.   Gardening Ab Service Projects Gardening in Arizona can be a challenge.  Some plants rated USDA Zone 9, which is a hot dry climate, have difficulty surviving the intense heat of the desert summer, now termed Zone 10.  I am certainly not an expert, but offer some thoughts on putting the garden in the railroad.  Our portion of Arizona has diverse soils, ranging from heavy clay to sand and caliche, which resembles concrete.  Each has its own challenges.  However, garden railroaders have a big advantage.  They can truck in hospitable soil by the ton, just in case a rugged fitness program is desired. Two characteristics of desert soil are the need for irrigation, and the acidity.  Even when watered regularly, desert soils get dry.  This drying causes salts to wick towards the surface.  The salts are alkaline, while most leafy plants we select prefer a slightly acidic environment.  Two solutions to soil alkalinity are available.  Occasional deep watering will help wash the salts down deeper.  Soil sulfur can also be added to the soil and soaked in- putting sulfur on the surface of a drip irrigated garden is ineffective.  For drip systems, a small amount of vinegar can be put in the line.  A soil pH meter is recommended to verify the acidity. The heat created by the Arizona summer sun is intense.  I have heard people say they can’t grow cactus, because the heat is so intense.  Young cactus are not commonly seen even in the desert.  Research has shown that the cactus seed requires a precise combination of scrubbing by desert sand, drying and water.  But, the real key to cactus growth is shade.  Cactus seeds will only germinate in the shade of what is called a nurse plant.  The cactus uses the shade of the plant for a couple of decades, allowing it to develop a root system supporting survival in the harsh environment.  Eventually, the nurse plant is killed by the maturing cactus.  Anyway, the message here is shade.  In the hottest months, shade is needed.  This can be accomplished a couple of ways.  First, a frame supporting shade cloth can be erected over sensitive plants.  Alternately, the plants can be planted in larger pots; the pots are dug up and placed in shadier and perhaps cooler locations for the summer months. A leader for the gardening SIG can hopefully expand on this introductory passage. Mike Reddy Gardening in Arizona