Put Your Vegetable Garden to Bed for the Summer in Phoenix, Arizona

The summer months of June, July and August may be prime gardening season in many regions of the United States, but in Phoenix, Arizona, June signals the start of the gardening slow-down. The brutal temperatures in July and August are detrimental to most vegetable plants; tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and sweet peppers simply refuse to produce any more fruit in temperatures above 90 degrees F.

Certain veggies and herbs, such as jalapeno pepper, okra, rosemary and thyme, survive and even thrive in the higher temperatures if you provide enough water and shade. But if you've tried, unsuccessfully, to maintain a full complement of garden vegetables only to see your gardening dollars drain away, try "summer-izing" your garden.

Cut Back Spent Plants
When your vegetable plants show signs of slowed production, and the fruits are small or misshapen, it's time to cut the plants back. The heat and nutrient depletion in the soil are affecting the quality of the fruit. Cut each plant down to about 1-inch above the soil line. Providing the plant is pest and disease free, chop up the leaves and stems and place them into the compost heap.

Take note: If you find the plant is diseased, remove the root ball as well. Place plant and root in a plastic bag and dispose of in the trash.

Throughout the summer, the compost heap will cook. Add your kitchen scraps and yard waste throughout the summer and you'll have compost by fall.

Feed the Soil
Plants take up nutrients from the soil as they grow and produce fruit. By the time you cut back spent plants, the nutrient levels in the soil are significantly lowered. Rather than undertake the back-breaking task of turning soil, take a tip from the lasagna method of gardening and layer nutrient rich soil and mulch on top of the soil in the beds. The root balls you left in the soil will break down, adding organic material to the soil.

Cover the soil in each bed with 2-to-3 inches of finished compost. Do not turn the compost into the soil; let it lie on top like a blanket. Add a 1-inch layer of organic mulch such as straw or pine needles. The soil in Phoenix is alkaline, so the acidity in the pine needles will aid in balancing the pH in the soil. If you don't have straw or pine needles, use bagged organic mulch available at garden centers.

Put the Beds to Bed
The mulch breaks down throughout the summer and the layer of compost feeds the underlying layers of soil. To avoid weeds taking root or the sun baking the nutrients out of the soil, cover the beds with landscape fabric to reduce weed infestation.

Cover the landscape fabric with a 1-inch layer of mulch, using organic bark mulch or wood chips. This acts as additional insulation and when you're ready to plant again, the mulch may be added to the compost. Water the beds with a hose once a week to maintain moisture levels in the underlying soil.

When the weather starts to cool, remove the top layer of mulch and the landscape fabric. Turn the soil and test for nutrients using a soil test kit. Fertilize accordingly and plant your fall garden.

References
Phoenix Tropicals
University of Arizona