Any Coco Grower Questions?

Oh another big issue -- CLEAN AND NOT SPLIT FINGERNAILS! Don't know what is in it but it seems to contain its own skin softener. I've got to get some more from BocaBob now that I have the go ahead.

Anytime TPlant. I have a ton of it ready to go !!!

lol I wish ya'll could see me after I've potted or refilled an EB I am covered in dirt..so much so that I try to change and hose off outside before coming in. I'm just as bad when I bake and use flour...

It is good to see you back in operation, Tplant. Be careful........dont start tasting the coir........although it does have lots of good fiber in it. :-)

Glad to hear from you..Was thinking of you today..As i was transplanting my tom's into larger pots..Yep hands stay clean & softer than they would have using my old ways

Have fun but go easy you've been resting enough..

Tubs how's your Noonday onions coming along?

Karen the frost is out, but ground isn't quite dry enough..Rain expected for this Fri. & Sat...If it's not to much. It wont be long...I"M SO READY...

I wanna know if I get a prize for discovering AND posting my scientific finding AND warning to the general public regarding the addictive nature of coco coir? And, might I add that I was the FIRST to declare PUBLICLY that I was not only a coco addict but a coco NUT as well? This is the story of my journey to the depths of my EBs and back...and I see no end in site. My addiction will only spread to eBuckets, HEBs, planters, pots, bags, tube socks (who knew?), and ultimately, to the grave that will accept my body as fertilizer... Yes, I was the first to come out of the dishpan with my fist firmly clutching a spongy brown ball of core -- and yes -- I SQUEEZED IT! Is that what you want me to say? I did it! Please be warned. Please, please don't squeeze the coir! L.

Congratulations Linda. You have taken the first step. D

TPlant: I'm too ashamed to show my hands. LOL I gotta scrub utensil I use every time I come in from outdoors, especially when I am coming in from the flower garden.
joy

A lot of people say to squeeze the coir of excess water before placing in EB but I don't as it drains naturally. However, I do pour out the excess water from my main mixing container but that's all that I need to do? It works so easily and half the weight of container mix makes it a joy for anyone with disabilities. The other advantage was the old plants, roots and all, come out nice and easy. I am definetly hooked on it and will be planting my peppers today. It is great to be back in the garden. Still have a lot of clean up to do especially with my beautiful roses but one small step at a time.

TPlant: I've seriously been thinking about just potting my peppers up into these containers I bought at the nursery, they had these 1 gallon, 3 gallon and huge containers I bought really reasonably and thought about just putting coconut coir in them and planting my eggplant and peppers in them. I have Bob's fertilizer and that is what I've been watering my 5 gallon grow bags and lay flat bags with every other day from the watering can I just bought.

joy

As with all my containers other than EBs, I cut up fiberglass or aluminum screen wire covering the bottom of the pot to insure that the drain hole will not clog and excess water will drain off. The coir is excellent for the pots as it does not compact and allows the roots to breathe.

Finally!! I have everything planted. And all but the blueberries are in coir. Here is my proud little list:
Tomatoes, 4 kinds in gro bags and Ebuckets
Peppers, 2 kinds Gro bags
Lettuce in Window Boxes
Spinach in Window Boxes and Raised Bed
Onions, Georgia Sweet in Raised Bed
Scallions in Raised Bed
Cukes in Raised Bed
Beets in EB
Carrots, heirloom Raised Bed
Peas, Sugar Snaps in EBs
Bush beans in EBs
Potatos along the fence under straw.

TPlant: My flowers, like my daffodil bulbs, I had ordered some more Summer Cheer ones from Brecks, I planted them with the special Brecks Bulb food and straight coconut coir, they are doing fabulous right now, so I thought since I only have 5 pepper plants and 3 fairy tale eggplants, I should do the same, I will of course, be using Bob's fertilizer and the drain holes are excellent on these pots. I couldn't believe I got them so cheap either. Went looking for pots and a cashier at Walmart directed me to the Crestview Nursery where I got them for 38, 68 cents each and then $1.99 for the huge ones. I bought 32 pots. LOL Since I don't have many peppers or eggplants want to be especially careful with them and think they might stand a better chance at this point in the pots with coir and on Bob's fertilizer program than the HEBs. I bought a new 2 gallon watering can especially for using Bob's fertilizer with, I know that's old fashioned but gives me more time to look at my plants while I'm watering them also. LOL

joy

D,
Girl, you've got it going ON! Um, I might need to make a trip back to Tennessee, to see!...

Devota: My spinach startings didn't start (sniffles), any pointers here on spinach?
joy

Phots comin on a better day, g.
Joy I didn't do nuthin but sow some seed. Don't get no credit.

You are too modest, Devota. Im sure you put the special whammy on those seeds and held the proper horticultural seance as you planted them. Congratulations........you have survived another winter! Life is stuff......but then no one promised us a vegetable garden.

Joy, was your spinach seed fresh? I tried to start some seed I found in a drawer and got nothing. I went and bought a new pack of seed last weekend and planted it right on top of the old seed, and today I've got a sprout.
carol

OCCarol: I used vital spinach seeds, planted them in bio sponges and then put the bio dome lid over them, placing them on a heating mat and absolutely nothing, a few sprouts is all. The bio sponges were late getting in from Park's as was my seed starting kit and I suspect there was something wrong with them, as they sent me a credit for my last order of bio sponges saying they were not going to have them anymore. From now on it's coconut coir I'm using, haven't had a problem with any seeds sprouting in that stuff yet. I wanted to get spinach startlings to transplant but think it is too late now.
joy

Joy -- You can direct seed your spinach now so it is far from being to late? Direct seeding of spinach is the preferred method.

TPlant: Thanks hon, I looked forward to spinach. Will put more pics under my progress pics today.
joy

Have most my EBs set up with coco coir but had to clear the area that they are to be placed. Did most of that today . Tomorrow I will mow the area, spray with weed killer and place the weed cloth and EBs where they are to be located. Still have a huge amount of weeding and clean up from the consruction as I was unable to tend my plants.

Cape Cod Gardener: I'm am really thrilled you mentioned that, as I received one EB with the potting mix, their dolomite lime and their fertilizer and the potting mix is really super fine, so is the lime and the fertilizer. The Jungle Grow is much heavier than the EB potting mix; but the coir is pretty light and fluffy too.

I've been putting together my Garden Patch Boxes, a lot like the EBs; and they have two wicking places where you put potting mix to wick the water up to the rest of the potting mix and I was wondering if it would be a good idea to put coconut coir in the wicking holes, as it absorbs the water pretty well or would I be better off putting the potting mix (Jungle Grow) in the wicking chambers?

joy

I packed the core in my wicking sleeve for just that reason. It absorbs so much better than the potting mix alone. I'm using a 1:1 ratio of coir and MG this season. Next season I'll move toward more coir than MG and slowly convert to 100% coir.

Ggirl, that is a great idea. I guess once you're addicted you have to think on your feet.

CapeCod -- Safe to use your fertilizer as I have always used 10-10-10 and dolomite lime and you do not have to crush anything. Just remove the old fertilizer before replanting and add more lime.

Thanks for this thread, Ted. I hope you are feeling better these days. Glad that the coco coir blocks are easier to lug around.

Take care.

Annapet

Gymgirl: Thanks I will do just that then and fill the wicking chambers with coconut coir and then put the jungle grow mixed with coconut coir, I only have 1 block of coir left though (groan). Can't believe I used all 10 blocks and then all the ones that came with the 5 gallon bags already; but then again I'm almost through planting too. LOL Just about right hey? Of course, I couldn't resist the temptation to plant flowers in the coir either. LOL
joy

Here is a question I bet you never consiidered...what do we do if they ever run out of coir? I think we should stock up now before it becomes so popular that we can no longer afford it. Do I sound a little nutz? I'm a coco-nut.

Devota: I thought I was stocking up; but, alas, I ran out, or close to it. I think I have enough left to do what I gotta do though. LOL
joy

how are the beans looking Bob?

never mind I see the other thread now

Cape Cod Gardener: Yes, it is the corners, they serve to wick the water up into the potting mix above the reservoir. It is important that you make sure those two corners stay moist too. I tried the experiment of putting coir in the corners, as it absorbs water and holds it in really well; the problem I had was that it fell right into the reservoir; so, have decided to use it close to where I know the roots will be instead and pack the corners with potting mix.
joy

Exactly, Cape Cod, same thing by a dif name. Devota

Thank you! I did plant my first two EBs today with all-coir (even in the corners) but I think I will experiment on the next few by putting some planting mix in the corners re: Joy's advice!

CapeCod ---- I just completed and planted seven EBs today. Five of which were coir and two Jungle Growth for Okra for my DIL (Ihate the taste) and saved the coir for my melons, peppers and stringbeans. The JG was still fresh so I did not want to waste it .I see no purpose in mixing the coir with other mix? Tomorrow I plant my watermelons.From here on coco coir only. I love working with it as it is so light and clean.