What did you do in the garden today?

[gtaus]

You should top the trays with sr one vermiculite in order to prevent that.

Not understanding exactly what you meant? Typo?

 

[Swiss]

I didn't know that! I might have to plant one. I'm not the biggest fan of pears, but my own fruit would be great, no matter what kind.

Hmmmm.... dried pears....? Wonder how they'd taste...?

I love pears! We have one pear tree that was here when we moved in, and it produces thousands of pears each year. It isn't in range of the sprinkler system, either. So, it takes care of itself. They are extremely astringent, which makes me sad. This year, I'm going to try cooking some to see if it makes them edible.

 

[BReeder!]

I used to buy vermiculite in 3 cubic foot (90 quarts) bags at Menards for about $18.00. They don't sell those big bags anymore. The cheapest vermiculite the store sells is vermiculite in 8-quart bags. That amounts to $50.00 for a 3 cubic foot equivalent bag I used to buy fo $18.00.

Fortunately, I still have half a 3 cubic foot bag of the vermiculite left from before, so I hope to stretch that out.

Vermiculite and perlite are both very expensive to get in quantities needed for gardening. I have resorted to resulting in compost mostly for soil structure and moisture retention because it's something I get for free with a little effort and time. I simply cannot get on board with spending hundreds of dollars to fill a raised bed.

I was lucky with this last round of raised beds because we found miracle grow garden soil on sale at a clearance price. Otherwise those beds would have sat empty until I filled with compost, native soil and other bio matter such as leaves, straw, etc. And honestly, there's plenty of old leaves, straw and native soil in these new beds I filed recently anyway. They'll settle a bit for sure, but typing off with compost each year will help with that. I'll have plenty of compost this fall for topping the raised beds and more next Spring.

 

[CNJ]

For my new potting mix, I have been using something called Pro Mix with Super Soil potting soil at 50/50. I mix the bottom half of my pot with Super Sweet brand/pelleted lime and 10,10,10 fertilizer and the top half with pelleted chicken manure. The first time I mixed it, the run off water came out hot at 4000 on my ec meter, so I cut back on my pelleted chicken manure and brought it down to 2000. The reading on my hydroponic Master Blend comes in at 1500, so that's the range I am comfortable with 1500 to 2000.

The Pro Mix doesn't have any fertilizer, it comes mixed with peat, perlite, and mycorrhiza bacteria, the Super Soil potting soil has peat, compost and manure mixed in it, but it doesn't have enough aeration to be a good potting mix, it needs perlite or small lava rock. I think lava rock is a better alternative, since it doesn't break down like perlite.

I am using the Super Soil as compost, since it out performs my locally made recycled compost sold at the garden shop.

I did a ph test on my Super Sweet lime and it had a neutral 7 ph, so it provide my tomatoes with calcium and doesn't throw anything off. Furthermore, the package says, it prevents blossom end rot on tomatoes, so I use it.

 

[WthrLady]

I used to buy vermiculite in 3 cubic foot (90 quarts) bags at Menards for about $18.00. They don't sell those big bags anymore. The cheapest vermiculite the store sells is vermiculite in 8-quart bags. That amounts to $50.00 for a 3 cubic foot equivalent bag I used to buy fo $18.00.

Fortunately, I still have half a 3 cubic foot bag of the vermiculite left from before, so I hope to stretch that out.



I'll keep that in mind. I'm not opposed to mixing my own starter medium to save money. Thanks.



I know seeds germinate at different times. So do you use germination date plus X number of days, or do you look for the first true leaves to come out and then feed.

BTW, I just learned last night about the difference between the leaves that break the soil and then the first true leaves that follow. Never needed to consider that before when I just planted in ground or bought transplants.

I'm learning a lot about seed starting in a short time and I appreciate all the help from you guys.

The last 3 years I've found it cheaper to buy bricks of promix.

 

[WthrLady]

Pollen numbers for yesterday, plus I took manure and manure dust to the face at least 32 times in the high wind. No wonder my sinus' are going insane today from yesterday.

It's done snowing but the winds are still gusting to 50.
I've got heirloom tomato seeds soaking in kitchen jars. Seed starting starts in just 12 days!

 

[Paz]

Not understanding exactly what you meant? Typo?

Yep, should be some vermiculite

 

[gtaus]

The last 3 years I've found it cheaper to buy bricks of promix.

I am not familiar with Promix. I'll check it out. Thanks.

 

[gtaus]

Yep, should be some vermiculite

Got it. Thanks.

 

[WthrLady]

I am not familiar with Promix. I'll check it out. Thanks.

I get mine from menards