Greetings from New Mexico

I have had a SFG in the past, when my yard would allow it, and wanted to get back into it, but with a twist. My hobby is larger scale robots and I have decided my new focus is going to be a robot (or set of robots) that fully manage a SFG. I figure with the retirement options diminishing over time, and when I am too old to work, I will still be able to eat. Or something like that :-).

One thing I am interested in is how hot and dry it is here. A guy I work with planted things in pots this year and because of the heat, everything looks pretty wilted when he gets home from work and the yield is pretty sparse. We are postulating it is the the heat surrounding the pots that is causing the problem. If this is a problem, then I am bothered by the raised bed doing something similar. Any experience from folks in the very hot and dry climates?

bombholt,

Robots to manage your SFG? OK, I guess.

All kidding aside, we are so glad you joined us. I live in a completely different climate from you so cannot make any valid recommendations.

But, we have some successful SFG members in New Mexico and other hot, windy and dry areas. Perhaps they can jump in and give you some tips on what they do to beat the climate.



Again, Welcome. Here's wishing you a great growing season, and please keep us posted on your progress.

Welcome to the forum, bombholt!!! There are great folks on here who are willing to help with all kinds of problems,questions and concerns. I hope someone from your area will speak up who can address your questions about that. Also check out your regional forum when you get the chance. I had lots of fun reading old posts on my region when I first joined. And you can post new questions there, too.

Well, good luck with the robot thing, but I wouldn't want to let robots do all of the things in my garden that give me such enjoyment. My garden brings me so much contentment and peace. I enjoy doing all the small chores - which with sfgardening really is a much smaller list of hard work - almost no weeding, for example - that I wouldn't want to have robots do that even if I could!

Post often & post pics when you can - everyone loves seeing other's gardens - both the good things like what's sprouting or what's ready for harvest and also the problems with bugs, weather and possible veggie diseases. We all learn from each other. I hope to see you around the forum!

Welcome bombholt,

If you let the robots do all the work you will miss out on all the fun. As far as heat and SFG goes we have quite a few desert gardeners here and I'm sure they will have loads of advice for you. This year in florida we have had a record setting drought but the air is still realy humid so not quite a desert yet.

I know from my own container gardening it depends a great deal on what the pots are made of. Are your friends pots plastic? If so they do heat up. If they are unglazed terra cotta they will lose alot of water due to evaporation. I won't worry about your SFG the Mel's Mix retains water very well.

Have you read the new book? I started with the older method years and years ago. The new way is even better and less work!

Great, I'm so happy for you. After the build and fill part you will see not much work at all. I sepnd most of my time in the garden sitting there watching it grow:D