|
|||||||||||
Online version
January 2018
 
The holidays are behind us, resolutions have been made (some already broken!), and the Super Bowl, Phoenix Open, and various car auctions are now upon us. This must mean that it’s time to get back outside and get our hands dirty and breathe in some fresh air — unless you live somewhere other than the desert southwest, of course! Late January brings the planting of rose bushes and fruit trees for urban gardeners and landscapers. Our farms are busy finishing up harvest and replanting wheat and second crops of leafy greens and winter vegetables. The golf courses are full of those seeking the sun and refuge from the cold in many places in the country. It’s good to be in sunny Arizona, although we sure could use some rain! The Hickman family and The Farms Choice Fertilizer team wish you a happy New Year and hope that 2018 will bring prosperity and higher ag prices for ALL! For those football fans among you, we hope that three new head coaches in the state will bring better luck this year. For some of us, the thought that pitchers and catchers report in less than 30 days is a sign of hope for better things ahead! Garden Calendar for January and Early February For Low Elevation Desert
Plant Bare Root or Potted Rose Bushes - Prune existing rose bushes severely, down to about 12-14” above the ground or bud union. Be sure to seal pruned ends with pruning sealer or Elmer’s Glue. As soon as new growth occurs, begin fertilizing with The Farm’s Choice 4-2-2 pellets monthly. Yes, we realize the plants are in full bloom (especially this year). However, if you don’t prune severely the new growth that produces this next spring’s blossoms will be limited and you’ll be sacrificing the short term look for much greater rewards this spring.
This is also the time to prune deciduous fruit and shade trees before leaf-out begins (it might happen pretty early unless we get some cold weather soon!). We encourage you to consult your local nursery/garden center for proper pruning directions and guidelines before you start. Some have classes and/or clinics and the Cooperative Extension Service has handout and online materials available free of charge at https://extension.arizona.edu. When planting new roses and fruit trees -- as with all ornamental trees and shrubs -- be sure to include some organic material around the new plants, like The Farms Choice Organic Compost. The Farms Choice Is
|
Where to Find UsThe Hickman’s and The Farms Choice family of fertilizer would like to thank the following nursery and gardening outlets for carrying our products. These folks will also be able to provide you with great and timely gardening information, and the plants and other necessary products to make your garden and landscape a success! CALIFORNIACalifornia-Arcadia Garden (formerly known as Perla Nursery) ARIZONAWarner’s Nursery and Landscape Mortimer Nursery and Landscape Olsen’s Feed Yuma Nursery Supply Preach Building Supply and Landscape Jackrabbit Plant Nursery Whitfill Nursery Main Tree Farm North Phoenix/Scottsdale East Valley
Arcadia Color Garden Nursery Treeland Nursery Stock Shop A&P Nursery 2645 W. Baseline Rd. 6129 E. Brown Rd. 40370 N. Gantzel Rd. Elgin Nursery Desert Horizon Nursery |
Plant shade and eat it, too! Those summer ripening deciduous fruit trees – peach, apricot, plum, fig, pomegranate, apples -- are best planted now. Be sure you purchase and plant varieties best suited for low winter chill. What’s that? Chill hours are the accumulated hours of 45 degree and below temps that occur in late fall and winter. Deciduous fruit trees need various amounts of chill hours to produce a crop. In general, we receive about 400 to 500 hours of chill on average in the typical location in the low desert. However, it might be quite a bit less than that this year. Look for varieties that require 200 to 400 hours for best results and reliable crop production. 
|
|
|
