[GroovyD]

Hey THCFarmer community! Been growing for 5 years, mostly in a tent in my garage. First time on this forum. I'm based in Phoenix's East Valley, AZ and I'm in my second year growing outdoors and in a smallish (4X6) greenhouse and I'm building a year-round living soil grow system. Think Tent/Outdoor Winter through Spring, and greenhouse/outdoor Summer through Fall.

My outdoor setup consists of homemade EarthBoxes — 3x 26-gallon and 3x 17-gallon — filled with living soil and red wigglers. I run both photoperiod and autoflower strains across an outdoor space with shade structures and 30% shade cloth, and a north-facing greenhouse with a tall ficus providing additional shade from the south.

This summer I'm currently running Pineapple Express and and some autoflowers in the greenhouse, with a Merkaba clone and some other autoflowers outdoors (the autos are filling spots for some failed Photoperiod clones that died for several reasons). It's been a tough season with some losses — some my fault, some I'm still figuring out — and that's actually one of the main reasons I joined. I'm looking to connect with other desert or extreme heat growers who have real world experience with strains that actually survive and thrive in Phoenix East Valley summers, not just genetic speculation about heat tolerance.

I grow for personal use and love sharing with family and friends. My personal effect profile target is terpinolene + ocimene dominant strains — think Pineapple Express, Jack Herer, C99 — happy, social, functional. Not a couch lock guy!

Looking forward to learning from this community. Any other Arizona or desert Southwest growers out there?

 

[yungrowz]

Hey whats up @GroovyD and Welcome! I know there are a few living in that extreme desert heat you deal with

 

[Oldchucky]

Hey THCFarmer community! Been growing for 5 years, mostly in a tent in my garage. First time on this forum. I'm based in Phoenix's East Valley, AZ and I'm in my second year growing outdoors and in a smallish (4X6) greenhouse and I'm building a year-round living soil grow system. Think Tent/Outdoor Winter through Spring, and greenhouse/outdoor Summer through Fall.

My outdoor setup consists of homemade EarthBoxes — 3x 26-gallon and 3x 17-gallon — filled with living soil and red wigglers. I run both photoperiod and autoflower strains across an outdoor space with shade structures and 30% shade cloth, and a north-facing greenhouse with a tall ficus providing additional shade from the south.

This summer I'm currently running Pineapple Express and and some autoflowers in the greenhouse, with a Merkaba clone and some other autoflowers outdoors (the autos are filling spots for some failed Photoperiod clones that died for several reasons). It's been a tough season with some losses — some my fault, some I'm still figuring out — and that's actually one of the main reasons I joined. I'm looking to connect with other desert or extreme heat growers who have real world experience with strains that actually survive and thrive in Phoenix East Valley summers, not just genetic speculation about heat tolerance.

I grow for personal use and love sharing with family and friends. My personal effect profile target is terpinolene + ocimene dominant strains — think Pineapple Express, Jack Herer, C99 — happy, social, functional. Not a couch lock guy!

Looking forward to learning from this community. Any other Arizona or desert Southwest growers out there?

Welcome! I grow where the average high temperature in July and August is 100° but it’s not in the southwest! Post some pics of what you have going on!

 

[orggrwr]

Welcome to the farm. I lived in Phoenix for about 3 years when in the Air Force stationed at Luke AFB. Beautiful country.

 

[GroovyD]

Hi oggrwr, did you grow outdoors in the area while you were stationed here?

 

[orggrwr]

Hi oggrwr, did you grow outdoors in the area while you were stationed here?

No, this was back in the late eighties when it was still illegal and wouldn't have been possible while in the Air Force anyway.

 

[Bigalmoby]

Welcome to the farm

 

[GroovyD]

Well, community, I'm having a really tough Summer season. Let me give you some context: As I said, I'm using homemade "earth Box" style containers - basically SIPs (Sub Irrigated Planters), where I can fill the reservoir at the bottom of the box and water wicks up into the soil. I made my own homemade "living soil" using some Home Depot potting soil as the base, then amended with earth worm castings (EWC), bone meal, fish meal, pearlite. I was able to use that soil successfully for a full garage tent (3X3) through Winter/Fall 2024/2025. I routinely amended that soil with EWC, Bio-Live (from Down To Earth) and Black Kow manure. I also planted clover through the winter/early spring as a cover crop and I added reg wigglers. So, a true living soil setup. I grew successfully in my 4'x6' greenhouse through Summer 2025, but I didn't attempt outdoor. This Summer, I started 3x 27 gallon SIPs in the greenhouse and 3x 17 gallon SIPs outdoors. I built these shade structures for the outdoor boxes covered with 30% shade cloth. I also wrapped the boxes with a double layer of burlap to help keep the black sides cooler. Of the 5 plants I started with, only 2 have survived - one in the greenhouse (Pineapple Express) and one outside under a shade cloth (locally bread strain called Merkaba by Solomon Temple genetics). I'm looking for anyone who has experience growing in the Phoenix East Valley who can recommend strains that will make it through our brutal summers. Looking forward to feedback!

 

[kattitude63]

Hey THCFarmer community! Been growing for 5 years, mostly in a tent in my garage. First time on this forum. I'm based in Phoenix's East Valley, AZ and I'm in my second year growing outdoors and in a smallish (4X6) greenhouse and I'm building a year-round living soil grow system. Think Tent/Outdoor Winter through Spring, and greenhouse/outdoor Summer through Fall.

My outdoor setup consists of homemade EarthBoxes — 3x 26-gallon and 3x 17-gallon — filled with living soil and red wigglers. I run both photoperiod and autoflower strains across an outdoor space with shade structures and 30% shade cloth, and a north-facing greenhouse with a tall ficus providing additional shade from the south.

This summer I'm currently running Pineapple Express and and some autoflowers in the greenhouse, with a Merkaba clone and some other autoflowers outdoors (the autos are filling spots for some failed Photoperiod clones that died for several reasons). It's been a tough season with some losses — some my fault, some I'm still figuring out — and that's actually one of the main reasons I joined. I'm looking to connect with other desert or extreme heat growers who have real world experience with strains that actually survive and thrive in Phoenix East Valley summers, not just genetic speculation about heat tolerance.

I grow for personal use and love sharing with family and friends. My personal effect profile target is terpinolene + ocimene dominant strains — think Pineapple Express, Jack Herer, C99 — happy, social, functional. Not a couch lock guy!

Looking forward to learning from this community. Any other Arizona or desert Southwest growers out there?

hey there... I'm an Arizona grower. first year that I've grown outdoor. I'm from SE AZ in high desert. today everything about to blow away. severe wind.