Fall Growing in

NEW MEXICO

THE BEST CROPS FOR a

Successful Fall Harvest

Boost Your Garden's Productivity with These Ideal Fall Crops for New Mexico's Climate!

Sweet Corn

How To Grow: Growing sweet corn in New Mexico requires specific attention to the state's climate and conditions. Here's a guide to help you successfully cultivate sweet corn:

Variety Selection: Choose sweet corn varieties that are well-suited to New Mexico's climate. Look for varieties that are labeled as drought-resistant and suitable for your specific hardiness zone.
Planting Time: Plant sweet corn seeds after the last frost date in the spring, typically in late April to early May. Make sure the soil temperature has warmed up to around 60-65°F (15-18°C) for optimal germination.
Soil Preparation: Prepare the soil by tilling it to a depth of 8-10 inches. Sweet corn prefers well-draining soil with good fertility. Conduct a soil test to determine nutrient levels and pH. Adjust the pH if needed, aiming for a range of 6.0 to 6.8.
Spacing: Plant sweet corn in blocks rather than single rows to ensure proper pollination. Leave about 8-12 inches between plants within a row and space rows about 30-36 inches apart.
Planting Depth: Plant the sweet corn seeds about 1-2 inches deep into the soil. Plant several seeds together and thin out the weaker seedlings later.
Watering: Sweet corn requires consistent moisture, especially during the period when the ears are forming. Provide 1-1.5 inches of water per week, either through irrigation or rainfall. Avoid wetting the foliage to prevent disease.
Fertilization: Apply a balanced fertilizer before planting and side-dress with nitrogen when the corn is knee-high and again when it's about waist-high. Follow recommended guidelines for your chosen fertilizer.
Mulching: Mulch around the base of the sweet corn plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and maintain more consistent soil temperature.

Potato

How To Grow: Growing potatoes in New Mexico requires attention to the state's unique climate and soil conditions. Here's a guide to help you successfully grow potatoes:

Variety Selection: Choose potato varieties that are well-suited to your specific hardiness zone in New Mexico. Look for varieties that have shorter growing seasons and are adapted to warmer temperatures.
Planting Time: Plant potatoes in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. In New Mexico, this is typically around March or April, depending on your specific location.
Soil Preparation: Prepare well-draining soil with good fertility. Potatoes prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH around 5.0 to 7.0. Loamy or sandy soil types are ideal. Incorporate compost or well-rotted manure to improve soil structure and nutrient content.
Seed Preparation: Cut larger seed potatoes into smaller pieces, each containing at least one "eye" or sprout. Allow the cut pieces to dry and callous for a day or two before planting. This helps prevent rotting.
Planting Depth and Spacing: Plant potato pieces or seed potatoes about 4-6 inches deep and 10-12 inches apart in rows. Space rows about 2-3 feet apart.
Hilling: As the potato plants grow and develop, gradually mound soil around the stems to encourage tuber formation. This also helps prevent the tubers from being exposed to sunlight, which can cause them to turn green and become toxic.
Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Proper watering is crucial during the flowering and tuber formation stages. Use a soaker hose or drip irrigation to water at the base of the plants, avoiding wetting the foliage.
Fertilization: Apply a balanced fertilizer before planting, and consider side-dressing with additional nitrogen when the plants are actively growing. Follow recommended guidelines for your chosen fertilizer.

Tomato

How To Grow: Growing tomatoes in New Mexico requires consideration of the region's climate and growing conditions. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you successfully grow tomatoes:

Variety Selection: Choose tomato varieties that are well-suited to your specific hardiness zone in New Mexico. Look for heat-tolerant varieties with shorter maturity periods for the best results.
Planting Time: Start tomato seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost date. Transplant seedlings outdoors when the danger of frost has passed. In New Mexico, this is typically in mid to late spring, around April or May.
Soil Preparation: Prepare well-draining soil with good fertility. Tomatoes thrive in slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH around 6.0 to 7.0. Incorporate compost or well-rotted manure to improve soil structure and nutrient content.
Transplanting: When transplanting tomato seedlings, plant them deep into the soil, burying the stem up to the first set of true leaves. This encourages the plant to develop a strong root system.
Spacing: Space tomato plants about 18-36 inches apart, depending on the variety. Use stakes, cages, or trellises to support the plants as they grow.
Sunlight: Tomatoes need full sun to thrive. Ensure they receive at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day.
Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, but avoid overwatering, as tomatoes can be susceptible to diseases in humid conditions. Water at the base of the plant to prevent wetting the foliage.
Fertilization: Apply a balanced fertilizer before planting and consider side-dressing with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer when the plants are actively growing and producing fruit.
Mulching: Mulch around the base of the tomato plants to help retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds.

Onion

How To Grow: Growing onions in New Mexico requires attention to the state's climate and growing conditions. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you successfully grow onions:

Variety Selection: Choose onion varieties that are well-suited to your specific hardiness zone in New Mexico. Look for varieties that are adapted to your region's temperature and day length.
Planting Time: Onions can be grown as both a spring and fall crop in New Mexico. For spring planting, start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last expected frost date and transplant seedlings outdoors when they are about the thickness of a pencil. For fall planting, sow seeds directly in the garden in late summer.
Soil Preparation: Prepare well-draining soil with good fertility. Onions prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH around 6.0 to 7.0. Incorporate compost or well-rotted manure to improve soil structure and nutrient content.
Planting Depth and Spacing: If transplanting, plant onion seedlings about 4-6 inches apart in rows. Space rows about 12-18 inches apart. If planting from seed, thin the seedlings to the same spacing after they've established.
Sunlight: Onions require full sun. Ensure they receive at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day.
Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the early growth stages. However, avoid overwatering, as onions can be prone to rot in soggy soil.
Fertilization: Onions have specific nutrient requirements. Incorporate a balanced fertilizer before planting and consider side-dressing with additional fertilizer as the plants grow.
Mulching: Mulch around the base of the onion plants to help retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.