Good evening
@Tokin Roll !!
Appreciate the greetings on the return, always much love in this community!!
And Buddy…..thank you for checking out my journal and inquiring about my personal thoughts and techniques. I enjoy the shared wealth of knowledge and constant encouragement to share information… Learning is growing… No pun intended
Quick synopsis
I am privy to outdoor grows in many “zones”. I grow in one of the most difficult climates IMO due to weather swings, excessive heat, lack of rain, and many pests. I’ve grown indoor for the past 10 years and due to the “seasons”, I chose to trial outdoor in the spring to fall time in the past 4-5 years.I had to do my research and due diligence in the outdoor world… so Ive had trials and now have become fairly knowledgeable,IMO.
Genetics
I have always started from seed. I’ve even started with unknown genetics and played the “pheno hunt” game lol When I started off I had several “feminized” seeds from a few strains: Tangie, Champagne, Haze phenos (lemon/amnesia), and a few keepers from long long ago I couldn’t tell you the strain(but if I kept it 10-15 years properly stored, I’m sure it was )
At that point I played the game. It usually went 70/30 on fems to males; several hermed. Granted this is several years on indoor/outdoor cycle. So I played it out; strongest girls push through… although, due to the seed genetics I do get hermaphroditism sometimes. Ive Had plants self pollenate far into flower in parts of the nug to deep to see. Thus getting some seeds with that situation. But Honestly do not mind. Its been amazing experience. I just got gifted breeder seeds from holland and Im planning on mothering a couple strains.. currently in germination
The genetics, luckily, that Ive been working with have really adapted well to my environment; as I utilize companion planting and work organic mediums into the garden soil; and of course keeping beds very clean and tidy… Weather has been rather difficult this season in my Location… 90s-100s and RH always 75%+; not to mention insanely high dew points. Because of the longggg heat spells I really had to be precise with timing on my pruning and FIM/Top work. My personal LST during the spring went fabulous due to adequate “natural H2O”(rain) and great temps.
Pest control
I have been very fortunate to mitigate pest; without anything synthetic or even organic “pesticides”, as my location deals with a multitude of plant eating/killing bugs. During “planting season”, April and May, we have Field Bindweed, Ground Ivy, and Henbit. During Veg states in June and July, we have Aphids (Wooly Aphid), Bean Leaf Beetle, Blister Beetle, Galls, Grasshoppers, Harlequin Bug, Hollyhock Weevil, and of course Spider Mites. When the flip starts as the photoperiod changes,(August,September,October) we deal with Bagworms, Bluegrass Billbugs, Fall Web Worm, Squash Bugs and Pokeweed.
I am not a Botanist or phytologist, but I have done my due diligence and research to my specific location. I believe in “the more you know” phrase to the Nth degree. I have a degree in Geology and believe strongly about continuing education; and learning. I find it not only interesting and fun; but the benefits of legitimate research can help a person in all aspects of life.
I do utilize certain “techniques” that I believe has contributed to pest control in my garden. The garden is not directly under trees.. I do have many trees around it, (blessed to own 7 acres) but they are several 100 feet away. The perimeter of my garden has stacked wood(split and 4 ft in height) 3/4 of the rectangle. I grow KingKong sunflowers in a row on the west side, which can reach 12ft in height. In my garden itself, I also grow tomatoes, peppers, and zucchini; watermelon when the weather allows.
Prep work
Every spring I till the soil.. After the till I will mix in my compost( and manure(not fresh lol) I have a coup with 7-8) . I am very cognizant of weed control, And all weeds are eradicated manually. My garden stays very clean…. After the garden is prepped in the spring with above techniques, I lay cardboard down the entire surface area, covering most of the bedding. Wherever I plant I just cut a “hole”,(varying in size) in the cardboard and plant. The key, IMO, is the access to water… as thats the case for growing of most plants/crops. I use a personal technique, I call it “water torture”/water training. Its common knowledge that insects do not like to be hosed down my water. During early to late vegging state I “beat” my plants up… particularly when they are of adequate size. Some say watering in the morning is the most efficient (which may be, but is situational), but I have always had success with watering 1-2 hours before. There are deer in the area but have yet to interrupt any production in the many years of growing the garden. I have a “natural” perimeter, consisting of 4ft stacks of split wood and KingKong sunflowers. Luckily no issues with the deer. I had another location(years ago) where I did use moth balls. They seemed to act as proper deterrent, although I also dislike the smell, but who doesn’t!! s far as watering goes with the cardboard, I cut enough space where I plant/transplant, that allows plenty of infiltration. Also, over the season, the cardboard will breakdown/deteriorate in the beds directly underneath the plant, in a circumference of sorts. Mainly due to the watering and working in and around the plants.
Its always been a little trick that works for me. But I do have to save tons of cardboard boxes over the year
There are So many variables in the outdoor cultivation world, from deer, to pests, climate(heat, humidity, wind, storms, and so on. Its no “walk in the park”… You know… its very time consuming, and attention with physical labor, to many many variants.
mixture during the til. I also add perlite to the bed mix!! I would say the plant will tell you what it needs… I can get away without feedings early. I will use a low nitrogen base feeding when the timing is right mid veg.
) to look over things while I was on hiatus… also, today is my 35th birthday ✌
