DECEMBER GARDENING
yuma has its first frost in december. during a light frost, cold-tender plants may be killed if not protected by covering them with a sheet.
• Trees and shrubs: Plant bare-root fruit trees requiring 250-400 chill hours to set fruit. Increase days between watering established trees and shrubs. do not prune cold-tender trees or shrubs.
Plant trees and shrubs.
• Roses: begin choosing roses to plant in January. #1 grade bare-root roses are recommended.
climbers, floribundas, grandifloras, hybrid teas, and miniatures all grow well in yuma. Wait until established roses are dormant in January to prune. If leaves show powdery mildew, spray both sides, december– march, with Neem oil or use a systemic pesticide.
• Vegetables: continue to plant cool-season vegetables from seeds or transplants (asparagus, beet, artichoke, salad greens, tomatoes, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, peas, radish, spinach and turnip). Start seeds of warm-season vegetables indoors or in a greenhouse: tomatoes, squash, peppers.
• Herbs: Plant dill, fennel, cilantro, lemon balm, mint, parsley and chives.
• Bulbs: this is the last month to plant spring-flowering bulbs that do not require chilling (amaryllis, anemone, bearded iris, crinum, paper whites, dutch iris, sparaxis, ranunculus and gladiolus).
• Annuals: Plant annuals (african daisy, calendula, geranium, candytuft, Iceland poppy, larkspur, pansy, petunia, snapdragon, hollyhock, stock, baby’s breath, bells of Ireland, clarkia, sweet alyssum, lobelia, dianthus and primrose).
• Perennials:
Plant ruellia, desert milkweed, dusty miller, gaillardia, globe mallow, Grapes: Plant bare-root thompson seedless grape stock in a sunny location. Prepare a hole 1 ½ ft. deep and wide. Place grape stock in the hole, leaving 2 inches of stem above ground. Fill in with soil, water well. build a strong support for the vines to grow on. do not prune established grape vines this month.
• Groundcovers: Plant trailing gazania, ice plant, trailing dalea, or creeping-oxeye.