Garden 2021

[UrbanHunter]

Yes, I hope to keep them under control until mid summer and then I plan to shutdown the inside garden for a month to clean everything and be ready to start again, but that is at least 5 months away. I also think I will try to buy some ladybugs and mantis eggs this year for the outside. I am learning that nature is not always working with us.

 

[UrbanHunter]

Last night I finished setting up my last set of shelves with lights, this gives me room for 20 of the 6 quart containers and allows me to let the larger row boxes have a little more elbow room. These shelves are on wheels so I can move them out of the way when I need to; lets me better utilize my floor space.

This evening I checked on to radishes I put out in the covered raised bed, they are fine, but they are staying out there for the duration (Aphids are a one way ticket).
I moved 4 potato plants to the high bay, they were bumping up against the lights and I need the space they were in for my bush beans.
My hanging cucumbers seem to be liking their new digs, I see them streatching out like "Groot", one already has a bloom starting to show.
Tonight, I harvested a gallon of carrots (after removing the greens) from the outdoor raised bed.

I had 1 seed variety (Egg Plant) that didn't come up, but after checking I found I didn't have the soil warm enough, added a heating pad for a couple of days and now they are up.

Yes, I think I can grow stuff year round now.

I am very happy to see that because I switched out a bunch of old lighting fixtures when I added the LED grow lights my power bill didn't even bounce a little (almost an even swap).

Has anyone out there grown Squash in-doors? I don't have any growing, just wondering......

 

[Neb]

Last night I finished setting up my last set of shelves with lights, this gives me room for 20 of the 6 quart containers and allows me to let the larger row boxes have a little more elbow room. These shelves are on wheels so I can move them out of the way when I need to; lets me better utilize my floor space.

This evening I checked on to radishes I put out in the covered raised bed, they are fine, but they are staying out there for the duration (Aphids are a one way ticket).
I moved 4 potato plants to the high bay, they were bumping up against the lights and I need the space they were in for my bush beans.
My hanging cucumbers seem to be liking their new digs, I see them streatching out like "Groot", one already has a bloom starting to show.
Tonight, I harvested a gallon of carrots (after removing the greens) from the outdoor raised bed.

I had 1 seed variety (Egg Plant) that didn't come up, but after checking I found I didn't have the soil warm enough, added a heating pad for a couple of days and now they are up.

Yes, I think I can grow stuff year round now.

I am very happy to see that because I switched out a bunch of old lighting fixtures when I added the LED grow lights my power bill didn't even bounce a little (almost an even swap).

Has anyone out there grown Squash in-doors? I don't have any growing, just wondering......

No not me.

I suspect your success will be determined geometry and your lighting.

Light energy per square inch drops off at 1/r2. Squashes are large plant over large areas.

A light intensity map over your growing area may be enlightening (pund intended).

Ben

 

[Meerkat]

Last night I finished setting up my last set of shelves with lights, this gives me room for 20 of the 6 quart containers and allows me to let the larger row boxes have a little more elbow room. These shelves are on wheels so I can move them out of the way when I need to; lets me better utilize my floor space.

This evening I checked on to radishes I put out in the covered raised bed, they are fine, but they are staying out there for the duration (Aphids are a one way ticket).
I moved 4 potato plants to the high bay, they were bumping up against the lights and I need the space they were in for my bush beans.
My hanging cucumbers seem to be liking their new digs, I see them streatching out like "Groot", one already has a bloom starting to show.
Tonight, I harvested a gallon of carrots (after removing the greens) from the outdoor raised bed.

I had 1 seed variety (Egg Plant) that didn't come up, but after checking I found I didn't have the soil warm enough, added a heating pad for a couple of days and now they are up.

Yes, I think I can grow stuff year round now.

I am very happy to see that because I switched out a bunch of old lighting fixtures when I added the LED grow lights my power bill didn't even bounce a little (almost an even swap).

Has anyone out there grown Squash in-doors? I don't have any growing, just wondering......

I can't see any problem with it. Squash has been easy to grow in garden,containers and hydroponics so indoor with proper lighting should work. Although I haven't tried it myself.

 

[UrbanHunter]

No not me.

I suspect your success will be determined geometry and your lighting.

Light energy per square inch drops off at 1/r2. Squashes are large plant over large areas.

A light intensity map over your growing area may be enlightening (pund intended).

Ben

Thanks Ben, I think getting a light and PH meter might be good cause to "bend" my buycot....

Note:
Back in December, I was looking for smaller containers (2-3 gallon) that I could use to grow smaller items or make hanging plants with, I found that the flower containers cost between $7-$40, but Lowes sells a mini (2 gallon) bucket for about $4, I got 6 then and they are currently all occupied.
At that time I also found the 20 gallon containers with rope handles for $9 - got 4, I plan to use them as tuber pots and as part of my soil recycling program.

The wife is excited about flowers showing on the cucumbers, she still has a hard time getting her head around the idea that there are boy flowers and girl flowers on the same plant...

 

[lilmissy]

just insectical soap at this time, but with the containers I can quickly isolate and remove the problems. I do tend to take the gentle approach, sorta like carpet bombing a mouse

What soap do you use and what zone are you in?

 

[UrbanHunter]

What soap do you use and what zone are you in?

I am using part Bonite diluted 50/50 with mild dish soap & water, the last batch I added a touch of neem oil.

I am in zone 6, my outdoor raised beds have retractable plastic sheet covers that buy me about 20 degrees and reduces frost/freeze damage.

 

[UrbanHunter]

Yesterday I picked up a light meter, now I can verify how much light the plants are seeing. Just need to research more about the subject.

 

[UrbanHunter]

Sometimes you get a little happy surprise when you aren’t expecting anything. I looked up at my cucumbers to see a lady bug sitting at the top of the tallest vine. It left me speechless, where did you come from, should I move you to one of the growing stations, do you have any friends?

 

[goshengirl]

@UrbanHunter, I'm sorry to say, but it's possible your ladybug isn't a true ladybug...
These are not ladybugs: Invasive Asian lady beetles are swarming Wisconsin

 

[UrbanHunter]

@UrbanHunter, I'm sorry to say, but it's possible your ladybug isn't a true ladybug...
These are not ladybugs: Invasive Asian lady beetles are swarming Wisconsin

The way this year is going I wouldn't be surprised if was a zombie apocalypse alien in disguise

 

[Double R]

Our seed order has had a label created but hasn’t shipped yet.
New pressure canner came in today. Some jars we were able to find online have shipped. Hope they make it safely.
now trying to decide how we will start some of the seeds indoors this year. We usually buy small plants for ones that need to be started early. Not anymore. Time to figure it out. Been many years since we’ve started seeds indoors.

 

[Bacpacker]

What canner did you end up ordereing Double R?

 

[Double R]

What canner did you end up ordereing Double R?

An All American 925

 

[UrbanHunter]

The light meter arrived but the readings were a little confusing, according to the meter the light on my growing station is about twice that of a cloudy day outside. I have read (after the fact) that the meter does a poor job with LED lights (perfect). But I was happy to see that on the floor on the high-bay area the light was the same as the overcast light outside at noon, 3 feet off the floor it was much brighter. The out door reading was 3000 lumins, my growing stations are showing an average of 5000-7500, and the high bay at eye level was over 10,000

 

[Bacpacker]

Urban, not sure what meters you have looked at or need. But check out B&H photo/video. Photography company, but their meters are very good. Not sure how good it will work for light to plants. But might be worth the research

 

[UrbanHunter]

To be honest, I'm not really sure how much data I need, I may just get a couple of full sun readings and then go with a percent of that (I figure if the meter has bias, I can live with that). What I was concerned with was did I have enought light at the floor of the high-bay area and it seems fine. I am using that area to trick my potatoes into thinking it is fall (cooler, cold floor, lower light) so a little lower is okay, I just don't want to kill them. considering they are over 2 feet tall now I think the growing stations are working fine. The bush beans are about 18" high and the snap peas are just climbing everywhere, the older celery is about 8" tall.

 

[Bacpacker]

Sounds like your light is producing good results for growth. If the fruiting goes on schedule you are in great shape.

 

[UrbanHunter]

Tonight we took down the Christmas stuff, but now I am told that I need to move the poinsettia plants into my growing area.... It was already packed in, now I need to make room for 9 large-ish plants. The son noted that the high-bay area looks like it was made for them... I'm not happy.

One of the hanging cucumbers has now climbed 18" up to the floor joist, I wonder where it will try to go next. The others are making good progress towards doing the same. They are starting to grab the deer netting I hung as a support, but they clearly prefer the chains.

A couple of the cabage plants are starting to make heads, with all this green stuff it is fun to walk around looking at stuff.

I checked the raised beds, there was a half inch of ice on the walkway to the beds (almost put me down, twice), but the spinach and lettuce still looked fine.

I am starting to gather soil for recycling, but it is just too cold outside to expect the roasting pan to get the temperature up where it needs to be right now.

 

[Meerkat]

An All American 925

I think thats what we have. if it holds 14 qta,21 pt.s.

 

[Double R]

I think thats what we have. if it holds 14 qta,21 pt.s.

Yep! Believe that’s the same. We tested it tonight and it’s awesome! Can’t wait to start canning now! Going to cancel the order from the manufacturer now that we know this one is good to go.

 

[Meerkat]

Yep! Believe that’s the same. We tested it tonight and it’s awesome! Can’t wait to start canning now! Going to cancel the order from the manufacturer now that we know this one is good to go.

We've had ours for at least 10 years and it is still just as good as it ever was.So glad yours caame in and you like it too.

 

[UrbanHunter]

Today I noticed that my hanging plants are the full lenght of the chains, I think I will drop them down about 6" so they have more growing space and can capture more light from the windows. I broke down and placed another order of grow lights aftem my wife's African Violets got my last box of lights. I ended up spending $200 this week on groceries and plant growing stuff, I am not happy with that.

I was looking at one of my raised beds that is actually up against a sharp decline making access to one side difficult, I am thinking about adding 1 12" layer of framing and soil to it. But first I am thinking about putting a raised walkway 2 foot wide all the way around the outside of the box (like scaffolding) so I have full use of the box.

 

[Meerkat]

I need to test some of our seeds we hve in freezer,some are several years old. And see bout ordering more seeds for spring,winter.

 

[UrbanHunter]

I couldn't get my bell pepper seeds to come up, so I replanted them (twice) now I have 15 pepper plants and room for 3....

I saw blooms on my tomatoes today, pleasant gifts

I changed the water filters on the system I use for the plants, they are rated at 7000 qts. Based on my calculations that is about 6 months worth at the current indoor plant usage.

 

[Neb]

I couldn't get my bell pepper seeds to come up, so I replanted them (twice) now I have 15 pepper plants and room for 3....

I saw blooms on my tomatoes today, pleasant gifts

I changed the water filters on the system I use for the plants, they are rated at 7000 qts. Based on my calculations that is about 6 months worth at the current indoor plant usage.

Do tomatoes need pollinators?

Ben

 

[UrbanHunter]

Do tomatoes need pollinators?

Ben

Yes, I have been walking around all afternoon practicing, "buzz, buzz", now I need a black and yellow outfit...

 

[Neb]

Yes, I have been walking around all afternoon practicing, "buzz, buzz", now I need a black and yellow outfit...

Steelers fan garb is probably pretty cheap today.

Ben

 

[Double R]

Think we got all the jars we need ordered now. Some arrive today hopefully unbroken. Not sure how they ship jars so we’ll see. Need a few more extra wide mouth lids and maybe some extra rings for both to have on hand. All the jars come with rings so probably ok for a while.
We tested the canner and it’s perfect. Manufacturer happily cancelled the back ordered one.
Seed will be here Friday. Now time to figure out how we’re going to start some of the seeds. We have about a month or a little more to get them started. Being things are so up in the air we figured focusing on the jars and canner was top priority while we wait for the seed order. That’s pretty well done now so onto the next.
May try and run to town today and get some produce to make a few test batches in the canner. Really would like to have an idea before we have the garden harvest as to what we’re doing. Still trying to find a good canning recipe book that has basic recipes not funny fancy ones.

 

[MoBookworm1957]

Went to Wal*Mart for coffee and they had big displays of seeds out all ready.
They seemed a little bit higher.