Garden 2022

[Neb]

Getting closer, got the fan installed the walls insulated, the reflextix on the walls and ceiling and the lights hung. I’ll hang the door tomorrow evening and I know the wife will want the outside trimmed out and painted. I think it will turn out well just hope the plants like it.

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Some thoughts...

The intensity of light drops at the square of the distance from the light source. Simply stated if tou reduce the distance by 1/2 the light intensity goes up by a factor of 4. Cut it to 1/4 get 16X the light intensity.

Does lights get hot?

If so don't get too close to burn the plants.

Watch the temp and humidity of the room. Many plants like humidity but high humidity could be bad for the room.

An oscillating fan can be used to simulate a gentle breeze. The jostling by the breeze helps toughen up the stems so they have less shock when transplanted out and have to deal with the wind.

I learned from a retired PhD from OSU that proper pH of the soil greatly influences plants ability to take up nutrients. He reported getting a 4X yield increase from tomatoes by carefully controlling the pH of the soil via the pH of the drip irrigation.

Just some ideas

Ben

PS All of the above represent my personal understanding. It may be faulty. I am a physicist and engineer by education, not a farmer.

 

[Bacpacker]

Assembled another bed tonight. Gotta go back to Lowes and get another 2x4x12. I came up 1 short.

 

[hashbrown]

Some thoughts...

The intensity of light drops at the square of the distance from the light source. Simply stated if tou reduce the distance by 1/2 the light intensity goes up by a factor of 4. Cut it to 1/4 get 16X the light intensity.

Does lights get hot?

If so don't get too close to burn the plants.

Watch the temp and humidity of the room. Many plants like humidity but high humidity could be bad for the room.

An oscillating fan can be used to simulate a gentle breeze. The jostling by the breeze helps toughen up the stems so they have less shock when transplanted out and have to deal with the wind.

I learned from a retired PhD from OSU that proper pH of the soil greatly influences plants ability to take up nutrients. He reported getting a 4X yield increase from tomatoes by carefully controlling the pH of the soil via the pH of the drip irrigation.

View attachment 84720

Just some ideas

Ben

PS All of the above represent my personal understanding. It may be faulty. I am a physicist and engineer by education, not a farmer.

Some thoughts...

The intensity of light drops at the square of the distance from the light source. Simply stated if tou reduce the distance by 1/2 the light intensity goes up by a factor of 4. Cut it to 1/4 get 16X the light intensity.

Does lights get hot?

If so don't get too close to burn the plants.

Watch the temp and humidity of the room. Many plants like humidity but high humidity could be bad for the room.

An oscillating fan can be used to simulate a gentle breeze. The jostling by the breeze helps toughen up the stems so they have less shock when transplanted out and have to deal with the wind.

I learned from a retired PhD from OSU that proper pH of the soil greatly influences plants ability to take up nutrients. He reported getting a 4X yield increase from tomatoes by carefully controlling the pH of the soil via the pH of the drip irrigation.

View attachment 84720

Just some ideas

Ben

PS All of the above represent my personal understanding. It may be faulty. I am a physicist and engineer by education, not a farmer.

The lights are led so they don’t get hot before I had the room done I had the lights at 16 inches and I noticed that the end of the leaves turning brown and sort of curling so I doubled the height of the lights. I don’t have away to measure the humidity yet, what should I try and keep it at? While I was in town today I picked up a fan and screwed it to the wall. Being in the basement it always seems a little cool down there, what would be a good temperature to try and keep the room? To warm it up much I would probably have to turn the exhaust fan off I could leave the fan mounted to the wall on though.

 

[Neb]

The lights are led so they don’t get hot before I had the room done I had the lights at 16 inches and I noticed that the end of the leaves turning brown and sort of curling so I doubled the height of the lights. I don’t have away to measure the humidity yet, what should I try and keep it at? While I was in town today I picked up a fan and screwed it to the wall. Being in the basement it always seems a little cool down there, what would be a good temperature to try and keep the room? To warm it up much I would probably have to turn the exhaust fan off I could leave the fan mounted to the wall on though.

View attachment 84726

I suggest you approach the plants gradually.

70 degree or better for many plants to germinate.

You should track the temp and decide if you need to heat or cool.


Ben

 

[Neb]

The lights are led so they don’t get hot before I had the room done I had the lights at 16 inches and I noticed that the end of the leaves turning brown and sort of curling so I doubled the height of the lights. I don’t have away to measure the humidity yet, what should I try and keep it at? While I was in town today I picked up a fan and screwed it to the wall. Being in the basement it always seems a little cool down there, what would be a good temperature to try and keep the room? To warm it up much I would probably have to turn the exhaust fan off I could leave the fan mounted to the wall on though.

View attachment 84726

Additional...

Are you seeing the Browning of the leaves only after the new lights?

Ben

 

[UrbanHunter]

Yesterday I didn't get out to the garden till almost dark, all of the walkways have a layer of leveling sand and are almost ready for plastic sheeting. I did a complete walk around the perimeter with ground clear spray, all my plants are raised up about 2' above ground level and I did remove all the weeds at ground level but found long weed roots in the old sand, so the new sand will be sprayed before I apply plastic and pavers. The wife says that the last time I did this was 17 years ago, so overkill can be a time effective solution.... I will also do a walk around with insecticide this afternoon so there is no home for critters either.

I pulled out my laser level and marked the lines for the shelf that will go inside the bug free zone. My goal is to have 2 8' shelves to hold 2 rows of 7" wide planters at eye level, this will allow my 2 rows of raised beds inside the bug free zone to produce like 4.... When you are working with limited space you have to go vertical.... I plan to have the plants that need pollinators on outside of the netted area and inside the 6' X 8' netted space I will place tender veggies that the caterpillars love.

Right now the Broccoli and the Cabbage that are on a shelf inside the little space that I netted with deer netting are doing great (no traces of caterpillars ) we are harvesting small florets off the broccoli and I have 3 softball sized heads of cabbage.

Over the holiday weekend our Son's house guest went out into the garden area, she peaked under the plastic sheathing to discover peas and onions, she looked in the raised beds and found an abundance of spinach and lettuce, she saw 2' high broccoli and cabbage and observed me making "kits" for the new grape supports and updated raised bed tops. She noticed the water barrels that were lower than the raised beds and asked how I watered all the plants? I pointed out the pump next to my DC to AC inverter, I said that it will water the whole garden in 20 minutes using 40 gallons of water.... She was amazed that you could grow so much in so little space. She did ask about security. I told her that none of the raised beds are visible from the street and with the tops closed even from the air they don't look like a garden. She said you have a lot of close neighbors and asked if I was afraid they to try to take what I had in a SHTF event and I asked her if she noticed the locked metal "cleaning cabinet" in the basement bathroom by the walkout to the garden?

 

[Tommyice]

Broccoli, cabbage and spinach is planted out already and adjusting just fine. I'll be moving the tomatoes and peppers into the greenhouse tomorrow. Dad had some Pine Island Soil delivered. He asked me to order him two bags. I tried to tell him the bags were really big. They were delivered today and he's now wondering how he's going to get it from the driveway into the backyard raised beds. Going to try to put a pic in.

That's his Tahoe in the driveway. The advertisement showed a picture of a petite looking gal next to the bags. She must have been an amazon woman. He turns 87 next week. He hopes to have them empty by his 88th birthday.

 

[Neb]

Broccoli, cabbage and spinach is planted out already and adjusting just fine. I'll be moving the tomatoes and peppers into the greenhouse tomorrow. Dad had some Pine Island Soil delivered. He asked me to order him two bags. I tried to tell him the bags were really big. They were delivered today and he's now wondering how he's going to get it from the driveway into the backyard raised beds. Going to try to put a pic in.
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That's his Tahoe in the driveway. The advertisement showed a picture of a petite looking gal next to the bags. She must have been an amazon woman. He turns 87 next week. He hopes to have them empty by his 88th birthday.

Like eating an elephant... One bite (shovel full) at a time.

Ben

 

[Tommyice]

Like eating an elephant... One bite (shovel full) at a time.

Ben

He's got a Gorilla Dump Cart and a shovel. Unfortunately the bags are so tall it's hard for him to use a large shovel. So he's starting out using an old Army folding shovel. SMH He thinks by tomorrow afternoon, he'll be able to use a regular shovel.

 

[Neb]

God bless him!

Ple

He's got a Gorilla Dump Cart and a shovel. Unfortunately the bags are so tall it's hard for him to use a large shovel. So he's starting out using an old Army folding shovel. SMH He thinks by tomorrow afternoon, he'll be able to use a regular shovel.

Please share after photos.

Ben

 

[Tommyice]

Will do now that I’ve been successful with this one

 

[Ozarks hillbilly]

Stumped after moving from seed pods to more soil.

Could use some help. Planted seeds in the "pods" that comes with trays and a greenhouse lids. Everything grew fine. Last Sunday, I noticed most of the roots had worked through the pods so I decided to move them into a larger tray with more soil.

Now all the plants look weak, they're still green, but wilted over. They get 12 hours of UV light and misting every other day. Over watering, under watering? I'm not sure. They're still green so I have hope...but could use some more experienced advice since this is only my second time doing this.

 

[Smalltimefarmer]

Mulching the garden with newspapers. We are having temps in the 80s for the next few days. Love it. That will really warm the soil.

 

[Smalltimefarmer]

Husband tilled garden up. Plans to retill, spray to kill coastal and grass burrs and till again when everything is killed. He is helpful with that part and that’s all except telling me I have bugs. I need to start getting a few loads of compost from mushroom plant to let them cook before spreading in. My tomatoes are sprouting in pantry as are sweet potatoes. I can’t even go out my back door due to ice but planning for February!

I have bees and chickens so I have to battle weeds and bugs.

 

[hashbrown]

Stumped after moving from seed pods to more soil.

Could use some help. Planted seeds in the "pods" that comes with trays and a greenhouse lids. Everything grew fine. Last Sunday, I noticed most of the roots had worked through the pods so I decided to move them into a larger tray with more soil.

Now all the plants look weak, they're still green, but wilted over. They get 12 hours of UV light and misting every other day. Over watering, under watering? I'm not sure. They're still green so I have hope...but could use some more experienced advice since this is only my second time doing this.

I’m giving my plants 18 hours of light and watering about every 3 days. I transplanted them last week as well.

 

[Ozarks hillbilly]

I’m giving my plants 18 hours of light and watering about every 3 days. I transplanted them last week as well.

Thank you. I'll add more light and see if that helps

 

[Neb]

Stumped after moving from seed pods to more soil.

Could use some help. Planted seeds in the "pods" that comes with trays and a greenhouse lids. Everything grew fine. Last Sunday, I noticed most of the roots had worked through the pods so I decided to move them into a larger tray with more soil.

Now all the plants look weak, they're still green, but wilted over. They get 12 hours of UV light and misting every other day. Over watering, under watering? I'm not sure. They're still green so I have hope...but could use some more experienced advice since this is only my second time doing this.

Transplant shock is normal.

Water from the bottom and five them a week or 2.

Ben

 

[joel]

Anybody grow Windham winter pea & what do you think about them.

 

[UrbanHunter]

I finished laying all my paving stones yesterday. I was able to do the walkways around all the raised beds and did not have even half a stone left over, used everything even reused all the old stones after cleaning them with a wire brush. So in the morning I can start transplanting things. I still need to finish putting in some shelving and insect netting, but I am making progress. I am a little sore from yesterday's efforts, just from my finger tips to my toes.

I noticed yesterday that the romaine I transplanted is starting to grow again, that's a relief.

I think I need to "train" my grape vines to take advantage of the new supports, I am thinking of tying a string to the new growth a gently pulling it along the top of the support boards. Still not sure how that will work but need to do something.

My back yard is now alive with pollinators, I am seeing lots of bees. I discovered a couple of lady bugs. One of the broccoli plants has lots of little yellow flowers, the wife can see them from the kitchen and as long as she is enjoying them I will let them be.

Last year I tried starting plants with the plugs like @Ozarks hillbilly had mentioned and I noticed that the roots got bound up in that fine netting they use to hold them together. I lost a few plants before I figured out that I needed to gently cut the netting up the side of the plug a peal it away from the plant's roots so they could grow into the new soil. I don't know if all of those plug systems use the netting, but the stuff I had really constrained the plants roots.

Well I think the aspirin I took is starting to take the edge off so I'm going to try to sleep for a couple of hours before I start my day.

 

[UrbanHunter]

Today, I finally made the 6'X8' bug free zone, it looks like a cross between a mosquito tent and an outdoor potting shed. I made a shelf at eye level to hold 7 containers of plants. I took the time to look up plants that don't need pollinators so I know what I can grow inside there. I used more of the bug netting than I expected. I was not very productive, some days just drag.

 

[Neb]

Today, I finally made the 6'X8' bug free zone, it looks like a cross between a mosquito tent and an outdoor potting shed. I made a shelf at eye level to hold 7 containers of plants. I took the time to look up plants that don't need pollinators so I know what I can grow inside there. I used more of the bug netting than I expected. I was not very productive, some days just drag.

Time to share some photos?

I am curious how close the mental image I have of your setup is to reality.

Ben

 

[Peanut]

Went to a big nursery today about an hour away. It was destroyed in the 2011 EF4 tornado. I didn't know they'd reopened until last week. They had 15 quonset hut shaped green houses. The best part, they don't resale. Every plant they have, they grow.

I didn't have anything in particular I wanted. Of course I had to bring a few items home.

I got 2 melons, crimson sweets and Charleston grays. I got squash, cucumbers and bell peppers.

I bought some tiny hot peppers. They have hispanics working there. At one end of a green house were hot peppers they brought from their home country. I bought a few... the tiny plants in the center of the pic. A lady tried to tell me the name in broken english. Lets just say they came from central america... somewhere... She said they were hot, I understood that.

I've never had luck setting out hot peppers this early in the year. They need heat to produce heat, do better in the hot weather.

 

[Terri9630]

Stumped after moving from seed pods to more soil.

Could use some help. Planted seeds in the "pods" that comes with trays and a greenhouse lids. Everything grew fine. Last Sunday, I noticed most of the roots had worked through the pods so I decided to move them into a larger tray with more soil.

Now all the plants look weak, they're still green, but wilted over. They get 12 hours of UV light and misting every other day. Over watering, under watering? I'm not sure. They're still green so I have hope...but could use some more experienced advice since this is only my second time doing this.

Are the "pods" peat pots? If so they are empty of nutrition. Have you fertilized the seedlings? I've also found that in dryer areas, like mine, the nets that are on some of the peat pots don't decompose fast enough and your roots will be trapped.

 

[Bacpacker]

Ran the weedeater around all my beds today. Tried to take it down to the dirt. Then Got some cardboard laid out and my newest bed put in place. Also got a layer of chicken wire rolled out in it. Now to load more wood in it and fill with compost.
Picked the last few pieces of asparagus for the year. What is up so far looks good, I just want them to focus their energy into the roots. Fertilized my onions and taters, expecting some rain Monday night.
Plowed and ran the disc thru the lower garden spots. Will plant the last of my seed taters there Monday. Corn and watermelons will go down there as well.
Elderberry plants have all leafed out and all but one horseradish root has put up growth.

 

[LadyLocust]

@Peanut That looks like a fun (dangerous!) place. I always end up bringing home the strays
@UrbanHunter I agree with Ben - would love to see a pix. Also, if it's on a handy list to posts, the plants that don't require pollinators. Hope you get some rest tonight.
I have 30 beans sprouted (inside). I have to start them inside or something gets them. Once they have their second leaves, they are fine. I think I have 6-7 different kinds this year - got carried away in the seed section A couple are old stand-bys: contenders and scarlet runners.
A week or so ago, I got some trays at an estate sale for potted starts. I'm hoping tomorrow to get them washed and the racks in the summer kitchen in place so I have a place to put them.

 

[hashbrown]

I bought a compost bin at a yard sale today to set outside of the chicken house. Alexandra replanted a couple flats of herbs, we were having a hard time with our plants before we built the grow room in the basement they all are looking great now.

 

[hashbrown]

Went to a big nursery today about an hour away. It was destroy in the 2011 EF4 tornado. I didn't know they'd reopened. They had 15 quonset hut shaped green houses. The best part, they don't resale. Every plant they have, they grow.

I didn't have anything in particular I wanted. Of course I had to bring a few items home.

I got 2 melons, crimson sweets and Charleston grays. I got squash, cucumbers and bell peppers.

I bought some tiny hot peppers. They have hispanics working there. At one end of a green house were hot peppers they brought from their home country. I bought a few... the tiny plants in the center of the pic. A lady tried to tell me the name in broken english. Lets just say they came from central america... somewhere... She said they were hot, I understood that.

I've never had luck setting out hot peppers this early in the year. They need heat to produce heat, do better in the hot weather.

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My grandpa always grew Charleston Greys, those are my favorite watermelon.

 

[Bacpacker]

My grandpa always grew Charleston Greys, those are my favorite watermelon.

Mine did too. Dad usually grows them and crimson sweets. I like sugar babies and ambrosia too

 

[LadyLocust]

I bought a compost bin at a yard sale today to set outside of the chicken house. Alexandra replanted a couple flats of herbs, we were having a hard time with our plants before we built the grow room in the basement they all are looking great now.

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Not sure if you've done it before to know so in no way mean to insult: have you ever tried growing rosemary from seed - can be challenging. Often easier to buy a plant and cut it up into starts. If they aren't super successful, don't be thinking you did anything wrong. Then again, maybe they will do great and I will have egg on my face.

 

[Peanut]

Last year my greys didn't produce a single melon, actually all melons and squash did poorly. It rained all summer. @hashbrown at a glance they look like little poison ivy plants...