Can You Grow Tropical Fruits In Las Vegas? Yes You Can
Growing tropical fruits in Las Vegas may seem impossible. But, it’s not.
It takes time, research and the right conditions. A man in Las Vegas named Derrick Martinez has started a tropical oasis in his backyard. He has started a garden called “Abah Garden,” that features lush and tropical fruits that you can only dream about growing.
According to a YouTube video from an organic gardening creator, Derrick’s garden consists of sugarcane, guava, almond trees, loquat trees, figs, pomegranates, papayas and so much more. Despite the dry and harsh conditions of the Las Vegas dessert, Marinez has created a system that allows these tropical fruits and vegetables to flourish, grow and bloom.
There Are Prohibited Plants In Las Vegas
If you’re looking to start a lush garden in your backyard then you need to be aware about the rules and regulations when it comes to gardening. According to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, prohibited plants include Green/Crimson Fountain Grass, fruitless mulberry trees, fruiting olive trees and chaste trees.
In an interview with Las Vegas Weekly, Bob Morris, a horticulture specialist, said, “There’s a number of challenges in the desert, in this (Las Vegas’) specific desert, and it’s not just the climate. The soils here are absolutely horrendous.”
How To Grow Tropical Fruits In Las Vegas
The “easiest” types of fruit to grow in the dessert will be dessert fruits instead of tropical. According to The Las Vegas Sun, this includes apricots, figs, jujubes, peaches, nectarines, and figs.
The first step is to adjust your “crop schedule” so it avoids blistering heat.
“Folks living in Arizona, the deep South, Las Vegas, or Hawaii may adjust their garden seasons and avoid growing tomatoes or squash during the hottest summer months altogether, and grow them during the spring and fall seasons instead,” Homestead Chill, an online homemaking blog, reports.
If you’re looking to start a garden then you will need good quality soil. Along with that, the hard Vegas sun with little to no rainfall can create sun damage on to crops.
“Don’t spray on sunscreen, but do paint the trunks—and any stem larger than a pinky finger—with a 50/50 water/light-colored outdoor latex paint mixture,” The Las Vegas Sun reports.
You will need to water plants in the early morning. Fruits are very thirsty plants, so you’ll have to keep this in mind. These plants will need to be watered immensely throughout the day. But be careful and avoid overwatering your crop.
“Before offering more water, check the moisture content of your soil by probing an inch or two below the soil surface,” Homestead Chill advises.
So, growing tropical fruits in Las Vegas is doable. Look at the plethora of produce that Derrick Martinez is able to grow at his Abbah Farm in Las Vegas. But, it does take determination, grit