TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Monsoon is over and temperatures are beginning to cool. For local gardeners, this means only one thing: The time to plant a fall garden in Tucson has arrived.
According to Community Gardens of Tucson, food-producing plants that do best in Southwest Arizona during October - February include fava beans, carrots, leafy greens, peas, onions and garlic. Find the group's complete planting guide on the website.
Local Non-profit Native Seeds/SEARCH, a group focused on conserving native plants in the Southwest, also offers an online planting guide, with tips for growing plants in an arid environment.
Whether you're looking for crop starts or native arid-adapted plants to attract pollinators to your garden, three local non-profits have plants sales coming up to get your started with your home garden this fall:
Tucson Organic Gardeners Plant Fair
- Saturday, Oct. 15
- 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- St. mark's Presbyterian Church
- 3809 E. 2nd St.
- Free Admission
Desert Museum Fall Plant Sale
- Saturday, Oct. 15 - Sunday, Oct. 16
- 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Saturday is members only; open to all Sunday
- 2021 N. Kinney Rd.
- Sale will be located in parking lot
- No admission required
- Full list of plants available
Tohono Chul Fall Plant Sale
- Saturday, Oct. 22 - Sunday, Oct. 23
- 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Members'-only preview Wednesday, Oct. 19, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- 7366 Paseo del Norte
- No admission required
Don't have a place to plant in your yard? Consider a plot at one of the 18 Community Gardens of Tucson locations. Plots are about 3’ x 20’ and are equipped with drip irrigation.
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Anne Simmons is the digital executive producer for KGUN 9. Anne got her start in television while still a student at the University of Arizona. Before joining KGUN, she managed multiple public access television stations in the Bay Area and has worked as a video producer in the non-profit sector. Share your story ideas and important issues with Anne by emailing anne.simmons@kgun9.com or by connecting on Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.
