Well ever one.  I have been told by a few of my friends that I needed to start this gardening blogg to help people with their gardens, since I don't have a problem with growing vegetables in this clay soil.

Some of my fruits of my labor.

This is part of my garden from last summer before my puppies got a hold of  it.

What I want to start with is, it is a little late to get a garden started, but I have never let that stop me.  The latest I have ever started a garden was in July.  Since we are in a desert we have a longer growing season.  

The best time to plant is in March.  However I have been toying with the idea of starting in February.  We still stand the chance of getting a couple of freeze nights, but that is fixed by covering the plants with freeze cloth.

The biggest problem people think we have is that out soil is not good.  THAT'S NOT TRUE! ; )  We have the best soil to plant in.  The clay soil helps to hold moisture.  You just have to add composted material to the soil.  I like a  50/50 mixture. I even add washed sand to certain parts of the garden.  By that I mean tomatoes like a good draining soil. The area I will put my tomatoes is where I will till the sand in.

My garden is 22' x 16'.  This is my 3rd year in this house.  My second year conditioning the soil.  Last year I tilled in 3 truck loads of horse manure, 10 bags of Kellogg Garden Soil, and 1 cu. yard of sand.  This year 2 truck loads, and 1 bag of sand, the corn was a little over watered last year.  

The reason for the horse manure is that it is free.  I have never got weeds from the manure because I make sure that it is not "hot".  That it has been sitting for at least 6 months.  Hot means that it is fresh, still has the urine in it.  Has not composted yet.  I get mine from Taylor Ranch Horse stables,  another place is Raven Ranch.  These are on the east side of Tucson.

What every one should be doing now is considering where you want to put your garden, and  preparing your soil, ( February would have been better, oh well no sense in crying over spilled milk) and growing seeds if your going that route.  I prefer to purchase starters, and if what I want is not grown, then I start the seeds.

Where to put a garden.  If you don't have shade on the west side of the area you want to put your garden, then you will need to create shade when we get in the upper 90's. The picture above,,, my garden on puppies, but as you can see their is a palo verde  tree to the west of my soon to be again garden.  The poles in the soil are conduit from the electrical dept. at work.  It's cheaper than the large garden stakes, and can stand up the the wind, and the puppies, as you can see the green garden stake lying on the ground didn't holed up to the puppies.  The conduit I use for holding up my shade cloth.

This is the horse manure.  As you can see it is well broken down, (composted).  Well I think I have given enough information for the week.  If any one has questions feel free to ask.