Spring Gardening in Arizona

Spring is right around the corner as we enter March. The average temperature throughout the month of March ranges from 71-84 degrees but can drop into the mid-50s at night. This favorable weather is the perfect time to start planting some vegetables outside your home. However, living in a desert means the planting season can be a little different than the typical seasons. To help, here are several vegetables you should consider planting this spring:

Cilantro

Cilantro is the leaf from a coriander plant. Cilantro is a very popular herb used in many Spanish cuisines. In fact, living close to the border, many of these popular dishes become household favorites. Enlighten your food by adding this powerful spice. This herb is also an excellent remedy used for medicinal purposes to remove hazardous metals from the body and is often given to cancer patients.

Potatoes

Arizona offered some of the most diverse plant lives for gardening. From citrus fruits to starchy vegetables, many delicious fruits and vegetables can be grown in your own backyard. Another great option to include in your home garden is potatoes. Potatoes are great starchy, hearty vegetables that go great in many food dishes. So be sure to add this American classic to your own garden this spring.

Carrots

Add some color to your garden by growing some carrots. This crunchy root is another highly nutritious option to add to the garden this spring. It is a great source of potassium, antioxidants, vitamin K, and beta carotene. Carrots can be a great way to help lower your bad cholesterol and improve your eye health. 

Spinach

Another great leafy green vegetable that loves the Arizona spring weather is spinach. Spinach is excellent for bone health and packed with vitamins. Plus, it goes great as a lettuce alternative for burgers or salads. When growing spinach, make sure to space your rows about a foot apart. The seeds will germinate in about a week and be ready to harvest in just under two months.

Remember, Arizona has two main growing seasons: fall and spring. Take advantage of the weather and grow the right plants and vegetables during springtime. Thanks for reading!

Fulton Homes Super Browse Night and Poco Verde Landscape: Arizona’s Premiere Landscape Company

15149083_SFulton Homes is pleased to host another Super Browse Night at our Design Center this Thursday night from 5 – 8 p.m. We’re fortunate to have two great sponsors for the event: Poco Verde Landscape, Inc. and Bertazzoni appliances.

Join us this Thursday night to discover the rich selection of options available for your Fulton Home and sign up for a chance to win an iPad Mini.

Take the time during your visit to learn about Poco Verde Landscape, with over 30 years of experience serving the Valley of the Sun and over 45,000 residential and commercial projects completed.

With a Landscape Architect, Arizona Certified Nurseryman, Horticultural Specialists and Master Gardeners on staff, Poco Verde is prepared to help you develop the yard of your dreams.

Start by reviewing the inviting landscape packages available to you specifically developed for Fulton Homebuyers in your community. Then take the opportunity to talk with one of the knowledgeable Poco Verde specialists to determine how to create a landscape that meets your entertaining and aesthetic goals.

Outdoor features available through Poco Verde include fireplaces and fire pits, water features such as spas and fountains, decks of travertine and concrete pavers, barbecues and armadas, and whatever your imagination can dream of to make your outdoor space fulfill your goals. Enjoy looking through a portfolio of successful installations to start giving you some ideas for your own place.

Join us Thursday night from 5 – 8 p.m. at the Fulton Homes Design Center, 1241 West Warner Road, #106, Tempe, AZ. To find us turn south on Beck between Priest and Hardy. Turn right in the second driveway. We look forward to seeing you!

Spring Break Plans

9480227_SEven if you can’t leave town this year for Spring Break, you can plan some special family activities while your kids are out of school. Here are a couple of fun ideas.

Start a garden: Whether you begin with a few herbs in pots or decide to rent a rototiller, a garden is a great way of getting involved in something different. You might want each child to choose a vegetable to grow or give everyone a small area to plant whatever they want.

Begin by visiting a local nursery. Talk to the experts there to find out what options would be best for your available space and the season. You might want to mix some plants with a few packages of seeds to you have immediate crops and some that will come up later.

Look for heirloom varieties of vegetables, the ones that are hard to find in stores. Cherry tomato plants are also a good choice for the Arizona desert climate.

Let your children take the lead in planning and choosing. Get them directly involved in the planting and tending. If one child wants flowers rather than vegetables, that’s OK. It’s the process rather than the results that are important.

7954179_STake a hike: No, this is not a rude remark. How about planning a nature walk either in the area or within a few hours’ drive? Once again, let your children take the lead. Pick up a book of interesting local hiking areas at your local bookstore or library.

Make the hike extra fun by including a picnic that everyone contributes to making and packing. Take along a book that helps you identify local plants and birds. Have someone wear a pedometer so you know how far you’ve gone at the end of the day.

Make this Spring Break special by finding an activity or event that everyone in your family can enjoy and working together to make it special for everyone.