Gardening in the desert.

Villa Santa Cruz in Todos Santos, Baja features a sprawling 1-kilometer-long (approximately 0.6 mile) garden and farm that occupies a significant portion of its 20-acre beachfront property. The garden features extensive paths and guests of the resort are encouraged to enjoy the garden. My kids said they took these photos specifically for me to share in a garden post.

​The resort has a strict "no food waste" policy where organic matter is composted or processed through biodigesters to feed back into the garden beds.
​They prioritize protecting the local water table by using efficient delivery methods to minimize evaporation in the Baja heat.

*some information in this post comes from the resorts website. Todos Santos Hotel | Boutique Hotel in Baja California Sur https://share.google/1eCwYBdkcr16WBKaj

Lavender

There seemed to be many people working in the garden helping provide food for the resort's bars and restaurants.

Left Row: "Pepino Persa" (Persian Cucumber)
Planted on November 1, 2025. Persian cucumbers are prized for being seedless and having very thin, sweet skin. You can see the netting (trellis) already in place—these plants are natural climbers and will use their little tendrils to pull themselves up that wire as they grow.
​Right Row: "Tomate Cherry" (Cherry Tomato)
Planted on October 11, 2025. These are significantly further along than the cucumbers because they had a three-week head start. They’ve already grown into bushy plants and are being supported by sturdy wooden stakes. Cherry tomatoes are usually incredibly prolific, so this row is likely to be overflowing with fruit soon.

Left Row: "Calabaza Amarilla" ## (Yellow Squash/Pumpkin) These are young squash or pumpkin plants. As they grow, they will likely start to "creep" or vine across the soil. They will shade the roots of the taller plants that they are planted near.
​Right Row: "Vara de San José" ## (Hollyhock)
The Vara de San José is the Spanish common name for the Hollyhock (Alcea rosea). They are known for growing very tall (up to 8 feet!) and producing stunning towers of flowers.
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In the background of many of the garden photos you see the bougainvillea tower that adds so much color to the garden

Chile Jalapeño:

They have that classic sturdy, dark green pepper foliage with what appears to be lettuce planted under as a companion crop.

Tomatoes

green tomatoes

Parsley

Cilantro

The Jalapeños and Tomatoes and the Cilantro and Onions (which are visible in the background behind the parsley sign), you have all the essential ingredients for a perfect pico de gallo or fresh salsa right in this one area

Lechuga Mixta (Mixed Lettuce):

This row has actually "bolted." When lettuce gets too much heat or reaches the end of its life cycle, it shoots upward and produces flowers (those yellow blossoms you see). At this stage, the leaves usually become quite bitter, so the garden might be letting these go to seed for the next planting

Mint

Watermelon Radishes and Beets

The radishes have a "surprise" interior—plain on the outside, but a vibrant, starburst pink on the inside. They have a mild, peppery crunch that's fantastic for salads.
​Chioggia Beets have beautiful candy-cane stripes inside when you slice them.

Banana Heart (or Blossom) hanging below a developing bunch of green bananas.
​The large, purple, tear-shaped part at the bottom is the sterile male flower. The female flowers have already turned into the bananas you see clustered at the top.
The heart itself is edible! It’s often used in Southeast Asian and Indian cuisines—it has an artichoke-like texture when cooked.

They group plants by their water needs to prevent waste, ensuring that desert-adapted plants and the more thirsty vegetable crops each get exactly what they need.
I can imagine the challenges they face gardening in the desert!

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