One Pink Lemonade - no-till cycle 7 in 4 foot diameter pot, 5x5 tent

M.O.

M.O.

Well-Known Member
I’ve been trying a cover crop in my 10 gallon fabric pots. I really liked how it regulated the moisture level a lot and conditioned that top layer. Outside for me they are the key.

I didn’t think when I added them
about it possibly being another vector for bugs/disease. I’ve had no issues yet but that certainly doesn’t mean I’m not going to.

Would you only recommend cover crops with your level of biology? So many predator bugs you have this under wraps.

I’m just recharging soil with top dress level of biology right now. Am I playing with fire with using cover crops?

Been using buckwheat, vetch and clovers.
 
N

Northwood

Well-Known Member
M.O. said:
I’ve been trying a cover crop in my 10 gallon fabric pots. I really liked how it regulated the moisture level a lot and conditioned that top layer. Outside for me they are the key.

I didn’t think when I added them
about it possibly being another vector for bugs/disease. I’ve had no issues yet but that certainly doesn’t mean I’m not going to.

Would you only recommend cover crops with your level of biology? So many predator bugs you have this under wraps.

I’m just recharging soil with top dress level of biology right now. Am I playing with fire with using cover crops?

Been using buckwheat, vetch and clovers.
Click to expand...
Yeah you definitely need to use caution when bringing anything from outside indoors. I use store bought hay by the bail (from the feed store) as indoor mulch. They store it under cover away from living plants and it's probably years old, so I'm not too concerned about introducing pathogens by using it. I've been on the same bail of hay since I started with 7 grow cycles ago. The hay is an inoculant, a nutrient source, and a mulch that regulates moisture that keeps the upper biology happy. Anything else though from outside I cycle through my worm bins just in case.

When growing legumes as a cover crop, at least initially try get seeds treated with rhizobia bacteria to ensure you get good nitrogen fixation and root nodule formation. Soybeans and regular snap or pole beans are easy, but it seems rihizobium for things like Crimson Clover are made out of unobtainium. I can't find pre-treated clover seeds yet, but I use it and other stuff in my cover crop anyway. I figure if I grow it, perhaps they will come! lol

You aren't playing with fire using cover crops, unless you let it dry out after it dies and drop a match in there.
 
N

Northwood

Well-Known Member
printer said:
Whew! Read the thread in one sitting. Will have to go back to review, too much to take in at a time. I might try an organic grow next winter.
Click to expand...
That gives you lots of time to establish a worm bin if you don't have one going yet ;)

For introducing biology in your soil, I'd say fresh worm castings (worms included) are pretty much a necessity to get things going within a reasonable amount of time.
 
M.O.

M.O.

Well-Known Member
Northwood said:
Yeah you definitely need to use caution when bringing anything from outside indoors. I use store bought hay by the bail (from the feed store) as indoor mulch. They store it under cover away from living plants and it's probably years old, so I'm not too concerned about introducing pathogens by using it. I've been on the same bail of hay since I started with 7 grow cycles ago. The hay is an inoculant, a nutrient source, and a mulch that regulates moisture that keeps the upper biology happy. Anything else though from outside I cycle through my worm bins just in case.

When growing legumes as a cover crop, at least initially try get seeds treated with rhizobia bacteria to ensure you get good nitrogen fixation and root nodule formation. Soybeans and regular snap or pole beans are easy, but it seems rihizobium for things like Crimson Clover are made out of unobtainium. I can't find pre-treated clover seeds yet, but I use it and other stuff in my cover crop anyway. I figure if I grow it, perhaps they will come! lol

You aren't playing with fire using cover crops, unless you let it dry out after it dies and drop a match in there.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful reply. I really appreciate it. I should have included that I’m planting the cover crops from seed. Based on your reply that means I should have even less worry.

I do need to get some better seed stock with the inoculant if I can. Makes perfect sense.

And I really need a bigger pot! Thanks again
 
N

Northwood

Well-Known Member
She is definitely ripe and ready for harvest. I'll take some real photos before I do instead of these shitty cell phone pics. I'll probably start taking her down tomorrow or Saturday, depending on my schedule. The cover crop will thank me. Lol

The colas aren't very large, but there's quite a few of them. I don't think she's a 2 pound plant, maybe 800 grams by the looks of her. Here's a shitty-cell-pic preview taken today with all the lights still on:

not_so_huge.jpg
side-view.jpg
trunk.jpg
canopy.jpg
 
N

Northwood

Well-Known Member
Last edited:
G

Geneiac

Well-Known Member
Those the snips you’re gonna use for the trunk? lol

Great grow man. Very inspiring. After following along and seeing how you do things, I’m going to transition to a no till system. Thanks for answering my questions along the way!
 
Brandon137

Brandon137

Well-Known Member
Northwood said:
BTW, how is your new no-till setup coming along? Do you have a journal going?
Click to expand...
It's been going good so far I had some issues with my cmh ballast and when I replaced it I got a much bigger wing with the new one and wound up giving her a little light burn. It went into flower shortly after I got these issues fixed as the old ballast wasnt firing all the time. So I decided to just switch my timer as I kinda want to get some new genetics in the tent. Here it is on Jan the 3rd and 26th 20210103_080441.jpg20210126_185437.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top