***The Official 2014 Gardening Thread***

[dmahurin]

So what is everyone planting this year? Trying anything new or different? I've already got potatoes in the ground and I'm trying an herb garden this year. I've started cilantro, oregano, and basil in planter pots from seed and will transfer to a 55 gallon drum cut in half length wise and laid on its side with drain holes.

Overall I'm going with tomatoes, green beans, peppers(jalapeño/bell), broccoli, lettuce, and the aforementioned potatoes.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Yes, sorry.

Anything else I should know other than I should have probably planted a third row to help pollination but I didn't because I ran out of space?


This is also a pretty big experiment. I have crammed a lot into a small space. It may or may not work. I'm ok with that for my first year.

My corn production and yours are pretty different.

What I can tell you from the production side is it takes a lot of nitrogen. I know you haven't pulled a soil sample, but if you didn't use a fertilizer that has a good bit of N, I'd recommend getting some. Field corn takes 1.2lb N per 56 lb of dried finished grain. That ends up being quite a bit more than the phosphorus requirement. A lot of people use manure, if that's all, you probably need to supplement nitrogen.

Corn self pollinates. Don't worry about pollen distribution. What kills pollination is heat. If it is real hot when it pollenates put a sprinkler or mister or something to lower the ambient temperature around the ear.

Peak water use for corn is at tassel. You don't have to water it so much early on, just remember the root system isn't as big until it gets a few leaves. Once it gets established id recommend letting it stress some so there is a bigger root mass. Once it kicks a tassel put the water to it and don't stop until you pick it. Drought stress makes sweet corn tough.

Heat stress, really high ET stress can make the corn plant look bad. It will look grey and onion topped or curled up leaves. That's a defense mechanism to keep water in the plant. Unless it's making grain I wouldn't worry too much.

Let me know if you have specific questions as it grows along.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Also Buehler, I read that I should get a straight nitrogen fertilizer? something like 46-0-0. Is that true?

Also, I love sweet baby corn that you find in Chinese food. Trouble is that shit's expensive. Someone told me I can just pick sweet corn when it's immature and it's the same thing?

No. That's a different type of corn I think. You can try it though.

46-0-0 will work as purely N. The way it works for the numbers are %Nitrogen-% phosphorus-% potassium. Corn needs some of all of it to grow. If you've put some manure on, N will likely be sufficient. If you haven't done anything else, I'd find some with p and k. But it needs far more n than p.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

No. That's a different type of corn I think. You can try it though.

46-0-0 will work as purely N. The way it works for the numbers are %Nitrogen-% phosphorus-% potassium. Corn needs some of all of it to grow. If you've put some manure on, N will likely be sufficient. If you haven't done anything else, I'd find some with p and k. But it needs far more n than p.

The only things that went into this soil are organic soil and manure, all bought from Lowe's. Top few inches of the soil is Miracle Grow potting soil.

I use a vegetable fertilizer for the tomatoes and peppers that runs 8-10-3. Both seems to like it.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Arizona-s...092C/100122978


That's why I think a straight Nitrogen fertilizer in the corn section might work?

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by lewdog

The only things that went into this soil are organic soil and manure, all bought from Lowe's. Top few inches of the soil is Miracle Grow potting soil.

I use a vegetable fertilizer for the tomatoes and peppers that runs 8-10-3. Both seems to like it.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Arizona-s...092C/100122978


That's why I think a straight Nitrogen fertilizer in the corn section might work?

Yeah manure is really high in P. I would throw in a little N. Remember, 1.2lb N per 56lb dry grain. So basically 2 lb of 46-0-0 should grow you 50 lb of corn. And sweet corn is mostly water. I wouldn't put more than a pound or pound and a half of product on your plot. If it were me I'd hit it with a dose of your 8-10-3 and a 3/4 lb 46-0-0

[Buehler445]

Nutrient deficiency identification.

The earlier you can identify it and rectify it the better.

https://www.sdstate.edu/ps/extension...ncy-photos.cfm

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

Yeah manure is really high in P. I would throw in a little N. Remember, 1.2lb N per 56lb dry grain. So basically 2 lb of 46-0-0 should grow you 50 lb of corn. And sweet corn is mostly water. I wouldn't put more than a pound or pound and a half of product on your plot. If it were me I'd hit it with a dose of your 8-10-3 and a 3/4 lb 46-0-0

Ok, thanks. Great information. I'm looking to grow 8 stalks of corn. Not really sure how any of this stuff really grows so it should be fun to watch for a n00b like myself. How many ears can I expect on one stalk? How will it take the 100+ degree Phoenix heat for 3 months?

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Ok, thanks. Great information. I'm looking to grow 8 stalks of corn. Not really sure how any of this stuff really grows so it should be fun to watch for a n00b like myself. How many ears can I expect on one stalk? How will it take the 100+ degree Phoenix heat for 3 months?

8 stalks? My corn I don't want any more than 1. But I don't think I've seen sweet corn put on any more than 3.

When does it get 100? The heat will be hard on it. Corn likes it 70-85. That's why the corn belt is the corn belt.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

8 stalks? My corn I don't want any more than 1. But I don't think I've seen sweet corn put on any more than 3.

When does it get 100? The heat will be hard on it. Corn likes it 70-85. That's why the corn belt is the corn belt.

Damn, that's not a lot of production! LOL. After it produces an ear of corn or two, does it die or continue trying to produce?

It hits 100 consistently starting in May. That's why it's in the ground now (planted mid January) for the 70-80 degree temps through February and into March. I'll have corn in March is my guess.

Went to Lowe's. No straight nitrogen fertilizer?! Closest was lawn fertilizer at 30-0-4. What should I do?

[eDave]

Your plants look great Lewdog. They really do. I had my doubts with the location. I feel like you need deeper dirt though, especially with the proximity of your plants. Very close.

I never care about adjusting nutes until l start to see signs on the leaves. Curling, decay, etc.

There are leaf decay charts out there to help you choose your nute adjustments. Seriously, look up marijuana leaf decay charts. They are accurate to all vegetation as marijuana is hard to nute but very similar to tomato's.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by eDave

Your plants look great Lewdog. They really do. I had my doubts with the location. I feel like you need deeper dirt though, especially with the proximity of your plants. Very close.

I never care about adjusting nutes until l start to see signs on the leaves. Curling, decay, etc.

There are leaf decay charts out there to help you choose your nute adjustments. Seriously, look up marijuana leaf decay charts. They are accurate to all vegetation as marijuana is hard to nute but very similar to tomato's.

I still have my doubts! Would have loved deeper dirt as well but these were leftover bricks from our backyard renovation and I just wanted to use what I had here. I figure if the roots got really deep, they would still go into the ground below, which will be getting quite a bit of drainage from the loose garden dirt and probably isn't super hard. I have a pepper plant planted directly in the ground on the other side of the pool that has done fantastic. Thought the ground would be too hard and shitty here but it's doing great with some fertilizer every month.

If all this shit dies, oh well. I can keep some grape vines on the wall for sure and place some seasonal flower in the bed instead of any vegetables or just grow some tomatoes which seem very forgiving here.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Damn, that's not a lot of production! LOL. After it produces an ear of corn or two, does it die or continue trying to produce?

It hits 100 consistently starting in May. That's why it's in the ground now (planted mid January) for the 70-80 degree temps through February and into March. I'll have corn in March is my guess.

Went to Lowe's. No straight nitrogen fertilizer?! Closest was lawn fertilizer at 30-0-4. What should I do?

I bet it will be done before it gets 100. I honestly don't know what it will do. We have seasons here other than summer . it will probably put 2 ears on a stalk and then it could tiller and make more chutes off the roots.

Lawn fert will work. 46-0-0 is the commercial stuff I buy. Potassium won't hurt the soil. We have a lot of potassium in the soil here so I don't know a whole lot of it agrinomically.

[eDave]

Originally Posted by lewdog

I still have my doubts! Would have loved deeper dirt as well but these were leftover bricks from our backyard renovation and I just wanted to use what I had here. I figure if the roots got really deep, they would still go into the ground below, which will be getting quite a bit of drainage from the loose garden dirt and probably isn't super hard. I have a pepper plant planted directly in the ground on the other side of the pool that has done fantastic. Thought the ground would be too hard here but it's doing great with some fertilizer every month.

If all this shit dies, oh well. I can keep some grape vines on the wall for sure and place some seasonal flower in the bed instead of any vegetables or just grow some tomatoes which seem very forgiving here.

Did you till up the ground first? Most of your plants can't penetrate typical AZ sand/dirt. Roots are pretty strong but that ground soil is near cement.

When I till up the underlying top-soil, I douse it with nutes. Really strong. It will delute as time goes on and be perfect when the roots reach it.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by lewdog

I still have my doubts! Would have loved deeper dirt as well but these were leftover bricks from our backyard renovation and I just wanted to use what I had here. I figure if the roots got really deep, they would still go into the ground below, which will be getting quite a bit of drainage from the loose garden dirt and probably isn't super hard. I have a pepper plant planted directly in the ground on the other side of the pool that has done fantastic. Thought the ground would be too hard here but it's doing great with some fertilizer every month.

If all this shit dies, oh well. I can keep some grape vines on the wall for sure and place some seasonal flower in the bed instead of any vegetables or just grow some tomatoes which seem very forgiving here.

One thing I forgot is to go buy a hay bale or use grass clippings and mulch that bitch. That will keep soil temp lower since the sun isn't beating down on dirt. That really takes a lot of stress off the root zone. It also reduces evaporation significantly. Do that shit. It's not an option. Be careful with wheat straw though if it is baled right after harvest it could be reflective and get hot on the leaves. If it is shiny go get something else.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by eDave

Did you till up the ground first? Most of your plants can't penetrate typical AZ sand/dirt. Roots are pretty strong but that ground soil is near cement.

When I till up the underlying top-soil, I douse it with nutes. Really strong. It will delute as time goes on and be perfect when the roots reach it.

It's best to till in the fertilizer. But since you're late for that just put it on the top and water it really good. Really well.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by eDave

Did you till up the ground first? Most of your plants can't penetrate typical AZ sand/dirt. Roots are pretty strong but that ground soil is near cement.

When I till up the underlying top-soil, I douse it with nutes. Really strong. It will delute as time goes on and be perfect when the roots reach it.

I did "loosen" the ground a bit before starting this project. But not a ton. That pepper plant just went smack into a hole in the yard. It seems to do fine, which I find interesting, so I didn't think about that much with this raised bed.

I'm a ****up.

Originally Posted by Buehler445

One thing I forgot is to go buy a hay bale or use grass clippings and mulch that bitch. That will keep soil temp lower since the sun isn't beating down on dirt. That really takes a lot of stress off the root zone. It also reduces evaporation significantly. Do that shit. It's not an option. Be careful with wheat straw though if it is baled right after harvest it could be reflective and get hot on the leaves. If it is shiny go get something else.

How about just regular mulch they sell in a bag here?

http://www.lowes.com/pd_90954-29629-...d=3342044&Ntt=

Not sure where you acquire a hay bale here and I surely don't want that shit blowing in my pool Buehler!