Well, today was our first 100 d' day. The cement was hot under my feet
by 1300. Time to start planning to turn under the green leafies of
spring, mix in the compost, and harvest the squash. That's all
happening around the fall equinox, but until then I'm just munching on
the greens and training/tying my gourds to their trellises. I planted
Round II of radishes, which will be the last of the season - that's the
last planting I'll do until September. By then, the soil will have been
cleared except for the cucurbits and herbs, if I can keep them going
through summer.

I had hill/valley watering set up, but my roomate showed me how to
stake and bury soaker hoses. It A) looks great and B) waters everything
without evaporation loss. our water use was a horrifying 1300 avg.
gallons/day last month, so finding more efficient ways to water my
garden and fish pond is a top priority.

I've planted nasturtiums to help cover and cool the soil, as well as
help with bugs. I made the mistake of putting my herbs in the southern
row of my herb-and-vine plot, so I'm hoping I can train the watermelon
up its trellis to shade them before they fry.

My morning-glory and sweet peas might fry, but we'll see - I have them
under the fish pond awning.I would love to keep them all summer, or at
least long enough to collect seeds. I started everybody late, but not
crazy late.

I'm hoping I could get suggestions for my general timeline below, and
suggestions for readable agriculture books. I'm reading Square Foot
Fardening, Extreme Gardening, Sunset Beginner, and a couple of other
misc gardening books. It's amazing how few books really appreciate what
it's like to garden in an area with five months of 100 degree plus
weather with almost no humidity or rain. Extreme Gardening is the first
I've found that has solid advice and information, as well as great
information on companion planting and organic gardening.

May - harvest greens
June - harvest greens - turn under - train/trellis gourds, squash, etc
July - clear soil of spirng crops, cover with black plastic to kill
weeds and bugs
August - mix in this year's compost, cover back up with plastic to kill
mold, insects, and fungi
September - prepare beds for winter planting - start corn, harvest
cucurbits, compost the vines

Where in Arizona are you? I lived in Yuma many, many years ago and know a
bit about it. Having gone through a few Louisiana summers, I know heat and
what sun does to things even with enough water.

My first advice is to shade everything. All of it. I don't care what it
says about "full sun". My garden in Louisiana did fine in the shade and
shriveled and died in full sun no matter how much water I put on it last
summer.

Radishes this late with temps already over 100 will not be good. I would
plant those in fall and early spring/winter. Same for greens.

We grew cantaloupes in Yuma back when and they did fine and were ready to
harvest around July 4.

Most gardening books you find will not understand the desert.

Now, if you live in high desert you can get away with more. So, where in
Arizona are you?

Loki


"tenacity" wrote in message
ups.com...
Well, today was our first 100 d' day. The cement was hot under my feet
by 1300. Time to start planning to turn under the green leafies of
spring, mix in the compost, and harvest the squash. That's all
happening around the fall equinox, but until then I'm just munching on
the greens and training/tying my gourds to their trellises. I planted
Round II of radishes, which will be the last of the season - that's the
last planting I'll do until September. By then, the soil will have been
cleared except for the cucurbits and herbs, if I can keep them going
through summer.

I had hill/valley watering set up, but my roomate showed me how to
stake and bury soaker hoses. It A) looks great and B) waters everything
without evaporation loss. our water use was a horrifying 1300 avg.
gallons/day last month, so finding more efficient ways to water my
garden and fish pond is a top priority.

I've planted nasturtiums to help cover and cool the soil, as well as
help with bugs. I made the mistake of putting my herbs in the southern
row of my herb-and-vine plot, so I'm hoping I can train the watermelon
up its trellis to shade them before they fry.

My morning-glory and sweet peas might fry, but we'll see - I have them
under the fish pond awning.I would love to keep them all summer, or at
least long enough to collect seeds. I started everybody late, but not
crazy late.

I'm hoping I could get suggestions for my general timeline below, and
suggestions for readable agriculture books. I'm reading Square Foot
Fardening, Extreme Gardening, Sunset Beginner, and a couple of other
misc gardening books. It's amazing how few books really appreciate what
it's like to garden in an area with five months of 100 degree plus
weather with almost no humidity or rain. Extreme Gardening is the first
I've found that has solid advice and information, as well as great
information on companion planting and organic gardening.

May - harvest greens
June - harvest greens - turn under - train/trellis gourds, squash, etc
July - clear soil of spirng crops, cover with black plastic to kill
weeds and bugs
August - mix in this year's compost, cover back up with plastic to kill
mold, insects, and fungi
September - prepare beds for winter planting - start corn, harvest
cucurbits, compost the vines

I can appreciate your temps. I'm in CA and our weather is similar to
Phoenix but Phoenix gets more rain.

Your local cooperative extension will have all the answers you need.
http://ag.arizona.edu/extension/
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg/index.html is the Arizona Master
Gardening Manual (CA's Manual is AMAZING!)

I can grow all summer squash, tomatoes, cucumbers without problem... just
have to make sure the watering stays on schedule.

Hope this helps!
Nicole

"tenacity" wrote in message
ups.com...
Well, today was our first 100 d' day. The cement was hot under my feet
by 1300. Time to start planning to turn under the green leafies of
spring, mix in the compost, and harvest the squash. That's all
happening around the fall equinox, but until then I'm just munching on
the greens and training/tying my gourds to their trellises. I planted
Round II of radishes, which will be the last of the season - that's the
last planting I'll do until September. By then, the soil will have been
cleared except for the cucurbits and herbs, if I can keep them going
through summer.

I had hill/valley watering set up, but my roomate showed me how to
stake and bury soaker hoses. It A) looks great and B) waters everything
without evaporation loss. our water use was a horrifying 1300 avg.
gallons/day last month, so finding more efficient ways to water my
garden and fish pond is a top priority.

I've planted nasturtiums to help cover and cool the soil, as well as
help with bugs. I made the mistake of putting my herbs in the southern
row of my herb-and-vine plot, so I'm hoping I can train the watermelon
up its trellis to shade them before they fry.

My morning-glory and sweet peas might fry, but we'll see - I have them
under the fish pond awning.I would love to keep them all summer, or at
least long enough to collect seeds. I started everybody late, but not
crazy late.

I'm hoping I could get suggestions for my general timeline below, and
suggestions for readable agriculture books. I'm reading Square Foot
Fardening, Extreme Gardening, Sunset Beginner, and a couple of other
misc gardening books. It's amazing how few books really appreciate what
it's like to garden in an area with five months of 100 degree plus
weather with almost no humidity or rain. Extreme Gardening is the first
I've found that has solid advice and information, as well as great
information on companion planting and organic gardening.

May - harvest greens
June - harvest greens - turn under - train/trellis gourds, squash, etc
July - clear soil of spirng crops, cover with black plastic to kill
weeds and bugs
August - mix in this year's compost, cover back up with plastic to kill
mold, insects, and fungi
September - prepare beds for winter planting - start corn, harvest
cucurbits, compost the vines

To conserve water, mulch, mulch, and more mulch. I like to use the b/w
newspaper (at least 8 sheets thick) or cardboard if available and put
compost on top. Water in the morning (less evaporation) and use soaker
hoses... that way you're only watering what you want watered..

Hi, There! I live in Phoenix, on an awesome irrigated property
downtown. I grew up in Yuma and have fond memories of the cool little
stucco houses, the sand dunes, and Mr. G's Salsa burritos.

I've put up tons of shade structures and things seem to be fine. I'm
trying to learn the best way to water. I have a soaker hose lightly
buried and covered with grass clippings mulch, and I watered overnight
(about 80 gallons) on a slow drip. That was hmm...Friday I think - I'll
have to check my gardening journal - and everything looks great.

I totally hear you about the "full sun" insrtructions. I think those
people are on crack, or at least editing gardening books in front of
the fire in Mass or Vermont, where the weather is just a leeeetle
different.

According to the low-temperature zoning system, I'm in 10a.

Thanks for the great advice. I didn't know about the co-ops, I'm
getting into serious gardening for the first time. I've lways piddled
about with flowers, but I'm thinking bigger now

I mulched most of my plants with grass clippings and the rest with
shredded newspaper, and it has made a tremendous difference. The soil
stays cool, the water lasts longer, and the plants look better. When my
compost cooks down, I'll have more, but that won't be until fall for
now, the newspaper is doing the trick. Finally, a good use for all that
damn junk mail!

I had considered just laying down newspaper, but I'm worried about mold
or fungi growing under there. Have you had any problems with that?

I've never had any problems with laying down layers of newspaper or
cardboard. You never want your mulch right against the plant cuz it could
cause rot.
Enjoy gardening.. like you, I always played with flowers (annuals only) but
then got into horticulture and started teaching it at an elementary school
(the school has a Life Lab that contains raised garden beds 20 x 4.... about
25 plots. I LOVE gardening. There's something therapeutic about pulling
weeds around plants you're growing.
Anyways... enjoy. Take advantage of your cooperative extensions. They may
offer master gardening classes also.
Nicole

"tenacity" wrote in message
ups.com...
Thanks for the great advice. I didn't know about the co-ops, I'm
getting into serious gardening for the first time. I've lways piddled
about with flowers, but I'm thinking bigger now

I mulched most of my plants with grass clippings and the rest with
shredded newspaper, and it has made a tremendous difference. The soil
stays cool, the water lasts longer, and the plants look better. When my
compost cooks down, I'll have more, but that won't be until fall for
now, the newspaper is doing the trick. Finally, a good use for all that
damn junk mail!

I had considered just laying down newspaper, but I'm worried about mold
or fungi growing under there. Have you had any problems with that?