Search
Latest topics
» Kiwi's SFG Adventureby KiwiSFGnewbie Today at 12:57 am
» Compost from Five Different Sources
by Chris Bobbitt Today at 12:25 am
» Sourdough Starter
by Jjean59 Yesterday at 9:01 pm
» Indoor seed starting question
by Simso Yesterday at 8:30 pm
» finished my SGF garden
by OhioGardener Yesterday at 7:17 pm
» need specific advice on MM
by plantoid 3/23/2023, 6:43 pm
» Senseless Banter...
by OhioGardener 3/22/2023, 8:11 pm
» After harvest, leave the roots in or remove
by Mikesgardn 3/22/2023, 7:53 pm
» Greenhouse - Helpful Hints in Setting up a Wood-Framed Greenhouse
by Scorpio Rising 3/22/2023, 7:46 pm
» Sifted Peat
by danieggert 3/22/2023, 4:21 pm
» Best choice of pot to plant my seedling
by markqz 3/22/2023, 1:30 pm
» Responding to a specific post
by OhioGardener 3/22/2023, 9:55 am
» N&C Midwest: March & April 2023
by Scorpio Rising 3/21/2023, 10:17 pm
» Think Spring 2023
by MrBooker 3/20/2023, 7:59 am
» Sifting Compost for Newbies
by sanderson 3/20/2023, 3:47 am
» Too cold to put my new MM into my raised beds?? and Facebook SFG site
by sanderson 3/20/2023, 3:39 am
» Harvesting small amounts from iceberg lettuce, caulliflower, broccoli, cabbage etc.
by sanderson 3/20/2023, 3:37 am
» Epsom salts for your veggie garden??
by sanderson 3/19/2023, 11:37 pm
» seed starting Mel's way
by bigtoad 3/17/2023, 9:26 pm
» shop lights vs grow lights
by sanderson 3/17/2023, 1:53 am
» trellis netting square size
by sanderson 3/16/2023, 10:45 pm
» Ohio Gardener's Greenhouse
by OhioGardener 3/16/2023, 5:20 pm
» Raised Beds from 48" Culvert
by wargarden2017 3/16/2023, 11:19 am
» Baby Pools as Beds?!
by Jjean59 3/15/2023, 3:54 pm
» March: What to plant in Northern California and Central Valley areas
by sanderson 3/15/2023, 3:52 pm
» So. California & Inland Valleys -March / April Planting Guide
by sanderson 3/15/2023, 2:22 pm
» Biosolids / Humanure Compost?
by OhioGardener 3/14/2023, 1:45 pm
» Hello Form the Bitterroot Valley of Montana
by sanderson 3/14/2023, 4:52 am
» Renewing Mel's Mix
by anne 3/13/2023, 8:16 pm
» help refuting a raised bed critic
by sanderson 3/13/2023, 2:26 pm
Google
Knocked off the cobwebs & fired it up
+7
littlesapphire
KelliK
elliephant
walshevak
RoOsTeR
boffer
acara
11 posters
Page 1 of 1
Knocked off the cobwebs & fired it up
acara 5/6/2012, 8:54 pm
Finally got some time to get the SFG boxes going.
Nowhere near my usually ambitious planting ... but it's a start.
This seasons planting (4 x 4 box only, so far)...
Tomato; Sweet 100's (x4), back row
Tomato; Phoenix hybrid (x2), LHS, row 2/3
Tomato; Cherokee Purple (x4) Center 4 squares
Bell Peppers; Yellow(1), Orange(1), Green(2), Red(2) for the balance.
Nothing glamourous, but mama (and hopefully, baby) like the grape/spoon varieties, mama likes her peppers, the Phoenix will set/fruit in high temps ...and I still get my favorite ... the black tom's.
I rehabbed the "frankenstein box". It's a little more low-tech, but should still handle my local high winds. Still using the automatic drip irrigation from previous seasons. I'm also pleased to report that my boxes/equipment & Mel's mix are no worse for the wear, after the 18 months of neglect
Link to pics HERE
Nowhere near my usually ambitious planting ... but it's a start.
This seasons planting (4 x 4 box only, so far)...
Tomato; Sweet 100's (x4), back row
Tomato; Phoenix hybrid (x2), LHS, row 2/3
Tomato; Cherokee Purple (x4) Center 4 squares
Bell Peppers; Yellow(1), Orange(1), Green(2), Red(2) for the balance.
Nothing glamourous, but mama (and hopefully, baby) like the grape/spoon varieties, mama likes her peppers, the Phoenix will set/fruit in high temps ...and I still get my favorite ... the black tom's.
I rehabbed the "frankenstein box". It's a little more low-tech, but should still handle my local high winds. Still using the automatic drip irrigation from previous seasons. I'm also pleased to report that my boxes/equipment & Mel's mix are no worse for the wear, after the 18 months of neglect
Link to pics HERE
acara-
Posts : 1012
Join date : 2010-08-27
Age : 53
Location : Wesley Chapel, Florida (Zone 9)
Re: Knocked off the cobwebs & fired it up
boffer 5/6/2012, 9:03 pm
Welcome back! Glad to hear that mama and baby are doing well. Did you ever get beyond your aversion to sunshine?
I might get some tomatoes this year for a change, and am sure to need some hand holding from an expert!
I might get some tomatoes this year for a change, and am sure to need some hand holding from an expert!
boffer- Posts : 7392
Join date : 2010-02-26
Age : 70
Location : yelm, wa, usa -
Re: Knocked off the cobwebs & fired it up
RoOsTeR 5/6/2012, 9:24 pm
One bed's better than none and it looks great 
I especially like the automatic drip stystem
I especially like the automatic drip stystem
I am my gardens worst enemy.
RoOsTeR- Posts : 4316
Join date : 2011-10-04
Location : Colorado Front Range
Re: Knocked off the cobwebs & fired it up
acara 5/6/2012, 9:32 pm
boffer wrote: Did you ever get beyond your aversion to sunshine?
Unknown ... but I'm staying covered up, just in case. No I'll effects from being out yesterday/today though .... errr, yet
acara- Posts : 1012
Join date : 2010-08-27
Age : 53
Location : Wesley Chapel, Florida (Zone 9)
Re: Knocked off the cobwebs & fired it up
walshevak 5/7/2012, 9:32 am
So glad to see the tomato guru back. Need update pic of Connor as well.
Kay
Kay
A WEED IS A FLOWER GROWING IN THE WRONG PLACE
Elizabeth City, NC
Click for weather forecast
walshevak
Certified SFG Instructor-
Posts : 4374
Join date : 2010-10-17
Age : 80
Location : wilmington, nc zone 8
Re: Knocked off the cobwebs & fired it up
elliephant 5/7/2012, 9:44 am
I see you are using 4 gph drip irrigation. How long/often do you run it?
elliephant- Posts : 842
Join date : 2010-04-09
Age : 47
Location : southern tip of Texas zone 9
Wait a minute!
KelliK 5/7/2012, 10:06 am
You can put 1 tomato in 1 square?! Please tell me yes, so I can double my tomato love...
KelliK- Posts : 46
Join date : 2012-03-27
Location : Manassas VA 20110
Re: Knocked off the cobwebs & fired it up
littlesapphire 5/7/2012, 10:09 am
KelliK, you certainly CAN put 1 tomato in 1 square. Just make sure of two things:
1: The tomato variety is indeterminate (vining type)
2: You trellis it so it grows up instead of along the ground
Acara, good luck with your garden! Tomatoes are the best veggie for busy people
1: The tomato variety is indeterminate (vining type)
2: You trellis it so it grows up instead of along the ground
Acara, good luck with your garden! Tomatoes are the best veggie for busy people
littlesapphire- Posts : 826
Join date : 2010-04-08
Age : 38
Location : Jamestown, NY (Zone 5a) -
Re: Knocked off the cobwebs & fired it up
elliephant 5/7/2012, 10:12 am
littlesapphire wrote:KelliK, you certainly CAN put 1 tomato in 1 square. Just make sure of two things:
1: The tomato variety is indeterminate (vining type)
2: You trellis it so it grows up instead of along the ground
Acara, good luck with your garden! Tomatoes are the best veggie for busy people
I would add
3: You keep on top of the pruning.
elliephant- Posts : 842
Join date : 2010-04-09
Age : 47
Location : southern tip of Texas zone 9
Re: Knocked off the cobwebs & fired it up
CarolinaGirl 5/7/2012, 10:25 am
elliephant wrote:littlesapphire wrote:KelliK, you certainly CAN put 1 tomato in 1 square. Just make sure of two things:
1: The tomato variety is indeterminate (vining type)
2: You trellis it so it grows up instead of along the ground
Acara, good luck with your garden! Tomatoes are the best veggie for busy people
I would add
3: You keep on top of the pruning.
Ditto #3, super important!! I literally am out there almost daily pruning off suckers and trying to keep the sweet 100 cherry from going crazy and sometimes I still feel like it's gonna take over everything lol. Next year... it gets two spots lol.
CarolinaGirl- Posts : 98
Join date : 2012-03-26
Location : Summerville, SC
Re: Knocked off the cobwebs & fired it up
kbb964 5/7/2012, 11:10 am
Please tell me about the Epsom salts?
I have an ready supply having an injury prone athlete and an old man who thinks he is a teenager, in the house.
I have an ready supply having an injury prone athlete and an old man who thinks he is a teenager, in the house.
kbb964- Posts : 317
Join date : 2012-03-28
Age : 60
Location : Rochester Hills, Michigan
Re: Knocked off the cobwebs & fired it up
elliephant 5/7/2012, 11:45 am
Inspired by your return, I went out and did some major pruning of my tomatoes and cukes! I'd totally forgotten how you'd inspired me to do so last year.
elliephant- Posts : 842
Join date : 2010-04-09
Age : 47
Location : southern tip of Texas zone 9
Re: Knocked off the cobwebs & fired it up
acara 5/7/2012, 12:28 pm
elliephant wrote:I see you are using 4 gph drip irrigation. How long/often do you run it?
30 min ..
1x/daily (6AM) < 85-F
2x/daily (6AM, 4PM) >85-F
acara- Posts : 1012
Join date : 2010-08-27
Age : 53
Location : Wesley Chapel, Florida (Zone 9)
Re: Knocked off the cobwebs & fired it up
acara 5/7/2012, 12:31 pm
elliephant wrote:Inspired by your return, I went out and did some major pruning of my tomatoes and cukes! I'd totally forgotten how you'd inspired me to do so last year.
LOL ... a handful a day keeps the diseases away !!! At least for toms
acara- Posts : 1012
Join date : 2010-08-27
Age : 53
Location : Wesley Chapel, Florida (Zone 9)
Re: Knocked off the cobwebs & fired it up
acara 5/7/2012, 1:00 pm
kbb964 wrote:Please tell me about the Epsom salts?
I have an ready supply having an injury prone athlete and an old man who thinks he is a teenager, in the house.
It's just magnesium sulphate.
if you believe the hype
, it's a catalyst to allow the plant to access/utilize calcium in the substrate (soil).Theory is ... even if you add calcium, the plants may not be able to use it (either due to plant type type, age or pH).
Calcium deficinecy is believed to be the primary cause of blossum end rot (BER).
So in addition to adding calcium, aging the substrate (some forms of calcium take a long time to break down and aren't immediately available to plants) and keeping the watering constant; I add the Epsom Salt to keep the calciim available to the plant & minimize/prevent BER on my tomatoes.
acara- Posts : 1012
Join date : 2010-08-27
Age : 53
Location : Wesley Chapel, Florida (Zone 9)
Re: Knocked off the cobwebs & fired it up
acara 5/7/2012, 1:10 pm
walshevak wrote:So glad to see the tomato guru back. Need update pic of Connor as well.
Kay
acara- Posts : 1012
Join date : 2010-08-27
Age : 53
Location : Wesley Chapel, Florida (Zone 9)
Re: Knocked off the cobwebs & fired it up
FamilyGardening 5/7/2012, 3:09 pm
where do you put the Epsom salts?...in the hole when planting? or above ground around the tom?
thanks
rose
thanks
rose
FamilyGardening- Posts : 2424
Join date : 2011-05-10
Location : Western WA
Re: Knocked off the cobwebs & fired it up
acara 5/7/2012, 3:21 pm
FamilyGardening wrote:where do you put the Epsom salts?...in the hole when planting? or above ground around the tom?
thanks
rose
Yes
I actually put a teaspoon in when I put the tom's in the ground/box and them wait until the plant blossoms.
After that, I put 1 tbsp/foot of plant height, around the base, about every 2 weeks.
Thers also a "legend" that if you dissolve Epsom in warm water & spray it on the tomatos while they are developing, it will thicken the skin and prevent cracking. Personally, I've never been able to validate that one & don't consider it "gospel"....just my $.02
I''ll vouch for the "less BER with Epsom" rumor though
acara- Posts : 1012
Join date : 2010-08-27
Age : 53
Location : Wesley Chapel, Florida (Zone 9)
Re: Knocked off the cobwebs & fired it up
givvmistamps 5/7/2012, 3:56 pm
Hi Acara, I'm the new Coastal & Tropical South host. I see you're an experienced gardener with an absolutely adorable little guy there to keep you busy. I look forward to watching your tomatoes as they grow! I think I'll use the epsom salts on my tomatoes to see how it works. Can you use it with any other crops?
givvmistamps- Posts : 862
Join date : 2012-04-01
Age : 51
Location : Lake City, (NE) FL; USDA Hardiness Zone 8b, AHS Heat Zone 9, Sunset Zone 28
Re: Knocked off the cobwebs & fired it up
acara 5/7/2012, 6:08 pm
The whole "Epsom salt thing" is "folklore" at best ... but the prevant rumor is that it is pretty close to fact for peppers and toms.
My OPINION is that because toms and peppers use so much calcium while bearing produce, it never hurts. However, if you read enough garden journals, you'll eventually see a case where excessive Epsom is reported to have "burned" a crop.
I've allso heard it has benefits when added to roses ... but again, garden-voodoo.
I can't say I've ever seen anyone report "burning" tom's/peppers, so I consider it safe on those two. However, I've gardened mostly in the Southeast, where our "dirt" sucks, and adding almost anything to it is an improvement
When in doubt, have a soil test run and then use the Epsom if your pH, magnesium and sulfur are all in tolerance/range ...thats the safe bet.
My OPINION is that because toms and peppers use so much calcium while bearing produce, it never hurts. However, if you read enough garden journals, you'll eventually see a case where excessive Epsom is reported to have "burned" a crop.
I've allso heard it has benefits when added to roses ... but again, garden-voodoo.
I can't say I've ever seen anyone report "burning" tom's/peppers, so I consider it safe on those two. However, I've gardened mostly in the Southeast, where our "dirt" sucks, and adding almost anything to it is an improvement
When in doubt, have a soil test run and then use the Epsom if your pH, magnesium and sulfur are all in tolerance/range ...thats the safe bet.
acara- Posts : 1012
Join date : 2010-08-27
Age : 53
Location : Wesley Chapel, Florida (Zone 9)
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum|
|
|