My 2011 grow log

wayright · Dec 9, 2010

Very nice growlist Mike, looking forward to seeing the progress.
Kevin

PepperLover · Dec 9, 2010

nice list when you gonna start planting ?

mikeinsc · Dec 9, 2010

I already have some started and under grow lights.

Red Savina Hab
Douglah
Trinidad Scorpion
Trinidad Scorpion Yellow, CARDI
Chocolate Scotch Bonnet
Chocolate Hab
Tobago Seasoning
White Hab
Fatali
7 Pod Brain Strain
Thai Hot

The Thai hots are from Bonnie that sprouted about 1 1/2 months ago from the summer. I decided to keep them even though I didn't want them next year. The TS yellow, CARDI are doing great and look beautiful so far. I have 2 of those that I'll keep of the 3 I planted.

Two of the Douglah I'll grow in a 5 gal net pot bucket. They are already in some pea gravel in a bubbleponics setup.

The rest of today will be spent reorganizing the small space I have in the greenhouse. I'll have about an 4'x8' area to section off to use for the seedlings. As well I'm adding an NFT system for herbs and lettuces. I'm using 2 2' channels of 2" pvc pipe with 2" net pots. The res will be either a 5 gal bucket or a small tote depending on space available.

Hot Pooper · Dec 9, 2010

Good lord! You're starting for next year already?! I thought I was bad by starting next month! WOWZERS! lol
Nice list though! Sure to make your pooper HOT!!!

mikeinsc · Dec 10, 2010

I'm starting early because I started in feb of this year and still couldn't things going at the right time. And I had lost some plants to the cold as well. Just like I lost some seedlings last night to the cold.

But on the plus side,I have some of the Thai hots already setting flowers. But,they are still relatively young so I'm not sure if I want to pluck off the buds just yet or let them grow.

mikeinsc · Dec 16, 2010

Hey,who doesn't love pics?

Mesclun lettuce mix 12/12/10 in bubbleponics

And today,12/16/10

We've had a harsh cold snap here lately with temps dropping in the low teens (13 and 14F) which as slowed the plants. Except for the lettuces as they haven't slowed one bit.
The peppers have begun to turn yellowish which I think is related to the cold. I put a small ceramic heater in with the plants which was keeping the temps in the 60 - 65F range on the coldest nights. I did manage to burn leaves on the 2 best Trinidad Scorpion plants because I didn't realize they were directly in line with the heater. The plants seem to have taken it in stride though as they are still doing well.

I need to work out a better way to distribute the heat more evenly. And that is on the agenda for tomorrow.

In the bubbleponics system I have 4 2" net pots of Mesclun,2 Tom Thumb and 2 Arugula lettuces. I also have a Douglah,Thyme,Basil and Cilantro.

mikeinsc · Dec 24, 2010

I finally got around to roughing out an NFT system today. I have 30 spots for 2" net pots that will mostly be used for lettuces and herbs. They will also be good for starting Hydro peppers.

Two rows have holes spaced 10" apart for growing larger lettuces such as Bibbs and Romaines. The other 2 rows are space 6" apart for leaf lettuce and smaller head varieties.

Still to do:
-even heating
-build support for T5 lights
-make cover
-finish NFT channels
-and other stuff I forgot

The lettuces I'm planning to start with are Tom Thumb,Mesclun mix, Red Oak, Rouge d'Hiver Romaine and Speckle Butterhead. The Tom Thumb, Mesclun and Arugula I have in the bubbleponics are doing well. I assume and hope that when I can get plants into the NFT system that they will do much better.

aram · Dec 24, 2010

awesome setup man! I've done some hydro myself but mostly drip irrigation and DWC and an aeroponic system for clones. I'm thinking of giving ebb n' flow a shot soon. What kind of pump do you use?

mikeinsc · Dec 25, 2010

I'll be using a 185 g/ph pump. I got it @ the local hydro store but any pond or fountain pump from lowes or home depot will do the same job. Just be sure that it can pump what you need for the length and heigth of your system.

mikeinsc · Dec 31, 2010

I decided that I would box in and raise my tomato rows for 2011. I'll have 7 beds that measure 16'x3'x1' with a 2' path between the beds. The beds this year will get 40% shade cloth and drip irrigation. I'll also have to rework the paths with a thicker weed barrier under the mulch.

There is also two 30' rows that will more than likely find onions and other root veggies growing in one of them and maybe peppers in the other. Possibly bells and jalapenos.

I spent some time today pulling weedcloth up, pulling weeds, looking for a line level, looking for tools, breaking the tiller, not quite getting the tiller fixed, digging holes for the corner posts, watched some DIY network and took a nap.

How I started today.

Where I called it quits for the day. Not much progress actually.

And the first harvest of lettuce and last for the year. This is from 2 2" net pots in a Bubbleponics system. There is enough for 2 large salads.

mikeinsc · Jan 4, 2011

No progress to report other than killing off a few seedlings. Not to mention, mold growing on the stems of this past summers Bhut Jolokia plants.

I've been in a Nyquil haze for the last few days because of a really bad cold. First time in 16 years of working that I've ever taken a sick day. I woke up this morning and went to check on the plants. Thinking it was just the day before that they were cared for. In fact, it's been 4 days since they've had water. All 6 Thai hots were wilted but returned to glory within an hour. However, they are flowering and setting fruit so I would be surprised if they don't drop everything.

Unfortunately there were casualties.
2 White Bullet Habaneros
2 Trinidad Scorpion yellow, CARDI
2 Red Savina Habanero
2 Douglah

I'm really hoping that the Trinidad Scorpions come back around but I think they are done for. If they haven't recovered somewhat by morning I'll start new seed. And unfortunately I think the Red Savina Hab won't recover either. That will leave me with 1 Red Savina and no more seed. I've got 2 Douglah seed soaking that I'll plant tomorrow. I've also started 2 more White Bullet Habs.

But there is a bright side to the day. Some of the seeds I put in rockwool are sprouting. Datil will be the first to fully emerge from it's rockwool cocoon. From there its anyones guess between Fatali,Red Paper Lantern, Choc Hab and a few others I don't recall.

My head is still a mess from the cold and medicine. The Thai hots need to be moved to a better space before they outgrow their current home by much more. The first of seven raised beds should have been finished 3 days ago. The lettuce NFT system and cold frame for that should have been done 2 weeks ago.

The season isn't even close and I'm behind schedule already. Oh and I resume full time student and full time employee status Jan 10th.

Why do I do this?

mikeinsc · Jan 14, 2011

Just about all of the seed for 2011 has now been started as of today. There are still some things to plant but those are best left for another month or so. The updated list is in the first post.

The sweet little kitty found her way in to the Thai Hot plants that I brought into the house. The poor things look like a Hornworm was left unsupervised. It's a shame she didn't bite into one of the peppers. They were brought in from the greenhouse in the event the latest ice storms took out the power. They would have been better off left alone.

wayright · Jan 15, 2011

Haha Mike, My wifes kitty lives in my garden! I cant keep the darn thing away! but luckily he just likes to troll for birds and only occasionally climbs up and ruins something!

I think he likes the shaded canopy of peppers to get outta tha hot sun! Hope you get over the cold soon man!

mikeinsc · Jan 24, 2011

a majority of the tomatoes started to pop through the dirt about 3 days ago. The purple tomatillos are showing signs of life but do not see to be in any hurry. The white hook is just peeking above the soil but have stayed that way for 2 days now. The seed I used for that was collected in the fall of 2008 which causes me to wonder if it's the age of the seed.

The pepper seeds are in even less of a hurry and none are showing life. The seedlings that were started in december are doing ok but need more light. I'm learning that the Trinidad Scorpion CARDI plants are a tough variety and seem to take abuse rather well.

speaking of abuse, the Thai Hots that I have are doing well after being attacked by a fur ball hacking terror.

mikeinsc · May 12, 2011

The critters are invading again. A few hundred lucky souls were spared "Death by Wren" courtesy of Mr. Bic. The immediate infected areas received a dose of insect killer made by Ortho.

Some kind of calapitters eating my mater plants. They are currently about 1/4 inch long and feature 2 bands of dark spots. One just behind the head and one near the butt.

mikeinsc · May 12, 2011

Trinidad Scorpion CARDI What an amazing plant this variety is. Very stout and can really take some abuse. Of the plants I have, this is the futhest along of them all.

Uba Tuba

madhatter · May 12, 2011

Looking Good Mike. The TS yellow Cardi is a very nice variety thats for sure and they have a nice flavour.

mikeinsc · May 18, 2011

Turtle enough for ya?

Something poo'd near the deer net perimeter.

Red Hot Paper Lantern

Red Savina Habanero

Mostly Bell Pepper's with drip installed

mikeinsc · May 21, 2011

Had one bell pepper plant die from transplanting so I replaced it with a habanero. The next day half of the hab is dead because something ate through the stem. Today I come home from work and another bell is laying on the ground, cut through again. Then I notice mole tunnels and that can only mean that I have some serious white grubs in the ground somewhere.

Uba Tuba getting big

I have 3 Purple Tomatillo plants that are loaded with flowers this season. And it is also swarming with Bumble bees, Honey bees, and two other yet unidentified pollen snatchers.