Some Early Feb Pics

The cabbage is almost ready for pickin, the head is 9 inches across. Planted in a 5 gallon grow bag with coconut coir

Picked up a Meyer Lemon Tree yesterday and planted it in a 30 gallon nursery tub in coconut coir

Just picked strawberries

Another batch of toms, planted in a 5 gallon grow bag

Starting to ripen

Romaine ready to pick

Herb garden in a Hydro-Stacker: Basil, cilantro, oregano

Bush beans: 6 plants in a 5 gallon grow bag in coconut coir

Buttercrunch lettuce ready to pick

Ichiban Eggplant ready to pick

This message was edited Feb 3, 2009 4:50 PM

Detroit Beets in a 30 gallon tub in coconut coir

A 5 day old European Cuke seedling in a 5 gallon grow bag with feeding/watering spray turret in coconut coir

Some Big Beef seedlings, some peppers, and some chineese cabbage in a seed starting tray

Bob: These veggies all look so delicious. I noticed the tomato cage you used with the tomatoes looks like the ones I picked up recently for mine. They look like they will work well with the 5 gallon bags and are very reasonable at Lowes.
joy112854

These pics are a great testamonial to the benefits of coir. They are healthy, clean and yummy looking. I can't wait to grow in that stuff.

These pics are a great testamonial to the benefits of coir. They are healthy, clean and yummy looking. I'm sure their healthy diet of nutrients are responsible. That is a great combination. I can't wait to grow in that stuff.

???

Its not the coir.....well it is the coir partly, but its got to be the lights or some sort of fertilizer too. I have some in coir and they are not fat and happy like that at such a short stage.

Coir. Fertilizer. Both may come into play but I reckon another ingredient is also responsible, Bob himself, eh? Good going, Farmer Bob! Lookin' good!

Shoe
(PS, that eggplant is "Ichiban". You may want to correct the spelling cus some folks are gonna be wanting to grow it, too!)

BBob - very nice pics of some great looking veggies!
Flip

Shoe - corrected the spelling, thanks buddy and thanks for sticking up for me.

Flip - I always enjoy a compliment from you, you vegetable guru.

Gardenglory - I will admit it is the "system" that works so well. Coconut coir, lots of sun, great fertilizer, close to the light seedlings, and a goof ball that talks to his plants at 4:00 in the morning.

BocaBob

"Bush beans: 6 plants in a 5 gallon grow bag in coconut coir"

Well, if you can do that, I'll give it a try, too! I wasn't going to try bush beans again this year, but you've inspired me. Maybe I can beat the spider mites this time! They look absolutely great! And I had no idea I could put 6 plants in one bag, that's great to know!

Here's that cabbge from a pic above, just picked. Corned Beef and cabbage tonight !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BocaBob

You can plant six bush beans in a five gal gro bag??? If that's the case we are going to have plenty of Festiva bush beans this season.

Here's proof

Bob, do you think I could also put 6 vining/pole type bean plants in one bag? I'm going to be growing the Thai Yard Long Beans again this year. You can plant them really close together in the ground, about 4 to 6 inches apart. Even 4 plants in the bag would be great, it doesn't take too many or you're overwhelmed with 38 inch long beans.

Absolutely

Just one more question, do you have to use innoculant for ALL beans or just certain ones?

I didn't use anything on my Thai beans last year, but am wondering if they'd have been more productive if I had done it. They're like monster long green beans but without that green bean taste, in case you haven't tried them. We use them for stirfry and in soups.

I think you should use them on all beans.

Jerry, everything I've read about growing beans calls for the use of inoculant for higher yields. It contains millions of live bacteria that are essential in the nitrogen fixating process of garden legume plants. These bacteria, when properly placed in the root zone area of the soil, will actively convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for the plant. Therefore, enabling the plant to produce its own organic source of nitrogen, leading to more lush vine growth and ultimately greater yields. (that came right off the label). All I know is it doubles your yield if you use it.

BocaBob

Got it! Guess I'd better plan on getting some of that inoculate.

Thanks,

Jerry

Here's an old thread about it, Jerry. Looks like it's available at Lowe's or Home Depot (maybe). Might save some shipping checking there first.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/821349/

That cabbage is a beauty. Between the bugs and me, I have never come close to growing a cabbage that looks like that,

Most seed companies sell it.

Gardenglory, thanks for the compliment. It was delicious by the way

BocaBob

Bob did you use some sort of blanching with the cabbage? I'd does it make that big a difference in taste? Does it matter about technique as long as you get the main head covered with the leaves?

I use a "bean" booster in mine that I planted this weekend, on both the peas and beans. I hadn't a clue but the DH knew about it...lol I guess that long ago degree in Ag Engineering paid off...now if we could only figure out a way to milk the masters....

Also on that hydro stacker...how do you like it? I'd really like something that takes up less space for my herbs and that looks like a winner. Although they say self watering herbs don't taste as good because they lack stress. Is it possible to hand water that and not auto?

Im also using a pea and bean inoculant for the first time this year. It sounds nasty, makes nodes on the roots for them to take in more nitrogen. All I can think of is nematodes. Im figuring it must work???

araness,

I did absolutely nothing. Didn't tie up the leaves or blanch them. I think the reason why it was so tender and good was because it was fresh picked and cooked right away. You know if you do that with sweet corn, the taste difference is amazing (before the sugar turns to starch). I only tie up cauliflower (leaves around the head)

Bob

I am keeping my fingers crossed that our corn turns out. It will be our fist year and I can't wait. LOL if it's something that works for me I can see the DH ordering tons more EB's as he loves fresh corn.

Corn is delicious fresh from the garden and they do love the EBs plus 15-30-15 fertilizer plus dolomite.