. It’s amazing to think that instead of sending waste to the landfill, you can create something beneficial for your garden. Plus, it’s free and great for your plants. This year, I finally had enough compost to use for an entire garden bed.
Not long after I started gardening, I bought a 3x3x3 cube black compost bin from Amazon. It’s a simple system where you toss in organic waste at the top, and over time, it breaks down into compost, which you can access from a little door at the bottom. However, composting in the desert is tricky because it’s so dry, so you have to add water regularly. Initially, I didn’t understand that and wanted compost quickly.
How did you adjust your composting process for the desert climate?
The key is to maintain the right balance of air, water, and materials. The first few years, my composting was slow because I didn’t add enough water. So, I switched from the single bin to a three-bin system that my husband and I built. This new setup allows me to create compost in about a month to a month and a half, but it requires consistent effort. The more you tend to it, the faster it becomes usable compost.
What’s the three-bin system like?
It’s a more permanent structure. The first bin is for new material, the second is for the actively decomposing compost, and the third is for the finished product. By rotating the compost through these bins and regularly checking the moisture and aeration, you can speed up the process significantly. It does take time and effort, but it’s worth it for the quality compost you get.
Future Plans for Garden
What are your future plans for your garden? Any projects on the horizon?
Absolutely, I have a list for sure! We’re planning to expand our outdoor space by about 30%, adding approximately 60 square feet to our current space, which is around 120 square feet. This expansion will include three more raised beds. I prefer a tall, raised garden bed, so we’ll be using prefab ones. The ones we currently have are metal culverts and wide circles, but the new ones will be rectangular troughs and round ones.
We’re thinking about adding a permanent shade structure overhead to help with the extreme heat. Right now, we use shade cloths as needed, but a permanent structure might be more convenient. However, we’re also planting more trees, which will eventually provide natural shade during the summer temperatures, so we’re weighing the options.
What about composting and other planting areas?
Improving our composting setup is a priority. Our current three-bin system works well, but I’m always looking to optimize it. We’re also adding more pots and containers for plants. I love finding new spots to plant things, whether it’s digging a new hole or amending a blank area of soil. The goal is to create a lush, vibrant garden with minimal dead zones.
Any plans involving bees?
Yes, I’m really interested in beekeeping. I’ve tried keeping leaf cutter bees for pollination, but I want to expand to honeybees. I have a hive ready to go, and I’m planning to take a workshop next spring to learn more. The class includes taking home a hive, which will be a great addition to the garden. Having bees will help with pollination and enhance the overall ecosystem of the garden.
The hive will be placed close to the garden so the bees can easily access pollen and help with pollination. This will create a little system that supports both the bees and the garden. I’m really looking forward to getting started with that.
If you’re eager to learn more about her gardening adventures and gather tips for your own green space, be sure to follow Nicole on social media for regular updates. Connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, and her gardening blog to stay inspired and informed on all things gardening! Happy gardening!
Love your story and your garden beds!
We rock a garden in Florida & conditions are crazy here- loved the great tips for gardening in the Southwest!
I think this is a super helpful post. I lived in the Southwest for years and wish I would had this post to reference! If you know what to do, there are so many amazing fruits and veggies that flourish!