The Pacific Northwest GLOG 2015

Roguejim · Jan 23, 2015

organic pepper said:
This is what I'm trying this year as my starter soil. Its a local brand. Best part is it's like $7.95 a bag.

20150109_0618261.jpg

Hey, I've been to their website, and I can't find this product. It's not organic, is it? I'm going to email the company, and see if they have a retailer where I live.

organic pepper · Jan 23, 2015

I called them and it's the Gardener Professional Secret. They just bagged it that way for that vendor which she crossed check and confirmed. She said it was their nursery mix.

Roguejim · Jan 23, 2015

organic pepper said:
I called them and it's the Gardener Professional Secret. They just bagged it that way for that vendor which she crossed check and confirmed. She said it was their nursery mix.

Thanks, Aaron. I just got an email, and they only have retailers in Washington. I could order a pallet if I wanted to, though. Probably won't.

chachie09 · Jan 24, 2015

Finished my mini greenhouse for germinating. No more room in our condo, so seeds will have to be germinated outdoors in the garden. Going to have them in this and then have heat pads under the solo cups. Nights here have been down around 40-45, so hopefully this will work out ok.

Sorry for potato pic. It is 4' x 2', the base is about 8" tall. Should be tall enough to allow a bit of growth from solo cups. All for about $25.

Roguejim · Jan 24, 2015

chachie09 said:
Finished my mini greenhouse for germinating. No more room in our condo, so seeds will have to be germinated outdoors in the garden. Going to have them in this and then have heat pads under the solo cups. Nights here have been down around 40-45, so hopefully this will work out ok.

Sorry for potato pic. It is 4' x 2', the base is about 8" tall. Should be tall enough to allow a bit of growth from solo cups. All for about $25.

Uh, it's my understanding that heating pads raise the temp ~10 degrees above the ambient air temp. You might need a heater, I think.

chachie09 · Jan 24, 2015

Roguejim said:
Uh, it's my understanding that heating pads raise the temp ~10 degrees above the ambient air temp. You might need a heater, I think.

Sorry, i should have been more specific, Im going to be making the DIY heating pad using ropelight. Ive heard that they get a bit warmer than the standard heating pads.

PaulG · Jan 25, 2015

Sweet germinating frame, Chachie! A little insulative/reflective material under
the unit and a similar covering should keep it nice and toasty if you have a light
in it. Check out Stc3248's 'Christmas Tree Light Frost Protection System' in his
2012 grow log. It may be a similar idea would work for you. The key will keeping
it nice and tight at night and able to breath during the day.
However you go, good luck going forward :cheers:

chachie09 · Jan 26, 2015

PaulG said:
The key will keeping it nice and tight at night and able to breath during the day.

This is the problem i am having trouble figuring out. As i will probably only be at the garden every other day or so. Thinking of adding a heat lamp and a fan, both on temperature switches. The fan will come on when it gets to probably 90* and pull hot air out, and the heat lamp will come on when it gets below 70*.

PaulG · Jan 26, 2015

When you said outdoors in the garden, do you mean out in the wide open spaces?
Or can you put it against a south facing wall? That would help if the weather is cold.
Also a windbreak can be helpful. Not sure where in cali you are, so hard to say how
your set-up will manage in your local min/max temps. The auto controls sound like a
good idea.

Maybe you could use reflective foam core for the walls and a heavy gauge clear
plastic sheet for the roof. I use 6 mil on mine and it lasts a couple of seasons if
I don't leave it in the sun all year, plus it's easy to roll up and out of the way when
you want to work in the space. 4 x 2 is a nice size.

ColdSmoke · Jan 26, 2015

Man, am I glad I invested $20 in a head pad for my germination system. Day after I started using it like 20 sprouts came up. What do you guys do when all 4 of the seeds you put in a hole sprout? Can I pull them out and use them all or should I just keep the best looking one and cut back the others.

Roguejim · Jan 26, 2015

ColdSmoke said:
Man, am I glad I invested $20 in a head pad for my germination system. Day after I started using it like 20 sprouts cam up. What do you guys do when all 4 of the seeds you put in a hole sprout? Can I pull them out and use them all or should I just keep the best looking one and cut back the others.

It's up to you. Sometimes when you have multiple sprouts from 1 cell, or peat pellet, some will be runts. I usually only keep the strongest looking one, and clip off the rest because I don't need all of them. Otherwise, you can hold them all in your hand, and run luke warm water over the roots until they separate. Then, replant.

D3monic · Jan 26, 2015

ColdSmoke said:
Can I pull them out and use them all or should I just keep the best looking one and cut back the others.

both i'd think. If you get it while it's small you can probably pull the spares out and try to transplant but with murderous intent so if they don't make it you're not sad about it.

ronaldo_fanbelt · Jan 27, 2015

Hey are you guys loving this weather?

bpwilly · Jan 27, 2015

Are we sure it is January? Tee shirt weather today. Loving that part of it!

turbo · Jan 27, 2015

Yea, this weather is kind'a crazy. All the garlic I planted in October is 6" - 8" tall already. If the whole spring is like this I might get to pant in early May, which would be sweet!

Roguejim · Jan 27, 2015

It's 42F and foggy in the Rogue Valley. Always gloomy Winters here, but usually colder.

PaulG · Jan 27, 2015

Yes, awesome weather,indeed :cool:

I won't say Spring-like, but I'll take it!

To keep cross-posting to a minimum, I'm just posting a link to an
update for my greenhouse Aji Amarillos and Orange Manzanos here.

But I'll cheat a little

Here's a shot of the greenhouse Fatali
bon chi plant. It has finally started growing out a bit:

chachie09 · Jan 27, 2015

Good news and bad news...Bad news is I overbuilt a project, yet again. good news is i should be able to start seeds year round outdoors with this thing, haha.

Took the 4'x2' frame i made and insulated it on all 4 sides and the bottom with reflective insulation. In the center is a ceramic bulb mount on a box for a 125W infrared heat lamp. there will be two fans installed on one end and a baffled passive intake on the other. the fan will be on a controller that powers them if temps get above 90*. The bulb will be on the same system if temps drop below 65*.

The total size is 4'L x 2'W x 10"T. Height at the peak is 21".

PaulG · Jan 27, 2015

Like 5 on your germination/grow chamber!
That's the sweet sheeeiiiit, brother!

I think you will find that more than adequate! :clap:

organic pepper · Jan 27, 2015

PaulG said:
Yes, awesome weather,indeed I won't say Spring-like, but I'll take it!

To keep cross-posting to a minimum, I'm just posting a link to an
update for my greenhouse Aji Amarillos and Orange Manzanos here.

But I'll cheat a little Here's a shot of the greenhouse Fatali
bon chi plant. It has finally started growing out a bit:

That baby is looking like a bonsai at the base. How old? Looking awesome!

Looking Nice Chachie!! Very clean looking setup indeed! Cant wait to see it in action.