How to Grow a Vegetable Garden in the Desert

Growing your own vegetables is not only a great hobby, but it can save you hundreds of dollars by avoiding the high cost of vegetables at the grocery store. Just because you are living in an arid climate doesn't mean you have to give up the right of growing a vegetable garden. With a few more supplies and a lot of care, you can grow a vegetable garden in the desert.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fertilizer
• Soaker hose and water source
• Hoe
• Potting soil
• Tiller
• Vegetable seedlings
• Scissors
• Old gallon milk jugs

1. Choose the area where you want your vegetable garden.

2. Pour 2 to 4 inches of dark potting soil over the sandy desert ground. Till the soil together 6 to 12 inches deep with the tiller.

3. Plant your vegetable seedlings in straight rows with the specified spacing between plants and the width of the tiller between rows. Read the directions for the fertilizer and apply the mix to the plants, as directed.

4. Cut the bottoms off of the milk jugs. Place a milk jug over each plant. This creates a small greenhouse over each plant.

5. Dig a 3 to 4 inch deep V-shaped ditch alongside the milk jugs in each row. The ditch should run the length of each row.

6. Place the soaker hose in each ditch for two hours. Rotate the ditch the hose is in every two hours. Try to soak each ditch twice a day. Shut the hose off at night.

7. Till between the rows as weeds begin to grow.