I am becoming jealous of anyone who can just drive a re-bar stob into the ground and mount a vertical system on it. To do that on this rocky ridge where I live, I would have to rent an air compressor and a jackhammer. Probably cost me about $50 per stob. I am guessing that you use a short section of about 11/2 PVC over the re-bar to space the bottom pot above the ground. Right?
Any Coco Grower Questions?
Wrong. I used a locking clamp and a washer. By the way, the dark stuff on the coir is worm poop
I want know how you got them worms toilet trained ..LOL
Here's a pic from my adventure at the farmers market today. The owner asked me if I would hold classes on container and vertical gardening at the.market. Forget BocaBob....enter Professor Bob
Tubby,
Potty trainers
That market display was great, perfezzer. Is that an agrtower pot, the big white one sitting on the table?
Yes it is, I have a 100 coming Monday. NJ just informed me that the 24 in. is out of stock until May.
Sigh
What an active thread. Entertaining and educational, too!
(Jaywhacker, you're a nut! *grin)
Bob, love the "bean stacker"! I'm sure you'll post pics as it progresses along; that's gonna be a keeper for sure.
Happy 1st of March. Spring is a'coming!
Shoe
Pugzley and I both just bought the HUGE 24" stackers from Bob, the last he'll have until May. (They are the big ones on the right of his photo above). I am growing a huge Purple Hull Pea crop in 2 and a big crop of Roma beans in the 3rd one. I am beyond excited....Enough peas to freeze! I plan on sowing 5-10 pea seeds in each spot which could mean 150 pea plants in one 5 stacker!!!!!!!
Of course I will show photos of the progress, which I expect to be phenomenal.. ☺
Remember the post yesterday? Look what is happening right now...................
I love gardening !!!!
TPlant: Yes, everyone pray for sun, it's cold here. Brrrr.
As to the question about storing the coconut coir, it really depends on how much you are storing. I had 12 bags of it and when I first mixed up a batch, I used my 18 gallon tote to soak it in, which worked nicely. What I have left would fit into a zip lock bag and that is what I used. Since then, I have made up more batches of it to use and the left over I just put the tote lid on, it should be fine right TPlant? Matter of fact, I put my tote right in the greenhouse, that way, I can bury the stem right there and makes it really handy.
joy
And close up your greenhouse at night otherwise you are defeating your purpose.
TPlant: The greenhouse is closed up tighter than a drum right now, this cold weather should only last a few more nights then the daytime weather will bounce up to the 70's and the nights to around 41-50, safer. I have them on a table, and warm air rises, so that is good right? I'm starting to want some vertical stackers too, especially the self watering ones. Maybe next Spring I will buy some to try and see how I like them, you seem to like yours and everyone else seems to like them too, especially Jaywhacker.
joy
I really don't need one here. I had the little four stand portable with the zip cover and really only used it two or three times as our weather here is very mild and discovered the cover was not necessary. Do you have a heater hooked up yet? Can't believe it gets so cold up there?
TPlant: It does, it is listed as the coldest city in Florida and they ain't lying about that one, March usually has one or two freezes and here is where I'm in a pickle: The weather gets low tomorrow; but, then goes up to a good temp and guess where I'll be? On my way down there. The plants will have to stay in the greenhouse; but, my friend will come and unzip the thing when the temps get higher, until then, I've given them plenty of water and they should be okay, I just hope they don't suffocate when it warms up; but, hope he remembers to come unzip the thing.
joy
How bout them beans?
hehe, you go Bob! Gosh I can't wait to get my planters in and put those peas in 'em!
Bob, the same ones as the March 1 post??? Isn't that amazing! Will the bush beans be hanging over the side? This will be a pretty sight.
I've got 2 of the 5 stacking pots (mine are 12 inchers) like Bob has his beans in. I wasn't brave enough to do beans, but I planted enough garlic chives and bunching onions in them that hubby and I should be supplied for quite a while. Waiting for the seeds to sprout now. I'm using pure coir and will use Bob's Fertilizer on those, when the time comes. So, I figure if 3 plants make it in each pot, I'll have 90 greenies... now, how much land area would that take to plant that many plants of those types?
My yard is ultra small. Last year I could only grow in the front since the septic field is my back yard. Thanks to the discovery of growbags this year (couldn't afford to buy that many pots!) I am able to use the back, too! This is really exciting for me because I can put so many more edible plants in now.
Can't wait to get those big boy stackers in! I'm going to put... I don't know what yet, I still have lots of things I want to plant and plenty of room to put more growbags and stackers. Probably some cukes and melon/squash type things and some beans. If I put them on a pole then I can train them to climb the wall or let them hand down.
Oh and re: Stylet Oil, I found a ton of aphids on one of my rose bushes. I gave it a squirt with the Stylet and they all fell down and went boom. Dead as little doornails, they were! I love this stuff because I can spray as often as I want and not worry about poisoning anything or anyone. I started spraying all the veggies pre-emptively, there is no way I am going to let those darned spider mites take over my food supply this year, they literally wiped me out of almost everything last year, the creepy little beasts!
I'm really blessed to have gotten all the information and equipment and supplies needed to really garden this year. Thanks to all here at DG and to Boca Bob especially. I'd be light years behind if not for this place.
Sounds like a fun year coming up for you. Lets see.........there is onion in the salads......onion soup.........onion dip.........Im sure there are more uses for onions. Im loaded with onions myself so I could use some ideas myself. Got my Noonday onions from Karen and they smell good so I know they will taste good.
Yes, same ones. They will drap over the side and completely cover the planters..
I can't wait........I ordered the 12" and 24" planters!!!!!
Jaywhacker, you can't have too many onions as far as I'm concerned. We saute some and put them on meat (if you're a meat eater) and put them in stirfry and soups. Oh, and if you have big ones there's always onion rings. I'd better shut up, I'm starving, no dinner yet and my stomach is already growling just thinking about it. :)
Oh... I just thinned all the plants in the growbags and it hurt so bad! Goodbye extra carrots, spinach, onions, leeks and radishes. I know you have to do it, but I really don't like to do it. :(
Woohoo Rockette! You got the "big Boy" 24" like Linda and I did! I can't wait to see our bounty :)
Pugsley, Isn't this fun? There is always something new to learn or try and someone who has already tried it to guide us newbies.
Bob, don't forget to give us another peek in a couple days.
Yes,Devota, it is a real blast! I'm having a wonderful time. No more wishing for good weather, too! :)
I'm feeling for all of you who are still waiting to get those seeds germinated.
I'm already getting a bit of a tan from being outside with my babies. That's another great benefit of gardening: sunshine. Gotta love every aspect of this, even the hard work has the benefits of good sleep at night and a sense of satisfaction. (I'm especially satisfied after I murder the bugs eating my plants. LOL!)
Here's the new planters I just got in. I call them the "Veggie Producers"
I think I've completely destroyed my tomato seedlings. They're still in the coir, and I've been setting the tray outside for some sun, but I left them overnight a coupla nights. It got cold (maybe too cold), and most of them have fallen into a swoon. I'll salvage what I can, and start begging...
Bob, How does "24 in. is out of stock until May" planter compare to your "Veggie Producers"? I think I might like to try one of these upright planing systems, but will want the largest possible and one of the self watering kinds.
Thanks,
Jerry
How tall are those planters, Bob, and do they come in any color besides white? Can they be spray painted on the outside?
Jerry I can tell you that the 24" stacker has the largest individual cells on the stackers Bob carries, that's why I got them for peas. The veggie producers have more cells (6 on each tray instead of 3) but they are much smaller cells. I'm sure Bob can tell you more when he gets off of work.
I just got my seed tray kits today. What a huge improvement over the Jiffy Peat Pots I was using before.
Once the seeds sprout for veggies, like peppers, when do you feed them some weakened fertilizer?
This is my first time spouting seeds in the coconut coir.
jerry,
NJ 24's are self watering (reservoir/wicking system), the veggie producer is just a pour through. I was able to secure 50 of the 24's from the manufacturer, so I will have them in a week. then none till May.
Bob
gymgirl
They are 21 inches wide, 8 inches deep, and each planting pocket (6) is 4 x4 inches. They only come in white for now. I'll check with the manufacturer about painting them
Bob
Let's review: Feb 18th
Today, March 5th
Looking good Bob. 75 bean plants in one square foot of garden patch aint bad.
Thanks buddy !!