Poblano peppers
Poblano peppers do especially well in Arizona.
Meyer Lemon Season in Arizona
My Meyer lemons are at the peak of ripeness right now. This batch was delivered to downtown's Bitter and Twisted to be used in their fantastic craft cocktails .
December Citrus
Rio Red grapefruit
Before moving to Phoenix in 2008, I had no idea that Arizona had such an abundance of winter citrus. Currently I am growing Meyer lemon (my favorite), Lisbon lemon, Ponderosa lemon, Valencia orange, Nagami kumquat, Rio Red grapefruit, Bearss lime, and Moro blood orange. I only have room for one or two more, but on my wish list are Buddha's Hand citron, Kaffir lime, mandarin, calamondin, finger lime, or yuzu.
Meyer lemon
Lisbon lemons
Valencia orange
December Vegetables and Herbs
One of the perks of living in Phoenix is our two growing seasons. I plant in March and again in September and harvest about 10 months of the year. Most of my plants are from Vilardi Gardens. My friend Suzanne Vilardi grows amazing heirloom varieties which you can find at the local farmer's markets. These are some of the plants doing well in my December garden:
Red Romaine lettuce, Japanese Giant Red Mustard, Marconi peppers, Dukat dill, Lunga Violetta eggplant, and Red Russian kale.
Tomatoes, artichoke, Ichiban eggplant, Bloomsdale spinach, Outredgeous lettuce, and poblano peppers.
Ruby Red Swiss chard, Mizuna, Shishito peppers, I'toi's onions, Spigariello liscia, and Quarantina broccoli rabe.
Early Jersey Wakefield cabbage, King Richard leek, Forellenschluss lettuce, purple basil, Gigante di Napoli cauliflower, and garlic chives.
Florence fennel, Genovese basil, Moroccan mint, Nero Di Toscana kale, spearmint, and some of the seeds I've been sowing.
