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Garden Gate:  Arizona Gardening  |
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hotmamaj
Farmgirl in Training
26 Posts
janice
buckeye
az
USA
26 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 07 2009 : 5:59:54 PM
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I live in South West Arizona, where the dirt is just dirt and the wind blows... I am trying to start a winter garden of sorts. I would love for anyone to give me some helpful hints for this area. in Arizona.
To start I have some raised beds to help keep out the critters we have added some manure to the DIRT along with composted material, we do not have any grass clipings or other mulch. I know we need to really amend the soil with more, but what ?
In the spring/summer I put in carrots, corn, lettuce, herbs,tomatoes,peppers watermelon and radishes not much
made it except the radishes and some carrots. 120 degrees isn't good.
In September I put in more radishes, carrots, peas lettuce sunflowers and herbs and tomateos.
It is slow going the herbs have not made it, the radishes love it and I have a few sunflowers up along with a few corn, something ate the carrot tops and the peas are holding their own, it is a day to day struggle. We are trying to go "organic".
Is there any ideas??? what can I do?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Janice
Welcome the dawn of everyday with a smile & open heart |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Nov 07 2009 : 6:18:37 PM
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Shade and wind blocks!!! Lattice in 2x4 frames at the west end of your garden, and at the prevaling wind end, also shade cloth over the areas of tender plants. Use soaker hoses to water and cover your ground with heavy mulch (including the soaker hoses), what I use in some areas here is old carpet, lay it down the aisles and inbetween plants with 3-4 ins of straw on top. If anyone in your area has horses, cattle, goats, sheep, chickens, etc, offer to pick it up and let it set in a mixed pile over the winter, then mix it in with your other mulch and compost in the spring, use a rototiller to mix well and break up clumps. You might also want to try misters above ground up above your tallest plants to add more moisture and some humidity.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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hotmamaj
Farmgirl in Training
26 Posts
janice
buckeye
az
USA
26 Posts |
Posted - Nov 08 2009 : 3:02:39 PM
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Thank You so much there are some great ideas here, I didn't think about the carpet.
I will have Husband on the look out lookin for the carpet, he was going to get some straw for the chicken coop next week, I am goin remove some from his pile when he's not lookin.
I do have some shade cloth over the garden and I have got some fresh manure from the dairy, we are getting ready to get some chicks so that will help too.
IPut in some seed today . Just for the pure fun of trying... radishes ,carotts ... we'll see how it progreses...
Thanks again I will give it a try.
Welcome the dawn of everyday with a smile & open heart |
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Claude09647
True Blue Farmgirl
761 Posts
Claudia
Our Dairy Farm
Pennsylvania
USA
761 Posts |
Posted - Nov 08 2009 : 3:29:00 PM
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um, i'm not too sure what you could do to help with that as i live in PA where there is more dirt than people. But something i would do is to go with the wind shields. Maybe like a sturdier piece of plastic that is about 6 inches tall that you could put around your plants so the wind doesn't take your dirt where ever it pleases. Good luck!!
"My ideal day is sitting on the back porch, cup of green tea in hand, slippers on, and just watch the cows in the pasture"
http://claude09647.blogspot.com/ |
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hotmamaj
Farmgirl in Training
26 Posts
janice
buckeye
az
USA
26 Posts |
Posted - Nov 12 2009 : 2:25:04 PM
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Thank you Claudia,
I have the beds in between 2 out buildings, man cave and man sheds. I have shade cloth up now and find that it may hinder the winter growing, I can allways take it down fast like. I did drive buy a real nursery today I will have to tell the husband where I saw it maybe they have some descent compost I can add too
Alot of the problem is that it is dry here so mulching will be a must.It's like try this try alittle that and see what works. I'll try anything at this point.
J
Welcome the dawn of everyday with a smile & open heart |
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Garden Gate: Arizona Gardening |
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Arizona Gardening
