WHAT TO PLANT
(Mid Elevations)

Bare-root and container fruit and shade trees, shrubs and roses—Dig a planting hole that is only as deep as the root system but three to five times as wide. Loosening soil widely around the roots encourages them to spread, creating a strong anchor as the plant matures.

Blackberries—These berries have biennial canes that grow the first year and bear fruit the second. Well-adapted erect (versus trailing) cultivars include ‘Brazos’, ‘Choctaw’, ‘Navaho’ and ‘Roseborough’. Transplant in full sun between February and April, spacing vines 2 to 3 feet apart. During their first summer’s growth, cut back erect varieties to 3 feet high to encourage lateral branching on which berries will appear next year.

(Mid and High Elevations)  
Buy tomato seeds—Sow seeds indoors 8 to 12 weeks before transplanting outdoors after the last frost date in your area. Cherry tomato varieties that have performed reliably for Master Gardeners include ‘Black Cherry’, ‘Matt’s Wild Cherry’, ‘Sun Gold’, ‘Sweet 100’, ‘Tommy Toe’ and ‘Yellow Pear’. Buy seeds of unusual heirloom tomato varieties at glecklerseedmen.com, tomatofest.com and t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/seed-catalog/html.

GARDEN MAINTENANCE
(Mid Elevations) 
Prune roses—Proper pruning enhances flower production. Prune roses from mid-month to around mid-March, finishing before new growth appears. Check with area garden clubs and county cooperative extension offices for pruning demonstrations.

Check vegetables for pests—If you regularly monitor for cool-season aphids, cabbage loopers and cutworms, you might try removing the pests by hand to keep populations under control.

(Mid and High Elevations)  
Monitor soil moisture—Evergreens continue to absorb moisture in winter and may require watering twice a month if precipitation is scarce. Water woody plants monthly. To determine if supplemental water is needed, push a long probe into the ground. It will move easily through moist soil but stop at hard, dry soil. Water should penetrate 1 foot deep for small plants, 2 feet for shrubs and 3 feet for trees.

Be a savvy gardener—Attend the 19th-annual High Desert Gardening & Landscaping Conference sponsored by University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Cochise County Master Gardeners in Sierra Vista, Ariz., Feb. 16 and 17. For registration details, log on to cals.arizona.edu/cochise/mg, or call (520) 458-8278, Ext. 2141.

Cathy Cromell is a Master Gardener and co-author of Earth-Friendly Desert Gardening (Arizona Master Gardener Press).