Dreaming about planting your veggie garden? Before you start shopping for plants this year be sure to attend the free Lush and Lean Workshop sponsored by Las Cruces Utilities (LCU) on Thursday, March 30th. Why not spend a little time learning how to maximize your garden space, keep your water bills low, and choose plants that offer your best chance of success!
Israel Calsoyas, NMSU Ph.D. student, is working on her doctorate in vegetable physiology. She will be leading the workshop and urges attendees to set up their gardens in a way that work better in drought areas.
“If you go into the garden project with the intention of saving water, choosing cultivars that thrive in our climate, and setting up your garden the right way,” says Calsoyas, “you will have a beautiful, productive garden and use less water.”
“Irrigation is half the battle,” she notes. She will demonstrate how to set up a simple garden irrigation system using a garden hose. Calsoyas will discuss the plant growth cycle, and says there are times you can restrict water use and not negatively impact the plant or the vegetables it is producing. She notes, “In many gardens we overwater without knowing it”.
Calsoyas will address topics about the most popular plants grown here – tomatoes, green chile, melons, squash, and other vegetables – she also plans to answer questions such as: Is it better to plant seeds or transplant seedlings?
All Lush and Lean workshops are free and open to the public; they are held Thursday evenings at the Branigan Library (200 E. Picacho) in the Roadrunner Room from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. See the complete list of speakers and Lush and Lean dates at www.las-cruces.org/WaterConservation or www.facebook.com/cityoflascruces (you don’t need a Facebook account to view this page).
You can reach Las Cruces Utilities at 528-3500 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Las Cruces Utilities provides GAS – WATER – WASTEWATER – SOLID WASTE services to approximately 100,000 Las Cruces residents and businesses.
Suzanne Michaels provides this content on behalf of Las Cruces Utilities.
Lush and Lean is a regular column in The Las Cruces Bulletin.