Smokin Harley Grow Log 2015

[Knucklehead]

This is the one I got. Bigger but no shelves. I used it for curing last year too.

http://m.tractorsupply.com/en/store...n-greenhouse-78-3-4-in-l-x-118-in-h-x-84-in-w

Yeah, you're right, that's the same one I got. I just didn't remember paying that much for it. After you mentioned that we got them on sale, I figured out my error.

EDIT: As my memory recovers, I think I paid $79.99 last year on sale. It shows to be on sale right now for $99.99.

 

[DGBAMA]

I think BT got the smaller ones, and they did not hold up, but he said the shelf racks were worth the price paid.

 

[ArizonaDave]

Huh, there's a place only 20 miles away. Only a short freeway drive to pick one up!

 

[DGBAMA]

Huh, there's a place only 20 miles away. Only a short freeway drive to pick one up!

Dave, might be good for curing for you, put it in a semi shaded area over dirt, and you can wet the ground inside to keep humidity up for color curing.

 

[BarG]

I started my seeds this year in room temp and transfered to my homade greenhouse when I transplanted to cells. No heat just normal 35-70 degree conditions. When it was cold I shut the door and vent and mostly the door stays open. Once they are sprouted they can withstand low temps as long as no frost .

 

[Smokin Harley]

Yeah, you're right, that's the same one I got. I just didn't remember paying that much for it. After you mentioned that we got them on sale, I figured out my error.

EDIT: As my memory recovers, I think I paid $79.99 last year on sale. It shows to be on sale right now for $99.99.

Wife and I were out yesterday ,we hit the thrift stores quite often then we stopped at Big Lots to look around. They have 3 types of small greenhouses. The cheapest one is only about 2 x 4 , not a walk in and its $29 .Looks like you'd set this up in a spare bedroom or basement with lights and heaters . The next one is a walk in 4 x 6 x 6.5' tall ,8 shelves with an aisle in the middle and $69, the biggest one is like a yurt (round with a cone top) type of structure ,walk in,and sells for $99. None of them look like they would or could withstand any kind of breeze without being demolished or blown to the next county. I think I may attempt something like the middle sized one but build it a bit stouter and a foot taller so I dont have to hunch over inside . I know Harbor Freight also has a better and more permanent structure ,complete with vents and double wall plastic panels.

 

[Smokin Harley]

Today is two weeks since seeds were sown .
Everything (except the Ct Shade,top row, second pack from right ) is doing extremely well.
Black Mammoth (top ,far left)
Criollo98 (top and bottom , far right)
Ct Broadleaf reseeded packs are sprouting(third from right ,top).
Fl Sumatra(bottom ,far left)
Havana 608 and Java Bezuki ( 3rd and second from right ,bottom row respectively)

Criollo 98 going gangbusters. Starting to look like real tobacco plants. The ones I culled/pulled and replanted (square cell pack ,top)are doing better than the original cell pack they were in(hex pack ,directly below).

Little Dutch (hex pack) and Va Gold (top ,second from left)doing well here. Looks like its time to thin again. The way the Criollo has proved with fresh soil ,I'm thinking of replanting the seedlings into new cells with fresh soil. Would you??

Havana 608

As small as all these plants are, I can already tell some differences between a few.Some are already noticeably darker thicker leaves. Some are even Fuzzy.

 

[Smokin Harley]

Thinned again, right after I took those pics. Parted the Vuelta off to another 9 pack in fresh soil and I'm anxious to see if they take off better than the parent pack (as did the Criollo98),so that'll be 18 of those too, lol. Machu Picchu got thinned and still may part another 9 of those off when they're bigger.
The way I'm going I may be tilling up the whole back yard before I'm done. I may need an intervention,lol. I tell ya if you are even thinking of growing your own , you'd better be prepared for it . Tobacco is indeed addicting and I'm not even talking about the smoking part yet.

 

[Knucklehead]

They are coming along nicely. Before you know it they'll take off and you'll be giving haircuts every few days. The soil will run out of fertilizer soon and you will need to start supplemental feeding. This is the first year I started feeding before I noticed yellowing plants and I think it made a big difference.

 

[Smokin Harley]

I already notice the Criollo 98 that went into new soil , their leaves are much darker than the mother cell pack. and , those same ones are growing faster. I'm going to take a pic in a few minutes and post next to the ones I just took this morning to compare.

 

[Smokin Harley]

visible growth in the top 9 pack,just since about 9 am this morning...and thats not yellowing of leaves , just the way the light hits the leaves. they are dark green . You can definitely see though, the top 9 pack is darker than the bottom 9 pack which was where they were culled from just the other day.

I must add that the surface temp is sitting at 90*F ...and since I sowed the seeds originally the light hasn't come off the plants yet. 24/7 fluorescent sunshine and warmth. Grow my little babies...grow,grow,GROW !!! Bwahahahahahaha.

 

[Knucklehead]

That may be an indication the original soil has run out of nutrients. No need to replace the soil. Give them a dose of epsom salts (magnesium sulfate). One tablespoon to a gallon of water and start supplemental feeding with water soluble fertilizer. I started supplemental feeding at about two weeks after sowing seed, or around one week after germination. They just kept chugging along.

 

[Smokin Harley]

Still not much action with the Ct Shade reseeding after another week(2nd planting)...sowed another 3rd batch this morning. Whatever plants I do get out of this , will definitely need to go to seed . I'm almost out of the sample I got . Should have lasted me a while , not sure what happened except for a bad batch of seed. Only have one really good looking dime sized plant out of the original April 13 plant date. Got only two tiny sprouts that came up from last weeks planting making a total of 3 plants .

 

[Smokin Harley]

I moved the cell packs around in the flats last night so the plants tall enough can lean the other way for light for a while....Criollo98 and just look at the growth in just 48 hours...almost 1/2" wider than same time yesterday. The plants spread out almost as wide as the cell .

 

[Smokin Harley]

This pic ^ ...I still am very amazed by the growth of the plants on the left ...same original planting, just moved to fresh soil last week. Double the size of their brothers.

 

[Chicken]

Yep...this year im gonna have to do some seed collecting..

My stock is either running out...or getting old.

 

[Smokin Harley]

ok, I have a question ...I think I know the answer but seeing as this is my first grow ,I'll ask anyway since I'm sure someone else in here has had the same experience and knows how to fix whats happening.
I see some of my smaller plants showing some yellowing of their leaves. Does not appear to be chlorosis or an iron deficiency. I'm thinking they are too wet and need to dry out a day or too to give the roots some breathing room, like an aeration issue. I'm also still thinking that these same plants are small enough to replant into new more fertile soil and after what I've seen with my Criollo ,and Vuelta ,the more I think I should while they are just tap roots,maybe they'll catch up.
I could also be overthinking it and these varieties may just be a lighter shade of green while this small.

 

[Knucklehead]

ok, I have a question ...I think I know the answer but seeing as this is my first grow ,I'll ask anyway since I'm sure someone else in here has had the same experience and knows how to fix whats happening.
I see some of my smaller plants showing some yellowing of their leaves. Does not appear to be chlorosis or an iron deficiency. I'm thinking they are too wet and need to dry out a day or too to give the roots some breathing room, like an aeration issue. I'm also still thinking that these same plants are small enough to replant into new more fertile soil and after what I've seen with my Criollo ,and Vuelta ,the more I think I should while they are just tap roots,maybe they'll catch up.
I could also be overthinking it and these varieties may just be a lighter shade of green while this small.

Have you started supplemental feeding of water soluble fertilizer? Start with a dose of Epsom Salts, one tablespoon to a gallon of water. It is magnesium sulfate and will help with the uptake of nutrients. If you use Miracle Gro fertilizer, use half of the recommended amount. Some members have experienced burning at the recommended mix rate.

 

[Smokin Harley]

Right now I'm just using the Superthrive - total N- 0.5%,water soluble N- 0.4% and water insoluble N-0.1% derived from kelp.
. 1 cap full (1/2 tsp)per 1 gallon water. I'll grab some epsom salts today and try that too.
I'll try mixing up a 1/2 strength batch of miraclegrow and see if it helps.
This morning the Criollo of course(just over an inch tall now), Little dutch ,Long Red, Madole, Va Gold and Vuelta (both 9 packs)all look good and green , the rest look a little on the small side and a bit pale.
One other thing I'm doing and I'm sure doesnt help is we have softened water and I get the water I water with out of the kitchen sink. Next rain we get I'll be trying to collect that. In fact I think I may go down to the local car wash and talk them out of a plastic barrel or two for rain water collection.

 

[Knucklehead]

Those numbers seem kind of low. I use 20-10-20 Urea free Orchid fertilizer. Urea can kill tobacco seedlings. I use the 20-10-20 because those are the numbers Bigbonner (commercial grower) uses in his float trays. I use a TDS meter to measure the amount. 900 ppm for Burley, 750 ppm for everything else. I copy Bigbonner as much as possible except for the float trays. I tried them in the basement and they make an unholy mess. Great for greenhouses, too messy for the house. I use 1020 trays now.

Fertilizer: http://www.tindaraorchidsupplies.co...ore-Urea-Free-Orchid-Fertilizer-20-10-20.html

TDS meter: http://www.amazon.com/Hanna-Instrum...id=1430402742&sr=8-1&keywords=Hanna+TDS+meter