Will Be Setting - up My EBs Soon AS Weather Allows?

The weather today is magnificent! Working outdoors today will be a pleasure and I surely have plenty to do so I will get goin as soon as I finish my coffee as my shoulders feel very good today and I must trim my neighbors hedges that they planted to close to the fence and grow into my garden and threaten my roses. Also I must place my weed cloth and place my EBs. Beautiful weather at last and more for tomorrow. I set up my deck taking all the covers off the lounge chairs and opening the umbrella because the sun can and does burn but mostly to let everything air and dry out from dampness.

TPlant and Boca Bob: I need your advice quickly here. It is getting really cold out where I live, in zone 8B, close to Pensacola, Florida, will be in the 40's and 50's probably now til March. Here is what this big dummy did, I planted cabbages, cauliflower, artichokes and black beauty eggplants in 2 1/2 inch peat pellets, putting them on a shelf and wrapping saran wrap around and placing them in front of a window. Well, that was about 4-5 days ago. Today, there are stems showing from the cauliflowers, eggplants and cabbages. I quickly got them out of the shelf; put them in a deeper one and put a high dome over the ones leafing. Now, here are some questions here:
1. I will apparently be taking care of these over the winter in the house this year. TPlant, I did what you say you do, I planted more than one seed in each peat pellet, all seem to be blooming in the pellet, how do I determine which is the healthiest one in each pellet, and then what, how do I remove the ones leaving only one?
2. When they are big enough, should I bring in a few of my EBS, transplant them into that and use my grow lights on the EBS? No need for pest control now right? (smiles).
The artichokes have not come up yet, PTL, as they will be huge, glad I didn't plant too many of those.
joy112854

You are only just north of me, we are just planting cabage and cauliflower. They can take the cold. Can you put your EB's anywhere near the garage and just push them in and out if it is suppose to freeze. One thing is for sure, they wont make it in the house

Hello All,
I made an interesting discovery completely by accident while planting my EBs and eBuckets this weekend. I have been using powdered Dolomitic Limestone since I got my first EBs. This’ll be my 3rd growing season. I was constantly seeing Paw’s reference to pelletized dolomitic lime, but never found any. Well, I discovered a new feedstore over the weekend, and they had the pelletized, so I bought a 40 lb. bag. I was refilling the last two of my EBs with the powdered stuff, and decided to conduct a little experiment. I filled one 2/3 with potting mix and sprinkled two cups of the powdered dolomite. Then I watered. The water just sat there, looking back at me. I waited. And, I waited. And, I waited some more. Finally, when I got tired of waiting, I started swirling the water to make it go. Well, it was like swirling gooey cement! I had noticed when I dumped my EBs for cleaning that the dolomitic limestone in the mix had actually formed flat ROCKS, similar to slate. It was very hard. I kept wondering a) if a whole flat layer of this stuff was clogging up my EBs and not allowing the water to drain quickly/efficiently (root rot?), b) were my roots actually able to pierce through this layer of concrete to get to the water, and c) was the water able to permeate this layer of concrete to adequately to keep water in the mix?

Now, fast forward to the same scenario using the pelletized dolomitic limestone. The water percolated right through the limestone, no trouble whatsoever…

I invite those who understand soil and water movement to comment on the possible trouble this has been causing, unbeknownst to this and other newbie growers…(e.g., the yellowing leaves, a less than robust tomato vine, BER due to the stress of the plant trying to get water, etc…)

And I’m not using the powdered stuff anymore…..

Gymgirl

Linda, I've copied down your info. I keep telling the DH he can't substitute when I send him to the store for this. He comes back and says he couldn't find the "exact" thing I mentioned but did find " something or other" ... MEN! I'll have to get him to check that bag again. I've had good luck so far, but ya never know. LOL

Okay guys ... don't send me hate Dmails ... I'm just kidding! Anyone that knows me knows I looove that DH to pieces. hahaha I have to pick on em, though. There's nobody else here to do it. :)

Oh don't worry I'll do it for ya in a few weeks! And you KNOW Serg is the same!

Pellitized dolomite lime is all I ever use and I've never had that problem gymgirl?

Joy -- Your veggies will not grow indoors besides they are cold weather veggies and the farmers used to keep broccoli and cabbage out till a week before Thanksgiving in NY so don't worry and keep them out until a solid freeze. They can take an overnite frost as a matter of fact it improves flavor especially pertaining to Brussel Sprouts.

Oh by the way! I was able to trim a good part of my neighbors hedges protruding thru my fence and threatening my roses plus set down about 200' ft of weed cloth and permanently place twelve of my remaining twenty tomato EBs. So did good today! Just took a pain pill and am now relaxing.

You certainly put me to shame in the work department.

Those beet seeds I planted the other day are coming up, so that was fun to see today.

Good looking pics, Tplant. You've sure caught up on your workload in the past couple days.

Gymgirl, the dolomite powdered lime will work just as well as the pelletized. It sounds like you didn't mix it into the soil but rather laid in in a layer; that would concentrate all the lime in a single area and if that is the case then the plants root system would have a really hard time utilizing it, thereby causing your previous problem with BER and such. (Like Tplant says, "follow the instructions exactly", and the instructions say "mix" it in. I think maybe you thought you were supposed to put it in a band, like the fertilizer strip.)

Shoe

TPlant and Garden Glory: Thanks, they are not big enough to put in the EBs yet; they just popped up, I just planted seed 4 days ago and have never planted my own seedlings before. This will be my first try. So the cabbages and cauliflower will both do well this fall? What about Eggplants and Artichokes? I have 6 black beauty Eggplants seedling babies too. The Artichokes haven't sprouted seedlings yet. They really are not big enough to put under the grow light yet either.
joy112854

TPlant and Garden Glory: I just got off the phone with a friend in south Florida, he has some 150 watt high pressure sodium light bulbs and has another friend who can probably come up with a valise for them, I do have the Dreamhouse Greenhouse, the portable one, haven't used it yet; maybe this is my chance? I have some questions though, I could have someone put up the greenhouse for me before the seedlings got big enough to transplant and possibly get the light bulbs and valise before then also. I'm thinking I might need a heater too though, as Garden Glory, look at where Gainesville is in respect to where Pensacola is? Notice, I'm just a stone throw from Alabama? It does get a bit chillier here, and that is what I'm concerned about. I don't want them to freeze. Any comments and advice would be appreciated here, as quite frankly, I don't know why I planted the seeds so early, wasn't thinking I guess.
joy112854

44 in gainesville this morning. whats with that????? I cant ever remember having to turn the heater on to take the chill off in October. Bet you have your sweater on up there in crestwiew this am too. mercy

I can't offer any advice as I do not know anything about greenhouse growing but get it set up ASAP and learn more about them. You should fair well with a heating system but am not qualified to answer your questions about greenhouse culture.
PS -- It is very chilly down here also with some wind. It was in the low sixties but it will pop up to the 70's! Another perfect day as today I will finish up on my placing of weed cloth and start on my weeding of my second rose garden. Also learn how to use the camera with the computer as it is easy! Follow instructions that came with your camera as we really need pictures to help you? Now start reading! You can do it -- I did and there was no bigger computer dummy than me????

Horseshoe,
Yes, I've been doing this all wrong. I'd fill my EB 12 full of potting mix and then water the mix, pat gently and let it drain -- then I'd sprinkle the powder on top of the moist mix and begin to continue filling the EB with more potting mix, the plants, the fert strip and then water in one more time. The dolomite powder was a single layer, sandwiched between two layers of potting mix -- like a peanut butter sandwich! I can't imagine HOW I missed that instruction on mixing the powder IN with the mix. I'm usually a much more careful reader than this. I guess this might truly account for some of the problems I've had. So, someone please correct my technique and put me on the right track! It will be much appreciated, especially before I attempt to plant my Spring maters'!

At what point do you put in the dolomite and how much of the potting mix are you mixing it into?

This message was edited Oct 28, 2008 9:04 AM

Ive been filling mine all the way to the top with mix, then I have been making a little trench down the middle or on the side, I then put the fertilizer and lime in and cover it with a little layer of mix and put the lid on. Im now going to go over and see if that is right, wrong, or somewhere inbetween.

GG, it is easiest for me to mix/moisten the potting mix and lime in a big bucket or a wheelbarrow first, then put it in the EB. That way all the lime is evenly distributed thoughout the soil. (However, once you fill a few EB's you'll get the hang of things and can mix it all together in the EB pretty easy, too.)

Joy, your cabbages will be very frost/freeze hardy once they are a bit bigger and hardened off. I don't know how big your new g-house is gonna be but for those plants you may not need to heat it, they handle cold very well (and actually taste better once they are hit with a cold spell). The eggplant is a heat lover, both the soil and the air temps really need to be warm/hot. Maybe they can make nice houseplants for you during the Winter, eh? If you choose to use the sodium lights remember those really suck up the electricity, $$. (I have a big light system I bought for my ghouse years ago and have never used it, still in the box, because of how much power I found out they draw.)

Stay warm! 'Twas a low of 34º here this morning. Brrr.
Shoe

gymgirl -- If you go up to the top of this thread I showed step by step set up including mixing the lime --it should help you?

ok, well, I dont know how they could do much better, but I need to start mixing the lime IN, not putting it with the fertilizer. Wow, Im looking forward to seeing the results.
My broccoli is doing fantastic, I actually think it like the mix the peppers were in, probably because now stuff is mixed in, well if any is left. I forget just how pretty those leaves are, nice to watch before the veggie appears.

Ok, Paw and Horseshoe!
I went back to the top of the thread for review. I'll incorporate both your suggestions and begin reserving the top 4-6 inches of potting mix in my wheelbarrow, and mixing the 2 cups of dolomite into it before I put this final layer into the EB. That should do the trick regarding mixing and even distribution! Thanks, eversomuch. I look forward to a MUCH more productive growing season in the Spring! Thanks for the loving correction!

Linda

gymgirl --- No! Perhaps the picture did not show it but do not mix into the top layer of mix but mix into the lower part lightly about 4" from the top and then add the final mix, wet it thoroughly after each step! Do not be afraid of adding water as it must settle the mix each time. It takes three times to add mix. First time wet mix in bucket and pack the corners where the water will be soaked up and add the leftover mix. Then add more mix up to the bottom four inches of the eb and that is when the dolomite is added. Mix it in lightly. Add more water. Add the rest of the mix and wet thoroughly. Don't be afraid to add water until it comes out the drain, but do wet thoroughly after each step except the final time when fertilizer strip is added. Slightly wet strip and cover and plant. After setting plant lightly water in the plant only once to settle the mix around the roots and that is the very last time you will water from the top except for nature taking over with rain.
Suggest you do all this where EB is to be permanently placed as it will be heavy to move unless on casters on concrete. Refill again to make sure resevoir is full as still more water will be absorbed into mix and always lightly pat down mix after each step to settle it otherwise you will end up with a hollow center that will hold water for excellent breeding area for mosquitoes.

This was where my former Eb garden was originally! I had to make some radical changes but it will work.

This is the new EB garden a little difference in design but never the less it still gets plenty of sunshine. Everything pertaining to the tomatos are now completed and sprayed with Ortho Garden Disease Control today. Taking no chances this season...

Also have Eggplants, Okra and peppers. Okra and peppers are not in this picture. Now all I do is wait!

If this thread is getting to long for some please hyperlink it ? Don't know how?

Done, here is the new link


http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/918376/

Rhonda: You are worse than me, when I go on vacation, like I did to England, I got lots of landscape pics too. Beautiful pics.
joy112854

Wind destruction!

All in all they are doing very well. some of my OSU tomatos split from the wind but it hasn't bothered them in the least.
Having difficulty posting pictures today? Will finish later.

This message was edited Dec 15, 2008 1:34 PM

I've decided to just let them sprawl.

Paw,
Can I grow roses in an EB? The reason I ask is because my brother-in-law brought over a deep red rose growing in his yard that had the most AMAZINGLY POWERFUL rose scent I have ever smelled in my life!! If it is possible, I want to dedicate at least one or two of my EBs to this beautiful fragrance.

Please LMK ASAP, 'cause I just read up on rose propagations in the rose forum, and now is a good time to take cuttings. Thanks!

Linda

TPlant: Lucky you the guy at UF told me that we couldn't grow blueberries here, (sniffles). My strawberries are doing great though, now that I have them outside. LOL I kept one EB and one GP for myself and gave one EB of strawberries to my sister. I used Jungle Grow in the silver/blue bag and used organic fertilizer and dolomite lime. I think they just missed direct sunlight. The strawberries in the EB look to be doing a bit better than the ones in the GP so far. Of course, our weather has warmed up again up here, isn't that crazy? My daffodils are all up now, hope they come up that well when they are supposed to come up.
Joy112854

Forgive me for being a bit off subject ladies as these questions should be asked on the appropiate threads or d-mail but I will make an exception.
Gymgirl -- Of course they can but only one rose to the EB as two would be to close as they grow and you do not want vines rubbing against each other. Better to be grown in ten gallon pots. The sweetest and most fragrant roses are Chrysler Imperial, a bush and Don Juan a climber as I have several of each.

Joy -- Central Fl and up is the blueberry capitol of Fl. You certainly can grow blueberries.

For further info d-mail me! That goes for both of you and I'll tell you how to get started. I'm growing blueberries in zone 10?

A cluster of OSU tomatos. I had to spray all my tomatos as I had an invasion of horned caterpillars after our cold snap thus the white powder on them. It won''t be long now but unfortuneately they took the most beating from the windstorms that have been prevailing up here as I placed them in a prime open space but they don't seem to mind.

Another bush.

All my plants are in good shape. Wish I was as good? LOL

As Carolyn does I'm just letting them sprawl. I'm not concerned about ground disease as they are on weed cloth and protected from weeds. If it works don't fix it!

is it ok to use 5 gal. buckets that had floor stripper in them ?

I would not!

even if they are cleaned and bleached well ??