Gardening in the Arizona Desert Using Native Soil 🌱 No Fertilizer, Growing Organic Vegetables

What I have learned about having a successful garden in the desert. Who knew the desert had such great top soil, and how I protect my plants.
Video created using my phone & InShot:inshotapp.page.link/YTShare

[@WildOrchardOasisFarm]

We moved to NW Arizona outside of Kingman in 2021 and I'm learning so much. I've learned that shade cloth, straw mulch, and row cover cloth solves so many issues with birds, chipmunks, and hot sun. Great garden!

[@basilwise8193]

Wow! I had no idea that you could grow a garden like that in the desert using only native soil. I like how you work with the birds and lizards, they take care of your weeding and insect pests! Very cool!

[@Go-zi1py]

In case you don't already know, most county's in every state in the USA have Agricultural Extension Agents at the Agricultural Extension Office (a branch of our land grant agricultural colleges in every state, your college is the University of Arizona located in Tucson.) They provide advise and free or low cost testing for soil, plants with potential disease and animal care instruction for the benefit of farmers and the general population. They are a tremendous resource and your tax dollar already pays for it.

[@2A_supporter]

I grew up in Tucson growing with natives the trick to keep your veggies from burning is tree cover plant under mesquites palo verdes ironwoods and if you own a property with running water and have water rights you can plant right on the banks of the water and the plants will ignore the 118 degree days in my grandmothers yard there is a willow tree and a pomegranate tree she grows cape gooseberries peppers and summer squash and so on long story short I moved to nor cal to avoid the heat altogether 😒

[@John-fg7uy]

Red , Mrs. April , I'm John from yuma , a friend told me about using a stake and by wrapping copper around it burying the copper ,and as high as 6 feet ,this will double your crop output ,do this in several places ,good luck...john

[@artbyadrienne6812]

I'm in NE Arizona and our soil is like a parking lot. Your garden is doing really well.

[@busker153]

When I plant Moringa, I have to cover them up with an upside down milk crate to keep the birds for eating them. I think they love them as micro-greens..

[@shanobat5484]

Those mesquite trees are creating nitrogen for you- they are legumes who produce nitrogen in their roots. why your garden is so good

[@prairielivingtwins]

Stick copper wire in the soil all over next to your plants. It will pull what your soil needs. Free fertilizer

[@johniimtiaz8472]

I personally like gardening. And the way you built up your garden in Arzona was awesome. However, Why don't you plant Green Chickpeas to your garden..???

[@TheSolarpunkFarmer]

It makes a lot of sense that you've had success growing in soil taken from underneath mesquite trees. Mesquite is a nitrogen fixing tree, which means it harvests its nitrogen directly from the air and accumulates it in the leaves and seed pods. Imagine all the nitrogen that has accumulated in the soil under these trees over the course of decades from the litter - that's why your crops are so happy. Instead of mining soil from underneath the mesquites, you can prune them and break down the branches and leaves into mulch. Add a thick layer (4") to your garden and it will not only act as a slow release fertilizer, but it will add organic matter as it decomposes. If you want to start a new garden bed, you can lay the mulch down directly on the ground a foot deep and let it rot down during the monsoon season - you'll end up with some rich topsoil underneath. You'll end up with even better soil over time this way, plus pruning the mesquites instead of taking their soil is much better for these marvelous trees and the delicate ecosystem they support. Work for your ecosystem and it will work for you.

[@deecooper1567]

Ahh the challenges of living in the desert 🥴 at least you can get decent soil to work with.

[@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920]

April, I bow to your Garden Genius!

[@Doublehacres]

What a great video. I’m new to growing in the Arizona desert too. We lived in Northern Az for 20 years so Im having to learn everything over. I do love the fact that we have a longer growing season and can actually have a winter garden. Thanks for your video. Your garden is great.

[@threeriversforge1997]

Very nice! I love the concrete wall kinda giving that old Southwest adobe vibe like in the cowboy shows I grew up watching. One thing I might suggest is to look into growing native Prairie Grasses around the homestead. Big Bluestem, for example, can get up to 8' tall while sending roots down just as far. As a "clump grass" not only does it provide you with a ton of fodder and mulch every year, but it's a fantastic living screen that you can use to create a shady spot block an unsightly view. Being native to the region, the prairie grasses are already designed to handle the conditions, their deep-rooting nature allowing them to not only survive the droughts, but also break up tough soils and pull minerals up from deep down where your veggies can't reach. When you put that mulch on the veggie beds, they get to eat good! Big bluestem, Prairie Dropseed, Sideoats Grama, Compass Plant.... there's a ton of variety that can really help build up your soil while adding beautiful flowers and habitat for the wildlife.

[@anthonysinclair5721]

Thanks for the video!😎

[@colleen6940]

Nice - look up how far the taproot of the mesquite goes! That’s the answer for the good soil beneath. It pulls minerals from deep below and when the leaves fall, you get your good soil. :)

[@kaylewis2798]

This was so inspiring and full of great information to tweek wherever you live. Enjoy seeing the progress. Thanks for the awesome video.

[@azgardener79]

Good idea grabbing the compost from under the mesquite trees.

[@alyciapeters5073]

Thank you April! I definitely appreciated this video! I’m an arizonian battling wild rabbits and chipmunks! I like the aircreate lower section!!