Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star

Other articles by John P. Begeman:

: Mother Nature dials up the heat in May : Only tough plants can handle summer sun : Bulb plants brighten spring and summer Searching for perfect tomatoes? Grow 'em: Get a jump on summer with heat-tolerant flowers : Get some great ideas from tour Saturday Early spring insect pests now abundant Gardening By John P. Begeman: March outside and start plantingGardening By John P. Begeman: Well-suited to desert: That's agave: Lift a glass to local wines

Trades/Construction
RANCHO RESORT
MAINTANANCE POSITION Health Care
Sierra Tucson
Eating Disorders Program Coordinator General
A1 Communications
Cable Techs

Year-round sun and the image of vine-ripened tomatoes have lured many Tucson homeowners into starting a garden.

But even the most enthusiastic gardener may get discouraged after attempts to work with our desert soils. A number of obstacles such as heavy clay, gravel, rock and caliche await most would-be gardeners.

Smart gardeners have outwitted these difficult conditions by planting above ground in raised beds. Raised beds are basically big containers, most without bottoms, and have a frame that may be built with concrete block, slump block, stone, wood or brick. The frame rests directly on the ground and creates a gardening bed that is usually 12 to 18 inches above ground level.

Metal livestock tanks also can be used for raised beds. They have the advantage of being nearly critter proof. The slick metal sides don't allow rabbits, ground squirrels or rats to climb up into the tank. The silver color of the tanks also reflects sunlight and keeps the soil inside cooler. Stock tanks can be purchased in several sizes at feed and farm supply stores.

Raised beds offer gardeners several advantages. They give you the chance to improve poor soils and avoid soil-borne disease problems. You choose and install the soil mix you want for your raised bed. It's also easier to work on a raised bed.

Raised beds can be filled with any loose growing media. I prefer compost. But you can also fill beds with potting soil or bagged topsoil. If the media is too heavy, mix in pumice or perlite to lighten it up and improve aeration and drainage.

If possible, locate the bed in an area that receives morning sun but some midday and afternoon shade. That's important in the spring and summer months, when afternoon sun can be too intense for some garden plants. Take advantage of trees to provide some afternoon shade, but avoid locating beds directly under them.

Watering is important because soils in raised beds are, by nature, well-drained. An inexpensive drip tubing irrigation system is a must. I prefer in-line drip emitter tubing, with emitters spaced every 6 inches. A battery-operated irrigation timer can be set to provide water automatically on a regular schedule. Keeping soil evenly moist in the summer will require daily irrigation.

The easiest way to fertilize plants in raised beds is with a timed-release plant food. There are ones formulated especially for flowering and fruiting plants. Follow label directions, but keep in mind that frequent summer watering cuts in half the advertised release time on the package.