Hello From Las Vegas!

Been trying to grow conventional gardens in Las Vegas and vicinity for the past ten years with mixed and very unpredictable results.  Mostly planting in native soil (I know, I know...but bringing in tons of good soil ain't cheap!).  So now that Mother Nature has had her way with me and beat me into submission, I figure I'll try a different approach and was hoping to get some insight from other desert gardeners.  I don't spend a lot of time online so if I don't respond for a while, I'm not dead, just doing other things. Thanks in advance, Mark.

 P.S. I've never posted in a forum like this so if I screw up the first few times go easy on me!

Welcome, Mark.  There are a few desert SFG gardeners on this Forum.  Two for sure live in Las Vegas.  Go up to the Search box and type in "Newbie in Las Vegas" by Brainchasm.  He has an outstanding new SFG backyard garden in the heat of the desert.  Look at the photos of his progress.

I am a Newbie in Fresno, CA.  We have had a heat wave with a max of 112 degrees, so our summer problems are similar.

Have you purchased the second edition of "All New Square Foot Gardening?"  A must for success.  It took me a couple days to read it.  Well, I have the first edition of ANSFG but it has all the basics.  Bought a like-new book off eBay.  

Follow the book, don't cheat!, and you will have a garden like you have never had before.  I have family in LV and the soil, well, it's unique, to say the least.

Ask all the questions you want.  That's what the Forum is for.  And take photos.  We all love photos and it really helps, when you have a question, for the members to see what you are talking about.

Again, welcome.  

Sanderson...thanks for the welcome!  I checked out Brainchasms posts; very impressive.  I'm just getting started in SFG so, no I haven't gotten the book or anything yet.  I figure I'm too late to  get anything going this year (tried but failed miserably) so, instead, I will just start to gather materials and info to try to get it right for next spring.  Currently, I'm laid off from my job so I have limited funding but lots of time to work on laying everything out.  There's an awful lot about desert gardening that I've learned (mostly what 'not to do') but I have a feeling that using this method things will get a lot easier and much less frustrating.  I'll post pix and updates as this little venture progresses.
Talk to you soon,
Mark

You are not too late to grow something this year.  One source I read stated the following for July seed planting:

Beans, cantaloupe, corn, cucumber, melons, pumpkin, summer squash, winter squash, basil, cilantro and dill.

Some things can be grown in the winter with clear plastic covers tented over the box.  I'm going to put a string of Christmas lights in one of mine)

One of the mantras in the book is "free is best."  I got scrap 2 x 4's from a new construction site.  Got permission first!!  Free produce to compost from Farmer's Market.  Free coffee grounds from Starbuck's.  Some cities have free or cheap shredded tree and brush material.  Grass clippings from gardening businesses.  Seedling cups made out of used plastic drink cups (washed first!!).  Just cut them down to 4 inches and poke holes in the bottoms for drainage.

The ANSFG book is a must.  Try to get a copy.  Post on Craig's List???  Used Book wanted - All New Square Foot Gardening" by Mel Bartholomew. Check out the library.

Best of luck!

I'm afraid that cilantro isn't a hot-weather crop. You might want to plant some during the late fall, however, once temps cool down. As I understand things, fall and winter may be your best times to garden.

In Las Vegas, you'll only need to cover your crops if insects or other pests threaten, or if there's a chance of frost or snow.

There are instructions for a simple hoop house in ANSFG.

Hi Donna,
thanks for the info.  I actually have some cilantro growing on my covered front porch and it's doing pretty well as long as I remember to water it and move it out of the mid-day sun.  Don't know what it is but about 110 seems to be the cut off temp here.  Below that, everything seems to do ok but when it goes over that, if plants are in direct sunlight, better move the plants or cover them else they just fry.  On top of that we have that awesome caliche to deal with...if that's not enough to convince you to switch to SFG, probably nothing will!  Anyway, this go around I'm gonna take my time, gather everything I need first, including the book, follow the lead of all the other members here and do it right with a fresh start.  Got a feeling I'll go through much less grief that way. 
Talk to you soon,
Mark