On to Arizona Gardening

It's been some time since the last time I added any thing to the blog. Here is an update on what has been happening in my little world. My wife got a transfer and a promotion, however, we had to move to the Phoenix area. It is a big change from our little home on one acre and the gardening I have grown up with.

We have an offer in on a home that sits on just under 2/10's of an acre (a far cry from our one acre) with a pool in the back that takes up most of the back yard. I now also have to take in to account the heat, soil, water (or the lack of), and a lot smaller space for gardening. I will be doing some container gardening and I will be making little micro climates in the back to cool off the area some in the summer and warm them up in the winter. I am also considering doing some vertical and square foot gardening as well. I am hoping that I will be able to grow enough to do some canning and have enough for a family of four. (though we only need enough for two) I am planning on enough for four to show how even in small spaces that the average family can grow enough food in there back yard to supplement the food bill. I believe that it is past time for us to take back our economy and it starts at home. Not with any government or any big business it starts with you and me. I have chosen to feed my self no matter where I happen to live.

You can do the same it will take a little work but the rewards of eating food that you grew your self will out weight any “hard” work that might take place. I hope that you will learn as I will learn on this new adventure, growing in the dessert here in the south-west U.S. will be a challenge but it should prove to be interesting. Some of the things I will be doing will only work down here in the warmer climate, but there will be a lot that can be used all over the U.S. And maybe other parts of the world.

If we close on October 7^th 2011 like we plan on doing there will be more posts of the Arizonan gardening experience.

To start it off here they are now doing there fall planting, tomatoes, cabbage, beans and other goodies. There is a sample of what is yet to come.

Till next time

Learn to adapt and over come Happy Gardening

More Troughs

I have written and put up videos on you tube (http://www.youtube.com/user/HighPlainsGardening ) and it seems that people can't get enough of them. (I think that is just great)
The troughs are made out of hypertufa, that is a mixture of Portland cement, peat moss, sand, and perlite. (That is the most common ingredients) They are lighter than stone or concrete. It is durable and once it is weathered and cured will hold up to the weather just fine. To make a trough you just add one part of each Portland cement, peat moss and perlite add just enough water tell the mixture is like cottage cheese but will hold together when pressed. Let stand for 10 or 15 minutes, this step is very important. After your set time check to see if the mixture is still holding together. If it is to dry add a little water, if to wet add some peat moss. For a mold you can use two boxes one smaller than the other. But the larger box in a trash bag with the opening on the out side of the box but mixture about 1 to 2 inches thick in the bottom and tamp down. Take the other box put in a trash bag with the opening on the inside of the box but smaller box in side toe larger box fill with play sand now make sure the smaller box is the same distance away from all the sides. Fill the sides with mixture tamp down. Let set for seven days to dry and cure. Remove sand, open bag remove box, remove bag. Now carefully tip your trough and box up side down and remove. If it wont come out you can tare the box to get the pot out. You can set the pot out side for a few weeks than put plants in your mew trough. For more information go to my you tube channel for videos of how I have made my troughs.
I hope you give this a try.
I give classes through the Pueblo County Master Gardeners program once or twice a year. Taking a class on hypertufa is fun and ease than doing it on your own. Classes run form $20.00 to $75.00 per person depending on where you take the class. Some classes are filled up a year ahead of time.


Till next time
Happy Trough Making / Planting

Starting plants from seeds up date

I finally got two videos up loaded to YouTube. The address for my you tube channel is
http://www.youtube.com/user/HighPlainsGardening (see link click on title)
While you are there you may as well follow my YouTube blog also. I put videos up all the time.
Just click on the subscribe tab.
I need to transplant the tomatoes and the cucumbers, but it wouldn't hurt to transplant everything that I have planted so far. Now all I need to do is make the time.
Please ask any questions you may have or just leave a comment.
Thank you.
Till next time

Happy Planting