Hello everyone,

My names LJ from phoenix Az, and im enthralled by horticulture. This is seemingly becomeing and invasive passion of mine. I promise I looked into Garderner Anonymous meetings but maybe my area doesnt offer them.

Ive been gardening just over a year and ive been working on some expirments and I looking for some guidence and feedback on my work from you guys, the experts.

Im trying to perfect my idea of mobile gardening through custom air pruning baskets. Simply the idea is a 6 gallon milk crate lined with landscaping fabric and added medium.

Guided under the theory of Dr. Carl Whitcomb talks on air puneing. Im trying to maximize root development within this enclosed system.

Ive been taking meaures of soil mosture for the worst condidtions possible for ET (high winds, middle of yard sunlight all day, dry heat) so far I get about 5-6 days between watering but im running the test again to verify.

My test system host 2 sunflowers (one thriving/other not) that have been translpanted after 2.5 weeks of growth. They have been growing for aprox 2.5 months.

The one that is thriveing is about 3ft tall and been going on just under a week at 5 days currently (still taking readings)

Id like the community help in this idea. Soon ill upload images.


Thank you

Lj

Welcome.

Yes, pictures would be nice. I'm one of those visual learners.

Looking forward to your pictures, also.

Hey
Here are 3 pictures. 1 at 2 angles of the milk crate with test sunflowers. Ones going to flower this week. The top angle is to show that more medium can be added.

The third picture is of a white gallon bucket that i drilled 2inch holes around and used landscaping fabric. This is similar to the milkcrate design and function, allowing aeration. Inside is a potato plant.

Im very curious to see what you guys think. Water retition is higher in the bucket.

Water retention is higher in the bucket? Interesting.

tx_flower_child said:Water retention is higher in the bucket? Interesting.

Yes. But why is that intresting? I think its from less Evapotranspiration motivators and that its deeper than a foot.

Sunflower for your thoughts??

Here is the test sunflower blossoming today. This is my first gen children. (Seeds came from a sunflower i grew a few months ealier) i'm exicted to get my second gen seeds. With each sussession should produce more and more hardier seeds, soon native children that will thrive in Arizona weather.

Love sunflowers but here the Gold Finches strip them of their leaves which is very frustrating. Hope they do not find yours. Looks like your system is working well for you.

quietyard said:Love sunflowers but here the Gold Finches strip them of their leaves which is very frustrating. Hope they do not find yours. Looks like your system is working well for you.

I hope not aswell but i do need help curbing a bug. Seem i have a small critter targeting my sunflower leaves looks like a sucking creature that can fly. Cannot tell. Has brown dot on its back and looks similar to the banded sunflower moth. But i think this pest is a bit smaller. Ill upload pictures soon

So far that bug has missed mine.

Hey everyone

I just wanted to send some updates on how everything is going. Being that there are multiple test going on simultaneously it exciting to see results in all my test and nice observances.

For instance. Green mulch placed under milkcrates seem to decompose faster. And attract a bit of microbials and small inescts.(pill bugs).

Water retention is amazing most water (just to be safe for seedings) is kept to once a week. Otherwise damping off maddeness happens.

Natural geometric design attracts spiders

Here are some pics of the latest plants and how there doing.

Baby red okra is doing well. Super short stem and soon to be finished creating its second true leaf. Currently stands about 2.2 inches.

Borage has a super short stem and is just finished forming its first true leaves. I feel this plant is a little stunted as it maybe slightly still a little hot. But all the same maturing

Sunflower first test is going well main head is starting to loose petals. Have not observed any auxiliary. Flower bulb action yet (seconday flowers)

Ive also stsrted up a basket for carrots and cauliflower to see how they will perform.

The potato bucket is doing well after transplant a new stem has grown sits about 2.5 inches.

Lots of stuff is happening and its exciting to see.

Also another observence. Plants like amaranth if allowed to grow in crate may be able to do a no dig no till ground admentmenting. Logic is as the roots pass through the bottem of the crate they will start burrowing in the medium below. If allowed to go long enough should penetrate deep into the soils.

Here also is a picture of the onion and leek bed thats starting to come up

Taken sunday the 17th at 6am
Plant is doing really well. Sits in full sun all day gettting that 50k lux

System is going really well. I have carrots (purple and red) comming up and colliflower.

quietyard said:So far that bug has missed mine.

Hey so i found out what is or was attacking my sunflowers


Now to control them. Or I have been by killing them one by one.

Also some black lacewings are showing up and i see eggs hanging under some of my sunflowers. Satifys my theory " if you grow it, maintain it long enough, they will come" they being beneficial insects. Lol my adaptation for a famous movie quote.

Interesting the bug you found. Maybe that was what my birds were after rather then the leaves but not sure on that. Do not remember seeing many bugs but it has been a while. Let me know how this bug issue goes.

quietyard said:Interesting the bug you found. Maybe that was what my birds were after rather then the leaves but not sure on that. Do not remember seeing many bugs but it has been a while. Let me know how this bug issue goes.

I wouldnt think birds would be after this as its about the size of 1/8th an inch big. It can be seen with the naked eye if you look super close. The main indicator of this bug is its damage to the leaves. Leaves spots of where it's suck the chlorophyll out as well as the eggs left over on the under side of the leaf.

Here is a better shot of my cauliflower. 55 days whoooo in an air pruning basket over 2 cubic feet. Im stoked to see the result s

Here is a better picture