YAMracer754 work in progress GLOG

Ok.... so I have been meaning to start this for quite some time but finally got things to a point where I feel I can have my grasp on most things pepper and have brought my peppers up, buying things as I go as funds dictate and the chiliboys+girls keep growing up. Not ideal approach, I know, but gotta start somewhere! If I were $$loaded it would be a little easier but $ doesn't replace research and knowledge!

I'm growing indoors until I can take them outside and will grow some in large containers, a few airpots, and the rest in raised beds. Probably flower a few inside to use my new Folux light (courtesy of PexPeppers!) Am thinking of switching to a more coco based medium as the peat seems to not allow so much airflow as I would like but open to suggestions. I'm currently in promix bx blended with fox farms Ocean forest, and upon up potting have added lots of perlite as in the beginning I was getting too much compaction and I was also having the overwatering problem(which I have now corrected).

I started some on 2/7 and some on 2/27 (from Seed) and here's where I am now and here's where I was before. I have upgraded light to 130w folux from a crappy Amazon ufo led {30w actual draw-was good for seedlings and about it}.


I really Need to know which Soil-Hydro frets to buy-bang for buck I'm looking for 1 or 2 at most products to 'K.I.S.S.' approach. So between some of these do you have any knowledge/experience: Masterblend, GH Maxigrow+maxibloom, CNS17, or any of the dynagro products? Or maybe something I haven't heard of? Currently have GrowBig fox farms for supplemental but not a very well balanced profile for growing peppers from what I gather (6-4-4), looking to cover P-K, calcium, and nominal amount of N. I have Epsom salt already if I detect Mg deficiency.

The first pics are from March 2, then March 9-12 transplanting, (notice the algae and growth problems) and here is where I'm at now. Almost thinking it's time to uppot again-they're in 3.5" and 4" nursery containers respectively, and have more seedlings growing in cell trays from Seed from Edmick.

What I'm growing: Hab red Caribbean, Hab chocolate, 1 tepin made it from Seed, bhut jolokia, 3 yellow Devils, a couple Habanero lemons still in tray, some different tomatoes, reapers, jalapeño temprana(early girl jpens), birds eye, different bell/sweet peppers. Few others failed to germinate so I won't list them, and I'm germing aleppos, bad brains, aji citizens, and aji mango. Looking forward to suggestions/questions/comments from all you fellow chileheads!

Regards,
-Tristan

 

[YAMracer754]

Day by day... She keeps getting more sorted the more my mind decays from all the brain force!

Regards,
-Tristan

 

[Masher]

Very nice plants...keep up the great work.

 

[Edmick]

Lookin good!

 

[Chilidude]

Hey, seems like you are starting to dial in the coco coir growing after a hard start.

 

[PtMD989]

Looking good. When is dirt day?


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[Chewi]

Day by day... She keeps getting more sorted the more my mind decays from all the brain force!

Regards,
-Tristan

 

yeah man lookin good! Real good!!

 

[Devv]

Looks like they're doing really well now
 
Good work!

 

[Chilidude]

Perhaps some of my tips might have helped to make those peppers recover from the not so good condition to a pretty good state that you see in the new pictures, so keep up the good work as whatever you are doing right now seems to work.

 

[YAMracer754]

Looking good. When is dirt day?


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Thanks to all of you!! New pics coming soon as I keep dialing things in and "experimenting" with different nutrient profiles for similar species to compare and see how they all tolerate N P AND K. And PtMD, that's my next mind melting big struggle all by myself... Have plenty of space but live on a mtn plateau/holler/Cove which is much different to what im used to in Northern IL-live in shithole TN right now (DeKalb IL, we're known for our awesome corn up there). There you could stick a plant in any ground and grow anything easy... Here-nothing but rocks under the layer of sod and topsoil.

So I'm thinking container garden for half and somehow pull off some magic and make some sort of rigged raised bed formation of sorts... Any suggestions appreciated! This hobby is life consuming and started so much fun but the stress!! Too much for fly by seat of pants approach! It's a constant game of catch up! Not to mention the heartbreak of having to get rid of or advertise some plants to flip as Ive been taking care of them since seeds but I just don't have the space for all of them-ex:10 jalapeño plants, 5 Habanero red carribean, etc etc especially with all these more rare and unique plants I have a seedlings that need to be potted up!

Thinkin of grabbing another light and making another grow chamber.. Just got a mailorder receipt of bunch of different cool stuff from baker creek rare seeds... Have I caught the bug!?!? I do have 70 personal plants so I think I do! Lol

Regards,
-Tristan

 

[PtMD989]

DeKalb is a town? I thought it was a seed company. I used to see DeKalb seed signs all over corn fields around here. Don’t see too many now. I used to grow in 5 gal buckets, but they weren’t “ pretty enough “ for my wife. So my wife bought me an overpriced raised bed from HD. Then I made another one from scrap wood I had. I’m thinking of making another RB. My gardens usually end up looking like somebody stuffed 20 gallons of shit in a 10 gallon hat. [emoji16]



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[YAMracer754]

DeKalb is a town? I thought it was a seed company. I used to see DeKalb seed signs all over corn fields around here. Don’t see too many now. I used to grow in 5 gal buckets, but they weren’t “ pretty enough “ for my wife. So my wife bought me an overpriced raised bed from HD. Then I made another one from scrap wood I had. I’m thinking of making another RB. My gardens usually end up looking like somebody stuffed 20 gallons of shit in a 10 gallon hat. [emoji16]



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Yes those seed signs I am very familiar with-the flying ear of corn.. Cool thing was the town would have an annual "corn fest" where it was like giant carnival, party, concerts, drinkin, etc and del Monte company would have a giant old steam engine they would steam/boil the corn with and it was freeee! The corn that is... Northern Illinois University was in DeKalb, that's where I went to school. Big college town.

That is exactly what it will look like judging by all the progeny I have! 30 gal of shit in 10 gal hat lol! Was it easy to make the raised beds? Any kind of storm curtain or shade cloth or just basic?

Regards,
-Tristan

 

[PtMD989]

For the homemade raised beds I just used some 5/4”x6”x48” pressure treated deck boards and some pressure treated 2”x4” for the corners. I know some people don’t use PT wood around gardens, but it’s what I had available.
NIU huh? I guess we’re sworn enemies, both my daughter and daughter in law go to Eastern Michigan University. Haha just kidding about being enemies. Love the MAC [emoji16]


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[PtMD989]

I didn’t put any weed blocker fabric down under garden bed #2. I have a lot more worms and night crawlers in that raised bed than in bed #1 which has weed blocker under the soil. I don’t have any more weeds in bed #2 than bed#1.
Weed blocker = worm blocker.


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[YAMracer754]

I didn’t put any weed blocker fabric down under garden bed #2. I have a lot more worms and night crawlers in that raised bed than in bed #1 which has weed blocker under the soil. I don’t have any more weeds in bed #2 than bed#1.
Weed blocker = worm blocker.


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Michigan bahhhhh! Lol jk, so weed barrier = survival for garden? Or less pests that is? Worms aren't bad I like their poop but there are other pests that can suck my you know what!

But yeah I really really need and want this bed otherwise wind is going to make my life a living hell not to mention the container castle not having one would create... I imagine my plants taking flight and lots of tears and expletives coming out my face! Plus being low on funds I gotta be smooth with it.
Regards,
-Tristan

 

[PtMD989]

Yeah, you want earthworms and night crawlers in your garden. I haven’t seen any pest in my gardens besides grasshoppers.
No weeds with or without the weed blocker.



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[Devv]

What ever direction you choose will be yours. I grow in raised beds, containers, and dirt. Being a dirty boy (old man?) I prefer Gods soil. If it doesn't suit your needs you can make it so. It may take some time; but In my experiences it out performs all the rest. Never a limitation for the roots in the good old dirt
 
Speaking of worms, I finally have them in my garden. Never did when it was just sand....

 

[Chewi]

 Love the MAC [emoji16]


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Those weeknight MAC Football games help me through the fall!!!!!
 

 Just got a mailorder receipt of bunch of different cool stuff from baker creek rare seeds...

 
Did you get any tomatoes? I got a few from Baker Creek too. Brad's Atomic Grape, Tomato Blue Berries and they threw in Black Verrissage.

 

[YAMracer754]

 
Those weeknight MAC Football games help me through the fall!!!!!
 
 
Did you get any tomatoes? I got a few from Baker Creek too. Brad's Atomic Grape, Tomato Blue Berries and they threw in Black Verrissage.

I sureee did! God some Brad atomic grapes, black beauty, tomatillo purple, and I have some matoes already started from March so I limited my desire to buy everything. Got some cool okras, and various other stuff. Also couldn't pass up the aji charapita and sugar rush peach, although I think it's far too late to start those two..

I would love going straight into the ground Scott but under the green grass lies so so so much rock everywhere. So I'm thinkin a raised bed could help me get a platform to get my root system going and then if it wants to try and dig that rock GO AHEAD! LOL.
So I have ordered 25 assorted 3,5,7 gallon grow bags (got some tan ones too), and I'm still figuring out where to go from there. Also I see harbor freight got the 6x8' greenhouse back on sale courtesy of this forum-so really not sure where to go with that. I've been lookin for concrete pillar bricks too but to not much avail, figured those would work for a raised bed, no?
I would love to have the ability to cover my system if possible from crazy weather events especially if I have a good heads up on it and pvc/conduit + raised bed would do that, then again so would greenhouse! So many choices makes my head spin. Then again guess that's why I love this-so many different ways to similar endpoint. Do I need cover? Also trying to be proactive about watering-need to find a barrel and rig up a faucet spigot off the well. Here's my area I'll be doing this in-it's all in the south and east direction, I'll update when it's sunny out to show more the sun spectrum, but I'm thinking behind that shed would be good. The trees once filled out shad a small portion, almost working like a shad cloth depending on where plants are placed. Pics were taken off my crowded porch.

Regards,
-Tristan

 

[Chilidude]

How are the chilis doing, are they still alive?

 

[Chewi]

Where are you located again? It looks freezing cold there still!!!!