tommys south texas glog '15--FINAL GROW LIST FRONT PAGE 2/9/15

twilliams386 · Mar 1, 2015

stickman said:
2-foot spacing is plenty for small plants, but some grow over 3 feet tall and require the same spacing. Commercial seeds should have the spacing printed on the packet... for the others, ask around among the folks that have grown those varieties before.

Well this is going to be strictly peppers from my list plus a few tomatoes/tomatillos.
Got a rough sketch of how I'm thinking of doing my drip system. Any input would be appreciated. I've never done one before, and there aren't many examples out there that include dripping for 100 containers in rows. But here it is

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1/2" mainline from spigot (plus regulator and timer and everything else) teed off to more 1/2" line down the rows, then either punch in or cross in 1/4" tubing for each plant and run that to drip stakes set at 1gph.

D3monic · Mar 1, 2015

I'd run all 1/2" tubing for main and the big line running down between the rows. Then use the stab in barb fittings like these and run the 1/4 tube to the individual pot and use a plant stake to hold the tubing in place in the pot. Most the kits come with a tubing cutter, push tool (use to push the barb fittings into the side of the pipe) and a pressure reducer. They also make nice 1/2 push in fittings for elbows and tees, or you can use the cheaper barb ones.

Looks like it would be a bitch to walk between those rows though.

twilliams386 · Mar 1, 2015

D3monic said:
I'd run all 1/2" tubing for main and the big line running down between the rows. Then use the stab in barb fittings like these and run the 1/4 tube to the individual pot and use a plant stake to hold the tubing in place in the pot. Most the kits come with a tubing cutter, push tool (use to push the barb fittings into the side of the pipe) and a pressure reducer. They also make nice 1/2 push in fittings for elbows and tees, or you can use the cheaper barb ones.

Looks like it would be a bitch to walk between those rows though.

Yeah this is almost exactly what I meant. I think the prices are cheaper at drip depot though. I feel like 2gph may be too much, unless you were just using that one as an example for the style.
And you're definitely right about the spacing, I may have to add another 10 ft to one side to accomodate.

D3monic · Mar 1, 2015

Depends on how long you leave it running, 1gp sounds like a lot... but you ain't going to have the water run for an hour most likely. I think I used mostly 1 or 2gph last year for 20min twice a day which was a bit much for peppers but I was growing a lot of other stuff last year. I also use them for the flower gardens and around my pond too. Those areas get misting nozzles attached. Since I had raise beds for the lettuce and spinach areas and even a few the peppers I used the 1/4 that had drip holes every 6"

I think for maneuverability I would add a 2' walking path between each 2 set of pots that way you can squeeze in between and it give them a lil room to grow as well.

stickman · Mar 1, 2015

D3monic said:
I'd run all 1/2" tubing for main and the big line running down between the rows. Then use the stab in barb fittings like these and run the 1/4 tube to the individual pot and use a plant stake to hold the tubing in place in the pot. Most the kits come with a tubing cutter, push tool (use to push the barb fittings into the side of the pipe) and a pressure reducer. They also make nice 1/2 push in fittings for elbows and tees, or you can use the cheaper barb ones.

Looks like it would be a bitch to walk between those rows though.

D3monic said:
Depends on how long you leave it running, 1gp sounds like a lot... but you ain't going to have the water run for an hour most likely. I think I used mostly 1 or 2gph last year for 20min twice a day which was a bit much for peppers but I was growing a lot of other stuff last year. I also use them for the flower gardens and around my pond too. Those areas get misting nozzles attached. Since I had raise beds for the lettuce and spinach areas and even a few the peppers I used the 1/4 that had drip holes every 6"

There ya go... this guy has done it before. +1 on the spacing... I plant my peppers in double rows with a 2 foot walkway between them so I have room to tend the plants and harvest pods.

D3monic · Mar 1, 2015

Red lines your 2-3 wide walking path, blue lines your 1/2 tubing that way you're not tripping over shit and you got maneuver room

Edited to add yellow lines for 1/4" tubing

twilliams386 · Mar 1, 2015

D3monic said:
Depends on how long you leave it running, 1gp sounds like a lot... but you ain't going to have the water run for an hour most likely. I think I used mostly 1 or 2gph last year for 20min twice a day which was a bit much for peppers but I was growing a lot of other stuff last year. I also use them for the flower gardens and around my pond too. Those areas get misting nozzles attached. Since I had raise beds for the lettuce and spinach areas and even a few the peppers I used the 1/4 that had drip holes every 6"

I think for maneuverability I would add a 2' walking path between each 2 set of pots that way you can squeeze in between and it give them a lil room to grow as well.

stickman said:
There ya go... this guy has done it before. +1 on the spacing... I plant my peppers in double rows with a 2 foot walkway between them so I have room to tend the plants and harvest pods.

D3monic said:
Red lines your 2-3 wide walking path, blue lines your 1/2 tubing that way you're not tripping over shit and you got maneuver room

Ok so if I add 10' to make it 20x30 then I can have a 4' double row, then 2' between rows to tend. I can do that. 2' is squeezing for me, but I can make it happen. Also there's no guarantee on having 100 plants, but better to have too much room than not enough. And on the drip emitters I guess you're right, no matter the flow rate, it still mostly depends on the timing. Thanks for the advice guys

D3monic · Mar 1, 2015

twilliams386 said:
Ok so if I add 10' to make it 20x30 then I can have a 4' double row, then 2' between rows to tend. I can do that. 2' is squeezing for me, but I can make it happen. Also there's no guarantee on having 100 plants, but better to have too much room than not enough. And on the drip emitters I guess you're right, no matter the flow rate, it still mostly depends on the timing. Thanks for the advice guys

Just member the plants may try to take up your 2' walking space as well reaching for that extra light getting in there if you can add 12' so you have 3' walking path that would probably be your best bet. that way you can squeeze a wheel barrel in between if needed.

twilliams386 · Mar 1, 2015

D3monic said:
Just member the plants may try to take up your 2' walking space as well reaching for that extra light getting in there if you can add 12' so you have 3' walking path that would probably be your best bet. that way you can squeeze a wheel barrel in between if needed.

Good point. 12 is manageable.

twilliams386 · Mar 15, 2015

Well it's been a while, and there's not a whole lot going on as far as growth goes, but here's a little update. Now that the weather seems to be getting more stable i Built a stand and got a couple more lights so I could transfer everything out to the garage. Uppotted tomatoes and garlic. Looks like my first round is almost ready to start hardening off, everything else needs more time. Most plants have a yellow tint to them, so I'm gonna hold off on the water for a while, then give some nutes next time I do water. Note to self, start earlier next year.

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twilliams386 · Mar 20, 2015

Alrighty time for a little update. Today I found some potting soil for 2.50 per cubic foot bag. It's not high quality stuff, but I plan on supplementing it anyway. It's made of compost, "indigenous wood fiber", and sand. Can't be horrible. Got 10 bags of that, it goes on sale tmrw for 1.75 a bag, so I'll probably get 10 more then. Also bought 20 more fabric bags and some Roma seeds. So for my tomatoes I'll have Roma, tomatillo, and Bush big boy hybrid.
Now for some pics.
All my tepins are looking fantastic, they're getting some sun right now before the storms roll in

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Just inspected my 2nd year moruga, it's gonna be a monster producer!

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Here are my pepperoncinis, coming along nicely

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And a poor quality birds eye of my first rounders. Everything's been going slow, but at least it's going

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Devv · Mar 20, 2015

Plants are looking good TW!

So I guess you're planting in the dirt (my fav).

Last year I went with 4' between rows and 3' between plants. Once again it was an absolute jungle. This year 5' between rows, plant spacing will be determined as I plant. I'd just love to be able to walk between the plants

I use bubblers with a solo cup over them to concentrate the flow, I plant in ditches so I can flood them. Drip irrigation is great if the mineral content is low in your water. Here it's high and they either clogged or dumped too much water, but we use well water...

twilliams386 · Mar 20, 2015

Devv said:
Plants are looking good TW!

So I guess you're planting in the dirt (my fav).

Last year I went with 4' between rows and 3' between plants. Once again it was an absolute jungle. This year 5' between rows, plant spacing will be determined as I plant. I'd just love to be able to walk between the plants

I use bubblers with a solo cup over them to concentrate the flow, I plant in ditches so I can flood them. Drip irrigation is great if the mineral content is low in your water. Here it's high and they either clogged or dumped too much water, but we use well water...

Thanks Scott! I'm actually going to be planting in wally bags. The clay here is too unforgiving and I haven't had the time to amend it.
Thanks for the info though, I can probably still apply the spacing and drip advice to my setup with minimal mods. Really wanting to get out and prep the area with ground cover and fencing, but the yard is a swamp right now and were supposed to get another couple of inches tmrw. So I'll have to wait til my next days off. But it's alright, gives me a little more time to harden off the few that are ready, and to gather money for materials.
Hope everything is well in Devine! You hit dirt yet?

stickman · Mar 21, 2015

All looking good Tom! Have you grown Tomatillos before? They're monster plants with brittle stems, so you might want to stake them or put a tomato cage around them so the wind doesn't snap heavily laden branches. Keep up the good work!

twilliams386 · Mar 21, 2015

stickman said:
All looking good Tom! Have you grown Tomatillos before? They're monster plants with brittle stems, so you might want to stake them or put a tomato cage around them so the wind doesn't snap heavily laden branches. Keep up the good work!

Thanks Rick! I actually haven't grown tillos before so I appreciate that advice. Will regular cages do the trick?

stickman · Mar 21, 2015

twilliams386 said:
Thanks Rick! I actually haven't grown tillos before so I appreciate that advice. Will regular cages do the trick?

If you do use tomato cages, use large ones... Tomatillos will easily reach 5 feet tall.

D3monic · Mar 21, 2015

stickman said:
If you do use tomato cages, use large ones... Tomatillos will easily reach 5 feet tall.

I had 4' cages on mine and they was growing way above them. Had a windstorm come through and really made a mess of them. My dad made 7' cages for his and they still grew above

twilliams386 · Mar 21, 2015

stickman said:
If you do use tomato cages, use large ones... Tomatillos will easily reach 5 feet tall.

D3monic said:
I had 4' cages on mine and they was growing way above them. Had a windstorm come through and really made a mess of them. My dad made 7' cages for his and they still grew above

Well alright then. What if I grow them near the fence and strap in a livestock panel at an angle?

stickman · Mar 21, 2015

twilliams386 said:
Well alright then. What if I grow them near the fence and strap in a livestock panel at an angle?

Maybe you could plant them next to the fence, spread the branches out like a fan and loosely tie them to the fence wire with something soft like garden twine or old stockings. If you do that, you'd have to be careful not to break the stems. They're pretty brittle. If you plant a row of them, maybe you could make a "Florida Weave" to support them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWGNCuGO-78

twilliams386 · Mar 21, 2015

stickman said:
Maybe you could plant them next to the fence, spread the branches out like a fan and loosely tie them to the fence wire with something soft like garden twine or old stockings. If you do that, you'd have to be careful not to break the stems. They're pretty brittle. If you plant a row of them, maybe you could make a "Florida Weave" to support them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWGNCuGO-78

That's too cool. But I definitely don't plan on going that big. I have 6 seedlings now, hoping to sell or give away two pairs and keep a pair for myself. I think I could rig up a suitable cage. They'll only be in about 5 gallons (wally bag) so I don't expect them to get monstrous. Well the ol hamster wheel is turnin now!