Question
I live in Las Vegas, Nevada and have a garden, I plant twice of year due to our weather here. I have a hard time growing things like cucumbers and beans, they seem to get to a certain point then stop. I have tomatoe plants too but they never seem to produce large fruit. I plant right after the last cold spell we get here and I fertilize on a regular basis and I have pretty good dirt. Here we have to water daily. But can't seem to find anyone that can offer advice of growing in las vegas. can you offer any advice on what I might be doing wrong. I can grow lettuce, spinach and broccoli and cauliflower pretty good. Thank you very much

Answer
Dear LaDonna,
I know you said you have pretty good dirt, but I'm guessing it may have something to do with your difficulty.  I'm wondering if it's too sandy or not quite rich enough.  In my area of the country, the ground is pretty rocky, so I add to it.  I use chicken litter which is more than enough for lettuce, spinach, broccoli and cauliflower, but when I plant cucumbers and tomatoes, I add a dead minnow when I plant.  I also have used fish emulsion or bone meal when watering sometimes.  I think the things that you are raising successfully just mature quicker and have a shorter life span.  I think what's giving you trouble is the soil may become depleted before the natural life cycle of these longer bearing vegetables and fruit.
I hope this helps.  Happy gardening.
Kind Regards,
KD Liz
www.thelandofgoshen.us