Comments for Boel's Garden Blog

Comment on Parsley in Earthbox by admin

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:29:25 +0000

Hi,

I have seen the Grow Box, but I have never tried it.

Thanks for visiting!

Boel

Comment on Parsley in Earthbox by tomatotaster

tomatotaster — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:07:16 +0000

I was reading your post and just wanted to see if you’ve heard of the Grow Box? I’ve tried it and I’ve had so much success. I had Spanish Onions, Cucumbers, Butternut Squash and Beets so far this summer! It’s actually a bit better and a whole lot less expensive! They hold about a gallon and a half more water. Check it out at http://www.agardenpatch.com
Happy Gardening!

Comment on Starting Tomato Seedlings by Colin Lane

Colin Lane — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:09:00 +0000

Hi Boel great to see your vegie gardening i just home grown veggies & fruit as the products one gets from the super market are just chemical (one might just as well eat plastic ) I guess I am lucky as where i live in the northern suburbs of Adelaide of South Australia we don’t have frosts, with mild winters and very hot dry summers temperatures of 100ºF are usual plus i live in a aged pensioners home unit with a small back yard in which I planted drought proof native plants but i grow my vegies in pots so i can keep the water up. We often go 4-6 months with out rain & have water restrictions so I use my shower water on my plants. It works well keeps pests off too. Regards Colin.

Comment on Starting Tomato Seedlings by admin

admin — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 07:21:02 +0000

Hi Joe & Richard,

Do you have photos of your failing plants by any chance? It sounds to me like they suffer damping off, and there can be many causes of that. Did you sterilize the planting block with bleach before reusing it after last season?

What environment are the seedlings in? Temperature etc?

It’s strange that the tomato plants perk up when put back in the dome. Other than being covered, how is the environment different than where you have them when you uncover the dome? Are they warmer? More light?

I do find a heat mat is of great help while germinating, but I generally take them off the heat mat once they have germinated. Peppers would benefit from staying on a heat mat even after germination, but that may not always be possible. I don’t have two heat-mats, so my peppers are relegated to being under lights but without heat once the dome cover is off.

A lamp (does not have to be a heat lamp) helps a great deal – the tomatoes will do much better under light 16 hours a day, than they do in a window. I use a florescent grow light, with fixture it cost me just around $17 at BiMart.

When I transplant I use MiracleGro Organic Potting Mix, with EB Stone organic fertilizer 5-5-5. As for the red cups, I got those from Costco, and yes I do cut holes for drainage.

Sorry I can’t be of more help. Let me know if you can provide a few more details, and maybe I can be of more help? I know how frustrating it is when seed starting goes wrong. The fall onions I started last summer all failed to thrive, and I usually have great success with onions. I ended up having to buy onion starts instead, much to my chagrin. Fortunately, my spring planting went well!

What part of the country are you in, by the way?

Boel
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Comment on Starting Tomato Seedlings by Richard Hill

Richard Hill — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:12:34 +0000

HOw do I find or read the answer to the above problem and inquiry? Thank you for your assistance.

Respectfully,
Richard Hill

Comment on Growing in Earthboxes by Tommyr

Tommyr — Fri, 15 May 2009 20:29:52 +0000

Good growing! I do bell peppers in mine and tomatoes.

Comment on Starting Tomato Seedlings by joe

joe — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:41:42 +0000

Hi, i have a very large garden(about 1200 sq. ft.) and was very succussful last season. I use the Parks BioDome and this season things are not going well at all. Im losing so many seedlings.
the tomatoes start off nicely but they start to die off. I do remove the dome when the seedling emerge but thats when they start to die. if i put the dome back the seem to perk back up. Some of my other veg just never recover. Is the dome keeping in too much moisture? Do i need more heat? I dont have a heat lamp but the window sill they are in gets planty of sun. When transplanting them what do you recomend? Are peat pots a good container? I see that you are using plastic cups. Do you put any holes in the cups for drainage? Im so frustrated. I have a green thumb but right now i feel like i have 2 left feet. Please drop me a line. Thanks, Joe

Comment on Mr. Bill by Jeanne Peters

Jeanne Peters — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:52:43 +0000

I wish I were a kitty in your home…
Take care,
Jeanne

Comment on Mr. Bill by James Weikum

James Weikum — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:18:40 +0000

Mr. Bill was one of the sweetest kitties I’ve ever treated. Not too many cats sit patiently having their broken leg splinted, not even requiring the least restraint. He will be missed. George and Boel–you gave him the best home a kitty could ask for–you’re terific people. Take care.

Comment on Building beds for my square foot garden by Isak

Isak — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:36:37 +0000

Hej Boel,
Very impressive garden work! And I really like the website!
I will be visiting it often!
Isak