Hi from the High Desert of NM

I garden at elevation 6,000 feet, about 50 miles NW of Albuquerque. I have horrid water and gardening is a challenge, at best! On the hardiest and sturdiest of perennials can live here.

Today I put out 11 broccoli plants in a quasi-SFG style as I don't have raised beds. We'll see how it goes!

:Debbie

6000 feet!?! I guess you don't want to go much higher.

Deborah ....impressed.

No, I don't ... too cold and too much snow up there!! But, I love to drive up and enjoy the snow and take pics ... and then go home! LOL

Hi, NMPlantlady! We are further NW of ABQ in Farmington. Going today to buy and build our boxes. When can we safely plant here in NM? Last frost? Any help would be appreciated!

NM Mackeys

I'm over (down?) in Albuquerque. Just planted everything I have grown from seed into my raised bed SFG. Glad to meet someone else from the high desert!!!

Well, last year my SFG (second year) did terrible. First year was pretty good. I bought a bag of Mels Mix to rejuvinate my two boxes. I hoed everything around and added the new mix. We'll see how things go this year. My dog ate my drip irrigation line, so now I have to water by hose, or God forbid, by hand. Put the tomatoes in today, got a good deal at Lowes, one buck off the 25 oz plants. Also planted carrots, lettuce, spinach, brocolli, swiss chard, and beets. Did everything early this year so lets see...................

SenseiMac wrote:Well, last year my SFG (second year) did terrible. First year was pretty good. I bought a bag of Mels Mix to rejuvinate my two boxes. I hoed everything around and added the new mix. We'll see how things go this year. My dog ate my drip irrigation line, so now I have to water by hose, or God forbid, by hand. Put the tomatoes in today, got a good deal at Lowes, one buck off the 25 oz plants. Also planted carrots, lettuce, spinach, brocolli, swiss chard, and beets. Did everything early this year so lets see...................

SenseiMac,

What a bad experience to have a good year and then a terrible year using Mel's Mix. Did you add a scoop of compost to each square after you harvested both years? Those plants use so many nutrients that we have to replace it before putting in the next crop. Hope refreshing with new Mel's Mix helps this year.

Bad Dog! We have a thread about the problems some dogs have caused in our gardens. Bad Dog! Hope you can replace or repair the drip irrigation, because it does make life so much simpler.

Sounds like a great assortment of veggies you have planted this year. Hoping for a better year for you.

Second year with SFG. Was a cool summer in CA but I have not yet planted outside due to the sub-freezing weather we are experiencing. I have seedlings started in the garage. I am looking forward to the garden here. I understand it is fast and furious once it gets going. I have a blog about my experiences last year. I will blog about this years experiences. www.rookiegardener.com

RonWarrior

Nice to "meet" you. Great to have a second year SFG'r join us.

We have members with similar climates to your own, so perhaps they will be able to send a few pointers your way. Do you know your last frost date?

Have you completed your SFG beds yet, got that Mel's Mix ready? Do you know your last frost date? How can we help?
Please keep us updated on your progress and please share pictures too.

Again, Welcome

Thank you! The last frost date is May 26th, but have been told that that hasn't happened for many years. I will keep you all posted on my progress. Thanks for making me feel welcome.

Hi everybody! My sfg is located a few miles South of Belen. Our last frost last year was on May 15th and our first frost in the fall was on October 1st. It made a rather short growing season in our area.

Don

Welcome all you crazy Lobos... IMy visit to NM last summer was great and reminded me that I need to come visit your great state more often. (lived in ABQ as a kid for a couple of years).

As far as growing at altitude - that're really got to shrink the season. On the flip side, a green house would probably stay warm all winter as much sun as you all get...

Don,

Another "Lurker". Glad you finally posted ( it has only been 2 weeks, I know) and decided to join in the fun. This is a great group of people, we get a little silly sometimes, but we enjoy helping when we can.

Did you have a SFG last year? If so, how did you do? Major concerns? Great victories? Let us know.

If you have questions, please ask. If you have comments on someone else's post, jump right in. And please, keep us posted on your progress. We love pictures too.

to all the newbies to the foum!!

Thanks for the warm welcome messages. Actually I'm not a newcomer to this forum as I originally signed up last year. I didn't login very frequently (busy, busy, busy outdoors) and when I tried to login this year I couldn't seem to make it work. I thought I knew my username and password but couldn't make it work so I finally gave up and made a new account. I think you will find my posts from last year under "Duckycards." Anyway... This is actually my third year in sfg although I didn't get started the first year until mid-August.

As for gardening, I haven't got much in except lettuce, swiss chard, parsnips, onions, potatoes, carrots and... I guess that's about it. I had some onions planted in buckets (from seed) (because I am short of sfg boxes) and they were doing so well up until yesterday, and then the jack-rabbits discovered them. I've got a picket fence around my garden area but I guess I'll have to run some chicken wire all the way around to keep 'em out.

I enjoy the forum when I get a chance but I have too many projects going outdoors to spend a lot of time online. One more thing: I wonder if I might be the oldest member here; I was born in April, 1929. Am I the g'pa here? LOL

Don

Well then, welcome back, Don.

Wascally wabbits causing trouble, are they? Hope that chicken wire takes care of the problem.

Keep in touch!

Hi I'm from Las Vegas, New Mexico i am 120 north of Albuquerque, I have only egyptian walking onions, cabbage, and cabbage sprouts out so far still a little cold for me. I need to put out lettuce and spinach out before weekend.

Larry zone-6

Just kicking off the season. The cabbage, broccoli, and onions are in the SFG. Planted strawberries today and one tomato plant. Avg killing frost date here in the 4 Corners is Mother's Day, so I will be watching the forecast closely.

I have 7 beds anxious and waiting!