Southwest Garden Checklist: Bulbs, Cool-Season Crops, and Frost Prep

Planting

Bulbs for Indoor Display

Force bulbs for late-winter bloom: refrigerate daffodils, hyacinths, paperwhite narcissus, tulips for 8 weeks. Plant in containers with potting soil plus controlled-release fertilizer, bulbs just touching, tips protruding. Water gently. Keep in cool, low-light for a week, then move to warm, well-lit room to bloom.

Bulbs for Outdoor Beds

Choose bulbs needing minimal winter chill and water: Crocus ancyrensis 'Golden Bunch', C. chrysanthus 'Advance' and 'Gypsy Girl', C. vernus 'Pickwick' and 'Yellow Mammoth'. Also Afghani iris (I. cycloglossa), all I. reticulata varieties, rain lily (Zephyranthes), Scilla siberica 'Spring Beauty', spring star flower (Ipheion uniflorum 'Wisley Blue'). Available from High Country Gardens, Santa Fe (www.highcountrygardens.com or 800/925-9387).

Cool-Season Flowers

Zones 10–13: Sow clarkia, nasturtiums, sweet peas. Set out transplants of ageratum, calendula, candytuft, coreopsis, dianthus, English daisies, foxgloves, larkspur, lobelia, pansies, petunias, scabiosa, snapdragons, sweet alyssum.

Cool-Season Vegetables

Zones 10–13: Sow beets, carrots, kale, leeks, parsnips, peas, radishes, rutabagas, salad greens, spinach, Swiss chard, turnips. Set out asparagus, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower.

Landscape Plants

Zones 10–13: Through mid-month, plant spring-blooming perennials: autumn sage (Salvia greggii), bush morning glory (Convolvulus cneorum), globe mallow (Sphaeralcea spp.), Mexican evening primrose, penstemons, red justicia (J. candicans), verbena. Also plant frost-hardy woody shrubs and trees: acacia, creosote bush, hop bush, mesquite, Mexican buckeye (Ungnadia speciosa), palo verde, Texas mountain laurel, woolly butterfly bush.

Succulents

Zones 11–13: Transplant cold-hardy or native succulents: agave, desert spoon, yucca.

Maintenance

• Adjust irrigation: As temperatures cool, increase days between waterings but maintain cycle length.
• Care for roses (Zones 10–13): Deadhead, fertilize for the last time this year, apply 4-inch compost layer.
• Prepare for frost: Move containers to protected spots. Water tender landscape plants for hydration (except cacti/succulents). Cover cacti/succulent tips with frost blanket or burlap. Protect young citrus with a lightbulb or Christmas lights in canopy, then cover.
• Prune herbs (Zones 11–13): Prune marjoram, oregano, rosemary, thyme to remove woody stems and encourage fresh growth.