Here are pics taken yesterday:
Bush bean harvest yesterday
BocaBob's latest pics
Cos romaine growing inside under shop light
Another shot inside
A variety of growing systems Grow bags, flat grow bags, EarthBoxes, Bob's GTP
pepper plants in a EarthBox and 5 gal grow bags
Some peppers growing nice
European greenhouse cukes hanging above
Another view
variety of tomato plants now over 10 feet tall in 5 gallon grow bags
some toms
Some plum toms
Bib lettuce in Hydro-stackers
Chinese cabbage
Homestead toms in 5 agllon grow bags with coconut coir (Everything I'm growing is in coconut coir)
Cukes traveling across the screened enclosure support beam
One more shot of different growing systems.
Off to work
Bye
BocaBob
Well that does it on the grow bags. Im for sure getting some of those for the tomatoes. My homestead is the one I planted in the spring, it made fruit, took a rest and started up again in the fall.
Are those the cukes that pollinate themselves?
BocaBob: Would you mind showing some of those pics to Mike when you see him? I want him to see those pics of how well those grow bags and EBs are for growing veggies in. He'll love it. By the way, he has coconuts growing where he is.
joy112854
Beautiful pictures, Bob. Thanks so much for sharing.
Curious if you know how the coir reacts to freezing temps. Would you need to protect any more or less.
Good question. Someone up north needs to test gardenglory's question. Any volunteers?
BocaBob
I asked that because of the daylilies. It does freeze here, not for more than a night or two at a time, but it will be a small test at least. I bet its good to mix into the sandy soil even after its three year good growing life. Any organic matter is welcome, as you know.
It's a wonderful soil conditioner. Would help any kind of soil.
Boca Bob: I have some questions for you here:
1. On the lay flat bags where do you put the drain holes and how many? How many plants can you plant in them and how far apart do you space them?
2. On the 5 gallon bags, where do you put the drain holes and how many?
Do the bags have anything printed on them showing where to put the holes or do you figure it out on your own? I need to know this before using them. And you put the holes in and water it or the other way round?
joy112854
Hi joy112854
1st the 5 gallon bags come with drain holes in them. To hydrate the compressed coco coir, I put the bag with the coir(opened up) in it into a 5 gallon bucket and fill it with water 3/4 way to the top. When it looks like its soaked (I stick my hand in it and swirl it around alittle) then I grab the bag and pull it out of the bucket and let it completely drain. Then I fluff it alittle and its ready to plant.
The lay flat bag is completely sealed. I cut a small hole in the center and put the garden hose in it. Let the bag fill slowly all the way until alittle water leaks out the top. Let it hydrate 30 minutes. Then turn it over a cut 4- 2 inch slits along its length. Turn back over and let drain. There is nothing printed on either bag with instructions or suggerstions. in the lay flat bag I have planted 3 tomatoes, in another 4 pepper plants, in another 10 bean seeds. That will give you a good idea what you can plant in them.
More questions, anytime
BocaBob
Bob: Now you don't add any fertilizer to these bags right? Just use the Miracle Grow Tomato and Plant Food when you water once a week, then water with water every day right?
joy112854
joy112854 - you need to hang on for a moment because it may be my fertilizer (which contains calcium) that is the reason you don't need dolomite lime in the coco coir. It seems that Miracle Gro does not have calcium in it (I bought a box and the ingredients does not say calcium) (mine does 5%), so hang on with that question until we get some answers.
BocaBob
It wouldn't hurt to add a half cup of dolomite as it doesn't burn the roots.
TPlant and Boca Bob: I will let the two of you figure that out and let me know ok? I will be going to south Florida in December on or around the 8th for just a day or two, long enough to get the grow bags going and to plant the smuggled eggplants, artichokes, cabbages and cauliflower in them. I'm probably going to be bringing about 42 plants to plant in the bags, once planted, Mike will have to plant sit until March. LOL He doesn't mind; but, wasn't happy with the choice I made. He wants tomatoes and peppers and corn, I know already. But he has a nemotoad problem also which I've been reading up on how to solve that problem, I think, EBS and grow bags are the solution for now, as the plants won't be in the ground right? I will then take him some tomato, pepper and corn startings down in March and swap out for my artichoke plants. I will drive down in March, as I will need to buy some of those coconut coir blocks for my EBs and topsy turvys then; and can haul them back up here in the car . So; if we can have this all worked out before December 4th? Please? I'm going to plant about half my EBs with coconut coir and half with the Jungle Grow and see what happens; although, I think that where I'm using my self-watering container mixes for the turvys, I will use coconut coir on half of those too and see what happens there and make notes for everyone.
joy112854
Here are a couple of beauties I took this morning after some gardening work:
hydrated one of my 39" layflat bags with water.
Started the Florida Weave (type of tomato support) today. It may not be perfect, but it will work
Here I set up some 5 gallon grow bags with tomatoes in coco coir and self watering system. In front I put that layflat bag I just hydrated with dripper stakes for watering.
here's a different angle
My Chinese cabbage is really taking off
My bibb lettuce is ready for picking
My greenhouse cukes from Holland are going crazy
this one is for you Tplant - I took a chance and started my toms a month early and here's the first one turning already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yellow crookneck squash flowering
My beets are loving the cooler weather.
Boca Bob: After the lay flat bag is hydrated you then roll it over and plant the veggies on the other side right? So; the holes you made at first on the one side (3 of them I see), will be the drain holes? Please bear with me on this as I want to get this right.
I was reading in this garden book where plants need calcium, magnesium and sulfur. Lime raises the pH of acid soil whereas sulfur lowers the pH of alkaline soil; so I take it that tomatoes need acid soil right? gypsum help dissolve salts that build up and hinder plant growth and adds calcium.
Here are some tonics that are listed to help:
All Season Green-Up Tonic:
1 can beer
1 c ammonia
1/2 c liquid dish soap
1/2 c liquid lawn food
1/2 c molasses or clear corn syrup
Mix all in a large bucket, pour into a 20 gal hose end sprayer, saturate lawn, trees, flowers and veggies every 3 weeks throughout the growing season
Compost tea:
1 1/2 gal fresh compost
4 1/2 gal warm water
Pour water into 5 gal bucket, scoop compost onto cotton, burlap or panty-hose sack, tie it closed, put it into the water. Cover the bucket and let steep for 3-7 days. Pour the solution into a watering can or misting bottle, and give the plants a good spritzing every 2-3 weeks.
I'm curious here now. If I use the above along with the fertilizer, gypsom and lime can I really go wrong?
joy112854