OCD 2017!!!

charlesquik · Jul 21, 2017

OCD Chilehead said:
Thanks Chuck. Hope all is well. I'll have to check your grow out. Sorry been super busy these days.

Well there is nothing new to see yet. I had to make a new growing log because of photobucket and been super busy in vacation but I will upload new stuff soon.

OCD Chilehead · Jul 22, 2017

Just got back from town. Picked up some vents for the hoophouse. I hope this works. Temps still to high. I'm going to suspend shade cloth over the house next year, instead of on the house. It wouldn't be bad if there was no plastic, but it heats up so much. On a good note, I've only found maybe 3 grasshoppers this season. Hundreds outside the house, in the yard.

Bhuter · Jul 22, 2017

OCD Chilehead said:
It will be awhile before I get some real pods. I've incorporated the 40 or so 4in pots into the grow. Just fertilized them this morning. They'll take more watering and nutes, but it's still fun. I have a half a flat of about 30-40 cell plants. I just keep spraying them with water. The grasshoppers have been munching in them. Better them than the other bigger plants. LOL! Sacrifice to the hopper gods.

That's a great idea because they definitely munch on my little 4 inch pots. But I don't want to move them too close to the garden just in case. That's awesome that the house keeps the hoppers at bay. I've certainly had my struggle with pests this year. Nice looking vents! I sure hope those work out for you. I'm sure you'll see an improvement...the air movement is a plus for strengthening the plants. Fantastic!

OCD Chilehead · Jul 22, 2017

Bhuter said:
That's a great idea because they definitely munch on my little 4 inch pots. But I don't want to move them too close to the garden just in case. That's awesome that the house keeps the hoppers at bay. I've certainly had my struggle with pests this year. Nice looking vents! I sure hope those work out for you. I'm sure you'll see an improvement...the air movement is a plus for strengthening the plants. Fantastic!

Thanks Adam!

That's the only pests I have. So, one less thing to worry about.

I'll have pods sooner or later. I'll get a heater for October-November if I have to. They have air circulation and they move a lot, just not like the natural gusts. It can't hurt to add the vents. I can block them off when it gets colder.

randyp · Jul 23, 2017

Chuck you hang in there.You took on a project that needed a grow to go thru it before adjustments could be made.I don't think ferts are your problem podding up as much as controlling those temps.I think the plants use the temps to trigger everything they do.Like Rick did say if you do ferts I follier spray mine every 2-3 weeks top and under leaves with fish emulsion.

OCD Chilehead · Jul 23, 2017

randyp said:
Chuck you hang in there.You took on a project that needed a grow to go thru it before adjustments could be made.I don't think ferts are your problem podding up as much as controlling those temps.I think the plants use the temps to trigger everything they do.Like Rick did say if you do ferts I follier spray mine every 2-3 weeks top and under leaves with fish emulsion.

Thanks Randy. I don't think I have any real problems other than heat. The plants look fantastic. If anything maybe to much Nitrogen. Don't know for sure though. I never burned them, but they did get dark green a few weeks back. I've been foliar feeding for awhile now. I may cut the bloom formula and go straight to epsom every couple weeks. I'll install the vents Tuesday and Thursday. We will see if the temps drop. Thank for the advice.

Here is the results of my soil test before I planted. I'll get another one this Fall and again in the Spring.

pH: 8.3
pH is very high. The optimal pH range for plant growth is 6.5 - 7.0. However, most plants including turfgrasses can be grown in high pH soils if properly irrigated and supplemental iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) are added when needed.

Electrical Conductivity or Salts: 0.9 mmhos/cm

E.C. is Low. When E.C. less than 2.0, salinity is not a problem for plant growth.

Lime: Very High
Very High: Lime is greater than 5%. Plants can still grow quite well in soil with this lime content.

Texture Estimate: Clay Loam

Sodium Absorption Ratio: 2.8
Low: Sodium is not a problem.

Nitrate: 5 ppm
This soil may drain at a low to very low rate. Watering schedules may have to be increased to allow for better water infiltration into the soil profile.

Organic Material: 7.1 % Plant Type:Vegetable Garden
Organic Matter is High; no additional OM e.g. compost is needed. You don't need to build up the OM content of this soil beyond existing levels, but rather focus on protecting and replenishing the OM content e.g.by using organic mulch. Also consider a fall-planted cover crop to be used as a green manure.

N is low: Apply 0.3 lb N/100 sq ft to the soil. For each 0.1 lb of N needed, apply about 1/4 lb urea, or 1/2 lb ammonium sulfate, or 3/4 lb bloodmeal, or 1 lb corn gluten meal, or 5 lb alfalfa meal pellets per 100 sq.ft. Other fertilizers can be used as well. Check with your local garden center or home improvement store to determine what fertilizers are available in your area. When calculating fertilizer rates take the amount of N needed and divide by the % N in the fertilizer. For example, if your fertilizer contains 30% N, take 0.30 lbs (N needed) divided by 0.30 (N in the fertilizer) to get 1 lb of the 30% N fertilizer that is needed to apply per 100 sq.ft. For rates per 1000 sq. ft multiply the quantities by 10.

Phosphorus: 137.3 ppm
Phosphorus is High; No additional Phosphorus is needed.

Potassium: 1241 ppm
Potassium is High; No additional K20 is needed.

Zinc: 13.2 ppm
Zinc is Adequate; No additional Zn is needed.

Iron: 12.9 ppm
Iron is Adequate; No additional Iron (Fe) is needed

Manganese: 6.8 ppm
Manganese is Adequate; No additional Mn is needed.

Copper: 4.0 ppm
Copper is Adequate; No additional Cu is needed.

Boron: 0.66 ppm
Boron is High. No additional boron is needed.

Gypsum: Gypsum is NOT Needed.

OCD Chilehead · Jul 25, 2017

I managed to get the vents installed. Hopefully the temps drop a bit. Its just roughed in. I'll add some trim.

http://youtu.be/KA4tUM6Z0gc

Guatemalan Insanity Pepper · Jul 26, 2017

lookin good Chuck
you'll have flowers soon :cool:

I got them hoppers too
and Japanese Beetles :censored:

found a caterpillar chewing on my Primo the other day (relocated him to the bird feeder :twisted:

)

great update

:cheers:

MikeUSMC · Jul 26, 2017

Great update, Chuck. Your plants are looking healthy as can be. The vents look good; hope they help. Hang in there, man. They'll be flowering soon! :pray:

Devv · Jul 26, 2017

Hey Chuck!

Been out of town. Your grow looks great! I understand this year is one of figuring things out with the new greenhouse. Pods will set! Glad you're working on the temps

115° is on the high end, but the plants still look happy.

You WILL shine! I'll be right there with you as things cool down; more so up your way

OCD Chilehead · Jul 26, 2017

Guatemalan Insanity Pepper said:
lookin good Chuck
you'll have flowers soon

I got them hoppers too
and Japanese Beetles
found a caterpillar chewing on my Primo the other day (relocated him to the bird feeder )

great update

Thank your Sir.

I think, I grabbed that hopper and killed it in the video. Wasn't planned, just instinct! LOL!

I'm looking really close for flowers. LOL!

I wish I could go in vacation for a week. I'm sure flowers would appear when I got back.

OCD Chilehead · Jul 26, 2017

MikeUSMC said:
Great update, Chuck. Your plants are looking healthy as can be. The vents look good; hope they help. Hang in there, man. They'll be flowering soon!

Thanks for the words of encouragement, Mike.

OCD Chilehead · Jul 26, 2017

Devv said:
Hey Chuck!

Been out of town. Your grow looks great! I understand this year is one of figuring things out with the new greenhouse. Pods will set! Glad you're working on the temps 115° is on the high end, but the plants still look happy.

You WILL shine! I'll be right there with you as things cool down; more so up your way

Thanks Scott. The new growing environment is challenging. The vents I installed dropped the temps 10 degrees today, compared to yesterday. Identical highs. I'll keep monitoring.

Welcome back! Hope you had fun.

Bhuter · Jul 27, 2017

Wow, Chuck! You get stuff accomplished with a quickness! I'd love to have your ambition. Vents look spectacular! Glad to hear that there WAS a temperature difference. Nice fans, also. They sound like they push some air.

catherinew · Jul 27, 2017

Chuck, your plants are just beautiful! They'll be producing soon though we still have a few months to wait for large harvests. The vents were a good idea to help cool down the house.

I had my soil tested, too, with similar results. pH was a bit lower. Will probably add the same stuff to the soil as I usually do in the Fall - shredded leaves and manure if I can get stuff cheap or free. Alfalfa pellets are a good idea since they're less $$. Thanks for sharing your soil results.

stickman · Jul 29, 2017

Cool video Chuck! Wow... you're still getting 115 degree temps inside the hoophouse!!! The podding plants outside show the temperature range you want. A few years ago I planted squash and mulched it with some shredded white paper. It just sat there and didn't grow for a couple of weeks until I peeled back the mulch and felt how cold the soil underneath was. When I took away the paper mulch the sun warmed up the soil and the plant started to grow. That said... I'm thinking maybe the solar mulch is heating the inside of the hoophouse up too much right now. You want to leave it in place for when your temps cool down later in the season, but maybe in the meantime you can cover it with some white-faced cardboard to reflect the sun away and cool the soil inside the hoophouse. Then when the season cools down you can remove the cardboard and let the sun warm things up again. It's a thought anyway.

Devv · Jul 29, 2017

stickman said:
Cool video Chuck! Wow... you're still getting 115 degree temps inside the hoophouse!!! The podding plants outside show the temperature range you want. A few years ago I planted squash and mulched it with some shredded white paper. It just sat there and didn't grow for a couple of weeks until I peeled back the mulch and felt how cold the soil underneath was. When I took away the paper mulch the sun warmed up the soil and the plant started to grow. That said... I'm thinking maybe the solar mulch is heating the inside of the hoophouse up too much right now. You want to leave it in place for when your temps cool down later in the season, but maybe in the meantime you can cover it with some white-faced cardboard to reflect the sun away and cool the soil inside the hoophouse. Then when the season cools down you can remove the cardboard and let the sun warm things up again. It's a thought anyway.

I think Rick is spot on with the reference to covering the solar mulch. It's more for a cool weather jump start.

OCD Chilehead · Jul 29, 2017

stickman said:
Cool video Chuck! Wow... you're still getting 115 degree temps inside the hoophouse!!! The podding plants outside show the temperature range you want. A few years ago I planted squash and mulched it with some shredded white paper. It just sat there and didn't grow for a couple of weeks until I peeled back the mulch and felt how cold the soil underneath was. When I took away the paper mulch the sun warmed up the soil and the plant started to grow. That said... I'm thinking maybe the solar mulch is heating the inside of the hoophouse up too much right now. You want to leave it in place for when your temps cool down later in the season, but maybe in the meantime you can cover it with some white-faced cardboard to reflect the sun away and cool the soil inside the hoophouse. Then when the season cools down you can remove the cardboard and let the sun warm things up again. It's a thought anyway.

Thanks Rick. I think your absolutely right. It was good at the beginning of the season. Plants loved it until Summer hit. I pulled the Solar mulch tonight. Probably regret it come Fall, but if I put a door on the house it will hold some good temps when I need it.

OCD Chilehead · Jul 29, 2017

Devv said:
I think Rick is spot on with the reference to covering the solar mulch. It's more for a cool weather jump start.

I agree. Lessons learned.

This green house thing is all new to me. I'll have it down next year. I'm going to install a swamp cooler for the intense heat. The extra humidity will help.Something like this. I have one on my house that cooks the place down really good. Doesn't use the electricity like a air conditioner.

OCD Chilehead · Jul 29, 2017

Here is a video of the greenhouse without the solar mulch. I said, I took Ricks advice in the video. I misspoke. He advised me to cover the mulch up. I just ripped it completely out in a fit of RAGE. LOL! I actually tried to make a slit down the middle and roll it back. Didn't quite work out.

http://youtu.be/dftL_LIznJg

OCD 2017!!!

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