Busy day today.
Morning spent re configuring the grow room after the arrival of my Mars 900 light.
This afternoon preparing for the outdoor grow. Full moon is for June is due June 2nd so the girls can go outside anytime after that, The ful moon is generally the last time we are likely to experience frost here. I put the one male I have kept outside today but will bring him in at night for the next few weeks.
I have done a lot of readying concerning Subcool's Super Soil as will as some others. I like the idea of a soil that is "complete" and the plants only need water until harvest, especially as some of these plants are likely to be left to their own on my woodlot 2 hours drive from where I live. Those girls are not likely to see me more than 3 or 4 times before harvest so are going to have to fend for themselves LOL.
I also want to be organic in ALL my gardening, these girls as well as my vegetables. As such, I researched what plants needed for a full life cycle, what each nutrient provided in terms of growth and health, and then searched for organic sources with varying release rates.
Here is the recipe I am currently working with and mixing up out in my garage:
1 bale (3.8 cuft) of Pro-mix BX...no added fertilizers and becomes approximately 7.5 cuft after broken up
5 cuft (5x 28L bags) Black Earth...nothing added
7.5 lbs natural tree fertilizer 4-4-8 granulated + 2% iron
•May use on all trees and shrubs, deciduous and evergreen
•Organic nitrogen in slow release form
•Will not burn bark or roots even in hot weather
•Does not require watering after application
•Safe to children, pets, and the environment
•Can be applied in all seasons
GUARANTEED MINIMUM ANALYSIS:
•Total Nitrogen (N) 4.0%
•0.4% Water Soluble Nitrogen
•3.6% Water Insoluble Nitrogen
•Available Phosphoric Acid (P2O5) 4.0%
•Total Phosphoric Acid (P2O5) 4.1%
•Soluble Potash (K2O) 8.0%
•Calcium (Ca) 4.0%
•Magnesium (Mg) 1.0%
•Sulphur (S) 4.0%
•Iron (Fe) 2.0%
•Organic Matter 30.0%
•Derived from: feather meal, sulfate of potash, dolomitic limestone, gypsum, ferrous carbonate, bone meal and/or rock phosphate
5lbs Bone and Blood Meal 7-5-0
•Can be used on all bulbs, flowers, vegetables, trees and shrubs
•Granular, easy to use
•Slow release nitrogen and phosphorus
•Will not burn
GUARANTEED MINIMUM ANALYSIS:
•Total Nitrogen (N) 7.0%
•0.5% Water Soluble Nitrogen
•6.5% Water Insoluble Nitrogen
•Available Phosphoric Acid (P2O5) 5.0%
•Total Phosphoric Acid (P2O5) 5.1%
•Calcium (Ca) 13.0%
•Organic Matter 50.0%
•Derived from: bone meal, and blood meal
•6.5% slow release nitrogen from bone meal and blood meal
55lbs (25kg) alfalfa meal/pellets >typically has a 2-1-2 and a 1-4 month release
Kelp meal IF I can get some, for micro nutrients
And water > to be determined still working it (will mix it with SuperThrive for the micro nutrients)
Then let it "cook" for a number of weeks just like composting.
Also, if able, throw in worms to break down organic matter and make it available to the plants easier.
If I get it all mixed up in the next couple days, it will be able to "cook" for about 4 weeks before I move the girls outside.
This will be an on going journal until well after harvest so come fall we will see how my soil preforms LOL
Always on the quest for knowledge and I can learn as much from failure as I can from success LOL