Tucson Garden zone 8a

[SundayCrepes]

I'm getting ready to put in a garden. I feel like I'm late, but at least it's going in. I haven't had a garden in decades (literally) so want to make sure I'm planting all the right stuff:

tomatoes
cherry tomatoes
zucchini
acorn squash
eggplant
pepper
basil
coriander/cilantro

possibly
corn
bush beans
cantaloupe
watermelon

Any other suggestions? Thanks

[swd12422]

Sorry, I'm too new at this to be of much help, but I'm subbing and hoping to see some helpful responses!
I've had basil and cilantro in the past, and both did okay in the sun here, but I've never ventured into veggies or other plants. We currently have mint, thyme and marjoram in pots that are doing well, and my last thyme plant lasted in a full-sun spot for two years before I managed to kill it...

[SundayCrepes]

I have this posted in the tribal area as well. Here's a great calendar someone gave me a link to: http://communityfoodbank.com/pdf/plantingguide_new.pdf

For anyone else in Tucson, I just found these classes on the food back website:
http://communityfoodbank.com/2010/01...ing-workshops/

And here's info on a demo garden and other gardening links:

http://communityfoodbank.com/program...market-garden/

[wild_reilly]

I live on the southwest coast of Canada and am also in Zone 8a. I was sitting down pulling out seeds today and I am planting quite a lot... We just moved into our house last year on a half acre and converted an old garden to raised beds - we've got about 400-500 square feet of veggie garden, plus three rows of raspberries, a row of blackberries and some fruit trees.

This year we will be planting these from seed:
- bush beans
- beets
- broccoli
- carrots
- fennel
- garlic
- kale/collards
- lettuce and a bunch of other greens (oriental greens like mustard, also swiss chard, spinach, etc.)
- parsnips
- peas
- potatoes
- radishes
- squash (green and yellow zucchini, patty pan squash - this year I'm going to add some other types of zucchini and some winter squash)
- basil, dill

I tried these unsuccessfully from seed last year, but still have seeds so I'm going to try again this year before giving up/planting them from plants:
- cabbage
- cauliflower
- celery
- celeriac
- cucumber
- cilantro
- pumpkin

These from plants:
- brussel sprouts
- cucumber maybe
- tomatoes
- basil, cilantro
- sweet peppers

These are in the garden going strong from last year:
- artichokes (but I'll probably plant a couple more from plants)
- strawberries
- chives
- parsley

I've got a bit over 100 square feet covered with plastic tunnels so we can start our growing season a bit early and extend it. Also because we're so mild, I can leave other things in all winter (parsnips, carrots) in the non-covered gardens.

I don't know if it's different in Tucson, but it's not late for us here - in fact, we are heading out this afternoon to do our first planting of all the early stuff (some salad greens, peas, etc.).

Fun times!

[SundayCrepes]

Wow. You have an amazing garden.

I don't know how we can be the same zones. Maybe I typed in my zip code wrong or something. It will be well over 100 here this summer. Lettuce and such just won't do well in the heat. We have to cover our gardens in the summer to keep the sun off. Tomatoes won't fruit in the hot months.

How weird we're listed as the same zone.

Maybe it's the mild winters.

[desertgirl01]

OMG, seriously, I had a long post and quess I was timed out!! ARgh!

Short version:

I really don't think we can possibly be in the same zone as wild_reilly. If so, our planting seasons are different...most of the amazing plants listed are fall/winter plants for us.

I'd add more herbs, if you like: marjoram, thyme, oregano, chives, etc. have all done well in the margins of my garden
Okra
Lemon cukes or Armenian cucumber
more hot peppers (I've had the best luck with seeds from Native Seed Search)

Had beautiful green corn stalks, lovely element in the garden, but waste of space with malformed, 3" corn.

Not so much luck with sweet peppers.

In my book, melons and watermelons are worth it, just for one or two homegrown melons. Problems at my house have been monsoons--just as the melons look amazing and so close to being ripe, the extra rain splits them...and then bugs, rot, etc. set in. Plus birds and packrats tend to get the fruit at all stages, but for me, those few fruit that make it are totally worth the space and water!

Oh yeah, it is a late for seeds, but you know what? EVERY single year I plan to get an early start on seeds, and every single year I end up planting mid-March. This past weekend I started sowing, and I'll wrap it up this week. I get a few toms before the heat sets in, but come late Aug/Sept/Oct/even November the plants are still fruiting!

Happy gardening--I can't wait till my first sproutlets pop up!!