SQWIBS Urban Garden Adventure 2020

[SQWIBB]

"SQWIBS Urban Garden Adventure 2020"

January 15th, 2020



Intro,
Welcome to my SUGA 2020 page.

I am back for another year of gardening.
That's it, no long intro's, no long winded posts about what worked, what didn't, no upcoming strategies or goals, just gardening for fun with lots of pictures!


I'm officially calling this the start of my 2020 gardening year, I still have some lettuces, Bok Choy, Parsley and Kohlrabi hanging in there.


I decided not to set up the grow tent this year but will be planting some greens on the grow table.
First thing I did was remove the Viparspectra 450's from the grow table and install the Viparspectra 700's, overkill? Maybe, but I can always set them at 50% or 75% output.


I knew power could be a potential problem tripping the circuit and I was correct, so I ran an extension cord from the outlet that I installed for the grow tent last winter and we will see what happens, I have the lights on continuously for the test.

• I planted a mix of lettuces using Nature's Care Organic Potting Mix, Vermiculite and Perlite, I just eyeballed the mix.

• Same with the Bok Choy, Nature's Care Organic Potting Mix, Vermiculite and Perlite. I have the heater in the basement set very low, I'm guessing around 55°F - 60°F.

• The actual color of the output of these lights are much more white than the pictures show, not sure why the camera leans more towards a violet color.

January 18th, 2020

After a few days the lights seemed fine, they didn't trip any breakers. I put the lights on a timer 6 hours on 18 off.

• Trying another way to eat my sweet potatoes.

First signs of germination was 48 hours, these pics are at 72 hours.

• Bok Choy 3 days in.
  

• Misc. Lettuce mix and a few radishes, also have a few cantaloupes seeds planted as a germination test. 3 days in.
  

I was a little disappointed in myself this weekend, I found scale on my Lime Bush and had no clue it was there for months.
I kept seeing sticky stuff on the floor and leaves, the stuff on the leaves would dry and look like it had a waxy film on it.
I figured it was from my daily water spraying of the leaves, my logic was that the spray bottle may have had some residual Neem oil or something still in the bottle, so I washed the spray bottle real good and, washed the floor and a week or so later it was all over the floor again.


Anyhow it turns out to be a scale infestation.

I soaked the plant and started wiping off the scale by hand.


I trimmed off one small branch then mixed up a batch of Neem Oil, Dr. Bronner's soap and some water and soaked the leaves, stem and soil on the 18th, 19th and 20th


I ordered some Horticultural oil and mixed up a batch of that and heavily sprayed the 21st.

January 21, 2020

• 6 Days in, Bok Choy and lettuces are coming along, I increased the lights to 8 hours on, 16 off, garage is about 60°F.

January 24th, 2020

• 9 Days. Since every Bok Choy seed germinated, I transplanted 6 of the Bok Choy seedlings into a 6 pack cell. The 6 containers to the left are for my next succession planting of Purple Lady Bok Choy.

January 30th, 2020

I stopped at Home Depot to pick up some supplies, grabbed a 3 cu ft bag of peat moss and a plant hanger and saw Kellogg's Raised Bed and potting mix on sale so I picked up a bag.
I got a few bags last year for a quick fill on a new bed and had no luck with it, not sure if it was me or the mix, I figured I would try another bag and start seedlings as a test this weekend.
Many bad reviews for this product, maybe that's why they are on clearance.


While at Home Depot, I struggled to get past the seed section, because I really need to see what I have at home before buying more seeds, and as usual, I was very unimpressed with any of their seed starting supplies.


I got the scale under control on the Lemon and Lime tree but must have overdid it with the Horticultural oil because I had quite a few leaves drop.



OK, Lets take a look and see what is going on outside.

Got down to close to 20°F last night into this morning.

• 99% of my cover crop has died back in the hugelkultur beds but the raised beds on the hill still show a good amount of green, mainly the crimson clover.

• The Kohlrabi in the mini raised bed are hanging on. not sure if I'll get a worthy harvest from these guys.

• The lettuce and Perpetual Spinach have been hit hard by the cold and I'm surprised they haven't died back completely. The parsley is going strong.

Temps have been crazy, lowest in the 10 day is 31°F Saturday then Friday's predicted weather is 58°F.

January 31st am, 2020

• Lemon and lime plants have lost quite a bit of leaves but still look good, they have been indoors for 3 months, I am pretty sure I have the scale under control.

• 16 Days.

• I went through all of my seeds and organized them and made a list with dates so I don't overbuy or get a surprise when I go to plant and there are no seeds. I also started making reusable seed packets to save seeds.

[SQWIBB]

February 1st, 2020

Today I started using a fertilizer om my Bok Choy and Lettuce mix.

For my Fertilizer (Nutes) I used my Kratky (Hydroponic} mix.


Nute Mix per 5 gallons for Kratky Lettuce (20 - 18 - 38)

• 10 grams Calcium Nitrate Fertilizer 15.5-0-0
• 10 grams Hydroponic Tomato Fertilizer 4-18-38
• 5 grams epsom salts Magnesium Sulphate

• 17 days.

• As part of my succession planting, I planted some Purple Lady Bok Choy.

...and leeks. I planted American Flag and Carentan leeks, plus I had a packet of saved seeds that I am testing.
I am testing the Kellog Raised Bed And Potting Soil Mix against my mix which is Natures Care Potting Mix, Perlite, Vermiculite and a bit of 10-10-10.

• I also planted a few Purple Lady Bok Choy in the Kellog mix.

February 2nd, 2020

I planted another pot of leeks in my potting mix just in case the Kellog Mix fails..

• Monitoring the position of the sun each week.

February 3rd am, 2020

• Testing Germination rate on my saved cantaloupe seeds, germination was 100% after less than 3 days.

• I finally got my fan hooked up. This runs the entire time the lights are on.

Use a fan!

Thigmomorphogenesis is the response by plants to mechanical sensation (touch) by altering their growth patterns. In the wild, these patterns can be evinced by wind, raindrops, and rubbing by passing animals.


Wind (I use a fan here) is a Morphogenic Stimulus and strengthens stalks by resistance as well as increasing transpiration of the plants by dehydrating the leaf surface.
The transpiration causes rapid mineral and water uptake increasing the thickness of the stem.



Using a fan also helps keep the surface of the soil dry to prevent mold, fungus Gnats and damping off.

February 3rd pm, 2020

• My Shallot seeds came in from Baker Creek so I planted them in a pot. I noticed the potting mix was fairly dry on the seedlings and had to adjust the timer on the fan due to the potting mix drying out too quickly. It is set for half an hour 4 times a day while the lights are on.

February 5th, 2020

• My Hugelkultur herb garden is looking dismal.

The lemon and lime tree are no longer showing any signs of scale and have stopped loosing leaves.


My yard lights were off and I went to inspect them, I had to rip out the extension cord and when I fiddled with the female end that the timer is plugged into, sparks shot out. So basically my photo cell timer was fried as well as the extension cord so I had to stop at home depot to pick up a female connector to fix the cord. I also ordered another photocell timer, fun times.

• Yes I had to grab some seeds.

• 4 days

• 21 days

• I guess the reviews about the Kellog Raised Bed Soil and Potting Mix about being crap were true, this stuff is pure crap, it retains water like sand and gets hard and shrinks, it will not wick water at all. You have to pour water through the top then it's dry the next day. I compared it to my go to potting mix, actually I have 2, one is the Miracle Grow Natures Care Organic Potting Mix or the Miracle Grow Moisture Control Potting Mix. I do add some Perlite, Vermiculite and a scoop or two of 10-10-10 but it's not needed.

[Lee]

Looking good!


Thanks for the updates. Love reading your posts and seeing your results.


Lee

[Salsacharley]

That seed display rack should be illegal. It's like displaying crack to an addict.

[SQWIBB]

Thanks Lee, that means a lot.


Salsacharley, I agree especially for folks with a small garden!

[SQWIBB]

February 7th, 2020

• My new planter came in and I am quite pleased, I took out the metal planter and base and sealed with some Danish Oil. This will go in front of the Koi Pond and probably have a flower some Shallots and lettuce or kale planted.

Cost Plus World Market

February 8th, 2020

• The Kellog Raised Bed and Potting mix test was aborted. I just couldn't see wasting any more time with this horrid mix. I will be using the Kellog Mix with my compost alternating between kitchen scraps and the Kellog Mix.

• Went through my Sweet Potatoes that I harvested this season for some runts to plant.

• 24 days. I'm hoping the lettuce is ready by Friday (31 days).

[Harry Cabluck]

Nice, informative and fine photos.

[SQWIBB]

February 12th, 2020

• I have been accumulating some garden supplies over the winter, I plan on working all the beds this year.

• The insert for the planter is supposed to be galvanized and it appears to be powder coated. I was a bit concerned about a few of the corners that were pressed together (no weld) so I siliconed the corners. I'm not sure how the metal will react with soil and fertilizer so I'll check it at the end of the season.

• And since I almost broke my neck the other day climbing up into the upper garden, I put in some grit tape on the step, scared the sheet out of me!

• The reason the leeks look weird in the first photo is because these seeds were originally in the Kellog Mix, since the mix sucks, I scraped the top 1/2" off and placed it on top of the Nature's Care Mix, the label is just to show these are my saved seeds (unknown variety).

February 15th-16th, 2020

• Built my raised bed planter for the trellis

• Started my Hots, Jalapeno, Chocolate Habanero and Aji Pineapple, also started some Italian Flat Leaf parsley, Extra Triple Curled Parsley and another pot of Zebrune Shallots. Trying vermiculite to cover the seedlings. Heat mat is set to 80°F.

• I wasn't happy with my fan configuration so I decided to run the fans from the ceiling. Fans cycle on for an hour, three times a day.

• My three Honeyberry plants have budded and are starting to open.

[SQWIBB]

February 22nd, 2020

I started my

• Broccoli, Sun King Hybrid, Waltham and Calabrese Green Sprouting
  
• Eggplants, Rosa Bianca, Black Beauty and Rosita.
• Sweet peppers, Spanish Mammoth, Emerald Giant, Lipstick and Jimmy Nardello

• I needed to make room on my seedling table so I moved my greens to the other shelf.

• The white stuff on the leaves is because stupid me sprayed the leaves with water then decided to use the table saw to build that mini planter the other day.

• I use no dig no till practices but for my Sweet Potato bed I did incorporate some materials using a digging fork. My other beds are just top dressed and mixed around with a hand spade. This is the last year adding bulk perlite, vermiculite or peat to the beds.

• Harvested my radishes and some lettuce for dinner and lunches.

• Lettuce was cut and soaked in ice water with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Further research shows that just plain ice water for 30 minutes will crisp up the lettuce just the same without the use of vinegar, I will try that next time. Laura was happy with some E. coli free lettuce, she has had food poisoning twice from contaminated lettuce, one time ending up in the ER.
  

• I'm a bit concerned about the buds on the Celeste fig, most look dead with the exception of this one.

• This is another project I am working on. The top of the fence was capped with 2" x 8"s, I'll post more on this project later.

• Started to make some Bio-char but lost interest after a few beers!

[SQWIBB]

February 24th, 2020

February 25th, 2020

February 26th, 2020

February 26th, 2020

• Still harvesting lettuce.

February 28th - 29th, 2020

• This weekend I planted, Caraway, cinnamon basil, Dark Purple Opal Basil, Genovese Basil, Dill, Blue Curled Scotch Kale, Cilantro and a boatload of Marigolds. I have had germination issues with a few of my hots so I planted some more Aji pineapple, and more chocolate Habanero.

• Harvested some Bok Choy for a Vegetable Lo-Mein, Going to try and regrow the cut Choy.

• Mixed up some fertilizer and Terro Liquid Ant Baits.

• Laura made some Butternut Squash Bisque from our Sweet Potatoes and Butternut Squash

[GoDawgs]

Let us know how the bok choy do regrowing after harvest. Mine didn't do much but then they were living out on the porch in the elements so that probably wasn't a very good test. I might have cut them too far down.

[SQWIBB]

Originally Posted by GoDawgs

Let us know how the bok choy do regrowing after harvest. Mine didn't do much but then they were living out on the porch in the elements so that probably wasn't a very good test. I might have cut them too far down.

Looking at these pictures it would appear that it may be better to cut and regrow than to just let the bok choy grow past Maturity, well for the Suzhou Baby Bok Choy anyway.

[SQWIBB]

March 6th - 9th 2020

• Installed my 36' Horizontal Squash Trellis

I also planted 50 Gladiolus bulbs all over the place

[SQWIBB]

And...


Canned some Hot Dogs, made Some cheese and started my Sauerkraut.

[taboule]

Looks very nice. I'd be interested to learn how you make that dream cheese, if you have a few minutes.
Thanks