Pugzley: It's too early for them here too. I noticed that Bob's veggies always look so healthy and none are scarred at all and I wonder if perhaps the stuff he uses for pest control could be some of the answer to that also.
Bob: What all products do you use on your veggies in controling bugs?
joy
Some Early Feb Pics
Joy, Bob uses the Stylet oil only on all his stuff. He sells it in his store ;~) Linda (Pugz) bought it from him.
This message was edited Feb 12, 2009 10:40 PM
Karen: Thanks sweetie, I was wondering as his veggies look like he hasn't had a trouble in the world with them. Terminex came out and sprayed outside, and it seems like they stirred up the bugs instead of killing them I'm covered with bites.
Pugzley: Do spider mites bite humans? I wonder if that is what is eating me now. LOL But, then again I dusted too, and I hear dust mites can bite also.
joy
Hi Joy, no the spider mites don't bite humans, they like to thrive when it's hot and dry. They do not like humidity or cool weather, but even so, when I sprayed my plants a zillion times a day to get rid of those monsters, it seemed like no matter what I did they just kept on multiplying. I hate those things!
I can't stop spending money it seems like. I just ordered some clamshell lime (hope this is basically the same as dolomite lime, it's to sweeten the soil, some Earth Juice Microblast for micronutrients and some... get this: Superthrive Vitamins and Hormones for the plants. I'll probably have obese plants if I don't stop this soon. LOL! Got all that stuff at Planet Natural.
Ok, once I get my watering system from Boca Bob, that is the end of my spending sprees!
Oh, and I got my seeds today. Lotsa lettuces, bok choys, radishes and other stuff I can plant now.
Oh, and I got bean/pea inoculant off ebay tonight too.
I don't need a whole lot so some guy had little packs for sale and I got one, that's some kind of bacteria that fixes the nitrogen in the soil, since I'm growing in grow bags, I think I'm going to need that to try and get a bumper crop.
They use this on peanuts, too.
Pugzley: Now, I'm gonna have to save up and get some of that stylet too. If nothing else, it'll do great on my canna lilies I'm sure. I'm probably going to hand water everything til later this summer when I have some cash to burn. LOL Besides I like talking to my plants now. My cukes are looking so huge already, the leaves are so bright and green and my tomatoes are still standing straight up and their stems are starting to get thicker.
joy
joy112854
Test:
Which one is the funny looking one?
lol very fertility goddess looking..it's a sign Bob that you are going to have a fruitful harvest...
BocaBob -- What variety are they?
Linda I should have recommended Superthrive Vitamins and Hormones to you a long time ago. When they say 1/4 tsp per gallon, that is all you need. Superthrive can be used to "revive" plants, but it's main use to me and many is to "water in" newly transplanted seedlings OR large plants to help them thrive through transplant without shock. It works wonderful, and is well worth being a little costly. You can buy it at Lowe's or Walmart too. It is actually just a B (12? 1?) liquid vitamin like human's use. Like getting a B12 shot for reviving like my Mama used to get when she was feeling "peaked" (At this point you have to throw your hand up to your forehead and say it like a proper Southern woman, PEEEEEEK-ID, LOL!) When you open the bottle you will see it smells exactly like strong vitamin B. Great stuff, I can't recommend it highly enough for transplanting anything.
This message was edited Feb 13, 2009 8:06 AM
Karen: What is it called and how do you use it?
joy
Joy, it is called Superthrive. Here is a picture of the bottle. It is easy to find almost anywhere they carry garden supplies, on the fertilizer isle. Here is a link to the Superthrive website with the label blown up so you can read it. It reads like a gimmicky carnival ad, but it really does what it says.
http://www.superthrive.com/gallon.html
Yes, I was already getting ready to say peekid! I was wondering if you'd lost your southern sensibility there for a moment. :)
I thought carnival ad, too, so that's why I had to order SUPERthrive.
Maybe I'll just put a shot of that in my coffee in the mornings. Lord knows, I can use all the help I can get when I first wake up.
Bob, that is one strange looking strawberry. Are you going to eat it? I always eat the morphs when they show up. I keep hoping one of them might contain the fountain of youth.
No, the grandbaby gets that one.
Guess what!!!!! I just got another EB kit from a co-worker as a Valentine's gift! Here're the particulars, 'cause it was nobody but God who made this happen this way:
Our company has an annual Mardi Gras fundraiser and a silent auction is part of the event. There was a tremendous "Gardener's" package that one of the Units had put together. It included the EB kit; one of those gardening wagons with the handle that converts to a bench seat and has the storage tray under the wagon bed; 4 liive geranium plants; a collection of gardening books; a gardeners toolbelt w/tools; a garden rake; a huge ceramic pot of ivy with a beautiful 5' wrought iron trellis in it; several bottles of various garden fertilizers and plant food.
The starting bid was $75 and I started it off. I figured $35 for the EB easy, and the wagon alone cost about another 35, so I was getting a steal. I was prepared to go as high as $250 on the package (I did say FUNDRAISER).
Well, this co-worker was trying to outbid me for his mom's Valentine's present. I assured him he was NOT going to outbid me. Well, then I started considering where and with whom I live, and decided I really only needed to bring home the EB. So, I struck a deal with my co-worker that I'd pay him the price of the EB + the original shipping cost ($35) so he could add that to his bidding budget. He too, was prepared to go as high as $250.
Well, the event was totally disorganized timewise for some strange reason, and the cutoff time for the silent auction was supposed to be 7:30. The last bids on each sheet at that time would be declared the winner. We both were watching the clock and the sheets.
Well, I stepped away for a minute and so did he, and when we both returned they had collected ALL the bid sheets and the auction was over. His final bid was $210. We had no clue as to who might have come back and outbid him, cause we didn't see the sheets.
This morning he sent a Valentine's email to several of us, and I replied with how sorry I was that he didn't get the package, especially knowing he was trying for his mom. Well, about an hour later another co-worker came an announced there was a Special Valentine's Delivery for me. I thought it was my DH! Imagine my surprise when this co-work came through the door wheeling in the EB AND the four geraniums (I told him I'd like those, too).
And, the best part is that he would NOT let me pay for the EB!
This guy goes above and beyond in his service and kindness to others. I was told that, after hurricane Katrina, he was responsible for helping to set up the triage unit at the convention center. Well, not only did he do his job, but he ended up taking a group of young boys on several fun trips to Astoworld, the movies, for pizza, etc., to help keep them occupied -- all on his dime!
He's a great guy, and I thank God for his giving example. He made my day and has touched my heart this Valentine's Day!
I promised him that he'd get all that I grow from that particular EB in return. (Of course he turned me down) -- but he has NO CLUE!
Linda
Linda: That is a great testimony of sharing to hear in todays world for sure. Fantastic guy and one who has a heart for others. I'm so happy for you.
Bob: In post number 6082058 of this thread, how old are those tomato plants? I'm curious to know because I planted my seeds on the 25th of January and then put them under the lights on February 1st, they are almost that same size now. Are they supposed to be? Remember I have never done this before? Their stems are sticking straight up and they are forming their second set of leaves it looks like. I was hoping to keep them under the lights until around the 5th of March anyways, is that okay? They are a good 4-6 inches big already. And before anyone asks I don't have a camera right not and can't show pics and am hoping a description is enough???? I'm sorry about that.
joy
Joy - I think 3 to 4 weeks
bob: Good mine are that old too so I'm where I should be. I was thinking that I should transplant them when they get a tad bigger into red solo cups, and burying them up to the stem when I do that using coconut coir in the red solo cups and then placing them under the light? What do you think?
joy
Perfect
Bob: Thanks. I will buy some solo cups tomorrow at Walmarts and then do that in a few more days I think.
joy
Joy dear, why red cups? Is red better for the plants? cause I only have blue.
Tomatoes love the color red I heard, so that is why I'm gonna try and find the red ones.
Now after I get the cups, I put little holes in the bottom with a nail and then fill it up a bit with coconut coir, add the starter plant basket and all an bury the stem up to the first set of leaves with coconut coir and then place the cups in about how much water in a tray under the florescent lights do you think? Maybe 1/2 inch or should that be too much?
joy
Devota, the red solo cups thing reminds me of something. Awhile back on the Brugmansia forum someone knowledgeable was sharing a Brug rooting system that had worked great for them, using red solo cups with Orchid Moss in them. Everyone that read that thread ran around desperately buying red cups and orchid moss, making sure to carefully purchase EXACTLY what the original poster had used. I nearly died laughing at some of them, (don't tell them ;) because they were so worried that they couldn't find red cups. Like they really thought you had to use only the red ones or it wouldn't work right or something, hahahaha!
If your not careful sometimes you will end up with a zillion different products trying to replicate exactly to the tee what another did, instead of improvising somewhat for yourself. It was an eye opener for me. (who defiantly used blue solo cups)
darkmoondreamer: Well, for your information, they are making red mulch covers especially for tomatoes and they are also selling something that is red that you put around your tomato plant as the tomato plant has proven to love the color red. So; it's not my imagination. LOL You will find this at Gardener's Supply, Earthbox, and other places. There was actually studies done on this kind of thing. Not that if I can't find red solo cups I would refuse to buy blue or yellow. LOL
joy
Some studies show an improvement from the red mulch/covers of up to 20%, but that's rather high IMHO.
But yes, Penn State has a nice study on it.
Thank you Araness. SMILES!!!
joy
Joy, your so funny, LOL! p.s. Solo cups are white on the inside, and red on the outside so do the tomato plants just admire each other's containers? ROTF, I couldn't resist teasing
This message was edited Feb 13, 2009 11:56 PM
I was all pumped up about the red mulch cloth for my tomatoes until I read "not for Southern States" in one of the blurbs describing the stuff.
hey darkmoon, I could use red solo cups for the tomatoes and yellow ones for the peppers and blue for the cukes. I would be able to tell them apart then right? LOL
Texas: At least you can grow Peonies and I can't. (sniffles).
joy
Oh Joy, what would we do without you, girl?
Karen, you rebel you, I too was thinking about the inside of the cup being white, but since most of the good stuff I have learned about container gardening has come from Daves I do enjoy the Qs & As.
Good idea Joy! Until you can distinguish the different plants by recognition alone, using different color cups would be neat and it would also be a kind of abstract setting! I like it! As far as red plasic it only improves production by 10% and would not be worth the investment unless you are a commercial grower. For example a plant produces twenty tomatos X 10% = 2 extra tomatos but a commercial grower with a few thousand plants -- now that would make a big difference for him but not worth our investment unless you like a multicolor garden?
Joy I hope you know I was teasing you girl, although I did get a hardy laugh imagining the tomatoes admiring each others dresses, hehehe! Good idea using a color system.
Joy, if you stop asking these interesting questions, I will never learn anything. I enjoy your posts and your enthusiasm sooo much. Devota
I do have a serious question though and hope someone can help me with this one. After I get the solo cups and put little holes in the bottom of them, and add the seed starting to it, burying the stem as I go and then I put it in the watering tray again right? That way I can still water from the bottom up? How much water should I put in the tray and keep in the tray. My shelf for the seedlings with the lights on it is really a good tray for this purpose I think.
joy
Darkmoondreamer: I had to laugh when you said that too, as I realized all the insides of those cups were white myself. LOL The color will help me identify what the plant is, that is the real reason; but, I also am going to mark with a Scripto marker what is in each cup too. As I planted different types of peppers and tomatoes. I have 3 types of tomatoes planted. Park's Super Bush, Park's Whopper and RH Shumways' Medium Red, then I have banana peppers, Italian gourmet, and 3 types of bells. I had to do the same with the cukes too. As I have some salad cukes and some pickling cukes, more picking than salad though, as I hope if I plant a lot of those I will get enough to make some lime pickles.
joy
Joy, The joy of using coir is that just before the plants wilt the little tray of pots becomes very light weight and the color of the coir is a light tan. My plants are already outdoors during the day and they need water every other day as the temps have been around 70º with a light breeze. I bottom water with a very weak strength soluble fertilized and allow the each tray of plants to sit in solution for 20 - 30 minutes then I lift out & allow water to drain over the solution tray for a few seconds.
The watered tray of plants has become quite heavy compared to it dry state and the color on the surface of the coir has turned to a deep reddish brown. The coir is a great wicking medium in its unpacked state. I can't speak to how well it wicks in a packed because I didn't pack the medium when I transplanted the seedlings into the 4" pots.
Jerry
Jerry: So; are you saying that I should not leave the solo cups with the holes in the bottom in a tray of water under neath the lights? But, just leave them sit in a tray of water with half strength fertilizer (Bob's of course, smiles), for about 20 to 30 mins then lift out, let it drain, then sit it in another tray that has no water in it on the shelf under the lights? It's still too cold to chance sitting them outside yet.
My artichokes are outside; but that is because it isn't frosting and they enjoy the chilly weather, helps sets their blooms or whatever they are called, looks like 2 are not gonna make it; but the other two seem to being doing fairly well. I'm working with year old plants here though. LOL
My guy who put together the HEBs forgot to put in the drain holes, which I had marked, was in a hurry and drilled a pin hole, it rained last night, I mean poured and I had one of the pin holes clog up on me, and the HEB was waterlogged this morning. Took my trusty knife and made the hole bigger and then went inside and took out another block of coconut coir and when it was done, added it to the top of both HEBs, they should be okay. I didn't put on a mulch cover on either of them. I took my fiskars and trimmed off the dead leaves, now I will watch them like hawks. The HEB drained well and now I think they will be fine. Still too cold for anything else though.
joy
Joy, try to think about it this way. You want the growing medium for your transplants moist but not wet nor so dry that your plants lay over and cry. Based on your growing style it's up to you to determine thru experience what it is going to take to reach a happy medium.
20-30 minutes is what is working for me now given the size of the newly planted seedlings, the ambient temperature, and the amount of wind the plants are exposed to. I expect the watering frequency to change as the plant's demand for water changes due to increases in daily temperatures and as the plants grow more roots.
Jerry
I'm not familiar with suggested dosages for Bob's fert. Before this year I used MG for plants in the ground at the rate of [1 Tablespoon per gal] applied every 10 - 14 days or there abouts. For my African Violets and all house plants I use [1/4 teaspoon per gal] in wicking reservoirs (constant feeding system) and each time I watered the pot plants. My seedling transplants are getting the same mix. I alternate feedings between MG (1/4 tsp per gal) and Medina Hasta Gro (OMRI) mixed at 1/2 normal rate.
Jerry: I started off with MG for tomatoes mixed with Sea Magic; but then alternated it with Bob's fertilizer both in weakened states of course. What I did was mix up the solutions ahead of time then put them in jugs in the fridge, labeled so humans didn't drink them. LOL And then added hot water to the mix before planting in another container. That way the plants didn't get cold solution. See how I spoil my babies? LOL Ever since I've been shutting off the lights and letting them rest they have been growing very well.
Here is something fantastic about the artichokes. Even after the HEB had filled up with water, and then I increased the size of the hole and the water drained out and I added more coir it seems it has done well. Now the one HEB that had gotten waterlogged was the one with coconut coir in it, so that might correct that damage on it's own, since I drained the water we will see what happens, the other HEB has a mixture of part coconut coir and part JG in it. Of course I added more coir to the top to bring it up to the outside rim of the EBs on both HEBS too this time.
I will follow instructions as listed above for the solo cup replanting of my tomatoes. I will leave the peppers for a while the way they are nd the cukes. My cukes are getting huge leaves already and think they will be the first to go outside, just got to decide when. My eggplants have put up another set of leaves last night also. They are in the APS system from Gardeners Supply; but my peppers and tomatoes are in the coconut coir, my cukes are in the APS system also.
joy
Went and bought some Solo knockoff cups today, can't believe this, all they had were red ones and clear ones. Bought the red ones of course, borrowed two nails from my neighbor and my daughter and I are going to punch 8-10 holes in the bottom of 43 of them tomorrow. My maters will have a new house.
joy