Outdoor Grow tips needed

[chataqua]

I live in the Central Valley of California and my soil conditions PH factor read closer to 8 than the 5.5-6.5 need for maxium yeid. I have dug a pit approx.
2'X5' for the hope of growing two plants for my medical needs.
I plan on using the Low Stress method of Growing and no this is not my first time. I am very comfortable with adding and taking away when needed I have a great Ph meter.

My Question is:
1.) What is the best Potting soil to by for my area?
To be more specific I live in Denair, Ca.

2.) What is a prefered depth of my pit? I have approx. 2' deep just waiting to be filled with a potting soil mixture.

My Clones will be here in 2-3 weeks.

Next Question

Thank you in advance on any givin advice.........:cool:

[Diskrete]

I am in southern California and started a few outdoors about 3 weeks ago. I am going to assume it gets hot over the summer where your'e at, but still have cold nights...right? I am in SD and it gets pretty hot down here. I am using Organicare from botanicare. so far it's been great stuff, just started using my GO nutes with it and I am seeing great results! There are two mixtures, one for aeration(mostly used indoor) and the other for moisture control. I have been using the moisture control outdoors and love it, watering every 3-5 days depending on how hot and dry it gets. I try to feed every other watering. And for pH, I just try and feed with pH'd water. I am new to outdoor but have been sucessful indoors. Hope to pull off a decent outdo' crop.

[carl]

two bags of promix should be good. mix in some organics, time release or you can feed them liquid ferts. it is a large area for two plants, so they should prosper. :)

[carl]

what strain are you growing? :)

[chataqua]

I do not have as of yet, they just few miles away. I ordered two
Grandaddy purle, and two for a different outdoor spot of Kush.
I try to stay on the Indica side for best medical results/needs.

There is a possibility of Kryptonite

[oddjobs]

I lived there when I was growing up . Best I remember it gets pretty HOT there [ hope ya got a good water sourse] lots of irrigation canals there eh. Seems like alot of alfalfa fields and lettuce, canalopes,other veggeys right .Sounds like yr got a good start Good luck.oj:D

[chataqua]

Yes I have seen it gt to 116, but then again last year was really cool.
My tomato plants barely produced and I had to turn to a dispenerary friend.

[Roy]

I have no idea of what plants need to grow well in California's weather and soil as I grow in Central Ontario Canada.

However, I have grown outdoors for several years and I have one comment that might help you out on your grow. Pro-Mix and similar products work well but tend to dry out quicker than just plain top soil. To that point I would recommend the addition of peat moss to help hold more water in the soil.

I do this in Canada and our summers are no way as hot and dry as yours.

Good luck with your grow.

[chataqua]

Thank You my northern brother!
Your advice is my standard M.O.
I too have lived in the northgern part of the Great NorthWest Mountain sceenery in the U.S., and use to a shorter growing time.

I was hoping to get reports on different medium's to add to the base. I am not a fan of pearlite, as I have used the same stuff, insulating concrete block walls. The bags say that it is totally safe. But after inhaling it accidently......Well lets just say, I'm not a big fan. And I personally believe breathing the pearlit dust is asking for mesotheloma. Plus I don't want this thread to turn into an arguement.

I am hoping to find organic solutions, but also the best quality product since it is a personal medicine, I do not sell/profit from it.
I guess I'm an Old Fool! I have given away LBS. of Primo to cancer patients with little money. I have never sold my medicine, not once.

If I could get away with it, I would be a modern day Johny apple seed, Just adjust it to Johny Indica teacher.:D

[chataqua]

The older I get the more pills they Rx...................:mad:

I find myself turning back the pages of time and I am deep into learning
Alchemy to help my body. I am not only a chronic pain patient, but
1.)I have HBP which I take three different types of pills.
2.)High chlorlesterol, yeap another thre pills........:(
3. My babies were born Naked...................:D

No I haven't lost my sense of Humor, You-all have a Great Day of the Sabbath,followed with a Wonderfull Spring time Week.

[Percy Spencer]

chataqua, Roy is right. Do not use ProMix by itself. It will dry out way too quick. Besides, it carries no nutes by itself and you'll quickly develop nute deficencies if used by itself...
IMO, Pro Mix is nice to use but mix it with some bags of pasturized cow/sheep shit etc. Also, ocean mixes work well and will carry many trace nutes which will go far. I mix upto 50/50% ProMix to manures, with %20 worm castings added as well as bone/blood meals.
Predig your holes and lay down your mix outdoors long before you plant. Often coons and other animals will dig through your newly-filled patch of dirt thinking some other animal has dug it up and left some goodies. They figure there is food to be had and will dig up and destroy any new plants searching for the food. I speak from experience.
Wait a week or two and allow the animals to play...

Obviously have a southern exposure. Also, if you are growing anywhere in a forest you must take into account for the sun to drop its angle in the sky as fall approaches. I have also learned the hard way that just because the plants get lots of sun in the summer, as that sun drops the trees can block sunlight from getting to the crop thus ending up with poor yielding , small plants.
Keep it tight lipped. Ive seen more crops ripped off by a "friend" of a friend who heard aboput crops being grown in certain places. There is lots of time to brag after it is in the bag. the only time I ever had a crop compromised is when someone I was in on told some "friends" that he was growing locally, and sure enough we had pirates rip the plot! (The other plots that were kept quiet were harvested no problem)

Read as much as you can from various threads on boards across the 'net about others growing outdoors. A good way to draw inspiration is to read others' threads, past and present. Often good ideas can be had from combing thru threads....
Good luck to ya....

[chataqua]

Thank you Percy
For your expierence and thoughtfull insight.

[dbyrd26]

I have heard if you have problems with ants eating your seedlings sprinkle red pepper around the plant. Also oatmeal, they will eat it, get dehydrated and die. Possible introduce spiders to your plants too if there are insect problems. Happy growing!

[Herb Roach]

look into coco. go a bit bigger for your bed, the bigger the better, the first 5 inches wont be used in root production, mostly oxygen intake. go deep as ya can,couple feet dont hurt. let those roots get big. grow the root and enjoy the fruit!
a 60% promix hp and 40% coco is a good ratio. make sure ya ask for hp promix, it wont dry out so fast.
catch some rain water and ph your feed. you should do ok. If you can add some ground cover it will help retain moisture.

[Herb Roach]

Ants? put out some sugar water they will always go for sugar water first, and if ya have the heart for it, add a lil ant killer to the sugar water. or a couple ant traps with bait in them around the sugar water. wont be long til the ants are gone.

[JointGirl]

Sorry about the thread jack- I just have 1 quick q!

What about Deer and rabbits?? Is there any good deterrent for the deer and rabbits that won't harm the plants?

Cayenne Pepper- Anyone ever try? I was told to sprinkle some around the base, and even ON THE PLANT. I was told it would not hurt the plants, but def keep the critters away. I was told you have to re-apply after each rainfall. Anyone ever heard of this, tried this, or have any info on it?

JG

[Kathy]

Don't laugh but I have a grow question.
My friend has an outdoor plant that has grown to 3 1/2' and hasn't starting budding yet. I don't know what strain it is. It is starting to grow over the fence. They are thinking about cutting the top of and capping it. Is that the right thing to do at this stage of growth?

[Herb Roach]

Hi Kathy,

No, do not top, low stress training is needed. Gently pulling the top over and tie it down. as it continues to grow,, keep tieing the top down.

[Herb Roach]

Hi joint girl,
Rabbits,, put up a small fence,, a simple bamboo and a light wire fence is suffcient.
Deers, most products dont work as advertised. This may not be possible for you, but if you can it really does work. Farmer I know has a speaker and a recording of a shotgun blast that goes off every 10 to 15 minutes. It works! u can see the deer scatter. Also chases off the birds. You can also get owl manicans, they help with rabbits n lil vermit, but u gotta move the owl now and then, they get smart to it. Cayenne pepper and things work but ony for limited time,, first rain, first heavy dew, washes it into the ground.