If you can keep the rabbits, rats, and mice away from them there's alot of things you should be able to grow. Melons, squashes, legumes, etc... all should do well, especially with some filtered shade during the hotter late spring early summer times when nothing else is growing. In the lower elevations alot of those things will go dormant in the heat, the same way they would in just above freezing temps, it's surprising to find out that these plants have maximum growing temps, too. Tomatos, for instance, the flowers will not pollinate after.. I think it was average 95 degrees. They'll grow flowers but won't grow fruit until the monsoons hit in late July and bring the average temps back down a bit. I've started peas as early as right now, and they grow great in spring, but by late April will just stop growing and do nothing really until the rains in July, then start going gangbusters again. But as long as I can keep these things watered and alive, they're already established and ready to go again later. In the lower valley there's two planting seasons. Early spring, and monsoons. In the Prescott area the seasons should be more... normal.. I would think at least. I've only visited there.thanks so much! Do you think it would be easier/more realistic to grow more of these seasonal and year round "greens" or chicken forage items at higher elevations like Prescott/Sedona areas? Looking to get a better gauge on high desert v low desert realities.
