Robncars 2022 Grow

[Knucklehead]

Wow. Those cages are nice and so are your plants.

 

[Robncars]

Wow. Those cages are nice and so are your plants.

Thanks.

 

[Robncars]

I cleaned the seeds i saved last year and I'm thinking of just sprinking them out and see if they'll grow.

 

[Knucklehead]

Enter "guerilla grow" in the search box.

 

[Robncars]

Its raining a lot now. Its been quite a few years since I've seen rain a week straight. And another week forecasted. I put 10 white gold out before it started. They looked good yesterday morning ill see if they are ok today still.

 

[Robncars]

The white gold is looking good. I put out Java basuki this morning. I don't have many. The milk jugs and the cloches don't seem to have any difference yet only time will truly tell. But those clear cloches are like $2 a price so I may have to live with milk jugs. I'm mulching around both heavily against any sudden cold. It got pretty cold last week nothing below 32 but close to frost 36 sometimes and all of the white gold looks healthy still.


Java basuki, I think I'll lose 2 of these but maybe they will come out of their funk in soil.

 

[deluxestogie]

Java Besuki works well as a wrapper and as filler.

Bob

 

[Robncars]

Java Besuki works well as a wrapper and as filler.

Bob

I put it in for a wrapper. If those grasshoppers get out of hand I'm going to put my chicken wire bug zapper idea in place

 

[Robncars]

I just read where ketchup has a ph of 3.5. I wonder if it would lower the soil pH meaningfully.

 

[deluxestogie]

Ketchup is made with vinegar = acetic acid.

Bob

 

[Robncars]

Thanks @deluxestogie , I don't know what that means to tobacco though lol

 

[deluxestogie]

It specifically means that you should put the ketchup on your burgers, along with a slice of pickle.

Bob

 

[Robncars]

So in a surprise turn of events the milk jugs are outperforming the store bought cloches.

 

[deluxestogie]

Can you post a closeup photo of a cloche?

Bob

 

[Robncars]

Can you post a closeup photo of a cloche?

Bob

Cloches -(don't mind the dead seedling I didn't really think that one was going to live


With cloches

With milk jugs.

Same variety, right next to each other, and consistent with the whole bed.

 

[Robncars]

Those 6/7 pictured above went through Temps as low as 34 for 3 days including snow. If they all survive then I would conclude milk jugs (maybe the cloche) will protect a seedling from dangerous frost. I think the problem with the cloche is it intensifies the sun too much. It probably got too hot inside. They have vents on top so it is probably my fault if that is the case, however I didn't vent the milk jugs either. In that case the gallon jugs are easier to use.

 

[Robncars]

Next year I should get a far better start. I was able to get a lot(almost 30) of 32 (10X20) seed starter trays.

That should help get them started better than the 72 count has.

 

[Robncars]

I put my last 15 in the ground.

They are covered now with mulch but I forgot the end picture in time for this.



These are the ones that have been in for a little while now.
It seems the hardening off with milk jugs is working. Let them get established and rooted good then the sun doesn't seem to hurt them much. It's hard for me to have the consistent time to work them out into the sun properly.
I added soil acidifier this year. It helped some that were looking a little ragged. I got a cheap ph tester but I think it's for hydroponics. No real instructions and I think it needs a neutral solution to dip into before testing with.


My raspberries look pretty good. Got a lot of first year canes started so next year looks good to.

 

[Robncars]

The war with the grasshoppers has accelerated. There is a dusting of boric acid around the inside perimeter of the garden. Little bastards ate the lowest leaves of my brand new baby apple tree. Now I'm mad

 

[Alpine]

Little can be done to fight darn grasshoppers… warfare must be preventive: plow your garden in autumn and let the ground freeze, re-plow before sowing or transplanting, keep the grass around your garden as low as possible, attract little wild birds during the winter and feed them so they will remain around your garden all year long, buy a couple of hens or Guinea fowls. There are some insecticides specifically developed to reduce (almost impossible to get rid of those pests) the ‘hoppers population (one is “Centurio” but don’t expect much…). Grasshoppers are impervious to almost any insecticide, BT and piretroids are a good digestive after lunch for them, unless sprayed very early in the season, and even then, with depressing results.
Low grass, birds and freeze during winter are your best friends in the endless fight against those jumping little basxxxxds.

pier
(proud grasshopper slayer since 2015)