My EB garden and more (part2)

gardenglory - Yes, Parks Bio Dome and sponges. They are the best ever. Sorry for the confusion. I swear by them for seed starting

BocaBob

Me too!!!!! Love them.

Thanks

Boca Bob: You will be sure to give us a heads up on this site to let us know when you have those things for sale right, I'm so excited here. I used to live in south Florida; but never thought all that was possible. Up here in this part of Florida, I got more space; but, it gets cold up here in the fall/winter, sniffles. I always got Spring and Summer to look forward to though right? I definately want to try out that coconut coir and those bags though, so let me know pretty please when you are set up to sell them?
joy112854

Boca Bob: I'd like to know a little more about these 5 gallon and lay down bags that are filled with coconut coir and how you care for them after planting something in them? They aren't self watering unless you can have a watering system with tubes right? So; if you have well water and cannot have the watering system they would be like regular pots and planters? The coconut coir inside of them doesn't need watering as much or do they? How do you know if you are overwatering or underwatering? Remember, I'm a beginner gardner here and those would be my concerns. With the EBs they pretty much take care of themselves, you just make sure the water reservior is kept full, with the topsy turvy's and baskets you water til you see the water drip out of the bottom and then you know you have watered enough; but what about the bags.
joy112854

Our garden is a brand new experience, BocaBob and not at all as extensive as yours. Bravo!! My husband and I only started these in the last six weeks. We were amazed at how fast the Pac Choy grew! We had 4 in a 5 gallon container. I'd like to know where you get coconut coir. Is this just a lining or do the plants grow directly in it? Wow, what a system you have there. Our boxes are plastic storage boxes from Walmart that my husband cleverly adapted with a water resevoir. So glad this thread got started and we can learn from each other.
Carolpen

I am absolutely amazed.
Bob,do you have a favorite of all of these?
Where to get the hydrostackers?

Yeah ... questions , questions , questions! ^_^

joy112854 - Yes they are Not self watering. If you want to self water them you need a simple irrigation system with 1/2 in "funny pipe" and 1/4 micro tubing and sprayers. Working out of a well should be possible I think if you could get the water to a barrel and pump it out to the bags with a timer attached to the pump. Same principle as from a garden facet. Maybe easier said then done though. The grow bags with coconut coir have drain holes and can't be over watered. I water and feed mine 3 times a day for 2 minutes each time. Maybe to much but it is working good. The coir holds water real well too, but drains all excess completely. I would water until some comes out the bottom like the Topsy. I'm growing mine like a greenhouse commericial grower does based on my research. I don't have a greenhouse and I'm not a commerical grower. Just liitle old me at my home. If you really want total no nonsense, EB's make it real simple. But the grow bags are cheap compared to EB"s.

BocaBob

carolpen - You grow everything in coconut coir just like potting mix. It has a consistency like potting mix but nicer. There is no local seller down here in the deep south so I have become one. Next week I'll be recieving a truck load of different coconut coir products and begin selling them on this site in the Marketplace. The pic is Pac Choy plants in a Hydrostacker.

Christmascactus - It is getting more diffucult to descide which growing system I like better. I am starting to favor the upright 5 gallon grow bags with coconut coir. The results are well , look at my tomato plants. The hydrostackers I was able to buy locally from a farmer who started a U-Pick strawberry farm. He has 25,000 stacker units. I talked him into selling me 5 units. On the web you can buy them from the inventor at http://www.hydrostacker.com/ I warn you, they are not cheap.

Bob

Boca Bob: That is what I found nice about the EBs and the baskets and topsy's, you can't really overwater them, so for beginners like myself that would be great, especially with the use of coconut coir. The topsy's have a tendency to be really heavy with the dirt, plant and water and sometimes the dirt will cake up, so, that wouldn't be a problem with the coconut coir, it'd be actually lighter and no problem with cake up, I'm presuming? The bags would be great, as I could just sit them down on the grass and expand them out right? Now I have the miracle grow sprayer that attatches to my hose that has the bottles of All Purpose Plant Food and bottles of Bloom Booster Flower Food. Would that be enough fertilizer for the bags or no? I do have the Miracle Grow Water Soluable Tomato Plant Food also, and watering cans available. I may just buy the Miracle-Gro Garden Feeder though on second thought.
joy112854
'

joy112854 - the coconut coir won't cake up. My 5 gallon bags are just sitting on the ground in a pretty row, but with a self watering set up. Your Miracle Grow set up would work just fine. It's recommended to water and feed daily.

BocaBob

Bob -- I believe the upright bags would suffice for me as I would not have to bend to far over as this can become very painful for my shoulders. As you know the EBs have a fill tube and require no bending but then again I have no knowledge of the product but can only imagine the savings on freight as they must be very light before watering. Roses would probably love the uprights also? You may be on to a real good growing system?
As you know here in So.Fl we are plagued with nemetodes that destroy the roots of most every beautiful plant except trees and green hedges. For proof just drive around and see if you can find anyone growing roses in-ground and if they have any their life span is two years...

This message was edited Oct 25, 2008 11:28 AM

TPlant: The long ones you could put on a table or deck if you wanted TPlant. I got a table in my back yard along with an old timey picnic bench. Keeps the EBs off the ground and I don't have to bend too much that way. I'm glad Boca Bob said he watered three times a day as I know I was watering everyday here and it's not near as hot as where he lives, so, that gives me a good heads up on about how much I will have to water here and the coconut coir will hold the moisture so I'll probably get much better tomatoes and veggies with it. I was thinking the long flat one would be great for watermelon, cantaloupe, pumpkin, cukes maybe? They are the viney ones and you could put the flat one anywheres almost right?
joy112854

If they have to be watered frequently then I'm afraid I would not be interested because of my health and could not give them a fair trial.

Bob -- If I may suggest they would be perfect for Flip as his soil is in poor condition and he is not disabled. Please do for him what you intended to do for me as I have enough to do with my health and shoulders and I'm certain you would like to give them a fair test? Thanks for your offer but I must decline!
Ted

Tplant -I'm only watering them 3 times a day (for 2 minutes each time) because my research showed the commericail greenhouse growers do it that way. I am watering some once a day with no difference in results, just a little more time soaking that way. If you must decline, ok, but its really not any more work than any pot you have now.

Bob

Bob -- If you can recall I am forced to eliminate most all my pots because of my constant attention and working my EBs is far less stressful. Flip would be perfect for them as he has one of my EBs that I gave him a few years ago and enjoys it but is now having nemetode problems in his soil and killing all his roots. Send him an d-mail? He would appreciate it. Again thanks for the offer but no can do at this time as I'm not supposed to be doing what I am at this time? But without my EBs I may as well "kick the bucket!"

Do you get your 5 gallon grow bags locally ?
Will you be selling them here at the marketplace?

christmascactus - I am getting a truck load shipped to me from up north from a importer. Yes, I will be selling three types of coconut coir products on the marketplace sometime this next week. Hope to see ya there.

BocaBob

It's 4:30 am, up for work, but had to pick a couple of cukes 1st. Two varieties of greenhouse types. I'll take them into work and show and tell.

BocaBob

P.S. Container grown in coconut coir !!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought your garden was amazing, knowing that it starts at 430 before WORK and is still looking like that, well its just inspiring.

Bocabob -- When you come down my way can you bring me a couple of those beautiful cukes as I love to slice them thin with a sweet onion and salad dressing an they sure look beautiful?

gardenglory -just not enough hours in a day!!!! Thanks


Tplant - It would be my pleasure to bring some cukes with me for you!!!!!!!!!!

BocaBob

christmascactus - I'm up and running in the marketplace in the supplies section

BocaBob

Boca Bob: Here is what I have in startings so far approx:
9 eggplants, 10 cauliflowers, 13 cabbages, 9 artichokes.
Now eggplants and artichokes you plant 2 per EB, how many per 5 gallon bags? How many lay flat bags for the cauliflower and cabbages?
joy112854

joy112854- One each in the 5 gallon bag and I say 3 in the lay flat bag

BocaBob

Here's some pics from today:

Mix and match- Earthbox, layflat grow bag, Bob's GT Planter, and 5 gal grow bags all with coconut coir growing mix in them.

Brocolli, Collards, Peppers, yellow squash, Eight Ball squash, Peas, eggplant

My tomato plants in 5 gallon grow bags are 10 feet tall

Lesley pepper plants

Lesley peppers

Greenhouse cucumbers from Holland traveling across the beam of my pool enclosure

Leaf lettuce in a Hydro-stacker

What kind of fertilizer are you using and where do you buy your fancy cucumber seed? I know you said the seed is expensive but with me I don't mind paying for quality and something different from the "run of the mill."

Tomato plants in my 5 gallon coconut coir grow bags with self watering and feeding lines running to each plant. They will be supported by the "Florida Weave" method

Is that a Sticky Trap that I see? (Yellow Tag) They work great for catching White Fly!

Both the fertilizer and the seeds come from a company in Colorodo. The fertilizer is a water soluble hydroponic all purpose one for any outdoor use. Its 10 -8-22 The seeds are about $1.00 each, but every one has germinated for me since I bought them last year. I can give you all the info if you want.

Bob

Sure is a sticky trap. I always use them

carrots in Bob's GT Planter. Boy they need thinning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

peppers and peas in lay flat grow bags

And finally a sampling of my toms