Another New Member in AZ
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leftylogan
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- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sun Dec 22, 2024 1:39 am
- Location: Phoenix Metro, 9b
Another New Member in AZ
Hi everyone,
I was once an annoying teenager on the internet so some of you may recognize my username from various other tomato and garden sites. My parents let me tear up their backyard until I went to college but now I'm 30 and finally have a place with my own backyard. It's in a build-to-rent so I'll be entirely in containers and grow bags at home but am looking into a community garden plot.
I'm in the Phoenix Metro area and I'm expecting it to be one of the more difficult places I've gardened. I went to college up the mountain in Flagstaff at 7000 foot elevation where I did an internship on an organic farm. I also briefly worked at a nursery in Colorado as a grower where I had about 20,000 sq ft of greenhouse space I was responsible for, growing mostly landscaping perennials and hanging baskets of annuals. I grew up in Southern California which is, of course, one of the easier places to garden.
I'm an environmental scientist by degree and profession where I deal with commercial pesticide products and groundwater. My life revolves around dirt and water even more now that I'm getting the garden started.
A lot of my interests lie in collecting, breeding, and selection. I expect to make a few crosses this year but don't have any real goals or direction. I was pretty friendly with a lot of the breeders like Keith Mueller back then and learned a lot that I've never been able to put into practice.
Most of my plants are already started inside and I'm excited to have 2 seasons/one very long season. I work from home so hopefully watering 3 times a day in peak summer won't be an issue. I have one successful germination of ~15 year old tomato seed and hopefully some of my other old stuff will eventually pop up. I started some old Dwarf Project seed that was never given a fair chance so hopefully that germinates to have something to play with this year.
Thanks for listening to me ramble out my life story lmao.
I was once an annoying teenager on the internet so some of you may recognize my username from various other tomato and garden sites. My parents let me tear up their backyard until I went to college but now I'm 30 and finally have a place with my own backyard. It's in a build-to-rent so I'll be entirely in containers and grow bags at home but am looking into a community garden plot.
I'm in the Phoenix Metro area and I'm expecting it to be one of the more difficult places I've gardened. I went to college up the mountain in Flagstaff at 7000 foot elevation where I did an internship on an organic farm. I also briefly worked at a nursery in Colorado as a grower where I had about 20,000 sq ft of greenhouse space I was responsible for, growing mostly landscaping perennials and hanging baskets of annuals. I grew up in Southern California which is, of course, one of the easier places to garden.
I'm an environmental scientist by degree and profession where I deal with commercial pesticide products and groundwater. My life revolves around dirt and water even more now that I'm getting the garden started.
A lot of my interests lie in collecting, breeding, and selection. I expect to make a few crosses this year but don't have any real goals or direction. I was pretty friendly with a lot of the breeders like Keith Mueller back then and learned a lot that I've never been able to put into practice.
Most of my plants are already started inside and I'm excited to have 2 seasons/one very long season. I work from home so hopefully watering 3 times a day in peak summer won't be an issue. I have one successful germination of ~15 year old tomato seed and hopefully some of my other old stuff will eventually pop up. I started some old Dwarf Project seed that was never given a fair chance so hopefully that germinates to have something to play with this year.
Thanks for listening to me ramble out my life story lmao.
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Whwoz
- Reactions:
- Posts: 3030
- Joined: Wed Dec 11, 2019 12:08 am
- Location: Trafalgar, Victoria, Australia
Re: Another New Member in AZ
Welcome to the Junction from Down Under @leftylogan. Sounds like you started young, which is the best time to start. Plenty of information on this forum and I am sure you will fit right in.
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Cornelius_Gotchberg
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- Posts: 4623
- Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2021 9:19 am
- Location: Madison, WI
Re: Another New Member in AZ
Welcome from America's Dairyland. Spent a coupla months in Lake Havasu City in Spring 1974, preceded by a weekend of...um...bacchanalian excess on the aforementioned NAU campus.
I have resident pals in Tubac and Tucson, and seasonal ones in Parker and Scottsdale.
The Gotch
I have resident pals in Tubac and Tucson, and seasonal ones in Parker and Scottsdale.
The Gotch
Madison WESconsin/Growing Zone 5-A/Raised beds above the Midvale Heights spade-caking clay in the 77 Square Miles surrounded by A Sea Of Reality
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Gardadore
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- Posts: 1021
- Joined: Wed Dec 11, 2019 12:15 am
- Location: NE PA zone 6
Re: Another New Member in AZ
Welcome from NEPa! My son lives in Scottsdale so I am familiar with gardening issues in that area. Much easier to garden in PA! But love to visit the Phoenix Botanical Garden. Will be interested to follow your postings on gardening in Phoenix.
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PlainJane
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- Posts: 3471
- Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2019 8:12 pm
- Location: N. FL Zone 9A
Re: Another New Member in AZ
Wow, welcome! Looking forward to you sharing your experiences with us!
“Never try to outstubborn a cat.”
- Robert A. Heinlein
- Robert A. Heinlein
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pepperhead212
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- Joined: Mon Jan 20, 2020 12:07 am
- Location: Woodbury, NJ
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MissS
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- Posts: 6455
- Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2019 4:55 am
- Location: SE Wisconsin Zone 5b
Re: Another New Member in AZ
Welcome to the Junction @leftylogan! I'm glad that you have joined us all here. I do believe that I am one of those that saw you playing in the dirt awhile back. A community garden would be great for you to spread your wings in.
~ Patti ~
AKA ~ Hooper
AKA ~ Hooper
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Kurt
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- Posts: 345
- Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2020 2:43 pm
- Location: Everglades City fl.
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TX-TomatoBug
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- Posts: 72
- Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2024 3:06 pm
- Location: Central TX - 8B
Re: Another New Member in AZ
Welcome @leftylogan to the Junction! Sounds like you will have great insights to share here.
~Diane