Devv's 2014- Stick a fork in me, I'm done....

Devv · Mar 5, 2014

Sawyer said:
Thanks for the feedback, Scott. I guess I got most of it right. The bore in the drawing is 8" to scale. I think I made the water line 1.5", but I'll fix that. I actually first drew the slots vertical, then went back and changed them after rereading your posts. The 0.20" is just a typo on my part. Other than showing the concrete all the way to the top, I guess the biggest difference is that the strata are more of a gradient from one material to the next, rather than the discrete boundaries I've shown. What is the matrix the rocks are in, in the first 27', and below that to 85'?

I like that your pump is 80' above the bottom of the well. My whole well is only 80' deep, total. I was going to ask before, how do you treat your water? I have a lot of iron, a little sulfur, and a whole lot of calcium in my water.

How much deeper would the well have to be to hit gas? I'd love to have my own gas well, just for personal use. There are a few folks around up here who have that.

No problem John,

I thought the whole process was very interesting, I didn't watch because I didn't trust him. I was truly interested, and learned a ton. My old well which is in the same water hits a large filter canister about 7-8" diameter with a 50 micron filter, next it goes to a standard sized 4-5" diameter with a 10 micron filter. These are to trap sand which eats up the water treatment equipment. Next it goes into a iron filter which uses Potassium permanganate to oxygenate the bed, this turns the clear iron into a solid. From there it hits the water softener. I ordered both online and put them together filling the beds myself. You get a lot more for your $$$ versus buying them from Sears. The Iron filter has a 2cu' tank and the water softener is a dual tank unit, the tanks are 2.5 or 3cu' each, it will run a cashwash! I have the iron filter regen every other day and the softener is set to 650 gals use before regen. Using a pool test kit the water has zro hardness, but is high on PH. We don't adjust the PH.

I agree the strata has a mix, before he hit the shale he was in all those rocks. I'm sure during that it was sand and clay.

Not sure about the gas and oil, it's here but they drill in the lower parts.

I ran it today and bled the air out of the lines to the garden and old well house. Right now the breaker is off and I'm hoping it keeps pressure overnight. I'll turn the breaker on again Saturday morning and leave it on while I'm home to watch for any leaks, if all's good I hook the house up Wed., I'm off for spring break (yes!) so I'll be a round to watch things.

I brought almost all the plants outside when I got home, took me 1/2 hour. And I didn't bring the OW's or LB's plants out yet. I still have to water everything tonight before it gets dark. The sides are open on the hoop house now, all those plants are looking really good. Tomorrow morning is slated for 40°, this AM was supposed to be 35°, it was in town but 40° here on the ridge.

So far the 10 day is looking saaweet! If it does so on Saturday I'll be planting.

My appologies for slacking this week on all the glogs, I've been running hard for several weeks now.

Keep it green people!

Jeff H · Mar 5, 2014

Interesting conversation about the well. One of these days, I just might move out in the sticks where I would need one. This $100+/ month for water and sewer isn't fun to pay.

Devv · Mar 5, 2014

Jeff H said:
Interesting conversation about the well. One of these days, I just might move out in the sticks where I would need one. This $100+/ month for water and sewer isn't fun to pay.

Doing the math, up until this new well we were at $8 per month over a 25 year period, not including electric, but we see no impact on our bill. This punches us up to $45-50 per month but that will go down each trouble free year.

If you move to the sticks, you'll never go back, especially if you like to be outside and always going...always something to do. But that's half the fun (to me).

Here's to spring!

maximumcapsicum · Mar 5, 2014

Amazing how the time starts stacking up when you move all the plants in and out. Takes me half an hour to move the solo cups to the balcony. Would go faster with a tray or cart and more space.

Looks like we've all been gettin busier lately! And the glogs forum is only picking up speed.

Glad the well is going well ( see what I did there?). Happy growin!

Devv · Mar 5, 2014

Thanks Adam!

Yes a most busy time of year! Trying to button up the new well has kept me really busy the last 3 weeks, I'm hoping to plant this weekend! The wife and I were talking about what to do if we get more cold weather, as this year has been crazy. We'll be home all next week, so I'm thinking unless I see really cold weather in the 10 day forecast we're good to go. And then we can always put up more hoops. Hope that's not the case.

Devv · Mar 7, 2014

I've been running too long this season! BUT! spring break is here! School districts don't pay as well as the private sector, but the schedule is fantastic.

The 10 day forecast is good enough for me to spend the next few days planting the peppers and tomatoes, after that it's a two week peroid of scanning the weather forecasts.

The next time you see these gals they will be in the garden!

They're a little rough from hardening off, but hangin'

Non's, the potatoes were planted in holes, and this is before I covered them up. I did see a few damaged by frost, my fault I was slacking, I should have covered them before the last cold spell. Just not enough hours in a day!

A shot of the hoops with the plastic removed. I really hope I can put the plastic up for the season. I did get a few tom's in the dirt today, and watered. The tom's grew more, but the pepper have started to kick in with some new growth too.

First to hit the dirt in the morning, a few Annuum's. I'm really worried about space, the garden seems to have gotten smaller!

JJJessee · Mar 7, 2014

Looks A-OK
Cleared for launch.
Put those ladies in orbit.

Sawyer · Mar 7, 2014

I try to stay away from negative emotions, but I have to admit, I'm a little green with envy over your early plant out.

maximumcapsicum · Mar 7, 2014

Scott this is looking truly fantastic! I hope my plantout looks half as good. Glad to hear the peppers are putting on new growth. That actually seems a little fast!

millworkman · Mar 7, 2014

Very jealous, those are GREAT looking plants!

Blister · Mar 8, 2014

You're planting out. I'm still shovelling my driveway and scraping my windows before I hop in the car to go to work

Devv · Mar 8, 2014

JJJessee said:
Looks A-OK
Cleared for launch.
Put those ladies in orbit.

Blister said:
You're planting out. I'm still shovelling my driveway and scraping my windows before I hop in the car to go to work

maximumcapsicum said:
Scott this is looking truly fantastic! I hope my plantout looks half as good. Glad to hear the peppers are putting on new growth. That actually seems a little fast!

millworkman said:
Very jealous, those are GREAT looking plants!

Blister said:
You're planting out. I'm still shovelling my driveway and scraping my windows before I hop in the car to go to work

Thanks for the good vibes!

I'm itching to get outside this morning and get to work!

stickman · Mar 8, 2014

I don't think you need to worry about those plants you're hardening off Scott... they don't look at all rough to me! I'm looking forward to your dirt-day in a couple of weeks. Things are hanging on way too long here and I need to see someone get some plants in the ground! There's still 6 inches of snow with an icy crust on top, but hopefully it won't last too much longer as the Vernal Equinox approaches. We're starting to see migratory birds coming back, and the Goldfinches are starting to molt. The next week is supposed to have daytime high temperatures in the 40s and overnight lows in the teens and 20s, so it's time for sugaring season to start here.

Devv · Mar 8, 2014

stickman said:
I don't think you need to worry about those plants you're hardening off Scott... they don't look at all rough to me! I'm looking forward to your dirt-day in a couple of weeks. Things are hanging on way too long here and I need to see someone get some plants in the ground! There's still 6 inches of snow with an icy crust on top, but hopefully it won't last too much longer as the Vernal Equinox approaches. We're starting to see migratory birds coming back, and the Goldfinches are starting to molt. The next week is supposed to have daytime high temperatures in the 40s and overnight lows in the teens and 20s, so it's time for sugaring season to start here.

Thanks Rick!

A few are sunburned, chewed on, and wind damaged. But that's what the process is all about.

Glad you're seeing signs of a change!

I started planting last night, the 10 day forecast looks really good!. I just got done planting the larger Annuum's, and Bac's, as well as a few habs. I'm out there in a fine mist and came in to dry off. And LB came home with some more tomato plant...LOL. She wants to try the San Marzano's and see how they do here. I'll get some pics when it slows down some.

KiNGDeNNiZ · Mar 8, 2014

Scott. It amazes me how I started seeds in November an your plants are bigger than mine. Good work.

What is at te base of your hoop house ? I was just using metal bars to keep the PVC from coming off. Do you keep the plastic on the entire time over. ?! Or do you open it up at daytime and close them in at nights. How do you ventilate.

Devv · Mar 8, 2014

KiNGDeNNiZ said:
Scott. It amazes me how I started seeds in November an your plants are bigger than mine. Good work.

What is at te base of your hoop house ? I was just using metal bars to keep the PVC from coming off. Do you keep the plastic on the entire time over. ?! Or do you open it up at daytime and close them in at nights. How do you ventilate.

Thanks Denniz!

I like to say they grew well despite my care

I just stuck them in MG green bag potting soil and tried to be real easy on the water.

I hammered in 10 or 11" long pieces of 1 1/2" and stuck the 3/4" pvc inside it. I only had a few days that required the sides be closed, the rest of the time they were left open. After a cold spell I waited until the temps got up to 45° then opened them. Nothing used to ventilate other than a breeze.

Here's what I got accomplished before it started raining....I also put up the wind break on the north side of the frame.

I believe I got 23 peppers in the ground this morning. Hope I have room for everything!

Spicegeist · Mar 8, 2014

Very exciting, can't believe they're in the ground already... nice long grow season there!

Devv · Mar 8, 2014

Spicegeist said:
Very exciting, can't believe they're in the ground already... nice long grow season there!

Just trying to beat the heat, they shut down when it's 100's all the time. A bit of a gamble, but the 10 day forecast is favorable.

It rained today, so I don't know if I can get anything done tomorrow. Always plenty of other things to do here!

capsidadburn · Mar 8, 2014

Scott, I was thinking the forecast was favorable too, then this 40 degree Sunday morning popped up. Thought I would wait until gametime to decide the haul in or not. Been gone all day with work, bought a new vehicle today, took my kids to a gaming expo at sxsw. Back home now and decided to haul in 60-70% of my plants (in rain and lightning storm), and cover the rest with plastic. My day is not over, I have to take the boy to my work to work on the science team olympiad project which is two weeks away in S.A.

Your rows of plants look great as always!

I got some soil (a little over 1/2 a yard) the other day. Split with a coworker who is a member here now. The stuff smells hot (horse) to me as it did last time I got some. Wish I could have gotten it sooner but it just did not work out for me. Still my plants are farther along than they have ever been at this time so I have lots of hope.

Sorry to whine in your glog Scott, just a crazy busy day!

Hope you can manage something productive in the wet remainder of your weekend.

Later Mike

Devv · Mar 8, 2014

Hi Mike,

That 2 hours being north means a week to me! Being we have 43° slated, with a weak front blowing in, on the ridge here it will be closer to 48°. I've been comparing temps for years, unless one of those bad boys blow in we're usually good here. Most times I see a 10° difference in the 5 mile drive to work, we're 200' above them, and cold air settles low. Every pepper has a cage, if we do get some colder weather we plan to put black garbage bags over each cage. I'm not opposed to staying home on a bad morning. I have like 50 days to burn, what better excuse? Works for me

long days with the kids, been there done that. Today was my #2 G-daughters B-day party, she turned 7. My son and his family live in Seguin, that's almost like a trip to Austin for us, so most of the day was burned. The cool thing is I have the week off, due to spring break. Educational pay isn't as good as private sector, but the days off are fantastic!

Your plants are just plain ready! We discussed an earlier planting before the season started, and I think we both hit it just right! The supers are starting to flower, you know the ones they drop first time around. So they're ready to rumble before the heat sets in. My goal is to get the spring pods, and if they produce well, not to bother keeping them going until November. At least that's what I say now