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Mohave County Master Gardener Program 101 E. Beale Street, Suite A, Kingman AZ 86401-5808 • 928-753-3788 • Fax: 928-753-1665 Email: [email protected] https://extension.arizona.edu/mohave-master-gardener Table of Contents and I was always planting seeds to see what would and wouldn’t grow. We all know that gardens love humidity Featured Article “Hydroponic Gardening ” ........................... 1 Amy’s Corner ....................................................................... 4 and that’s an issue I have not figured out yet. Bullhead City Master Gardeners .......................................... 5 “No Cheap Trick, Just Cheap Shade” ................................... 5 To house the garden, I built a 7 X 7 Square room on the “Windbreaks: A Solution to Our Wind Problems” .................. 8 Kingman Master Gardeners ................................................. 9 east end of my back porch. Being on the east side, the “The Feral Garden” ............................................................ 10 room only receives direct sun in the mornings. I framed Lake Havasu City Master Garderners ................................. 12 “Notes on Decay & Rot in Trees” ......................................... 13 three sides with 2 X 4’s (the south wall is the house). I covered the framing with clear polycarbonate panels, which bring in light, and are a good wind deterrent. The construction was the most expensive part of the project, Featured Article but well worth it. There is a window in the east wall by and a 24-inch door on the NW corner (I kept the door small to allow for more growing space). I put screen Cathy Bryan, Kingman Master Gardener on the window and the door for ventilation and covered them with a panel during the winter. I also used a small Hydroponic Gardening electric heater and some heat lamps during the winter Why Hydroponics? No soil, faster growing, better flavor months to keep a nice temperature in the space. and a miracle you can see as plants practically grow before your eyes. You can also grow more in a smaller space The east wall is adequate space for six or seven 5-gallon which makes it easier to monitor for diseases and pests. buckets. Last year, I got a book called “The Hydroponic Garden Secret” by Susan Patterson, who is a Master Gardener in the White Mountains of Arizona. Her methods were very simple, so I went online and found everything I needed to begin my garden. Here are some tips and tricks I’ve learned since then. Containers and Garden Set-up I use 2 gallon and 5 gallon food grade buckets with net pots that fit the top. The 3 gallon shallow totes can be used for lettuce and all sorts of greens. You just cut circles in the top that are the size of the net pots. You can also use deeper 18 gallon totes for the deep water culture method (DWC). Currently I am using the Kratky method, which does not require air pumps. I planted my first plants in September of 2019, and I still have those tomatoes growing, as well as broccoli and Brussels sprouts. I harvested tomatoes The house wall has heavy duty wire shelves for totes and sporadically throughout the winter but never had a big jars/bottles. The north wall has a strong 4-ft long wood crop. I was very pleased because the garden kept me busy, bench that will hold two 18 gallon totes. Wind & Weeds Summer 2020 1 (Featured Article -continued from page 1) 6-foot green garden stakes thru the net pots and attach the plants with the green Velcro tape, which is easy to manipulate the stems and limbs. I used scraps to build shelves between the wall studs. The west wall has wire equipment shelves, and a plastic 3 drawer shelving unit for storage. Nutrients Plants cannot survive on water alone, so I use a common 3-part hydroponic nutrient solution I buy online. They are simple and very easy to use. They come in 3-part packs, and my first pack lasted 6 months. I use as recommended unless something needs perking up. I mix my nutrients in 1 gallon milk/water jugs. I add one or two cups and its okay. Over time you just learn when they need a boost. pH The ideal pH range for growing hydroponically is slightly acidic, 5.5 - 6.5. I use a pH meter I ordered You do need quite a bit of storage for supplies, pots and online, which I found easier than the other testing such. I bought several cans of bright colored spray paint methods. My tap water is usually a pH of 7.0, so I just and darkened the buckets. Otherwise, algae will grow fill water jugs and by the time I need them they are at quickly. The colors give a pretty accent to the garden 6.5. You can also purchase pH control liquids to raise or and it is a good place to get inside and enjoy some music lower the pH. It is important to remember to test the pH while you are watching your garden grow. after adding the nutrients as the nutrients will decrease the pH. As time passes the tomato plants will grow and need trellising. I built a trellis of 1” x 2” furring strips that Light sets on top of the five gallon buckets for the tomatoes. I The amount of natural light available will determine used mason cord and floral tape and did a lot of pruning. any additional lighting you may need to provide. I just Things grow so fast that I recommend two or three pairs bought clip lights with regular sockets and you can use of rose pruners or bonsai snips. It’s just easier to find various bulbs according to your needs. You can buy if you have more than one pair. Pruning also helps the most grow lights at big box stores, or online. Lighting nutrients go to the fruit and not so much to the leaves is needed if plants are spindly, have pale leaves, or show and vine. The plants will grow strong in two to three other symptoms that we all learn as time passes. months, and eventually end up with a jungle. I also use Wind & Weeds Summer 2020 2 (Featured Article -continued from page 2) Growing Medium and Misc. siding and wash all the soil off until you see the white Other items you will require are rockwool, clay pebbles, roots. This can be a delicate process but you will figure netpots, tweezers, pruners, a garden journal, and a good it out. I also use a cube of 1” x 1” rock wool, slice it attitude. It is hard gardening in Arizona, but we all open and place the plant in it where the root starts. I persevere because that’s what gardeners do! usually cut a bigger slit in the net cup and put the root through the bottom with tweezers. It is easier if the Seed Starting or Bedding Plants root is heading straight to the water when you put it in I have been trying to start my own seeds, but that too is your container. I have watched many YouTube videos a garden art we all learn. I have used both plants started but you can decide what works best for you. I have not from seed and bedding plants from the store. The results had good luck with lettuce because of bolting instead are about the same. I have always have some seed of heading. There is no right or wrong, it’s like fishing starting or growing. except it’s gardening instead. I also use recycled 1/2 gallon fruit juice bottles as well as 1 quart iced tea bottles for containers to hold starts. They work with 2 inch, 3 inch, or 5 inch net cups. These bottles can be cut easily with a utility knife, pruners or scissors. I spray the outside of them leaving a vertical view window by using tape to make an unpainted line. Remember that all containers need to be painted opaque because algae can and will grow in the nutrient solution and the roots. When transplanting to netpots, make sure to fill the pebbles to the top of the pots to avoid algae growth at the top of the clay pebbles. Attached are some pictures from my garden. There is nothing absolute in Arizona gardening. Wind and water are our biggest issues in all my garden experience. I did have aphids moving through the garden in winter but kept an eye on them and finally eradicated them with soapy water, leaf pruning, and finger mashing. I currently have three tomatoes, squash, peppers growing outside of the garden in buckets, but the evaporation rate is amazing. Just keep water levels monitored, and add water and nutrients as needed. It is pretty simple this time of the year. I use the 6 pack So these are some ideas and information I have learned containers you usually buy bedding plants in. I put in the 10 months I have had the garden. Like all them in a tray in a clear lettuce box or something I have gardens, it is a lot of fun and you can almost see some recycled to get the moisture content started. I set them in of the plants growing. direct sun or put them under one of the grow lights I use. I will try and start the seed in good seed starting soil and Please feel free to call Cathy Bryan or Mohave County just water them as needed. Master Gardeners at the Mohave County Cooperative Extension Office with any of your questions, (928) If you start from seed in soil, or purchase bedding plants 753-3788.

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