Gardening in Eldorado
   by Ken Bower - Eldorado Windy Farm
      klbower66@gmail.com       

Growing plants in the Santa Fe area requires specialized knowledge and skill. You must be aware of the environmental conditions of the area as well as the soils. Santa Fe is around 7,000 ft. above sea level located on a semi-arid steppe. The area gets about 9-12 inches of precipitation a year with temperatures varying from the low 90’s in the summer to the single digits in the winter. Most of the rain falls during the monsoon season in mid-July and August. The rest of the moisture comes as snow during the winter months. The natural soil is composed of caliche and clay with a pH of around 7.3 (alkaline). During the dry seasons it is extremely difficult to penetrate the soil without using a pickaxe! In Eldorado we get extreme spring winds as well.

It is important that the plants that are grown in the area match our growing conditions. The availability of water is of major importance. When the temperature reaches the high 80’s or low 90’s the garden must be watered at least three times per week. Don’t try to grow plants that won’t grow here. For example, palms, ferns, blueberries or azaleas! They will either need more water than we can provide or do not like our alkaline soil. Before you plant decide what plants and where on your property can be properly watered throughout the year. Each plant has its own growing requirements that you must follow. Your property has many different environmental niches. (walls, rocks, berms, open spaces, etc.) These factors must all be taken under consideration when deciding what and where to plant. We generally plant several of the same species of plants in different locations throughout the garden. Some will thrive and some will not!

Area pests must also be taken into consideration. These include rabbits, pack rats, mice, gophers, and various birds (especially quail). Netting above the tender plants and wire below them helps with this problem. Aphids can also become a problem if not attended to early. Ants carry the aphids to the plants as a food source. They are called “ant cows” because the ants stroke them so that they will release droplets of a sweet liquid. Tomato horn worms (Sphinx moth caterpillars) can also decimate the leaves of the nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplants). I use a UV flashlight at night to find and pick off the small caterpillars once I find evidence of their presence.

Vegetable gardening requires special attention. The soil must be amended with compost and fertilizer. Yum Yum mix is a good selection for a slow release, organic fertilizer. These amendments must be added annually so keeping a compost pile is a good solution. Throughout the year we add all of our kitchen scraps (no meat or citrus) to the pile. I turn it periodically and add it to the veggie garden in the early spring. Raising the beds above the soil level will also give better results.

                                     Vegetables & Herbs that do well
Each year we plant some vegetable seeds in our sunroom in early April to be put into the garden in May. These include: the nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, eggplants), chard, collards, kale (Tuscan & red), pac choi and totsoi.
Later when the weather becomes warmer (nighttime temps. 50 degrees or above) other seeds can be directly planted into the garden. (spinach, lettuce, turnips, radishes, beets, arugula and carrots). Different kinds of squash and the nightshades should only be planted in the garden when the weather becomes warmer. Don’t plant them too early since they won’t grow vigorously without the heat.

                        Plants that are good for the Santa Fe perennial garden:
Any native plant will need less attention than others. These plants are used to living in our environmental conditions and after becoming established, need very little care. ex. chamisa, fernbush, winterfat, four-wing salt bush, soapweed yucca, native sunflowers, native cacti and grama grass. (Don’t try to grow cacti from Arizona, they can’t take our cold weather.)
Other low maintenance plants that do well here are the penstemon, salvias and agastaches. Another consideration is to grow pollinator plants. In our garden we find catmint and Russian sage attract the most bees, butterflies, moths and hummingbirds. They also like all of the salvias if available. (Planting Russian sage requires special attention since it will spread out of control if you let it!)

Herbs that do well are: chives, garlic chives, onions, oregano, Arp rosemary, basil, thyme, mints and savory. (basil, cilantro, and marjoram must be grown as annuals.)

                                                     Fruit Trees
Many fruit trees do well in this area. However, do not try to grow citrus or fig trees outside. They can be grown inside in a sunroom or green house during the winter and put outside in pots during the warmer months. The number one requirement for fruit trees in the availability of water. If you can’t provide enough water for them throughout the year, don’t grow them!
Trees that do well here are apples, pears, peaches, plums, cherries (sour and sweet), apricots and nectarines. Check with the purchasing nursery for the varieties that do the best in our area.
If it doesn’t grow well in a particular place, don’t replant it there!
Good Luck!

                  
   Ken’s Eldorado Windy Farm Plant Resources
Ken Bower – klbower66@gmail.com
The Home Garden - http://www.eldoradowindyfarm.com/ewf-farm.html
The Santa Fe Botanical Garden (The Orchard Garden & Ojos y Manos) - http://www.eldoradowindyfarm.com/SFBG%20home.html
Plants of the Pecos National Historical Park - http://www.eldoradowindyfarm.com/pecos-index.html