Propagation: part XII based on my own experience

I am in zone 9A. I have a raised bed for my tomatoes that is 3.5' high. It was measured and had a cap placed on the edge so i could sit and work in the bed and my feet still hit the ground. I dig a hole about 18" across and 2' deep. I layer Epsom Salt, Super Phosphate, Bone Meal, Cottonseed Meal and Soil Sulfur. The process is above mixture, just a small amount, soil, more mixture, soil. I do this layering at least three times. Then the last time, I spread soil, and a small amount of the mixture on the out side of the hole into the dirt I am going to place in the hole around the tomato plant. I make a well for the first amounts of water for the first few weeks. As the weeks go on, as the plant grows, I fill in the hole. I water once a week. My main reason is to drive the roots down in search of water. As the roots are going downward, they are running into the mixture and growing in leaps and bounds. This is an program I came up with, it works for me and my daughter and a few other friends. But you must remember, we are in the high 90s by the end of April. Those roots have to be deep or the plants will fry. The photo is one of my tomato plants in June last year. I grow one grape, 5 early girls, 5 celebrity and three heirlooms. I give away more thn I eat.

Howdy:
I hate to say it but it might be months before the snow all melts in those piles. I always watch the piles in the parking lots here. sometimes its into may before they are all melted away.
I may be in a cooler state zone wise than some of yopu but we get the 3 months of 100 degree plus with no wind and no rain. I guess its the wind that really heaps on the issues with water for you. My mom grows tomatoes at the lake where they go on weekends. no moisture all week and they still survive it. with tons of tomaters
Have you thought of a shade house for some of the garden? I know we used to have several different houses with 25%, 50% and 75% shade..one for each...lol I just thought of what would happen if you stacked the shade cloth on top of each other....I am thinking about using a floating row cover on the veggie garden to shade as well as cut down on some of the bugs.
It sounded like some of the underground critters have smartened up. coming above ground to get past the wire underground. I wonder what might happen if it was electrified with the low volt line they use on cattle and backyard pets? just a thought or would it be grounded below ground????

This message was edited Feb 20, 2010 6:13 AM

Shade cloth is my friend here for sure.

I was born in Kansas, in Manhattan, but I don't remember it, I never thought of Oklahoma and Kansas as hot states and dry either, because of the gulf moisture and tornadoes.

I like the method for tomatoes, but do you use it only for tomatoes?

Helen, I don't know what you mean by the method for tomatoes.

I was talking about Worms, method of growing the tomatoes in the hot climate he is in and how well they do with the raised bed and layering the Epsom Salt, Super Phosphate, Bone Meal, Cottonseed Meal and Soil Sulfur.

It would probably do well here too since I have had similar methods in lasagna bed layers that made it possible to grow anything in my high alkaline, Caleche soil here.

Hellen:
I just got my raised beds installed. I know how our weather is and I like to use the moisture crystals in my soil as it helps a bunch. In the heat of the summer I end up watering every day sometimes twice a day. I am planning on using micro irrigation/soaker hoses. Which one depends on my $$$ supply at the moment of purchase. I managed to get a great soil mix delivered from a local delivery company. we have mushroom growers in the northe east part of the state so the left over soil is sold to soil companies and they mix it in a garden soil along with composted leaves and sandy loam. Its great looking soil.
I plan to use as large a tomato plant as possible and bury it deep upto the last 2 sets of leaves. between that and my slurry mix of good stuff to water in with they should be huge plants.
Dave

Dave, you have it right on the tomato planting. When you bury the plant, everywhere there was a leaf will be a root. Some gardeners lay them down in a trench if you cannot get it deep enough.

I had not thought of the water absorption crystals. How long do you soak them before you put them in your soil?. I am going to try that in a dry area in my front garden.

Sharon, I normally just soak mine for an hour. But, you will be surprised. for 1 cup of water I use 1 tsp of the crystals. On a small scale, like potting up plants. But, from others I have heard do not use them dry.

Thank you xo very much. I will experiment and let you know.....

Sharon: I have noticed roots form all up and down the stem not just the node where the leaf comes off. I also noticed that the stem above ground will send extra roots off and down into the soil to help with extra moisture and nutrients.
Its been so long since I have worked with the raw crystals. I usually get my soil with them in it it just seems to be easier on me I use the miricle grow with slow realease and moisture crystals. Its easier to handle for me. I get one of my nieces to move the bag in from the truck and then I take my work to the bag.
I will have to mix in the crystals and slow release fertilizer in the planting hole this spring. as promissed here is the start of my raised beds. My brother in law built them. he and my niece filled them with soil.

close up of the soil

the beds are together. he has to level them out and put down ground cloth before filling them up

as you can see the second bed needs to be sunk down to level out the bed for proper drainage. You can also see my messy back yard. this is all the room I have to play with and use to store everyone I manage to grow in pots

my niece helping to get it ready. she is a tomato fiend...

3/4 full first bed

I think I would add some perlite. Looks like great soil. I think I already showed you my raised beds. The raised bed makes it so much easier to grow thing her in Las Vegas. I have actually made raised beds in my front landscape by using large boulders and placing improved soil in the middle of the group of boulders.

Looks like good stuff Dave. What do you use a weed block of some kind? How many yards of soil is that? Are those 2x10s or 12s? Looks good. Is that going to be enough soil for 2?

another view of the first bed almost done

Did you say they put mushroom compost, or worm castings in it? Sharon could be right. That would lighten it up some. Keep it from compacting. What are you going to put in them?

What size are they Dave?

Great photos. What a wonderful niece you have. What are you going to do with all those big logs? You could make a raised bed out of them.

I spot compost in my raised beds. I just add scraps anywhere I have nothing growing. Are the worms going to be able to get through the black ground cover.

they are 2x12 cedar... its 5 yards and it filled both beds and most of the new bed along the north fence. It looks great I am very pleased with it. it was about $250.00 for the whole load but well worth it. if I had the space I would use it in my container mix. get me a small concrete mixer and mix it with peat slow release fertilizer and the moisture crystals. I would most likely add some kind of wood chips too. just have to play with it. we used to get 100 yards of a nursery mix delivered to the nursery every 3 to 4 weeks in the summer months. It was specially formulated and had built in minor nutrients and fire ant controll mixed in.
Of course when you are planting over 1000 gallons a day it goes quickly.

I am sure they will find their way in and I will be throuwing some in when I find them as I move stuff around. I don't think it will take long. I will most likely add some worms mail order also.

Wow that is $50 a yard Dave. You shouldn't have to add anything to it for that. Does it look heavy? Kind of hard to tell from the picture.

JB, haven't heard from you lately. Whatcha up to? Are you stuck in a snow bank?

I am here Jen, more snow expected tonight. Another foot more or less.

I am going to put up some pics of my daffodil collections in the floral design forum. I have some really pertty ones to share. Steven from Canada started that and I just found it yesterday.

I have mealy bug in my Aimee gardenias and spent time yesterday spraying them. No sunshine so I could do it. I must go do it again today after I water. They are beautiful plants and are now about six months old and about 8 to 10 inches tall with some trying to bud. They will grow into a tree like form if all goes the way it should.

I must gef going into town before the snow starts. Thanks for missing me. Hugs. JB

GOOD MORNIN.... I realize its spendy for soil but I don't want to have to modify the soil much after its in the beds. The only addatives I will be ing is for moisture controll and slow release fertilizer. I expect it will be a great spring for the garden.
Dave

What makes you think the snow will melt before July? Hi Davie!

Jb: I have always been told that it gets sweltering hot up there in the summer month's.... of course this is probably propaganda as we are still fighting the indians from the forts with our flint lock weapons.... lol have you ever noticed the weather man never gets it right for anywhere other than his own back yard?

Haven't heard from Lee in Montana for a while either. Are you ok Lee? Are you planting seeds in the snowbanks? Bet you are placing your orders for the swet potatoes aren't you? Are you getting rooted cuttings this year?

with my experience useing the unrooted cuttings I will mst likely stick to rooted plugs myself. I am sure she is starting to fine tune her plans. I know I am loking at how I can squeze out a few more flats in the garage. its going to be interesting to see what does manage to squeek itself out.

I think it is just too bad that you have to buy 100 of the sameplant. I know that in the rooted plugs you can get 3 different ones, but they are of their choosing rather than letting you pick.

How are yours doing Dave? Are they rooting? What do you think at this point that your losses are going to be?

I am here, just lurking and wishing. Few minutes here and there. Can't order much this year, you all know the situation. The snow banks are so hard frozen, I don't think they will ever thaw. Just got above freezing the last couple of days, but not enough to do anything. Can't get to the greenhouse, even if it were heated, the snow is up tight against it. DH says as soon as it loosens up a bit he will dig me out :) All my pots and etc are in there. I am fighting with medicare rite now for Mom, so lots of computer time spent on their stupid website. They say one thing, then when it is billed to them, they "don't cover it" grrrrrrrrrrr
Definitely won't be able to order full flats this year from NCF just too expensive. The seeds from Jeanette and Dave will have to be my yard this year. Thanks to those two I will have flowers!!!!!!!!!!

ummm ya know we could split some if we can disagree on the same thing....
Oh yea... I got a new catalog from gardens alive... they have a $25.00 cupon on it. no set amount to buy if its less than $25.00 its free... i don't know about the shipping. I am getting some row cover and something else not sure yet
Dave

I'll have to check that out Dave. I assumed you have to buy an equal amount. I used them once before when you didn't have to spend any and it was nice. They sure changed it the next year. Wonder if someone got hold of the wrong offer. Anyway, I will have to look. I sure could use some remay or row cover too

Dave, I'll take a look at NCF. Might take you up on it. Jeanette

Love those raised beds. I did not know that about burying the tomatoes. I use those soil moist crystals and did you know someone here on DG sells them by the 5 lb bag cheap.

That is interesting Helen, 'cause someone is always asking and I don't have a clue since we bought them in a coop.

She sells them in the market place and I have seen her post about it and talked to her one time in the chat room, coincidentally about them.

Most people sell just about everything on the market place. I sometimes post up extra flats and plug trays. they don't stay listed very long. Of course this time of year I am using everything i can get my hands on that will hold dirt. I have managed to get above poking holes in the butter dish's... of course there is nothing wrong with it when pinching pennies, its just easier to pull a new pot or tray to use...you know me i like easy