Gardening in Arizona has been a challenge for us. Each year we try something different to see if it helps grow more bounty. We have been blessed with great neighbors with animals that give us all the horse manure we can use. That in itself has improved our soil in our garden. Our soil is clay that is on the alkaline side with lots of rocks & weeds and needs lot of amendments so when have opted for above ground and/or raised beds. We also grow in containers too.
In the Ash Fork area where we live we have to haul water or have it delivered which is a challenge in itself but when it comes to gardening are water usage doubles in the growing season or until monsoons arrive. Starting plants from seeds seem to do well for us but keeping the plant alive through the hottest days of summer is another challenge. Final challenge is the wild life and free ranging cows-cows are much easier to deal with we just have to keep our gate shut but the wild life so frustrating! Last year a gray squirrel kept digging in my raised beds and eating some of my vegetables. The photos below are from previous years.
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I don't know about you but I like to have fresh vegetables in the Winter. I always start lettuce & spinach to have fresh salad greens throughout the winter. I cut some of the leaves and let them grow back. This year I also started radishes and carrots but so far only radishes have sprouted. Another tray will be started soon but I haven't decided what else to grow. The temp dipped down below 30 I'll be bringing the pans inside to put in a sunny window. You can do this too it's easy and good for you.
Not the ideal way to spend a Saturday but I hoping that next year my gardens will produce more than the last couple of years. I was disappointed in the garden results needless to say. I live in a rural area there is always neighbors with animals that produce more manure than they know what to do with....that's why I was able to get a truck load of horse manure that was pretty broke down already. It took me almost 3 1/2 hours to unload it (mostly by myself). I unloaded 7 wheel barrows then got smart and moved the truck closer to where I wanted the manure to go and tossed it over the fence and that help cut the time tremendously. I topped off all my raised bed gardens and the last amount went into my compost area. This is an inexpensive way to fertilize my garden and I'm truly grateful to have great neighbors like I do. Don't be afraid to ask your neighbors for compost items-manure, used straw, wood chips, etc. I wouldn't have thought about getting a truck load of manure until a neighbor read my WANTED sign out by my driveway. I was happy! I know that sounds funny I guess I'm easily entertained. Ha ha! I will post more on the results in the spring. I'm hoping for lots of moisture this Winter whether it's rain or snow. See why I said what a way to spend a Saturday...ha ha ha.
I've been composting for years but never seem to make enough for my gardening needs so each year I end up buying some to add to my gardens. Check out the video. www.growingagreenerworld.com is my favorite garden show.
It's just the beginning of the year but I'm so ready for Spring to be here. Looking through my Burpee Catalog makes me long for warm weather, warm soil & green colors everywhere. If your anxious about Spring and want to get a head start on your garden click the link below and save on your order. Hurry offer ends 1-7-2016.
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AuthorHello I'm Michele & I'm the matriarch of the Leverone Family Farm. I'm a wife, a mother of 2 grown/married sons and have 4 adorable grand kids. Thrifty for more than 30 years. I love gardening, cooking and saving money. Archives
November 2021
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