Michigan outdoor grows

[DemonTrich]

Any of us Michigan folks have an outdoor grow going this yr? I'm hoping this run will be much better than the previous run 2yrs back (both plants full of bud rot).

Gonna do a little thinning in the middle of them for a bit more airflow, and lollipop a bit.

Here's my 2 little ladies.

Permanent marker on the left
Mac stomper on the right.
Both in 3.5g pots
Feed-h2o/silica-h2o/amendments cycle every 2/3 days they are thirsty. I should of uppotted to 5g before tossing outside.

 

[DemonTrich]

That mac stomper!!!!
On right, permanent marker on left.
Those tomato cages saved these plants 5x already. A few bad storms, and wind gusts knocked them off the milk crates, then switched back to the wagon and blew over again (zero damage). They are top heavy. Wish I out them in a 5.5g when I put them od.

 

[Captain Sternn]

@Psychobilly grows outdoors in Michigan, and tries real hard to get other people growing outdoor to do it in Michigan.

 

[Psychobilly]

Yeah, though the RH has been a pest at this point, it works out pretty well. We haven't had any of the terrible wind storms as of yet thank God, and I've only had to pick up the bigger Skywalker mystery cross a few times. She's in a really small pot, and the roots are through the bottom, so it holds her up until I get out there and stand her back up straight. The wooden structure I use for supports is going to need some new upgrades this next season I think. The stuff I did myself (Rotted Skunk Pecker Cheese) I left most of those out of the wood so I can see how they "hold up" in this climate, which has been going well. They also have the really pretty dark purple colors coming in that the Alpha Skunk Cheese Mother had.

The Septoria is taking it's tax again for sure. And I did have to chop a cola off Blue Cheese because of the RH making bud rot easy to happen, so I cut that off and tossed it, and then cleared out some leaves for extra air flow.

 

[DemonTrich]

I use bungee cords. I secure them to the lower ring on the tomato cage, then to the lip of the wagon. They won't be tipping over any longer.

I even moved mine, again. I get 1-2 more hours of direct sunlight per day.

 

[Bullfrog]

Yeah, though the RH has been a pest at this point, it works out pretty well. We haven't had any of the terrible wind storms as of yet thank God, and I've only had to pick up the bigger Skywalker mystery cross a few times. She's in a really small pot, and the roots are through the bottom, so it holds her up until I get out there and stand her back up straight. The wooden structure I use for supports is going to need some new upgrades this next season I think. The stuff I did myself (Rotted Skunk Pecker Cheese) I left most of those out of the wood so I can see how they "hold up" in this climate, which has been going well. They also have the really pretty dark purple colors coming in that the Alpha Skunk Cheese Mother had.

The Septoria is taking it's tax again for sure. And I did have to chop a cola off Blue Cheese because of the RH making bud rot easy to happen, so I cut that off and tossed it, and then cleared out some leaves for extra air flow.

The septoria got me too, worse than last year for me. I'll have to map out a weekly ipm for next season, see if it makes a big difference or not. I'm guessing it will by looking a some other outdoor grows on here.

 

[DemonTrich]

Silica is supposed to help keep plants healthy. I use it until week 6 in flower.

Osa28 was THE absolute best silica I've ever used. But it ait/was also the most expensive of the silica options.

 

[Bullfrog]

Silica is supposed to help keep plants healthy. I use it until week 6 in flower.

Osa28 was THE absolute best silica I've ever used. But it ait/was also the most expensive of the silica options.

Silica certainly wouldn't hurt. I use vermiculite in my mixes, pretty sure I've read that it gives a dose of silica.

Mostly my fault trying to grow in the swamp where it's always wet. Lots of my plants in containers the bottom half is soggy and nasty and the top half is too dry. Lots of plants with not so healthy root systems. Couple I have the container sitting on sticks up off the ground and they're doing much better in the Septoria dept. but they need a lot more watering. Going to try getting plants off the mucky ground and try some different products that I see working for guys on these boards next season.

Have some raised beds that are doing well too and a couple that aren't due to not being raise up enough, roots must be too close to the original mucky ground.

Definitely have some things to rectify for next season.

 

[DemonTrich]

That blows. I lost my 1st OD plants all to budrot 3yrs back. Was very disheartening all the time and work.

Use pallets (or 2) to get them off the ground. Then secure the pots to the pallets so they don't tumble over.

 

[Bullfrog]

That blows. I lost my 1st OD plants all to budrot 3yrs back. Was very disheartening all the time and work.

Use pallets (or 2) to get them off the ground. Then secure the pots to the pallets so they don't tumble over.

I'm sure I'll have some bud rot but I'm not expecting a lot. I have the numbers so if I have to toss a little, I can handle it. I don't give up easily, I'll get it dialed it, my first year really growing in this spot. The veggie garden and areas around it is going to get some plants next season, get a few out of the swamp all together.

 

[Frosty78]

Have you tried growing in the ground there mate or is it horrible ground?

 

[Bullfrog]

Have you tried growing in the ground there mate or is it horrible ground?

Not there I haven't. There's standing water in the swamp until late June/July, it's muck even now that there's no standing water. There's some raised beds where I hauled in some dirt. Those are doing ok, except for a couple that didn't get enough dirt added, those stay too wet which isn't good for the root system. Doesn't help things when the humidity is always 90% back there. Didn't figure it would be easy to grow back there, not giving up yet, I'll figure it out.

There are better areas to grow but aren't as private. Going to put some in and around the veggie garden next season, should do much better there getting out of the swamp.

 

[Frosty78]

Not there I haven't. There's standing water in the swamp until late June/July, it's muck even now that there's no standing water. There's some raised beds where I hauled in some dirt. Those are doing ok, except for a couple that didn't get enough dirt added, those stay too wet which isn't good for the root system. Doesn't help things when the humidity is always 90% back there. Didn't figure it would be easy to grow back there, not giving up yet, I'll figure it out.

There are better areas to grow but aren't as private. Going to put some in and around the veggie garden next season, should do much better there getting out of the swamp.

That's a bit of a bugger then. Bog swamp growing.....my mind says challenge accepted with that type of challenge.
Hope the season works out well at the end.

 

[Mr Jay]

There are better areas to grow but aren't as private.

Raspberry, sunflower, willow, poplar, Caragana,,, bambo?

Some annuals will provide same season cover.
Look at fast growing, bushy perennials to provide a more private area.
And never mind my suggestions. Just read the room. Whatever grows well around there, use it as a diversion /screen.

 

[Mr Jay]

Going to try getting plants off the mucky ground

Free water is your friend. 😃

Wicking pots and beds

We first started to investigate wicking pots during a seven-year drought we experienced between 2001 and 2008. At that time we were dependent on one 3,000 gallon tank for all our water needs, inclu…

lockyervalley.org

 

[DemonTrich]

Had to move them back to their original spot. The newer spot gets a bit of light from a street light. I noticed it last night, and moved them today.

 

[Bullfrog]

Free water is your friend. 😃

Wicking pots and beds

We first started to investigate wicking pots during a seven-year drought we experienced between 2001 and 2008. At that time we were dependent on one 3,000 gallon tank for all our water needs, inclu…

lockyervalley.org

Yeah dude, that's what I was hoping would happen with the fabric pots. They do wick up water, but they don't dry out.

A couple of the raised beds I built I lined the bottom (which was flooded with water) with stones until the rock was above the water. Then put fabric down over the rock. Figured where I wanted plants then cut holes in the fabric and dug out the rock. Packed those holes with soil and continued to fill the bed up the rest of the way. Those two beds seem to be working well, they're not too wet but don't seem dry either. I think this is the way.

Would be easier if the water level didn't fluctuate as much as it does. All spring and early summer it's above the soil surface in most spots. We haven't had any amount of rain in a month probably and the water is around 18 inches below the surface now, so those beds won't be wicking. All the soil in the swamp is still really mucky and wet though so it does seem to wick some moisture out of that wet dirt.

Lots of ideas, not as much time to put them to work.

 

[DemonTrich]

@Psychobilly , did ya dodge the 10hrs or rain? I moved my 2 girls under my bbq/smoker canopy.

Gonna do the no-rain dance for the next 4 weeks.