Mojave Desert – Xtremehorticulture

Wittwer Vegetable Primer Available

Q. I received the Wittwer vegetable “bible” but I must admit, I’m a little confused by the title, as It seems to be pertaining to Moapa and Virgin Valleys and not the Las Vegas Valley. As longtime residents of the Las Vegas Valley, don’t those valleys have a different climate than the Las Vegas Valley? Dr. Sylvan Wittwer’s vegetable garden in Logandale, Nevada, eastern Clark County in southern Nevada. Vegetable growing conditions are similar to Las Vegas. A. Yes, they do. It is slightly different, a bit warmer to be exact. The climates between the two valleys are very similar. Both valleys are in the Eastern Mojave Desert. It’s hard to find information from a source like Dr. Sylvan Wittwer for the Las Vegas Valley. Dr. Sylvan Wittwer was the past extension vegetable specialist for Michigan State University but originally from Hurricane, in southern Utah in Washington County. Dr. Wittwer was the retired Vegetable Specialist from Michigan State University when he moved to our eastern Mojave Desert climate. He grew vegetables in this climate for eight years before he moved back to Utah. It’s difficult to find reliable information in the Las Vegas Valley from such a notable source. If you want, contact me at [email protected] and I will email you the entire pdf copy.

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Citrus in Las Vegas Nevada

Leave a Comment / citrus, freezes, Las Vegas, Mojave Desert, problems, winter cold / xtremehorticulture

I was accused of not wanting citrus in our area. That isn’t true. Nothing wrong with growing citrus here. But I want you to be aware of its problems when citrus is grown here and adjust your expectations accordingly. This is the Mojave Desert. Las Vegas and the high or middle deserts can have cold winters, unexpected early spring frosts and winds. It can survive cold temperatures ranging from the mid to low 20’s all the way to no freeze at all depending on the type of citrus. Sour orange rootstock grows from the base of this orange tree because the top died when it froze leaving the rootstock to grow and produce fruit that has dropped on the ground. Early spring light frosts can be a problem for all fruit trees including citrus. All it takes is a few minutes of freezing temperatures just before sunrise. If flowers are open or close to opening, part or all your fruit is dead. The fruit or flowers drop from the trees a week or two later even though bees were plentiful. Many citrus are subtropical Citrus originates from different parts of Asia. This means they prefer growing in soils that have some organics in them. Desert soils don’t have any or very little. When soils are covered in rock, the soil organics are fine right after planting and these organics can last last several years. After several years, the soil “organics” used at planting time are depleted and must be replenished. This can be done by raking the rocks back, applying fine wood chips to the soil, and raking the rock back or applying these same amendments over large rock and watering it in. Citrus can yellow and eventually dieback if the soil is not improved when it grows in rock. Citrus can also yellow when grown with woodchips if the woodchips are not thick enough or if planted and watered incorrectly. Most yellow leaves can be turned green again if an iron chelate (I would recommend iron eddha for the chelated iron) is applied to the soil in early spring. When purchasing citrus be aware that these are fruit trees that are “iffy” when grown here. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t. Adjust your expectations accordingly.

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Orange Tree Problems During and Shortly After Rain

Leave a Comment / citrus, Las Vegas, Mojave Desert, orange tree / xtremehorticulture

Q. What is wrong with my orange tree? It has lots of oranges, but the tips of the trees are dying in some places. Any plants, including this citrus, can have problems after a rain in the desert. A. Your pictures look like either an insect or disease problem, both I have few skills about. First, I would open the canopy of the tree a bit more by reaching inside of it and pruning the limbs at a joint (where they come together) and remove one of them to make the canopy of the tree more open. That will help air circulation a critical factor for disease control. In some cases, it can remove disease problems when humidity and air movement are factors. Secondly, after the canopy is more open, I would look at the damaged areas. If you bend the branches that remain you can determine if it is an insect or disease problem. The insects will weaken the branches just below the damaged areas and break. Diseases will not unless the area is dead. Look for insect damage or disease problems just below the dead or dying areas. Sorry, but there may not be any chemicals of use. Just plant management or wait for a change in the weather.

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Buy Local as Much as Possible

Leave a Comment / farmers market, Las Vegas, Mojave Desert / xtremehorticulture

National Farmers Market Week 2022 USDA Secretary Proclaims 2022 National Farmers Market Week Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack proclaimed August 7-13 as National Farmers Market Week to champion the direct-to-consumer producers, market managers, and customers that make their communities come alive during market days. Farmers markets have great importance in the larger goals of USDA’s Food System Transformation framework, and continue to be spaces for community engagement and education. Tricia Kovacs, Deputy Administrator of the Transportation and Marketing Program within the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), discusses this in her new blog post. Throughout the week, AMS will feature social media and blog content to highlight the projects and successes of local and regional farmers markets. Follow @USDA_AMS on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date. Grab those reusable bags and see you at the market! Read the Full Proclamation Celebrate National Farmers Market Week at the USDA Farmers Market The USDA Farmers Market is hosting a homecoming-themed celebration for National Farmers Market week on August 12, 2022 from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. In addition to the more than 20 vendors that attend the market each week, there will be a variety of exhibitors from federal agencies and community organizations focused on local food and community connections. There will also be a recipe demonstration at the market’s VegU tent, activities and prizes for kids at the Produce Pals tent, musical performances, and more. Stop by to celebrate the positive impact farmers markets make in communities across the country! Visit the USDA Farmers Market Take Advantage of USDA’s Local Food Directories Since its creation in 2010, the Local Food Directories website has transformed over the years to include information that makes it easy for customers to find fresh, local foods through four main outlets. Recent updates have made the directories even easier to use on the go, on your phone or computer. USDA also launched a new directory for agritourism. As the platform continues to grow, check out this blog post for tips on how to navigate this resource, especially during National Farmers Market Week when supporting local markets can be a few clicks away. Visit the Local Food Directories Page Sharing Findings from the National Farmers Market Managers Survey The 2019 National Farmers Market Survey, conducted by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and the National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS), collected data regarding the market practices of managers in 2019 from 10,000 farmers markets. Using trends and statistics found from these efforts, AMS and its cooperative agreement partner, Wheaton College, created five research briefs highlighting results from this survey and sharing insights into the trajectory for farmers markets into the future. For example, did you know that farmers market managers are often volunteers (34%), rather than paid employees of the market (29%). Nationally, 68% of vendors present in 2019 returned from the 2018 season, with more than one-third (37%) of markets experiencing an increase. Additionally, around one-third of farmers markets offered or engaged in at least one food waste and/or conservation program in 2019. For more details on these trends, visit the AMS website for a full set of research findings. Explore the Research Briefs Seeds of Success: Digging into the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program Each month, we’re highlighting the work of Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion grant recipients. Community Foodworks/FRESHFARM Community Foodworks, which later merged with FRESHFARM, received a Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) grant in 2011 to start a farmers market in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington, D.C., an area of the city with limited access to fresh and local produce. After establishing this market, they received an additional FMPP grant in 2014 to expand beyond the neighborhood. They grew their markets and created a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, building rapport with participating farms and local organizations. In 2017, Community Foodworks applied for a Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) grant to establish the Pop-Up Food Hub (PUFH) program. Community Foodworks launched this project to purchase produce wholesale from farmers and distribute this food to local organizations directly. This bridged the gap between small producers and community organizations, giving both groups a stable and reliable market, and encouraging more local food options. FRESHFARM currently is continuing to work on farm to school initiatives with public schools in D.C. and nearby Arlington, Virginia while simultaneously working to increase the number of pick-up sites for individuals to collect their CSA boxes. Read the Full Story Seeds of Success: Where Are They Now? The Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) Seeds of Success highlights accomplishments and lessons learned from Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMLFPP) grant recipients. During National Farmers Market Week (August 7-13), we are sharing adaptations and successes of recipients focused on farmers market related projects. Renaissance Jamestown – Chautauqua County, NY As a direct result of community advocacy, the City of Jamestown City Council passed a resolution in 2020 that ensured annual support of and the allowance for the farmers market to operate on public lands and city-owned parks without costly ‘event’ fees or permits. The FMLFPP grant funds helped promote the awareness and perpetuity of this local market that continues to be a vital support system for low-income communities and regional farmers. Read more about Renaissance Jamestown. Franklin County Farmers Market – Frankfort, KY Like many businesses during the pandemic, the Franklin County Farmers Market adopted a hybrid model offering both online ordering with curbside pickup and traditional in-person sales for the 2021-2022 season. They also partnered with Community Farm Alliance to offer FreshRx, a vegetable prescription program for expectant moms and a voucher program to connect produce vendors with local schools. Read more about Franklin County Farmers Market. Adelante Mujeres – Forest Grove, OR This non-profit organization provides holistic education and empowerment to low-income Latina women, helping with child nutrition and access to locally grown and culturally appropriate food. Their farmers wanted to be able to sell directly to consumers and as a result, created the Cornelius Farmers Market in 2020 with

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Just Because Its a Cactus Doesn’t Mean it Loves it in the Mojave!

1 Comment / cactus, Mojave Desert / xtremehorticulture

Some pictures of “torch” cacti in the yard of one of my readers. Great job! Several questions were sent to me regarding cacti. In general, the most common reason for failure of cactus is watering too often. The second most common reason for cactus problems is because it was put in a hot, bright location when it should be located in a protected part of the yard. The third reason is because the cactus was damaged during our winter cold temperatures and prefers being planted in a warmer climate. Argentine Giant Cactus (Not yet!) Automatic Irrigation Be careful when putting cacti on an automatic water or irrigation timer. They are watered so infrequently that it sometimes makes sense to water these plants manually with a hose rather than automate it. When cacti begin to shrivel, it’s time to water. When they look plump and firm, they don’t need water. If you’ve got lots of cacti and you are using an automatic timer, then run that station or valve when they need water but make sure they have good drainage if you water them automatically (without looking at them). A hose, manual timer and sprinkler also makes sense for larger desert plants. Watch for winter low temperature damage. Know your cactus! Water Cacti 12 inches deep Medium-sized and small cacti should be watered about 12 inches deep. Large desert plants like a saguaro or Joshua tree should be watered 18 inches deep and have water applied to an area underneath them equal to at least half of their height. Watering a large area under large plants helps keep them stable and keeps them from falling over when the tops get large and heavy. Watering any of these plants too often can cause disease or unsightly growth problems. Cactus from the Sonoran Desert, like this nopal, may require warmer temperatures when planted in the Mojave. Your Cactus Has a Name Find out the scientific name for your cactus and Google it. Learn where it originated from. Some cacti are native to the southeastern US or higher elevations in other countries. In these locations it was cooler so they will need protection from late afternoon sun in the Mojave Desert. Cacti native to our Southwestern deserts do not. They can handle hot and dry locations. Learn if your cactus should be planted in a gentler landscape location or can handle the harsh ones. Watering only at the base of most cacti results in blowover with wind and if they get tall like this one in Parker, AZ. Know Where it Comes From Some cacti are tropical or subtropical and get damaged because of our low winter temperatures in the Mojave Desert. Cacti which can handle low temperatures of 20° F or lower probably will not need much winter protection in all but the coldest years. Other cacti which are less tolerant of these low temperatures might, depending on your landscape microclimate and location in the valley.

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Jujube Good Choice for Desert Production, Not Hachiya Persimmon

4 Comments / hachiya grow in las vegas, Las Vegas, Mojave Desert, Will jujube chinese date grow in the desert / xtremehorticulture

Fruit of one variety of jujube Q. I just bought a new house with big yard at Summerlin. I am Asian and there are three trees I want to plant most but I don’t have any experience; Jujube, Hachiya persimmon and white saucer peach. I read some of your articles and decide to ask your advice before I take the action. A. Jujube, or Chinese date, grows extremely well in our climate and you will have a lot of success growing it here. The biggest problem is its invasiveness. Jujube suckers from its roots in new locations wherever there is water. These can be distances of 5 to 20 feet away from the mother plant. Over time, you could have a forest of jujube from a single plant. Just keep the suckers eliminated when you see them. Sadly, Hachiya persimmon does not perform as well here as Fuyu and other persimmons. We have trouble getting good fruit retention (fruit staying on the tree) after the fruit has set. Plenty of blossoms but the fruit drops when it gets about ½ inch in diameter and the tree produces only a few fruit. I would suggest trying different varieties of persimmons such as Fuyu, Giant Fuyu, Coffeecake, and others). The white, flat peaches perform very well here with a very high sugar content and excellent flavor. I would suggest donut peaches such as “Stark Saturn” or “Sweet Bagel” varieties. These peaches may also be called saucer or peento peach. If you keep your trees healthy by planting with plenty of compost mixed in the soil at planting time and covering the soil surface with wood mulch you will have fewer problems. You can always email me with specific questions.

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Trumpet Vine Adds Color to Desert Landscapes

1 Comment / desert, Does trumpet vine grow in Las Vegas, Mojave Desert, why is my trumpet vine not growing. / xtremehorticulture

Trumpet vine is commonly used in much colder, arid climates. It is not a true desert plant but can tolerate arid environments and poor soils. It does really appreciate amended soils, wood mulch and regular irrigations. Fertilize once a year in February with a fertilizer that promotes flowering of woody plants. It is a climber and under the right conditions can be extremely aggressive. Restrain with pruning the longest and most aggressive. Usual complaints are that the vine grows slowly or poorly. Make sure it receives enough water and mulch the base with wood chips. It may not do well in extremely hot microclimates. Trumpet vine over a wall in Las Vegas

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Where to Plant Pear, Apple, Quince and Citrus

1 Comment / best place to plant fruit trees in a yard, Las Vegas, Mojave Desert, where to plant citrus, Where to plant fruit trees / xtremehorticulture

Q. I’m thinking about adding pear, apple, quince, grapefruit and blood oranges to my landscape and I’m wondering if you could give me advice as to the best place I can put these guys. I would like to espalier or trellis the quince. A. The major limitation for all of these fruit trees is going to be winter cold temperatures for the citrus and summer high temperatures and reflected heat and light. In this part of the Mojave desert at a 2000 foot elevation most citrus trees, if not all of them, should be grown with care. This is not citrus country but if they are placed in the right microclimate they can be productive and healthy for many years to come. East is a good exposure for quince because it tends to sunburn and get borers in full sun all day or hot locations. Pineapple quince with fruit in Las Vegas Any of these fruit trees can be trellised or espaliered and suitable for side yards. Apples and pears can handle full sun in open areas such as backyards if the soil is amended at planting and a four to six inch layer of surface mulch is applied to the soil beneath the canopy. Apple trellised or espaliered in Las Vegas. As far as citrus goes, you need a warm spot in the yard with little winter wind so they are protected from damaging winter cold and hope for the best. All of the citrus you like are tender to winter weather here but you will have the best luck with the most cold tolerant types of citrus such as kumquat, Myers lemon and grapefruit. Go to this website to learn about citrus varieties for the desert Southwest

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Creosote Bush for Desert LandscapesIn the Mojave Desert

Leave a Comment / desert landscaping, desert plants, Mohave Desert, Mojave Desert / xtremehorticulture

Don’t overwater this plant! And it doesn’t require much in the way of fertilizers.Like any desert plant, they perform better if there is some organic matter added to the soil at the time of planting. In our Mojave desert soils there is almost 0% organic matter so a little bit will help get them established. An old stand of creosote in the background and creosote which have been cut off with a road grader and re-grew from the base.

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Texas Mountain Laurel a Good Desert Landscape Choice

Leave a Comment / flowers, Mohave Desert, Mojave Desert, plant selection, purple, small landscape tree, texas mountain laurel, worms / xtremehorticulture

Texas Mountain Laurel or Mescal Bean Andrea Meckley, Certified Horticulturist [email protected] Description: flowering large shrub or small tree Mature size: 15-20 feet tall x 8-10 feet wide Water use: low to medium Exposure: all day sun to half day sun Origin: Texas, New Mexico, northern Mexico Caution: red seeds are poisonous Flower: purple sweet scented blooms early spring Hardy: 0 degrees F Evergreen Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora segundiflora) slowly grows naturally as a shrub or can be trained as multi trunk tree. The poisonous seeds have a coat that is very hard and difficult to crack limiting risks to humans and pets if swallowed. Native peoples used the seeds for ceremonial use and ornamental jewelry. Use this plant as a hedge, screen or accent plant.

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