Part of my Fall/Autumn routine is to prepare some of the gardens and such for the spring time planting. I produce my own manure and other such. That is what I use to amend all of the garden beds as well as fertilizing the lawn. Some goes towards top dressing, some is tilled in. This summer I was able to prep a new vegetable garden with around a 1000lbs of manure mixed into a dump-truck load of topsoil. We will see how it does next year. This season was purely to prepare it and clean up the weeds.
I am now making plans for my first outdoor grow. I have grown lots of other stuff, but never MJ. I am figuring that it should be very similar to growing tomatoes... I hope.
Here is what I have done so far:
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1281.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa504%2Fbcjohn2go%2FFirst%2520Grow%2FFirst%2520Outdoor%2Fphoto3-3.jpg&hash=c31660dd18f8ddb86cfc15d0bfb06502)
I have begun 4 planting beds. Each hole is about 16-18" in diameter and 8-10" deep. I will be adding a 4'x4'x8" raised bed around the holes. That should give me 16-18" of depth for each spot. The 4'x4'x8" raised beds will also give alot of space for root growth. I haven't decided what will go in the raised beds yet, so I would love some suggestions.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1281.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa504%2Fbcjohn2go%2FFirst%2520Grow%2FFirst%2520Outdoor%2Fphoto5.jpg&hash=d0cd3522dcf7714d7b41a7f4744d93c1)
For now I have added a thing layer of sharp sand (used for stucco and masonry), partially composted chicken manure, mixed ash, and a touch of lawn clippings, topped with another thing layer of sand. All of that will settle over the winter. I may add some insulation over the holes to help ensure good decomposition. I could add some alfalfa to it. I have lots of that...
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1281.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa504%2Fbcjohn2go%2FFirst%2520Grow%2FFirst%2520Outdoor%2Fphoto5.jpg&hash=d0cd3522dcf7714d7b41a7f4744d93c1)
And this is just to do something different... I have grown potatoes in stacks of tires before. I'll fill it with a topsoil mix in the early spring. Then add 4 stakes around the outside of the tire coming together into a pyramid. I can then plant directly into the center of the tire, and add a water blanket wrap (used with tomatoes for warmth). Wrapping around the pyramid will be a double layer of plastic sheeting. The black tire is warmed by the sun and then acts as a heat source warming the soil and the air. It continues to give off heat as the nighttime temperatures drop to freezing. Instant greenhouse with a heat sink built right in. It should allow me to plant several weeks early. That is the plan at least.
So what do people think???
What am I doing wrong and where should change things?
I will probably do some teas during the growing and flowering times, so I am not trying to create a super soil grow. I do want the holes to be prep'd though.
So bring on the thoughts and ideas!! I'm having fun so tell me what else I could do.
I am now making plans for my first outdoor grow. I have grown lots of other stuff, but never MJ. I am figuring that it should be very similar to growing tomatoes... I hope.
Here is what I have done so far:
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1281.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa504%2Fbcjohn2go%2FFirst%2520Grow%2FFirst%2520Outdoor%2Fphoto4-1.jpg&hash=3fd2fe912f7e761ed7b9dbfa67c31565)
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1281.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa504%2Fbcjohn2go%2FFirst%2520Grow%2FFirst%2520Outdoor%2Fphoto3-3.jpg&hash=c31660dd18f8ddb86cfc15d0bfb06502)
I have begun 4 planting beds. Each hole is about 16-18" in diameter and 8-10" deep. I will be adding a 4'x4'x8" raised bed around the holes. That should give me 16-18" of depth for each spot. The 4'x4'x8" raised beds will also give alot of space for root growth. I haven't decided what will go in the raised beds yet, so I would love some suggestions.
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1281.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa504%2Fbcjohn2go%2FFirst%2520Grow%2FFirst%2520Outdoor%2Fphoto5.jpg&hash=d0cd3522dcf7714d7b41a7f4744d93c1)
For now I have added a thing layer of sharp sand (used for stucco and masonry), partially composted chicken manure, mixed ash, and a touch of lawn clippings, topped with another thing layer of sand. All of that will settle over the winter. I may add some insulation over the holes to help ensure good decomposition. I could add some alfalfa to it. I have lots of that...
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1281.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa504%2Fbcjohn2go%2FFirst%2520Grow%2FFirst%2520Outdoor%2Fphoto1-1.jpg&hash=b4ccae6d42b68b38f71d93246b479fbe)
![](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1281.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa504%2Fbcjohn2go%2FFirst%2520Grow%2FFirst%2520Outdoor%2Fphoto5.jpg&hash=d0cd3522dcf7714d7b41a7f4744d93c1)
And this is just to do something different... I have grown potatoes in stacks of tires before. I'll fill it with a topsoil mix in the early spring. Then add 4 stakes around the outside of the tire coming together into a pyramid. I can then plant directly into the center of the tire, and add a water blanket wrap (used with tomatoes for warmth). Wrapping around the pyramid will be a double layer of plastic sheeting. The black tire is warmed by the sun and then acts as a heat source warming the soil and the air. It continues to give off heat as the nighttime temperatures drop to freezing. Instant greenhouse with a heat sink built right in. It should allow me to plant several weeks early. That is the plan at least.
So what do people think???
What am I doing wrong and where should change things?
I will probably do some teas during the growing and flowering times, so I am not trying to create a super soil grow. I do want the holes to be prep'd though.
So bring on the thoughts and ideas!! I'm having fun so tell me what else I could do.