What did you do in the garden today?

[gtaus]

I did the toilet paper pots last year (below). These started out well but after a few weeks they started getting moldy or just simply fell apart. I'm hoping that using soil-less plugs will help dissuade the mold problem as well as make it easier to tell when it is time to move them to a bigger pot or the ground. I also ordered some Cowpots to try those this year as well!

Good to know I have about 2 weeks max on those toilet paper pots before they fall apart. That's why I am also trying out some plastic pot options this year.

One of my favorite methods is using a soil blocker...

Last year I bought one from Amazon, but it did not push out the blocks very well and I only got an average of one good block at a time, having to redo the other 3 blocks. Too much work. So, I complained to the selller and they determined that my device was defective and sent me out another soil blocker. But the second soil blocker was just as bad. I think they either made it cheaply or the design was bad. I sent it back for a refund.

However, the first "defective" soil blocker was still in my garage. I played around with it later in the summer and with the help of some different nuts and bolts from the hardware store, I got it working pretty well. Unfortunately, by then, it was well past planting season so I never really got to use it. I hope to use it this spring.

Previously, I had made my own PVC soil blocker....

That actually works really well but only makes one round soil block at a time. I was so excited about the soil blocks concept, that I decided to order the square 4 soil blocker thinking I would really take advantage of my time and effort. The soil blocker that I bought just did not push out the blocks correctly. Might have been a cheap model, but they all look the same to me.

There is a slight learning curve on making the right consistency of mix so the soil blocks form well and stay together. I had to make the soil mix much wetter than I expected. After a short time, you get the hang of it. Anyway, I hope to use my 4 square soil blocker this year as well as some of the other pots I am trying out.

Is a gardener ever not learning something new? I don't understand what you mean by a soil-less plug. Could you please explain or upload a picture? Thanks.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Good to know I have about 2 weeks max on those toilet paper pots before they fall apart. That's why I am also trying out some plastic pot options this year.

One of my favorite methods is using a soil blocker...

Last year I bought one from Amazon, but it did not push out the blocks very well and I only got an average of one good block at a time, having to redo the other 3 blocks. Too much work. So, I complained to the selller and they determined that my device was defective and sent me out another soil blocker. But the second soil blocker was just as bad. I think they either made it cheaply or the design was bad. I sent it back for a refund.

However, the first "defective" soil blocker was still in my garage. I played around with it later in the summer and with the help of some different nuts and bolts from the hardware store, I got it working pretty well. Unfortunately, by then, it was well past planting season so I never really got to use it. I hope to use it this spring.

Previously, I had made my own PVC soil blocker....

View attachment 3375177

That actually works really well but only makes one round soil block at a time. I was so excited about the soil blocks concept, that I decided to order the square 4 soil blocker thinking I would really take advantage of my time and effort. The soil blocker that I bought just did not push out the blocks correctly. Might have been a cheap model, but they all look the same to me.

There is a slight learning curve on making the right consistency of mix so the soil blocks form well and stay together. I had to make the soil mix much wetter than I expected. After a short time, you get the hang of it. Anyway, I hope to use my 4 square soil blocker this year as well as some of the other pots I am trying out.

Is a gardener ever not learning something new? I don't understand what you mean by a soil-less plug. Could you please explain or upload a picture? Thanks.

Soil-less plugs don't use soil. Instead they use a quality peat medium with a binder. These are the ones I really wanted to buy but I can't find them anymore so I looked for an alternative. Ended up buying plugs from Pinetree Garden Seeds. I'm just really particular about what I buy from Amazon or Walmart anymore because most of it is cheap Chinese junk that is simply garbage. I've discovered that a lot of their garden products can contain lead and other heavy metals so I just avoid them.

https://na.quickplug.global/products-stabilized-growing-media/flexiplugs/#:~:text=FlexiPlugs are created by blending,moisture needed for seed germination.

 

[Ascholten]

Thanks for sharing! I appreciate your willingness to help out a fellow gardener!

I did the toilet paper pots last year (below). These started out well but after a few weeks they started getting moldy or just simply fell apart. I'm hoping that using soil-less plugs will help dissuade the mold problem as well as make it easier to tell when it is time to move them to a bigger pot or the ground. I also ordered some Cowpots to try those this year as well!

View attachment 3375085

Got moldy in a few weeks.
Umm yah, that's what they do, and why people use them.
They get moist and start to compost. If you can get the plain brown ones that have not been died white, even better.

Plant the whole thing, in a few weeks, a month or so, the paper has composted, your plant is big enough it needs / has the extra room now, and everyone is happy !

Aaron

 

[pennyJo1960]

Good morning Gardeners. Mother nature is seems to be drinking again ?
66 out here the sun is out.
I have two seed warmers 3 grow lights on plants in the
spare room.

 

[Ascholten]

I'm also a RN, in my previous work life. When I know I will be doing something that is going to bring on the aches and pains later, I might take an aspirin, or two, about 15-20 minutes before I go to work. we call it staying ahead of the pain. I never did that when I was younger, but I am at an age where I need to think about myself first in order to make sure I can take care of my animals.

Unfortunately I am at that stage in life too. The carefree days of young adulthood are long gone, now every step is planned, every move, carefully calculated, with the pills standing by just in case. The day is planned on, how much pain will I be in at XX time so I can still do THIS chore before I have to take a timeout.... Yes you CAN make the pain go away and get your chores all done, feeling pretty good, but the next morning, after you slept for some hours.. once the meds wear off, you KNOW or I should say find out real fast, what you did to yourself in that little escapade of daring doo.

Maybe we need to invest in an automatic feeder /waterer so when we do have these days where we decide, im gonna git this done PERIOD... we are allowed to sleep in, most of the next day and not have to worry about feeding / watering / etc, because it's being done automatically ! unfortunately that don't take care of the daily hugs that are required, expected, and in some instances DEMANDED too!

The cockatoo seems to know when I am hurting and hangs around all concerned. This in itself can add more to the issue because as you said, "need to take care of my animals" which includes, not accidentally falling over on them if something goes wrong and they are following you, or slumping at your feet, or whatever

The chickens couldn't care less which is the way it should be. But still, the day is planned on how to accomplish stuff with minimal added pain. The GOOD thing about having a big boot on my foot is, when they misbehave, a good boot in the backside, now, REALLY sends the message across to knock off the bad behavior !!

Aaron

 

[Ascholten]

Soil Blockers.
long story short - if you want it to work, the soil has to be compacted in them pretty tightly to hold together / bind when you edxtract it, otherwise it falls apart.

it's going to fall apart anyways when you water it if it don't have external something holding it together anyways.. that's just the way it is.

 

[jerryse]

I finally ordered raspberry and grape plants. Some sun today. Next sunny day is Wednesday.

 

[WthrLady]

Our weather is being extremely bipolar. It was 26 degrees this morning. Tomorrow it will be near 70. I'm sure it will swing the other way again in a week or so. I'm hoping my fruits don't get suckered by the mild weather and start budding out....

I saw buds on some of the trees driving home yesterday.

 

[WthrLady]

Good to know I have about 2 weeks max on those toilet paper pots before they fall apart. That's why I am also trying out some plastic pot options this year.

One of my favorite methods is using a soil blocker...

Last year I bought one from Amazon, but it did not push out the blocks very well and I only got an average of one good block at a time, having to redo the other 3 blocks. Too much work. So, I complained to the selller and they determined that my device was defective and sent me out another soil blocker. But the second soil blocker was just as bad. I think they either made it cheaply or the design was bad. I sent it back for a refund.

However, the first "defective" soil blocker was still in my garage. I played around with it later in the summer and with the help of some different nuts and bolts from the hardware store, I got it working pretty well. Unfortunately, by then, it was well past planting season so I never really got to use it. I hope to use it this spring.

Previously, I had made my own PVC soil blocker....

View attachment 3375177

That actually works really well but only makes one round soil block at a time. I was so excited about the soil blocks concept, that I decided to order the square 4 soil blocker thinking I would really take advantage of my time and effort. The soil blocker that I bought just did not push out the blocks correctly. Might have been a cheap model, but they all look the same to me.

There is a slight learning curve on making the right consistency of mix so the soil blocks form well and stay together. I had to make the soil mix much wetter than I expected. After a short time, you get the hang of it. Anyway, I hope to use my 4 square soil blocker this year as well as some of the other pots I am trying out.

Is a gardener ever not learning something new? I don't understand what you mean by a soil-less plug. Could you please explain or upload a picture? Thanks.

The best consistency can be tested by hand. Just squeeze and if it holds shape you're ready to go. The best container for the soil I have found are those curved bottom end concrete mixing trays for $10 at the hardware store. They hold a lot of soil and allow you to scoop, slide, press, and remove the blocker all in one motion up the curved interior

 

[Sueby]

Well, it sounds like you worked out a solution for you. Just wanted to express my sympathies for your situation and understand how one's body can prevent them from doing even simple things at times. My aging body reminds me of that fact daily. Yet, we all strive to find workarounds so we can enjoy those things in life that bring us pleasure.

My whole chicken set up, from the start, was designed so that I would not have to bend over. Even my brooder, which is a tow behind garden cart for the lawn mower, is high enough that I don't have to bend over to tend to the chicks. I don't know what your integration coop is like but was wondering if it was possible to put it higher up on concrete blocks, or something, so you don't have to bend over.

I'm also a RN, in my previous work life. When I know I will be doing something that is going to bring on the aches and pains later, I might take an aspirin, or two, about 15-20 minutes before I go to work. It seems to ease the pain and aches that otherwise would result from the effort. In nursing, we call it staying ahead of the pain. I never did that when I was younger, but I am at an age where I need to think about myself first in order to make sure I can take care of my animals.

Thank you for the very thoughtful post!

This is my integration coop. It really works well for what I use it for, except for post surgery I suppose! I’m not sure if raising it would be worth it or not but its worth mentioning to DH for sure. Being 4 feet deep I’m not sure there is any scenario where I wouldn’t have to bend though to change out puppy pads or grab a chick from the back wall.

I am off all pain meds, just taking muscle relaxers for the spasms I get. I am afraid I’ll be in pain when I start PT next week & the doc said he’d call in more meds if I need but would like me to try acetaminophen before I head out so that is my plan - just like you said! Here’s hoping!