First grow in many years

[Cigar]

Wish I could grow alot of them in ground Dave..but with my poor,thin topsoil [barley few inches in alot spots] I have to grow-up..not down.

 

[deluxestogie]

Mark out grow areas for next spring. Purchase some Black Kow composted cow manure

(check Lowe's and Home Depot)

Mix it into the dirt--roughly one bag for every 8 normally spaced plants. Grow tobacco where the Good Lord intended.

Bob

 

[Cigar]

Thats stuff works great [black kow] my neighbor has been using it for some time now..he has great looking tomatoes every year..BUT..like I been trying to explain he also grows in those huge 5-gal paint buckets..he has same problem we all do here..very very shallow topsoil on top limestone rock!!..so only way could every grow anything in the ground you would have to build a very expensive "raised bed" of some kind..or grow in anything get your hands on. I honestly understand BEST way to grow is in the ground..just wish I could all saying. good example is many years ago when I first tried to till my garden up [25'X25'] using a tiller.. I hit so much rock that for days my arms were still shaking from the job..in some spots have I ok 10-12" of topsoil but just few feet away theres nothing..would should have done back then was start building-up using the raised bed idea.


Cigar

 

[Cigar]

I was outside and smoking a great cigar and talking to my babys..the tobacco plants..when noticed something cool..the crillio98 plants has like 8-10in between set of leaves but the Fla Sumtra has only like 6-10in..but most of all was the African Red has only like 1-2in between leaves..so cool how each plant grows different from the other!!

 

[Cigar]

Well I have the shade cloth to thank for lack of damage just now..we just had severe thunderstorm [just latest one in many days in row now] but this time had huge hail..was worried about the tobacco plants.but the shade cloth saved them from severe damage glad I grew them under it now!

 

[Chicken]

i really wish you guys with unfavorabile soil conditions had acsess to the soil building material componenets i have,,

my soil next year,,,,i could proablly throw a dead body in it and bring it back to life,

but really all joking aside.. soil building is a daily thing,,, you find something////add something even if its as small as a coffee can full... every little bit counts,,

i mean.. in korea they poop in a can and add it to thier rice patty fields... just remember that if you think what your looking at is too small to even mess with..

i deliver fertilizer to a lot of cow fields for hay purposes.. but while im in that field dropping a trailer.. ill scoop up all the cow poop i can find,,,

i can show u a picture of my designated cow// horse poop storage area if youd like to see it,

EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS.

 

[SmokesAhoy]

I'm with ya chicken, I've been thinking of getting a bagger for my tractor, I mow about 2 acres and was thinking if I move all that to a spot to rot I could probably put a couple feet of that over my patch in the spring every year, plus all the leaves in fall etc, I'd be able to stop using miracle grow, ah who am I kidding I'd still use it just as much I love that stuff

 

[ArizonaDave]

Thats stuff works great [black kow] my neighbor has been using it for some time now..he has great looking tomatoes every year..BUT..like I been trying to explain he also grows in those huge 5-gal paint buckets..he has same problem we all do here..very very shallow topsoil on top limestone rock!!..so only way could every grow anything in the ground you would have to build a very expensive "raised bed" of some kind..or grow in anything get your hands on. I honestly understand BEST way to grow is in the ground..just wish I could all saying. good example is many years ago when I first tried to till my garden up [25'X25'] using a tiller.. I hit so much rock that for days my arms were still shaking from the job..in some spots have I ok 10-12" of topsoil but just few feet away theres nothing..would should have done back then was start building-up using the raised bed idea.


Cigar

I understand. You're doing your best with what you've got, with no topsoil. The clay here turns to hard pan, so it's been mixed with black dirt in the growing areas. Raised bed in your conditions would be costly. Now, I understand why you went with 5 gallon buckets. That does make the most sense.

 

[Cigar]

Thank ArizoniaDave for understanding..if could grow normally in ground I would do so in a heart beat!..but must deal with " Good Lord gave me". That being said this fall will start new raised bed kinda idea..first will start building wall this fall with the slabs of rocks have plenty of..then will buy alot straw bales and add all leaves/compost can get hands on.start building up dirt..figure after few years will have great bed for garden/tobacco..just wish done this years ago.

Cigar

 

[Cigar]

Thank you Kucklehead for quick reply on my question

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

I'm with ya chicken, I've been thinking of getting a bagger for my tractor, I mow about 2 acres and was thinking if I move all that to a spot to rot I could probably put a couple feet of that over my patch in the spring every year, plus all the leaves in fall etc, I'd be able to stop using miracle grow, ah who am I kidding I'd still use it just as much I love that stuff

I'm just talking small scale, but at the old house, i started using a bagging lawn mower and picked up the spruce needles under a 25 year old tree and mixed it, probably 50/50 with grass clippings and it was the most beautiful hot compost, ready in under a month. And no, it wasn't too acidic.

Here's a helpful website, the NPK of everything.

http://www.lundproduce.com/N-P-K-Value-of-Everything.html

 

[Cigar]

Thank you for advice ChinaDoodoo..well taken and nice site by way..I was thinking starting off this month by buying alot straw bales [been reading alot about lately] and grow some fall crops in those this fall..but at same time building a "wall" around those either stone or some kind wood like you would build a raised bed to block it off..at same time collecting alot of leaves and other composting materials to add to plot..and over time keep adding and build till have great soil, But before I spend money on those items I need to buy some of WLT {Don's} honduras and crillo 98 tobacco..I belive those two tobaccos are the foundation of all great blends you can make!!

Cigar

 

[Smokin Harley]

Just adding this bit of info to the general forum but using Chickens post as the carrier since we're on the current subject of soil amendments.
Besides the usually associated cow manures ,mushroom compost, peat, sand,etc. - If you guys (and few gals) don't have a compost bucket or pile (I have one of those fancy schmancy barrel types you turn every day) start one. Every organic kitchen scrap and garden trash you generate , put it in the compost bin. That goes for the corrugated cardboard boxes and paper(just not the shiny ad papers) used coffee grounds/tea bags, egg shells, banana peels, grass clippings(dry and fresh) and of course tobacco leaves that don't make quality ...just NO MEAT or FAT scraps or you'll attract vermin and it will stink. Also sodas (coca cola ,etc)and beer .It all adds to a nice healthy ecosystem of organic soil amendments we call compost.
Convert a plastic barrel into a composter so turning the pile doesn't end up in a back injury. Not difficult .
As you were folks. Carry on.

 

[wrapper]

Just adding this bit of info to the general forum but using Chickens post as the carrier since we're on the current subject of soil amendments.
Besides the usually associated cow manures ,mushroom compost, peat, sand,etc. - If you guys (and few gals) don't have a compost bucket or pile (I have one of those fancy schmancy barrel types you turn every day) start one. Every organic kitchen scrap and garden trash you generate , put it in the compost bin. That goes for the corrugated cardboard boxes and paper(just not the shiny ad papers) used coffee grounds/tea bags, egg shells, banana peels, grass clippings(dry and fresh) and of course tobacco leaves that don't make quality ...just NO MEAT or FAT scraps or you'll attract vermin and it will stink. Also sodas (coca cola ,etc)and beer .It all adds to a nice healthy ecosystem of organic soil amendments we call compost.
Convert a plastic barrel into a composter so turning the pile doesn't end up in a back injury. Not difficult .
As you were folks. Carry on.

100% Mr Smokin Harley! Home composting is easy and desirable. There are two large compost heaps in the yard used in rotation, plus a wheely-bin worm farm by the kitchen door. Magic stuff. The barbecue and fireplace ash goes on the compost heap too.

 

[Smokin Harley]

I just visited my son this morning and he had a plastic barrel in the bed of his truck so I asked him what was in it ...fire pit ash...he is going to dump it somewhere..I said bring it to me I'll put it on my garden.

 

[wrapper]

I just visited my son this morning and he had a plastic barrel in the bed of his truck so I asked him what was in it ...fire pit ash...he is going to dump it somewhere..I said bring it to me I'll put it on my garden.

Apart from adding to compost I turn wood ash into lye for soap. Potassium hydroxide. Old oak casks from the winery (3 years) are used for brandy maturation (15 years) then finally have the heads removed so they can be filled with ash and water. A filter bed of hay or straw goes in first, then ash and water. After a week or two the cask can be drained and the resulting lye used for soap, drains etc. It works much like sodium hydroxide. But handle with gloves and care. Very caustic and alkaline.

 

[Cigar]

I was in garden earlier to check on tobacco plants after yet another day of heavy storms..I tell this year has been one hot..humid.wet summer so far.that brings me to my question here..the mosquitos this year are horrible most years they dont bother me like most people but even 5-minutes in garden tonite and I had to retreat back inside..over my life time have heard 100's of things thank work for mosquito reply them but have yet to find one that works..I always check around house/yard for standing water I know thats were they breed/lay eggs..just wondering if any of you good people know good way to help??

Cigar

 

[Smokin Harley]

No idea. I've always been a mosquitos buffet dinner. they seem to come from all over just to chew on me. I've tried bug sprays with DEET(Muskol), tea tree oil,mint oil ,etc. Nothing yet that works very well. I do know that if you eat bananas ,the banana oil comes out your pores when you sweat and that attracts them. I have cut down my banana consumption . I have also read if you drink beer (I know I'm guilty!) it attracts them. Mosquitos haven't been too bad this year but they still find me. I'm like you , once I start to get chewed on in the garden ( they really like my ankles and ears) I go back in the house .

 

[Jitterbugdude]

Smoke, smoke and smoke. I pipe, cigar or cigarette does a pretty good job of repelling most insects.

 

[deluxestogie]

DEET. Get some DEET that is in the range of 40%, and apply it to all exposed skin just before you go out. Wear long sleeves and long pants. The CDC recommends DEET. I use Deep Woods Off. I buy the pump spray bottle, spray it on my hand, and then rub it over exposed skin. With a bald head and short sleeves, I use about 16 pumps of the bottle each evening (when the mosquitoes are most voracious), prior to sitting out on the porch. The repellent effect only lasts about 4 hours.

Bob

EDIT: Smoking a big honker of a cigar never deters the mosquitoes.