Question about farming in Sedona (Phoenix, Tucson: to rent, month to, to buy)

[Mirdad]

I was thinking about moving to Sedona. My plan was first to rent and then eventually buy some property. I know property values have gone down considerably so it is probably a good time to buy.

However, I do love to grow a garden, especially a vegetable garden of sorts. Does anyone have any experience attemping this in Sedona? I'm not sure about the ground being fertile enough and then there is the harsh heat.

Thanks

[AzDreamer]

There used to be lots of old fruit orchards near Oak Creek where the soil is better. You can check out Sunset's "Western Garden Book" to see what you can grow in Sedona.

[Mirdad]

Thank you kind Sir. I Googled the book and it sounds excellent!

[AzDreamer]

One more idea, if you google "arizona gardening forum" you will find a site where you can post questions like this.

[hollywoodaz]

All you really need is water, and LOTS of it! The entire verde valley used to be a giant lake, and there is also a lot of volcanic rock, You just need to find where it has collected along rivers, streams and washes- Areas around the rivers and creeks have thick deposits of old floodplain soils- but because of elevation changes, and fast moving waters, some parcels can be extremely rocky- lots of cobbles mixed in to the soil- a real pain when planting. It will be a little more difficult to find an available parcel with good soils in Sedona, than in Camp Verde, Cottonwood or Cornville (the Verde River carries more water, the elevation change is less than Oak Creek, therefore, there are more old flood plains surrounding the river, and more tracts of land suitable for farming. That is actually the heritage of all of these communities- Farms and ranches- many of these farms and ranches fed the miners in Jerome, as well as the sinaguans who initially farmed the area.

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by hollywoodaz

All you really need is water, and LOTS of it! The entire verde valley used to be a giant lake, and there is also a lot of volcanic rock, You just need to find where it has collected along rivers, streams and washes- Areas around the rivers and creeks have thick deposits of old floodplain soils- but because of elevation changes, and fast moving waters, some parcels can be extremely rocky- lots of cobbles mixed in to the soil- a real pain when planting. It will be a little more difficult to find an available parcel with good soils in Sedona, than in Camp Verde, Cottonwood or Cornville (the Verde River carries more water, the elevation change is less than Oak Creek, therefore, there are more old flood plains surrounding the river, and more tracts of land suitable for farming. That is actually the heritage of all of these communities- Farms and ranches- many of these farms and ranches fed the miners in Jerome, as well as the sinaguans who initially farmed the area.

Yep. In fact Sedona is named for Sedona Miller Schnebly - the wife a farmer/businessman who apparently lived at the current site of the Tlaquepaque shopping complex.

Ken

[CCCVDUR]

Originally Posted by LordBalfor

Yep. In fact Sedona is named for Sedona Miller Schnebly - the wife a farmer/businessman who apparently lived at the current site of the Tlaquepaque shopping complex.

Ken

Sedona is a great place for gardening, with month to month temperatures similar to Tucson. Summer thunderstorms provide rain, reducing the amount needed for irrigation. Sedona is at 4300' and this is a perfect elevation, since Phoenix is too hot in the summer for many veggies. And, Flagstaff at 7000' is a short season, maybe only 90 days of guaranteed frost free weather. There are several organic and conventional farmers and vinyards in the Verde Valley. The rocks are both volcanic and sedimentary. The red rocks around Sedona are all sedimentary rocks.

[Mirdad]

Many thanks to all of you for your thoughts and insights. I am looking forward to joining your lovely community......

[CCCVDUR]

Originally Posted by Mirdad

Many thanks to all of you for your thoughts and insights. I am looking forward to joining your lovely community......

If you move here, it seems to me that there's a shortage of farmers in the Verde Valley w/ untapped potential. The climate is PERFECT at 2,000' for vegetables from March-November. In fact, I don't know of any area that has a longer season combined with hot temps in the summer for tomatoes, etc. AND free irrigation from thunderstorms from July 2-Sept. 30 AND it's not too hot like Phoenix. I'm not sure why there is not more vegetable and fruit growing down there. Perhaps it's national forest land restrictions? I think some of the creosote bush / mesquite / juniper may be protected, but I'm not sure the atlas is in the truck .....

[zenzaaz]

Our biggest problem is with the critters! Deer, javelina, raccoons etc... I can only grow my veggies in a fenced-in, covered over area or I lose them to the wildlife. I live in VOC area. Oh, and be prepared to water extensively even often during monsoon season. I find it mecessary to mist tomatoes for about four hours during mid-day whenever the temps get over the mid-90s or fruit won't set. Soil varies from area to area - we happen to have great soil, other areas have almost none. There are lots of micro-climates even within our lot! The veggies we do get are gorgeous and yummy and we almost always have bumper fruit crops (plums and apples). Our altitude is about 4500' btw.