Fisherman's grow blog; Port Lavaca Texas ,Gulf coast

[Fisherman]

Re: Fisherman's grow blog

Many thanks once again Mr Knucklehead,

I want the flue-curing potential . The color curing is good but I live in a hurricane zone and can recall nightmares about moving one's stuff in a hurry.

One such story.....................

Hurricane Elaine came thru southern Alabama and I used to raise gamefowl. I had maybe 200 hens, 100 cocks [co.cks in case censor thing is hooked up] and 200 stags penned plus 400 running loose and even some biddys. Since my town was notorious for seafood production I got a few hundred was 50# seafood boxes and cut holes in ends. The roosters could not quite peck each other doing the holes in the boxes.
At the right time we went to town and got us a motel room. Oh.... we had our 3 chow/bulldog cross dawgs and an assorted amount of poorer relatives in the mix as well as my 4 kids and wife.

We filled the bathroom and closets with boxes.

And settled in for the night.

All went well ............................. Until.......................... some deliquent would turn on a lite

Then all kinds of hell would break loose and we had like 20 minutes of shear bedlam untill they all quieted down again.....

Next day we went home and turned everything back out..... Lost our trailer but the buildings were fine... The few birds we could not catch had went to the fly pens to roost and most were "diced" like potatoes in one of those french fry cutters in their final trip off the roost thru the hexagonal chicken wire.

We have never been back there to that motel and Im sure the workers there judge time with that incident. We didnt make a mess or anything but I am sure regular customers griped a lot.

So yes, I will glean all the infor from Mr DonH and AMaxB's builds and hopefully will have a dual purpose unit that might even be able to be used as a powder coating booth later as well.

Lemme look for the link on the one I am going to copy and I will post it. Seems pretty cheap to build and fireproof as well.

WOnder how much a hailon system would cost just in case??? heh heh

 

[Fisherman]

Re: Fisherman's grow blog

I agree with Knucklehead that air curing Virginia works fine. I don't have a kiln and my air cured VA tastes just as good as flue cured, just the same really. The big difference is in the color. It is more yellow than that nice orange color.

Yeah yellow might not be as eye apealling but that is not our purpose really. I just want to stick it to the man myself. And in a few years when I may be able to retire, I need to get expences down as well.
Many thanks for replys and I will be reading your blogs as well

Mike

 

[Fisherman]

Re: Fisherman's grow blog

thanks Knucklehead

Mr AmaxB ,

Your build blog is fixing to be studied and restudied like one has never been before...........................
I am here rooting for you on a grand scale as well...
As soon as I get the link for the powder-coating booth I will pas it on to you and maybe you might like the more fireproof components.......
My ex's call me obsessive and compulsive... They are probably right but the diagnosis they present based on Oprah Winfrey's list of "How to train a husband" is utter BS>
:"Hope for the best--Plan for the worst " and "Go Big... Just in case" are good mottos!

Mike

http://chappellcustoms.com/2011/12/building-a-large-powder-coat-oven/

Lacks your air baffle but is nice frame.... In the case of the flue chamber there is no need for the 2 stove elements for sure

http://www.smecca.com/2012/05/how-to-build-a-powder-coating-oven/

This one is also good. It gives insulation requirement for the 400-600 deg F temps needed to powder coat.
ALSO has a version that is made of aluminum rolls from Lowes that can withstand the higher humidity requirement of a flue chamber...
I priced 22 guage sheet metal and a 4x10 sheet here locally was about $37.04 pluss tax and 7 1/2 sheets needed for my planned unit 6x8x8.

Mike

 

[johnlee1933]

Re: Fisherman's grow blog

Wonder how much a halon system would cost just in case??? heh heh

I know you were joking but in case someone is considering Halon surf the net a bit about it's hazards. It contains several extremely toxic / poisonous materials. In it's place (airplane engine fires, chemical storage fires, etc.) it is very useful. IMO it is NOT for your average user.

 

[Fisherman]

Re: Fisherman's grow blog

3-28-13:

Have 144 plants outside and I think pretty well hardened off and 2 flats full that ware less farther along and need clipping.. Man i had doing that to the lil fellas but will anyway.. It seems to help and will buy time as well as save space........ They took in a full day of sun yesterday and spent the night outside but it was only like 55 deg F but lots better on the sun than before. Daytime temps were like 68 tho...

Will wait to plant until I see roots growing in the clear solo cups they were transplanted into. I guess due to the many recipes for potting mix there are out there I will experiment and start putting out a few into containers.

On that subject I read where sterile potting mix needs inoculating with micro-organisms and the easiest way to do that is add compost ... I will be using some fancy scientific additives as well in case compost is dead.... One set of fungi helps the tobacco plant build resistance and pick up nutrients in 90% of cases..

I think my addiction with video games may finally take a back seat to more productive endeavors and get me a lil more excersize too.

Mike

 

[Fisherman]

Re: Fisherman's grow blog

I know you were joking but in case someone is considering Halon surf the net a bit about it's hazards. It contains several extremely toxic / poisonous materials. In it's place (airplane engine fires, chemical storage fires, etc.) it is very useful. IMO it is NOT for your average user.

This is why forums are so important! It is a group of like minded people who share same intrests and contribute towards the same goal and watch out for each other..
Thanks johnlee

Mike

 

[Fisherman]

Re: Fisherman's grow blog

3-28-13:

It has been 4 trying days since repotting 144 plants into clear solo cups. Poor lil fellas went thru sunstroke, wind damage, clipping and almost freezing temps and now are showing signs of making it. Still havent lost any completely including those that took direct hit with the 2x4 prop from the tarp falling on them....

look at the roots!!!!!!!!! Not all have them but is a start.. Wanna bet topmmorw will see majority with them showing??? Once I shut lights [the first time i shut them off] trying to slow them down and the whole flat put out 1 1/2" roots in darkness!



Yes plants are over watered and showing on some leaves. And the ones that are drying out other than the damaged ones are going to start growing roots better soon I am sure. Will watch to see if the clear cups kill roots before setting a cover cup over them.
The flats on bottom right of one pic shows 6 dozen plants to flat. All same age....



All plants are almost 6 weeks old. Maybe 5% show roots thru cups.

 

[BarG]

Re: Fisherman's grow blog

Yes sir.....

I am hoping to build a 6 x 8 x 8 kiln with metal 2x4's and tin roofing material on walls roof and for floor maybe sheetmetal or even wood.... Was gonna use rivets but am thinking maybe just self tapping screws to secure the tin with.... for heat maybe a stove element or a few burners and a fan inside and humidifier or in my case a dehumidifier would be called for..... I found the controls I want and is matter of paying for them later.

Wonder how many leaves it would handle????

I can't remember if you can add green leaves to kiln and color cure them totally in kiln???? I have few remaining brain cells and am not tying to many up right now towards curing but am weaning/re-training a few at a time towards that arena.

Worry about mold if left to the elements and not enclosed for a late grow air cure.

 

[squeezyjohn]

Re: Fisherman's grow blog

Wow Fisherman! I am very envious of your earlier season!!! And for your plants to look that good in 6 weeks is something I couldn't hope for here. Mine are exactly 3 weeks in now and are just opening out their microscopic first true leaves.

They sound like they've been well and truly HARDENED off!

 

[Fisherman]

Re: Fisherman's grow blog

3-29-12:

Plants now 6 weeks old............. I think we lost one finally....... plant that is.................. He is still green at crown of 1 leaf but it isnt but maybe 1/2 " long.....

He just had to much to contend with in his lil short life....

But the rest are doing ok except for some waterspotting I am hoping. It is just a few plants and leaves.

Will plant 20-30 this week and I guess will do them in 2 parts peat, 1 part composted horse manure and 1 part vermiculite as well as some lime and epson salts.

Should plant control group in miracle grow just as control.

I liked the cotton burr compost but am a little worried about the migration to the bottom of the pot that the manufacturer warns about. Tho by bottom watering I really dont think would be a problem??? It was good mix to pot in tho for sure.

Still havent decided the mix and set it in stone.. Guess I should do my part for the group and just try a load of stuff

 

[Chicken]

Re: Fisherman's grow blog

your plants look great,

normally mine are that big by now,

damn im off to a late start,

 

[Fisherman]

Re: Fisherman's grow blog

3-31-13:

Well first plants in buckets............ Lemme tell ye aright now... Mixing potting soil in a short wheelbarrow really sucks

We got a few experimental mixs going.... And are using wicks also.

Mix #1:
1 part peat
1 part cotton burr compost
2/5 part vermiculite
1 cup hydrated lime. 1 handful epsom salts
2 gallon water. Mixed the water with the peat and vermiculite and then added compost.

Mix #2:
2 parts peat
1 part horse manure and compost from Happy Gro...[ cheap]
2/5 vermiculite or pearlite
1 cup hydrated lime 1 handful epsom salts
2 gallons water. Mixed water , lime and epsom salts with peat then added rest.

Mix #3:
2 parts peat
2 parts cheap compost that was lots of bark.....
1 cup lime 1 handfull epsom salts
2/5 pearlite or vermiculite
2 1/2 gallons water. Mixed water , lime and epsom salts with peat then added rest. Reason here was that one post on a gardening site said the bark would make air better and drain better and last longer.

We planted total of 31 buckets and added some wicks to a few and labeled all... Roots were pretty established in solo cups and plants are really hardened off to the point they were able to stand all day today in bright sun and 78-80 deg F temps.

Here is cost for 144 solo cups and 31 buckets........... soil wise:


1 bag @ 3.8 cubic feet peat moss [from local garden shop @$12 ]
2 bags @ 3 cubic feet peat moss [from Lowes @ $9.74 a bag ]
6 8quart bags pearlite/vermiculite from Lowes at $ a bag
5 40# bags cow manure/compost [ cheap from Lowes.. $1.50 a bag ]
1 bag 2 cubic feet cotton burr compost
1 bag @ 2 cubic feet cheap compost [mostly bark tho really fine textured from Lowes like $3 a bag. Is forestry products but does smell a lil composty] ]


Total so far is around $2.40 a bucket and maybe can lower it a little more using Tractor Supply for peat. They had 2 cubes for $3.5 or 4 cubes for $7 which is cheaper. Will check their compost as well.

Add that to cost of buckets that is $5.50 plus grow cup which was like >$0.35 or total $5.85 PLUS cost of rain gutters.....................

24' rain gutter cost is:
2 8' 2x4 @ $5
2 16' 2x4 @ $10
2 rain gutter 10' sections @ $5
2 gutter end caps @ $5
Or $50 per unit PLUS float switch @ $7 for total of $$57 plus silicon and screws.... say $ 6 or total of $63 and they hold 23 plants. or another $2.50 per plant..........

That is starting to add up.............. But the treated wood and the vinyl gutter and the buckets should hold up a few seasons.....

Anyway it is still sticking it to the man a little so is worth it.... Which reminds me I gotta go to dam court in the morning for a dam ticket I got from a mean lil witch of a city cop for my liscence plate being faded..... grrrrrrrrrrrrr

If i dissappear please send smokes to Port Lavaca City jail in care of me. Mike

Todays video.... Sheila doesn't know just yet how to operate the camera... It never shut off recording for 40 minutes

 

[Chicken]

Re: Fisherman's grow blog

i dont think you can go wrong with any of those mixes,

i'd be watching the one you put the lime in,,, the 3'rd mix,

 

[Fisherman]

Re: Fisherman's grow blog

i dont think you can go wrong with any of those mixes,

i'd be watching the one you put the lime in,,, the 3'rd mix,

No nitrogen you think? Also it was same lime the hydrated kind.. I didnt write it down rite.



2 cu ft Compost

• Contains 100%, high-quality, organic, composted forest products
• Helps aerate soil, stimulate root growth, and improve drainage in clay soils and water retention in sandy soils
• For indoor and outdoor plants
• All-organic material

PS: went to court... got $20 fine and fella came up to judge rite after me got the max for same violation. heh heh...........
But Karma is a fickel bidge.... I was gone from home 1 hour and had my parts laying on porch to add to outboard and some jerk stole a $200 pluging for my control box I had just bought last friday. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[AmaxB]

Re: Fisherman's grow blog

Hey Fisherman
Just went through an read the last half of your grow blog am loving it! Need to learn and can see I have found a good spot liked the video to. Going to post #1 of your blog and read the 1st half.

 

[Fisherman]

Re: Fisherman's grow blog

Thanks Mr Amax.....

4-1-13:

Finished off 2 24' gutters with 46 buckets total.....

Made 2 more mix's and there should not be a way in heaven for some to grow sucessfully without human interference I am thinking

Mix # 4:
4 qt vermiculite
3/4 part Happy Cow manure [says composted cow manure on bag]
3/4 part Composted Chicken manure [this was composted good or not chicken crap at all ]
2 parts peat
4 gallons water [ the peat I used was one hella hard to soak and wet!]
1 cup hydrated lime and 1 handfull epsom salts

Only made a few buckets of this.

Mix #5:
4 qt vermiculite
1 part Happy Cow 100% composted forest products... stuff resembles shredded pine bark with a hint of cedar....cheap]
1 part Composted Chicken manure [this was composted good or not chicken crap at all ]
2 parts peat
4 gallons water [ the peat I used was one hella hard to soak and wet!]
1 cup hydrated lime and 1 handfull epsom salts

Made 10 or so buckets of this.....

So all in all I will have some sort of showing in the active growing side of the venture until the roots hit all that compost OR the stuff starts composting and robs all the nitrogen from the plants...........

Still have 6 flats of plants plus original germination flats crammed full and doing well.......... I have not been watering or fertilizing to keep them held back and it works. Healthy but not growing at any good rate. Got 4 of the flats almost hardened as to sun anyway.

Will repot 2 more flats this week after the rain into solo cups and am sending 3 north to Tyler with Sheila when she goes home after we launch the boat Wednesday or thursday... Her brother and nephew and son want to try a few and I will help them with curing and all later if they need it.

No video today but the 2 gutters look really good. Not a sign of witl today and some of the solo cups were really really dry and loaded with roots too.

Home Depot has good price on buckets today.. Free delivery to your house too
http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/100672...-_-100087613-_-100672960-_-N#customer_reviews

 

[Knucklehead]

Re: Fisherman's grow blog

This is a very interesting blog to follow along with. You're introducing new methods to me. I'm looking forward to see how all this works out for you. I'm definately pulling for you. Git er done.

 

[Markw]

Re: Fisherman's grow blog

I love some of your soil mixes I have made some of my own this year, well playing around trying things. The biggest problem I am having is finding a mix for float trays a wicking compost as we can't get this mix over here. Your plants look very good and healthy.

 

[AmaxB]

Re: Fisherman's grow blog

I really like the trough & Bucket idea and different soil mixes will be watching, looks hot there.

 

[Fisherman]

Re: Fisherman's grow blog

Is in mid to upper 70's F and sun.. We missed the rain so I wattered and tryed full strength miracle gro to systems and they drank about 2 gallons per gutter.... I am either gonna grow something big and quick or go out in a flash

I should be waiting for the roots to hit the new medium before adding that miracle gro but got impatient..... I had to see if adding fertilizer to bottom was gonna work or just sit there and get richer thru evaporation.... I don't have the floats set up right now so I can see what uptake of the plants will be. I am just thankfull for the plants finally hardening off.

Gonna put a sign on the road offering 3 plants for a 5-gallon bucket i think.............. I got to many plants