2015 Knucklehead Grow Blog

[CT Tobaccoman]

I seed direct to soil in the cells. Then weed out and move around seedlings until I end up with one healthy seedling per cell. The seedlings will remain in the cells until transplant to the patch, given a haircut as they begin to crowd each other.

Same way i do it

 

[Knucklehead]

My seedlings are supposed to be hardening off but I've only had one day of sunshine since they've been outside. With the rain I'm getting they are spending about as much time under the camper shell as they are out on the tailgate. Too wet to till the patch. My target planting date is three days away but there's no way. I'm in a weather holding pattern.

 

[Knucklehead]

Even the dogs have sense enough to stay on the porch.

 

[DGBAMA]

Looking good.

No tilling for me either this weekend. But with my plants slow starting this year, I still have at least a couple weeks before they are ready.

 

[Brown Thumb]

There looking good. Knucks
Another Hair Cut?

 

[Knucklehead]

There looking good. Knucks
Another Hair Cut?

I may have to. The weather forecast is showing rain about every three days for the next ten. Maybe two days of sunshine.

 

[khoaibong2422]

hi friend

 

[Knucklehead]

hi friend

Hey, brother, how's that crop coming along?

 

[Knucklehead]

Oh, happy day! I'm planted out!

Seedlings right before planting. They got their last haircut exactly two weeks ago. I wanted some good leaf at planting to act as a solar panel (source) to generate some good energy for the roots (load). I'm really happy with the seedling this year. They rival the ones I bought from Bigbonner two years ago. The stems are as thick as a #2 pencil.


The planted patch. The white stuff all over the patch is AZOMITE trace minerals (67 minerals). I took JBD's advice and bought some for my yard and for the patch. It is supposed to revitalize depleted soils and help plants take up the N-P-K. I used more composted manure this year so no chemical fertilizers so far. The AZOMITE is organic and is mined in Utah. I researched it pretty good before using it. I used about 34 lbs. on the patch, and the rest of it on the yard. No one around me sold it so I ordered two 44 lb. bags from Amazon with free shipping: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000E7MTTO/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1429920955&sr=1&keywords=AZOMITE

AZOMITE website: http://www.azomite.com/

The left row is 48 VA 355 Dark Air.
The right row is 48 MD 609 Maryland
The center row is 4 plants each of 17 varieties for seed production.



It's supposed to start another series of rain and storms tonight for several days. I just did beat the rain. Anticipating the rain, two days ago I added water and Macho (generic Admire) to my bottom trays. I didn't water the plants in today because I thought the rain would just wash away the Macho, so I plan to add water and Macho at half strength as soon as we get a period without rain. Anyway, that's the plan. (If you want to hear God laugh, tell him you have plans)

 

[ArizonaDave]

Beautiful looking rows there Knucklehead! Nice!

 

[leverhead]

... It's supposed to start another series of rain and storms tonight for several days...

You should be getting used to this by now. Those rows are pretty straight for Alabama. : )

 

[DGBAMA]

Looks good. I might get to do mine next weekend. They are still too small.

 

[POGreen]

Looks good. I might get to do mine next weekend. They are still too small.

Just the opposite here DGB , mine are too big and I have 2 very leggy varieties , a Burley from Spain and Bahia.

 

[Boboro]

You off to a good start. Im stuck in the mud.

 

[deluxestogie]

Azomite contains 180 ppm of Thorium (http://www.azomite.com/resources/coa.pdf), which is ~30 times the naturally occurring concentration in "average" soils. Thorium is always radioactive (http://periodictable.com/Elements/Radioactive/). The question of plant uptake of Thorium becomes relevant. Apparently Thorium is concentrated by tobacco roots, but not significantly transported to the leaves (https://books.google.com/books?id=i...BA#v=onepage&q=thorium uptake tobacco&f=false).

The root systems of grasses and weeds adsorb thorium from the soil but the transport of thorium from the root to the aboveground parts of the plant is not very extensive, as indicated by l00-fold higher concentrations of all three isotopes (thorium-228, thorium-230, and thorium-232) in the root than in the aboveground parts of the plant (Taskayev et al. 1986).

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp147-c5.pdf

Only a small amount of the thorium that you breathe or swallow in food, water, or soil enters your blood. One animal study has shown that thorium can enter the body if it is placed on the skin. After breathing thorium, you will usually sneeze, cough, or breathe out some of it within minutes. Some forms of thorium can stay in your lungs for long periods of time. However, in most cases, the small amount of thorium left in your lungs will leave your body in the feces and urine within days. After you eat or drink thorium, almost all of it leaves your body in the feces. The small amount of thorium left in your body may enter your bones from the blood and stay there for many years. The main way thorium will enter your body is by breathing dust contaminated with thorium.

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/PHS/PHS.asp?id=658&tid=121

I would not be too worried about the use of Azomite during one season, so long as the tobacco roots are not plowed back into the soil. My concern would be the accumulation of soil Thorium following years of repeated application of Azomite, since it does not easily leach from the soil ("The contamination of groundwater through the transport of thorium from soil to groundwater will not occur in most soils..." http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp147-c5.pdf).

Bob

 

[Brown Thumb]

There looking Good. You are off to a great start.
Good luck with the weather.

 

[Smokin Harley]

Looks good there buddy !

 

[rainmax]

Bravo Wallace. As always everything is in the right place. Strait line.
Did you plant them on your own or you have some help this year? You don't sound like an old man with pain all over your body like we all do last year.
I know I will be in pain.
Good luck...

 

[Knucklehead]

Did you plant them on your own or you have some help this year? You don't sound like an old man with pain all over your body like we all do last year.
Good luck...

It was a busy five days without rain. I had to do a lot of yard work also. The patch was very moist and I tilled it seven times over two days trying to break it up as much as possible. It was still a little clumpy but my soil melts down in the rain but sets up like cement when it is dry. I put out 200 lbs. fertilizer, 50 lbs of seed on the yard, 88 lbs. AZOMITE on the patch and yard and planted the seedlings. The AZOMITE is like talcum powder and has to be broadcast by hand, it won't feed through a seeder. I mowed about 6 acres of grass at my house, my father's house, and around the pond. I'm sore all over. I've been laying around the house all day like a slug. Which reminds me, I need to put out some Sluggo in the patch.

 

[deluxestogie]

All I did was weed (not even till) 3 small beds yesterday. I don't hurt all over, but just my back and hips. And hands. I guess my feet hurt too.

You've done a major job there, Knucks.


Bob

EDIT: AND...congrats on reaching Level One Guru!