Arizona Outdoor Grow ?

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BigSnooze

New Member
Hey all,

I've recently moved to Arizona and am looking for some guidance from locals on the nuances of outdoor growing here in the desert environment.

I am no stranger to growing cannabis in general - I have over 10 seasons of outdoor experience under my belt - but the climate here is an extreme opposite from where I used to live + grow [New England]. My home state averages 40+ inches of annual precipitation whereas Arizona is under 10 inches, and then of course there's the complete lack of nutrients in the soil here plus the crazy heat, long sunlight hours, etc.

In past years, my biggest issues have been things like mold or early frosts. I feel as though I'm unlikely to deal with those here in Arizona, but I've never grown somewhere where temps regularly hit 80+ degrees, let alone 100+.

I've searched the forums and can't find much about growing here so thought I'd start my own thread. Please drop a reply if you'd be open to sharing your experiences and fielding some questions from me, or if you can link me to a grow journal or two from Arizona that would be amazing as well.

Thanks in advance!
 
jcdws602

jcdws602

Well-Known Member
The az section is always pretty dead. I've grown outdoors in the Phoenix area in the past with good results though. I've always planted in pots late summer to avoid dealing with any heat related issues and used amended soil I prepared. I've never grown in the native soil because its not very good in my area.
 
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vtguitar88

Well-Known Member
Damn that's crazy I was about to post almost the same question, with the exact same background! I moved to Phoenix from northern Vermont earlier this year. Considering a small greenhouse grow in my walled-in backyard, now that home grow is legal here. I was going to start six plants under an LED in the next few days, and plan to move them outside to flower by January 15. I'm going to do ~8-week strains, and plan to harvest just before Spring equinox. Curious if anyone else has pulled off a winter greenhouse grow here, and what issues I might not be taking into account. I can't imagine mold/humidity/condensation is an issue here even in the winter, right? I mean humidity seems to stay under 20% even on winter mornings. But I could be wrong there.
 
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tiffanrw

New Member
vtguitar88 said:
Damn that's crazy I was about to post almost the same question, with the exact same background! I moved to Phoenix from northern Vermont earlier this year. Considering a small greenhouse grow in my walled-in backyard, now that home grow is legal here. I was going to start six plants under an LED in the next few days, and plan to move them outside to flower by January 15. I'm going to do ~8-week strains, and plan to harvest just before Spring equinox. Curious if anyone else has pulled off a winter greenhouse grow here, and what issues I might not be taking into account. I can't imagine mold/humidity/condensation is an issue here even in the winter, right? I mean humidity seems to stay under 20% even on winter mornings. But I could be wrong there.
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Try this https://www.facebook.com/groups/815303445977400/
 
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HobbyGrowArtist

Active Member
BigSnooze said:
Hey all,

I've recently moved to Arizona and am looking for some guidance from locals on the nuances of outdoor growing here in the desert environment.

I am no stranger to growing cannabis in general - I have over 10 seasons of outdoor experience under my belt - but the climate here is an extreme opposite from where I used to live + grow [New England]. My home state averages 40+ inches of annual precipitation whereas Arizona is under 10 inches, and then of course there's the complete lack of nutrients in the soil here plus the crazy heat, long sunlight hours, etc.

In past years, my biggest issues have been things like mold or early frosts. I feel as though I'm unlikely to deal with those here in Arizona, but I've never grown somewhere where temps regularly hit 80+ degrees, let alone 100+.

I've searched the forums and can't find much about growing here so thought I'd start my own thread. Please drop a reply if you'd be open to sharing your experiences and fielding some questions from me, or if you can link me to a grow journal or two from Arizona that would be amazing as well.

Thanks in advance!
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you got one good thing going... warm arid environment. im not sure if you would need to have a camo net canopy just to help shade them a bit (not sure exact name)

the main issue is water so you cant plant far from your place. not sure what else to tell you since i never lived anywhere near that kind of heat.
also could try mixing compost into the soil and add nutes and humid acid and keep watered, might transform it into some crazy rich black earth.
 
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kblack1228

Member
Its totally doable. I grew last summer during our hottest recorded summer. Planted in the beginning of april as seeds in a garden area full of earthworms and just native soil, with some manure mixed in. Plants vegged all summer long. Even after LST and topping at around 3 ft tall the colas at flower were 8ft or so long. Key to it was afternoon shade and a 30% sun shade over top. Gave a deep long soaking of the ground around the plants every 3 to 4 days.
 

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Alctrz8849

Alctrz8849

Well-Known Member
kblack1228 said:
Its totally doable. I grew last summer during our hottest recorded summer. Planted in the beginning of april as seeds in a garden area full of earthworms and just native soil, with some manure mixed in. Plants vegged all summer long. Even after LST and topping at around 3 ft tall the colas at flower were 8ft or so long. Key to it was afternoon shade and a 30% sun shade over top. Gave a deep long soaking of the ground around the plants every 3 to 4 days.
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My first outdoor grow here in Tucson but so far so good! I have a shade cloth like has already been highly suggested. Watch out for pest though! I've had some munching on my leaves already and they've only been outdoors for a month. These were originally DWC's that didn't make the cut but I couldn't cull them when I have a perfectly good garden with lots of space!20210502_070834.jpg20210502_070819.jpg
 
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kblack1228

Member
Alctrz8849 said:
My first outdoor grow here in Tucson but so far so good! I have a shade cloth like has already been highly suggested. Watch out for pest though! I've had some munching on my leaves already and they've only been outdoors for a month. These were originally DWC's that didn't make the cut but I couldn't cull them when I have a perfectly good garden with lots of space!View attachment 4893865View attachment 4893866
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I've been lucky. First season no pests. we will see how this season goes. All I have seen so far are ants. I also have a vegetable garden close by which might help.
 
Fireman57

Fireman57

Well-Known Member
kblack1228 said:
Its totally doable. I grew last summer during our hottest recorded summer. Planted in the beginning of april as seeds in a garden area full of earthworms and just native soil, with some manure mixed in. Plants vegged all summer long. Even after LST and topping at around 3 ft tall the colas at flower were 8ft or so long. Key to it was afternoon shade and a 30% sun shade over top. Gave a deep long soaking of the ground around the plants every 3 to 4 days.
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NICE!!! There is hope!
 
Fireman57

Fireman57

Well-Known Member
Alctrz8849 said:
My first outdoor grow here in Tucson but so far so good! I have a shade cloth like has already been highly suggested. Watch out for pest though! I've had some munching on my leaves already and they've only been outdoors for a month. These were originally DWC's that didn't make the cut but I couldn't cull them when I have a perfectly good garden with lots of space!View attachment 4893865View attachment 4893866
Click to expand...
Very cool. Thank you
 
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CochiseChronic

Active Member
When they are seedlings and preteens my buddy puts wire bird cage around them. Keeps rabbits and birds from pulling them out of ground. He just makes them put of chicken wire. Also ants can wreck seedlings. Out here in cochise I am mainly worried about the wind. It gets crazy. I would love to find local growers and share our strains that do well in our desert environment. I think it's gonna b a good year. Good luck to all making Arizona green
 
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