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Post by veggie maker on Apr 23, 2011 8:30:44 GMT -5
I joined a while back when mentioned on i-dig and have not spent much time here, but it seems like a very good site now with all the info and expertise. Love the detailed info here. Hope to break old habits and spend more time here.
Hobby gardner and retired, so I get to spend much more time in the garden refining my techniques and have always loved tomatoes and of all things sweet potatoes. I grew up on a farm in Oklahoma and grew peanuts and watermelon along with sweet potatoes and onions, a few cattle (never more than about 30 head) Moved to Arizona after getting married in 1970 and gardened in Flagstaff at 7200ft for a few years then moved to the Tucson area and been here ever since. The garden I have now used to be an old driveway and is alkaline compacted and full of crushed rock and is about 2000 sq ft. Put literally tons of horse poop and Christmas tree mulch and the tomatoes were about half size plants last year, then the same this winter along with about 20, 3yr old straw bales and hoping for better production. HOWDY!
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Post by time2bee on Apr 23, 2011 9:37:34 GMT -5
Howdy veggie maker! Glad to know you! Surely tomatoes in Tucson is a tough deal. My uncle has a garden there....a cactus garden.  |
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jcm05
Administrator
Posts: 1,685
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Post by jcm05 on Apr 23, 2011 10:24:18 GMT -5
Welcome aboard veggie maker! Hope you enjoy it.
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Post by willyswoodpile on Apr 23, 2011 12:00:32 GMT -5
Welcome VG.
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Post by veggie maker on Apr 23, 2011 13:03:43 GMT -5
Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!
Getting excited about this years garden... hopefully last years organic matter and the soft rock phosphate applied will kick in this year and I will be able to harvest more than a few tomatoes off each vine.
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leftylogan
Global Moderator
Moderator in Training
Posts: 232
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Post by leftylogan on Apr 23, 2011 14:09:15 GMT -5
Welcome
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Post by darthslater on Apr 23, 2011 17:49:22 GMT -5
Good to have you, don't be shy with posting, this site is for the expert and beginner alike.
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Post by tucsontomato on Apr 23, 2011 20:25:08 GMT -5
Hey there Veggie Maker,
Someone else from Tucson! It seems that lowered gardens and soaker hoses work wonders. I have some tomatoes finally growing good. It is very hard here! We'll have to see how the season pans out. I don't use shade cloth, just tall plants on the west side.
Do you use shade cloth in the summer?
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Post by veggie maker on Apr 23, 2011 23:52:29 GMT -5
I don't use shade cloth... It never stayed put during the strong winds so the little buggers have to tough out the desert sun or die... (tuff love)... LOL.
Fortunately we have well water and I don't starve them for moisture and yes tall plants work for me also.... timing is everything in my garden.. if one variety fades out in the sun, I have another ready to go in the ground from the greenhouse.
John
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Post by blane on Apr 27, 2011 20:20:58 GMT -5
How did I miss this? Tuk? This you man? Welcome aboard mister!  |
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Post by veggie maker on Apr 27, 2011 22:08:01 GMT -5
Thanks Blane, I thought I might come over to the Dark Side!..... LOL!
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Post by veggie maker on Apr 27, 2011 22:13:57 GMT -5
time2bee, your uncle is smart... I had to haul two truck loads of cactus to the dump to be able to use my garden... and I still don't dare go barefoot in it.... LOL! Also still trying to delete all the rodents so the rattlesnakes won't be so fond it also. Nothing turns me off tomato picking than an eye to eye encounter with Mr. Rattlesnake.
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Penny
Tomato Fanatic
Posts: 273
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Post by Penny on Apr 28, 2011 6:58:33 GMT -5
Hello there and Welcome., |
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Post by time2bee on Apr 28, 2011 8:32:01 GMT -5
Ahh...I can't go with rattlesnakes in the garden. Was mowing several years ago in the front yard bare footed of all things when I looked down and within inches of my feet I saw a snake belly with rattles attached. I lost all cool. Seriously. I ran that mower back over the snake, ran screaming into the house, locked the door, and climbed up to the boys top bunk. Still screaming. The guys still laugh about it.
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Post by veggie maker on Apr 28, 2011 15:31:19 GMT -5
LOL! Are you related to my wife? We don't have any bunk beds.... She was standing in the middle of the bed (with me still trying to sleep) , at 6:30 one morning ... she leaves for work then and encountered one on the front porch on the way out... gave her purse to Mr. rattlesnake, threw the tote with books (she is a grade school librarian) and dropped the travel mug full of coffee....  I thought I was going to have to carry her to the car everymorning after that.... We still don't say the s word around her ... It isn't funny, serious business... ;D |
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