Tplant - have you expanded your watering system yet? If so, how has the water pressure been?
BocaBob
Will Be Setting - up My EBs Soon AS Weather Allows? Part II
Fine so far! I extended them to my roses along the fence and they are getting water although I did take off the pressure reduction valve.
I figured you might have needed to do that.
I guess I am a little confused here. Tplant's statement, " I know that BocaBob's watering system had a lot to do with it as the weather was abnormally hot for the past two weeks." has me wondering what the water reservoir on the Eb is for and how it works or is supposed to work? Is it a wicking system?
Yes it is but you still have to add water as tomato plants drink up about a gallon a day in hot, dry
weather as we just had. This is another reason for the fast growth as the roots do not have to waste their precious energy sending their roots down deeper and deeper into the soil searching for the dampness in limited supply as water in the ground just continues to flow down deeper and deeper and of course the roots can not move down as fast as the water? As a result a lot of water is wasted with in-ground planting but not in EBs as the plant takes what it needs when it needs it and does not waste energy sending the roots down but instead devotes the energy to growth and production.
"Oh those are just beautiful. I'm too scared to try greens, don't you have to be a good gardener for those? I still got a long way to go before I can do that."
Joy112854,
The beauty of growing in the Earthboxes is that ANYONE can be a good gardener! I don't have any special growing skills or years of experience. This is my very FIRST TIME growing these greens and everything else you see. I just do what the DG gardeners advise and work with their wisdom and know-how, and my potting mix, sunshine, water, and labor! God does the rest!
P.S. I STILL need someone to tell me WHEN and HOW to start eating off the collards and mustards. I read that they could grow almost all winter if I harvest the outter leaves and don't cut down the whole plant. Please LMK asap, as those leaves are pretty healthy now. Don't wanna wait for the buggies to start getting them.
P.S.S. Paw, do I spray them with everything all at once (Ortho BB Gone, Ortho Garden Diseason Control, Malathion, and Dipel?/Bug Dust), or stagger the bug sprays and powder?
Tplant, what you say is pretty much what I was thinking, but I wasn't sure.
There is a system for growing African Violets in a growing medium (not soil) of Perlite, potting mix, and Vermiculite referred to as wicking. Watering is never done from the top, but rather from a reservoir via a wick (braided nylon or poly string), thus allowing the plant to take up only what it needs.
To address the situation you describe, a wick from the reservoir could be run up near each plant in the EB. The wick must always be below the surface, else exposer to air will quickly drain the reservoir dry. However, there would still be the need for a drip system when you are away.
The wicking method could be an option for those of us who can depend on family or friendly neighbors to tend our gardens while we need to be away.
Gymgirl --- Jeeeez! I hope you don't use all of those that you mentioned as you only need one or two depending on the season and being cool in your area at this time of year you should not be bothered with anything especially insects as the weather is cool. Isn't it? If at all the Ortho Garden Disease should do for now! Follow label instructions to the letter or you will poison yourself with all that insecticide>>>
Texasgarden -- A wick is not needed with an EB as long as you follow the set-up instructions. www.earthbox.com as the mix when packed in the corners as instructed acts as a natural wick and the mix is packed wet and never just poured into the EB. Check out the website especially the setup instructions and plants that can be grown and how many in each EB. You can grow far more plus more production in less space without back breaking work. I know as I am disabled!
This message was edited Nov 17, 2008 10:27 AM
You folks are really progressing right along with some great gardens! Sure am glad to see all the progress pics!
G-girl, regarding picking your collards and mustard, looks to me like you can pull a few outer leaves off each of those plants. And yes, pick the outer leaves (a decent mess of collards will take about 5-7 large leaves). The mustard (looks like "(India mustard" a.k.a "Fla Broadleaf") will cook down more than the collards but you can actually mix some leaves in with your collards for a nice tasty blend. (I've been cooking my greens lately with a smoked turkey leg thrown in! Yummy!)
As for sowing your beets, turnips, carrots, etc, soak your beet seeds overnite (start them out in warm water) then sow them about 1 inch apart in your row. Turnip seed can be sowed in single rows or wide rows, just scatter them and lightly cover no more than 1/8-1/4 inch. Same for carrots. (You won't need your trellis for any of those plants though.)
As for spraying, I wouldn't spray anything unless you see bugs.
texasrockgarden, yep the wicking system works great. With an EB though the soil in the box is the "wick" so no need for a rope or cloth wick.
Tplant, methinks you're gonna have one of the best gardens you've had in a long time this year!
Shoe
Edited cus me and Tplant were posting at the same time.
This message was edited Nov 17, 2008 10:42 AM
TPlant: I only used Sevin last Spring/Summer and my tomatoes and peppers didn't make it. So, this year I bought Dipel Dust, it has BT in it, (for the horned catipillars, it is supposed to work well); but, I hate working with dust and from what I've read you have to be real careful to just get the leaves and not the blooms, as it could kill off the bees that pollinate the blooms. I also read it is best to apply it in the evening, not during the daytime, and reapply when the rain washes it away. I will still use Sevin; but, in the spray, wish Dipel came that way; but it doesn't. Hopefully; the Sevin and Dipel will be enough? If not, I do have Fertilome Triple Action Plus which I can mix in a sprayer and let loose with it. I think my worst pests will be aphids and catepillars; so the Sevin and Dipel should take care of all those. I will have to use some kind of oil on my corn silks though.
Gymgirl: Wow, your plants are so beautiful though, and for your first time that is really fantastic. I'm growing okra again this Spring, it did really well last Spring (grew to over 7 ft tall), of course, my neighbor says okra does well in the ground here (frown).
joy112854
joy112854, Dipel (Bt) doesn't have an affect on bees, only soft-bodied worms. I think you might be confusing Bt with Sevin as it does kill off the bees and other beneficial bugs; it is also recommended to apply it in the evening (when the bees go home).
As for a liquid form of Bt the brand name is Thuricide, exact same product as Dipel.
HOpe this helps.
Shoe
Hey Paw:
Nope, I haven't sprayed a thing. No buggies except little tiny flies buzzing around my mustard leaves. I've been checking the undersides of the leaves for eggs and, so far, so good. I would appreciate if someone who has whitefly eggs on some leaves wouldn't mind posting a pic so I'll know what to look for.
I just needed to catch your attention and get an answer. Guess it worked! I'm not about to poison myself. I love greens too much, and "I WANT TO LIVE" (Famous last line by Ms. Susan Hayworth, in a movie where she killed somebody and was heading to the gas chamber...any trivia buffs out there can fill in the rest of the details and the movie title)
Horseshoe:
Thanks for the reply. Will be soaking some beet seeds tonight and planting tomorrow.
Joy112854:
See the beauty of the DG system? People like Paw and Shoe and dmj1218 make it worthwhile to be here. And then us Newbies learn and begin to share with the uberNewbies (the true, baby Newbies)!
Hugs!
Linda
Gymgirl -- When you see little flies probably, whiteflies, now is the time to use your Ortho Bug-B-Gone. As for the eggs they probably have already laid them and depending on your eyesight you will probably need a magnifying glass to look on the underside of the leaf as they are extremely tiny white dots that most people would not notice. But the fly tells it all! They also carry the leaf miners plus virus's. Get busy girl!! Buy some sticky traps and put up a couple in your garden and they will be the first to tell you that you may have a problem when the trap catches them. They are available from many suppliers including Park Seeds but google for the best deal.
Tplant, Now I understand why a drip systems helps the EB and thanks for the EB website. Sounds like you have your system down and from the looks of your crop you're good to go, man.
About growing mustard and greens grown in dirt, I plant thick as hair on a dog's back. Before thinning out the plants, I wait until they are tall enough, 6-8", so, I can use the thinnings for a meal. As the remaining plants continue to mature and become more crowded, I thin again eating the thinnings. Once the plants have enough space between them so as not to harbor groves of insects, I harvest the outermost leaves.
After thinning the plants each time, I pull dirt up around the remaining plants and give them a good watering and maybe a little side dressing of 13-13-13.
I don't know if this will work in EBs or not. Maybe some of you more EB experienced guys can chime in here.
Texasrockgarden,
Hey, talk about an efficient system! That's a great way to keep food on the table! How long will your greens hold out during the winter months before they begin to die, out or go to seed, or do whatever it is they start to do other than become a meal? Also, do you save any seeds? if so, how do you save the seeds for future crops? How do you preserve (freeze, can, etc.) your greens for future use? Blanch or Parboil and then package them away? Finally, everywhere I've been reading says to rotate the crops out of the same location to avoid pests and disease. Do you move your planting locations each growing season? Thanks!
Sorry for so many questions!!!
texasgarden -- 13-13-13 would be excellent for EBs except for corn which need s 15-30-15 as they are gluttons.
Gymgirl -- I was under the impression that you grew everything in EBs? Are you also a dirt farmer?
Gymgirl, Spring plantings of mustard will bolt when it gets hot and fall/winter plantings will usually start to go after the first frost/freeze. Collards and broccoli greens are a little more tolerant than mustard is to cold weather. Some say a frost will sweeten collards. I don't know since I am more of a mustard green person.
Florida broad leaf mustard has always been my favorite and I always save seeds from the strongest plant. The curly leaf mustard will attract grit and sand, thus, requiring more washings - just more work.
The only way I ever froze mustard was to cook it and then freeze it in pint freezer containers. This thread is making me hungry. I can smell the greens cooking with a little bacon grease and fried bacon and corn bread on the side - sometimes jalapeño cornbread. Can you smell it?
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I can!!!! Yummy--
I was starting to work out there today to setup my second irrigation system but had to quit as the temp really started to drop and the wind picked up and for my condition that is a no no. Got a late start today cause I had to run some errands. Bought the largest plastic container that Lowes had to mix the last of my coir but the container would not hold water and it took forever to break down the coir.
TIPTO ALL USING COIR -- For re-hydrating (if you don't have a large tub or wheel barrow) buy the small plastic fish pond at Lowes for about the same price and it works beautifully. IT is black and round and holds about twenty gallons of water. Although only five gallons is required to do the job it really blows almost to the top. It is pretty neat to watch and even better to work with. They gave me a credit on the original container.
This message was edited Nov 17, 2008 3:09 PM
A little off the subject, but still in the same area. Im smelling it too!!! Reminds me to report, in case there are any other cowpea people out there. I grew red rippers in an EB this year. Im sure some of it was the pea, they are prolific, but most the EB. You can actually get enough from one picking to shell and make a meal. Im addinging some butterbeans next year. Wont they be good with some of those greens and cornbread?????????????????????????????? yum
Those peas produced for five solid months. Actually still are, I need to pull, they have made their way up in the Don Juan
Makes for a great color combination. I planted two Dons in coir yesterday. A little more off subject !
This is another tub that works great for the 12lb block of coco coir. It is a plastic cement tub I bought at HD last year for $5.00. Just drop the block in and fill up with water, and poof 75 liters of yummy coco coir.
BocaBob
There you go! Always good info on DG..
Paw,
I'm an EB girl! I do have a few things planted in some 18" and 24" planters (Sam's Clubs). The only "dirt" I have to plant in is the little bean trellis bed. Is there ever a need to "rotate" crops grown in the EBs?
Texasrockgarden: Thanks, again. You're makin' me hungry! I usually do frozen collards, mustards, turnips and spinach with ham hocks, onion and bell pepper, cooked overnight in the slow cooker. If I don't reserve some ahead of time, the most I'm able to get when I take the dish somewhere is maybe some pot "likker" and definitely all the hamhock bones!
LONG LIVE JALAPENO CORNBREAD FOREVER!
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=5795849
Only when you plant corn and the mix gets to be three or more years old. You can tell as it loses its consistency.
Thanks, Paw!
TPlant: I left a few brochures at Mike's house in south Florida and then had Boca Bob drop off the coconut coir bags at his house, so I can transplant my plants at Mikes. Guess what? Mike is now looking seriously at the EBs and the coconut coir, I think my addiction might be catching. Of course, he is like you, he loves tomatoes. LOL What have I done, my oh my.
joy112854
AWWW! You mean you've been here already and gone? I wanted to say Hello!
TPlant: No, not yet; I've just been raving about the EBs and my expectation of growing in them, I had written him a letter and sent a brochure to him and he has read it, we talk on the phone all the time, and he knows I love gardening, his place is really beautiful; but he has a problem with nematoids and can't plant his favorite (tomatoes) in the ground, so this is the solution to that problem.
After receiving all the grow bags from Boca Bob, he was mentioning to me that he thinks it would be the perfect medium for the EBs. I got into the self-watering containers because I have never gardened before this past Spring; so, it made it really easy for me, he has gardened all his life in Tennessee, but sees how with EBs you don't have to weed, and it eliminates any diseases you would get from the soil, like nematoids.
I'm just smuggling plants (artichokes, cabbages and cauliflower), to him in December and to visit my orthopedic specialist and right home again. Next winter though, I'm coming down for the winters. You'll probably get tired of me then. LOL He was talking about the EB over the GP because of the wheels you can put on the bottom and make it moveable. I am probably going to drop off the tomato seeds also, as he was disappointed that I wasn't bring any of those plants with me. I have a package of Park's Tomato Whopper Crop Improved Hybrid, which is resistant to root knot nematodes; but doubt they will be grown in the ground anyways, he can replace the artichokes with the tomatoes this March. He doesn't care for artichokes, just gonna plant sit them for me. LOL They are all getting huge now that I have taken your advice and watered from the bottom of the pellet.
joy112854
OK, I'll stop by with Boca Bob when your in town. Tell your boyfriend to spray weed killer on the ground and then use weed cloth with garden staples as I do as it is impossible to mow around them when they are on the ground as the grass grows rapidly from the water overflow around the EBs. Also set the fill tube on the same side of the overflow so it is easier to see when the EB is full. I use one of those long handled watering wands with the the many nozzle adjustments on it for various uses.
Boy! Wish I had someone around to tell me all these tips when I first started as it would have saved me a lot of work.
Also, those old white vacuum cleaner hoses, the hard plastic kind, fit nicely into the fill tube to extend the length. When those plants start growing up and hiding the black EB fill tube, the white plastic extensions sure make it easier to find and water them!
My DH taught me that trick! Check out your local resale shop or vacuum cleaner repair shop. They'll probably just give 'em to you these days since folks now use the flexible tubes...
Will let him know, I think he is going to put them on the patio, from what he was telling me, and he said he could roll them back and forth depending on the weather. He was really impressed with the coconut coir for a growing medium. I bought my ticket and will be coming into Fort Lauderdale really late on the 3rd; but will have to run see my ortho doctor the next morning, then will have to leave on the 4th. I will have much more time when I drive down in March to visit and have some fun, I will be bringing Mike some EBs and other stuff too, as I will be in my car and take more with me. I have to hurry back up here because of Christmas. It will be fun to start having my Thanksgivings and Christmases in Fort Lauderdale again though, and have that planned for next year. I will be able to grow all the time then. I'll bring my turkey frier with me next year and we'll have fried turkey, never had one before; but got the fryer and it's never been used yet. I'll feel like a spoiled little brat with you two and Mike around to learn from. LOL I'm really looking forward to it. I imagine my car will be full of EBs when I show up at his house for the winter, wouldn't think of leaving them behind. Just haven't figured out if I'll leave in October or Novemeber next year yet. We have talked about eventually addressing the nematoid problem but think it's safe to plant in Bob's grow bags and in EBs for now. We have about 20 grow bags and 11 EBs so far.
joy112854
Nemotodes will not bother gro bags or EBs even if they are on the ground so you need not worry about them. For best results everything will live almost indefinetly in large containers such as roses which reminds me, mine are just starting to bloom and I'll be posting them on the Rose Thread maybe tomorrow. They are so beautiful!! Next year, when we meet, I'll bring you a bouquet of the most fragrant red roses ever!!! I'm not just known for my veggies??
Ted
Just received my 150 onion plants from Brown's Omaha Plant Farm . I bought the short day Hybrid Yelow Granex. This is the same variety that in Georgia they call Vidalia. The quality of the plants is outstanding. They are available up to late April, specifically for southern growers.
Got to get planting before dark, all are going in 5 gallon grow bags with coco coir.
BocaBob
how many per bag, 150 is alot of plants
Each bunch is 75. 2 bunches are $12.75 shipping incl. These are not bulb sets, these are small slender living plants ready to grow from day one. I am really impressed.
How many do you put in each grow bag?
I love vidalia onions. I will be following you guys this winter, since I can't plant much here this time of year.
TPlant: I'll bet you keep the ladies around you very happy, with roses! LOL I grow canna lilies as they are easy to take care of, I'd be afraid to see what would happen to some roses, if I tried to grow them. Oh, I did plant 80 daffodil bulbs too. My daffodils are all in pots and planters, but my cannas are in the ground.
joy112854
gardenglory- I planted 4 in some and 5 in some to see how they will do.
BocaBob
Horseshoe: Thanks for giving me the name of the liquid BT, I already bought the Dipel dust; but, don't really like working with dust, would rather work with the sprays instead. I did pick up a spray container of Sevin and a container of Triple Action Plus by Fertilome. The sevin worked pretty well on all bugs last Spring and summer except the worms, that is why I bought the Dipel dust, the horned catepillar destroyed all my tomatoes and peppers. Everyone is the area seems to sing praises about the Sevin and Dipel dust. I understand though that some people don't like it though. So; when I use it up, I was thinking about using the Fertilome Triple Action plus instead of it.
joy112854
Some questions: What brand 13-13-13 is everyone using here? Where can you get it? This Spring and summer I will use up what fertilizer I have left and then maybe buy some more; I think I have enough for one planting season though. I have a 4 lb box of Schultz's 10-12-12 and that will probably get my EBs and topsy turvys; not to mention that with the square footers I bought the fertilizer that Garden Supply uses for their tomatoes. I also have Miracle Gro Tomato and Plant food for my topsys as they need fertilized with a liquid fertilizer also.
TPlant: My friend Dail accused me of agricultural farming on a small scale, I will have to show him pics of your tomatoes, that should calm him down I think. LOL How many EBs do you have and how many flat bags and 5 gallon bags?
I'm afraid to try greens, the Sheriff grows greens, his family goes to my church, and he was checking out all the daffodil plants I have on my deck, asked me if I was going to sell any, I said no; but will probably take his wife some. I will be doing good to grow carrots I think. I got some of the sweetness 2 carrots from Parks.
joy112854
joy112854