Petree Nursery & Greenhouses 25 Petree Lane petreenursery.com Paid Advertisement Petree Nursery & Greenhouses presents Tips for growing food in the high desert eys to a successful vegetable garden in the Enchanted Circle are timing and food. K To know when best to plant which seeds, pay close attention to your soil conditions. Cool-weather crops can be seeded in your garden as soon as the soil is thawed enough to till, while warm-loving veggies should either be started indoors early or sown outdoors later in the season, depending on the plant. Seeds to plant outdoors early include crucifers like kale, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower; leafy greens such as spinach and chard; and some root crops: carrots, beets, and turnips (not potatoes). Asparagus crowns and onion and garlic sets can also be planted in pre- and early-spring soil. Seeds to plant indoors in March are the warm-loving veggies with a longer growing season. Favorites here in northern New Mexico are tomatoes, chiles, and bell peppers. Transplant them into your garden after the last frost date. June 1 is considered a safe estimate in the Taos area. Wait to plant in a warm bed your seed potatoes, squash, melons, cucumbers, corn, and beans. The soil should be at least 60 degrees (F) for these crops, which are best sown right into the ground, as opposed to indoor containers. You must feed your food what it wants. Onions and leafy greens require more nitrogen, while fruiting veggies need phosphates. It's a good idea to give your peppers and tomatoes a nitrogen-rich diet early in the season, to strengthen the plants, before switching them to phosphates when they're ready to produce fruit. The N-P-K ratio is on the packaging. A higher first number promotes leaves and stems, while a higher middle number encourages fruiting. Bonus Tip! For plump onions at harvest, move soil away from bulbs as they grow. Petree Nursery & Greenhouses 25 Petree Lane petreenursery.com Paid Advertisement Petree Nursery & Greenhouses presents Tips for growing food in the high desert eys to a successful vegetable garden in the Enchanted Circle are timing and food . K To know when best to plant which seeds , pay close attention to your soil conditions . Cool - weather crops can be seeded in your garden as soon as the soil is thawed enough to till , while warm - loving veggies should either be started indoors early or sown outdoors later in the season , depending on the plant . Seeds to plant outdoors early include crucifers like kale , cabbage , broccoli , and cauliflower ; leafy greens such as spinach and chard ; and some root crops : carrots , beets , and turnips ( not potatoes ) . Asparagus crowns and onion and garlic sets can also be planted in pre- and early - spring soil . Seeds to plant indoors in March are the warm - loving veggies with a longer growing season . Favorites here in northern New Mexico are tomatoes , chiles , and bell peppers . Transplant them into your garden after the last frost date . June 1 is considered a safe estimate in the Taos area . Wait to plant in a warm bed your seed potatoes , squash , melons , cucumbers , corn , and beans . The soil should be at least 60 degrees ( F ) for these crops , which are best sown right into the ground , as opposed to indoor containers . You must feed your food what it wants . Onions and leafy greens require more nitrogen , while fruiting veggies need phosphates . It's a good idea to give your peppers and tomatoes a nitrogen - rich diet early in the season , to strengthen the plants , before switching them to phosphates when they're ready to produce fruit . The N - P - K ratio is on the packaging . A higher first number promotes leaves and stems , while a higher middle number encourages fruiting . Bonus Tip ! For plump onions at harvest , move soil away from bulbs as they grow .