Growing Autoflowers Outdoors in Sonoran Desert Winter

[DoctorJ]

Hi, Forum!
I live in the Sonoran desert USA, e.g. Palm Springs, CA, Phoenix/Tucson, AZ. I have successfully grown outdoors in the summer with a polytunnel greenhouse and big evap cooler, but temps still get to 100-105^o F. Big photoperiod sativa plants in 50/50% coco/perlite gave good yields and smoke, but somewhat larfy bids with most terpenes sublimated off by the heat. I am giving consideration to abandoning the scorching summer and growing only autoflowers during the 8 month Sept/Oct to Apr/May cooler season. I can keep the greenhouse at 50^o F or warmer with supplemental heating and temps to 85-90^o F are controlled by the evap cooler. I seriously hypothesize that the ruderalis genetics will support successful growth and harvest in the cooler temps and lower light (vs. summertime) conditions. I would expect multiple annual harvests, especially after making free seeds using colloidal silver (which works quite well).
Questions:
1. Have any of you in my geographic location tried this?
2. What positives/negatives do you anticipate with this approach?

Thanking you in advance for your thoughts.
Doctor J.

[Bluey]

Welcome DoctorJ

Photo Sativas are my area. They love the heat a few months prior to harvest and will survive in surprisingly high temps well above 40⁰C but will look pretty ragged by the end of the day. They can take huge amounts of intense light but are susceptible to mold which is a challenge here.

If temps stay high during mid to late flower my buds will be light weight and not produce high yields compared to lower temps. The sativas I have do this naturally to regulate flower temps and maintain them in an always most fertile state for pollination. This is how evolution works to ensure survival of the species and has developed in sativas over 1000's generations. There is nothing I can do to increase the density of the buds than lower temps down...22/24⁰C temp ranges of a day appear to be ideal re the balance of good bud growth (long and fat) and dense firm buds. Any increase results in a drop in density.

Having said that there are sativas that others grow here that will bulk up in high temps.

I have no idea regards autos and don't know indicas all that well.

Would be great if you could post some pics and description of what's going on with your grows.

Enjoy!

[DoctorJ]

Thanks, Bluey and SoOrbudgal. for your kind comments. I just got a new seed shipment and am going to move forward with this experiment. I am thinking it will work out. Will know in +/- 90 days.

[Rwise]

I am in OK, but I grow autos outside starting in the spring with a Jun to July harvest. They hold up well to cold weather but will need covered for frosts (it can slow them down).
Welcome to GWE and good luck!