Plan for 2010

[mtnxc]

I've decided to grow next year for the first time. I got a good spot on family land that I know is safe. I only plan on growing like 5 to 8 plants. I got two spots and Im thinking on growing 4 in one and 4 in the other just to spread the odds. My question is, should I do any soil preparation this winter and next spring before I set my plants out. Its gonna be around 6 months before I set them out. Im just wanting to know if soil prep will increase my yield and what should I do to the soil. Any help is greatly appreciated!


Peace and green times

[SilverSword]

Originally Posted by mtnxc

I've decided to grow next year for the first time. I got a good spot on family land that I know is safe. I only plan on growing like 5 to 8 plants. I got two spots and Im thinking on growing 4 in one and 4 in the other just to spread the odds. My question is, should I do any soil preparation this winter and next spring before I set my plants out. Its gonna be around 6 months before I set them out. Im just wanting to know if soil prep will increase my yield and what should I do to the soil. Any help is greatly appreciated!


Peace and green times

Not necessary, just mental preparation.

And make sure you have seeds/clones lined up. Good luck.

[mtnxc]

So i dont need to start building up the soil with fertilizer or anything?

[aidenmurrey]

i had this question too. im gonna try and grow in the summer and am gonna use pots. im assuming i dont need to prepare the land right?

[mtnxc]

Im gonna start them in pots then to the soil.

[Philopian]

Depending if it's a sativa or an indica you might need to grow in bigger than 15 gallon pots/planters.

My tomatoes outgrew the 15 gallon planters and they are only 5 feet tall but 4 feet wide so go 20 gallon or bigger planters.

Also, #1. People are going to chime in to check the existing soil PH!


Dude, condition the soil, you want it to be a healthy green plant right?
So if you have some yard clippings, leafs, and piles of food waste then
go ahead and make up a compost pile in the corner of your yard.

No dairy-meat-pasta-breads, and no peeing on the pile or it will make it nitrogen heavy,
but coffee-tea grounds perfect, lemons-oranges-grapefruit rinds are okay, and egg shells
- great source of calcium and it's needed!
No big branches, or if like me give em to your mastiff puppy, what I call
"My little composter" to break up the branches then put them in the pile.
Oh yeah, receipts, brown paper sacks, newspaper, and paper towels OK.
Great if it's used with no meat drippings or grease, just throw it in.

When it's sat for 2 weeks then go turn it over, then in 2 weeks the same.
Just keep adding to it, keep it moist from drying out, not soaked mind you.
In the spring if you keep adding to it, you will have a great fertilizer!

If you have a source try these with all the starter nutrients to grow big.
Roots Organics – Formula 707 by Aurora Innovations

Try container gardening with some Happy Frog your plants will love it!
http://foxfarmfertilizer.com/images/...GHTWARRIOR.jpg

You already know about Fox Farms Ocean Forest mix if you search on it ~

Whatever you use as a base just be sure to get some fresh worm castings and place a double handful where you plant the seeds and when you transplant to the ground put in a couple cups of worm castings right around the root ball of the plant. Excellent source of nitrogen and worm castings will never burn or over fertilize your plants soil. Green, green, and more green!

You can also make up a fertilizer tea with 1/4 tsp superthrive, 1 cup worm castings, 4 cups compost material, 1 cup pure alfalfa pellets, 2 tbsp molasses, measured liquid soluble fertilizers, 2 tbsp epsom salt, and 5 gal water. You need a bubble stone from a fish tank to agitate and oxygenate the water, so the bacteria don't die, but let this sit overnight until it starts building a foam on top, then it's ready. After removing air stone USE within 4-6 hours before bacteria start to die from lack of air, and pour it on the soil where you will eventually plant your brood. You will give the plants a great head start by populating the soil with bacteria. In fact the nutrients should build up. Apply full strength tea on bare soil no more than twice a month for the next 5-6 months to really get the soil ready. It's a synergy thing with the plant and the roots building a community within the soil w/bacteria.

For constant watering and fertilizing I just do the following adjustments and use this diluted strength at every watering; 5 drops superthrive, 1/2 tsp epsom salt, 1/4 strength soluble fertilizer, 1 cup pure alfalfa pellets, 2 tsp molasses, 5 gal water.
Must use air stone every time, and I use it also on plain tap water to clear out the chlorine and oxygenate the water, plants love oxygenated water.

Also if you have great results with the compost pile, oh and add some rabbit or chicken manure now, mix it in, great source of nitrogen that will help break down the alkaline materials in the pile. If you have great results with compost pile you will probably attract a ton of redworms and they are little soil sheriffs that eat and poop black gold. If you turn over the pile and see worms just be thankful, they assist speeding up the breakdown of materials and are wanted. So when you plant in the ground, throw in a bunch of redworms, or whatever shows up nightcrawlers not as good but will show up if food present, so take a bunch of worms and put them in the dirt where you plant.

If you have decided on an area and are 100% sure you will plant there in the spring - get some worms or compost and go work over that soil now. Your going to help those plants by making a nice little buffet setup ~

Proof is in the pudding




Phil J

[madodah]

Since you're not harvesting/trimming/curing this year, I suggest you dig your holes now. I dig 3'x3'x3' holes and its my most dreaded chore. I do it in the early spring and of course that coincides with the multiple springtime chores of germinating seeds, transplanting from 6oz to one-gallon and then 3.5 gallon pots under the lights while lugging everything outdoors/indoors to harden them before going in the ground.

If you have the time do it now and you'll thank yourself next spring.

[SilverSword]

Originally Posted by madodah

Since you're not harvesting/trimming/curing this year, I suggest you dig your holes now. I dig 3'x3'x3' holes and its my most dreaded chore. I do it in the early spring and of course that coincides with the multiple springtime chores of germinating seeds, transplanting from 6oz to one-gallon and then 3.5 gallon pots under the lights while lugging everything outdoors/indoors to harden them before going in the ground.

If you have the time do it now and you'll thank yourself next spring.

Wow, good call.