Many people who enjoy edible gardening are interested in growing vegetables and
herbs. The lower Sonoran Desert is great for growing an abundance of vegetables and
herbs, but two key factors should be considered -- what vegetables to plant and when to
plant them. Before viewing the three videos of this topic, students should read over the
following pages from the The New Sunset Western Garden Book
Vegetable Gardening (pages 698-707)
Herbs (680-683)
Soil Amendment (page 668)
Planting Seeds (page 670)
Planting Transplants (page 671)
Irrigating vegetables (page 715)
After reading the above sections, students will be ready to watch the three vegetable
garden topic videos. After viewing the three videos, students should be able to answer
the following in order to do well on the topic quiz:
1. What two primary factors need to be considered when planning a successful
vegetable garden in the Phoenix area?
2. What are some examples of common cool-season vegetables and herbs? What
are some examples of common warm-season vegetables and herbs?
3. How should you prepare soil for a vegetable garden?
4. What are the benefits of amending garden soil with organic matter?
5. What is compost? How is it used in vegetable garden preparation and
maintenance?
6. What is mulch? What organic matter mulch materials were mentioned in the
video?
7. What are the benefits of applying mulch to a vegetable garden?
8. What plant residues are NOT recommended as a mulch?
9. What nutrient is most lacking in desert soils?
10. What are four requirements for selecting the proper site for a vegetable garden?
11. What are the steps for preparing the garden planting area?
12. What materials are commonly used to amend the soil?
13. Why is mechanical tilling of the soil discouraged?
14. What information should you look for on a seed packet?
15. What are the advantages and disadvantages of planting seeds versus
transplants?
16. What is the proper planting technique for vegetable transplants?
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ABS 360 Southwest Home Gardening
Study Guide for Vegetable Gardening
ABS 360 Southwest Home Gardening
Finally, below is a brief list of common vegetables and herbs that grow well in the desert
southwest. Students can learn more about these plants in The New Sunset Western
Garden Book or from the supplementary materials in the course web links folder.
Cool-season vegetables and herbs
Beets
Broccoli
Carrot
Cauliflower
Cilantro
Garlic
Green Beans
Kale
Lettuce
Onions
Parsley
Peas
Potato
Radish
Swiss chard
Turnip
Warm-season vegetables and herbs
Basil
Corn
Cucumber
Eggplant
Melons
Okra
Peppers-chiles and
sweet
Squash
Tomato
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