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fo · Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 13

Greetings from fabulous Las Vegas.

Well, i'm taking the plunge, the latest round of tax hikes has finally p*ssed me off.

I ordered my burley seeds about a month ago, built a greenhouse, lowered my PH and am now waiting for my seedling to grow a bit more befor I subject them to the oven/greenhouse (greenhouse in Las Vegas what was I thinking?)

anyway, I'm thinking I've just have to keep the hot dessert winds off my poor fragile babies.

Just wanted to say hi, and have you wish me luck....

Best Regards
fo

i'll post some pictures later

Dan · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 1:37 pm Post subject:

Hello fo,
Those seedlings have someone who knows what they're doing taking care of them and a fantastic climate to thrive in. Sounds like you don't need luck but here you go "GOOD LUCK". LOL.

bob_kemp · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 5:24 am Post subject: Greenhouse in Las Vegas

Hi --

You should build or buy an evaporative cooler for it to lower the temps and raise the humidity. You can find them in most greenhouse supply catalogs.

Bob

fo · Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 13

thanks Dan, Hi Bob,

Yeah, well, I am worried about the too hot thing; it will get up in excess of 120 F. (yikes)

I've no power out in this portion of my property and the expense of running a swamp cooler all summer kind of works against my goal of maintaining my vice for less.

I've a no cost plan in action for the humidity, and we'll see how the heat thing goes for now...

Five gallon buckets half full of water suspended in the GH with towels hanging out of them--dripping into larger tubs filled with water...

So far so good, the humidity is hovering at 50% while outside it's in the high teens.

I suppose at worst I'll be able to put a number on TOO HOT for the rest of the world?

I remain hopeful.

I feel lucky anyway, smile

Best regards
fo

pictures coming

fo · Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 13

Hey,

Time for an update:

I do have pictures, but really? do we need another shot of a thirty day old Burley sprout?

If so I've got them...

What I've learned so far:

Peat pots are just fantastic. (putting the seed in is a bit tasky though)

Hot weather is a definite go...I've had temps above 120F and my plants are doing fine.

You CAN effectively raise the humidity in a green house with just the presents of water:

I've suspended 5 gal. buckets half full of water and draped old bath towels over the edge where they dip into yet another bucket of water.

They wick up, and down and stay wet enough to evaporate about two inches of water a day, also I poured redwood chips on the dirt floor between my raised beds and hose those down each morning....

I've been able to maintain just under 50% humidity here in the high desert. (typical humidity here is in the mid to low teens)

As soon as you see roots coming though the netting on the peat pots GET THEM IN THE GROUND.

My dimes sized baby leaves have doubled in girth in just two days after I placed them in the beds...

I've also been lucky, the temps dropped here for the this last crucial week.

Well, that's the latest.

If I can do it here ( the high desert) you can do it too !!

I'm a happy camper.

It'll be thirty five days tomorrow since I recieved my burley seeds, my star performer has two inch long leaves now...

Good growing to you all
Best Regards
fo

Tin Can Man · Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 17

fo,

Love to see some pics if you can!

fo · Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 13

Sure, No problem...

The classic tender young Burley shot:

My greenhouse, made from stuff I had laying around:

The passive humidity system:

Inside shot, note redwood chips-they not only help but smell swell too !! smile.

This is the morning's temp and humidity...

I've calibrated my hydrometer using the wet salt standard, hence the add 5% tag...

I have more of course, I love taking pictures...

It's fophotophile in other venues...

Best Regards
fo

Tin Can Man · Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 17

Thanks fo,

The pics look great!......You're doing a good job there.

What kind of soil is in the Burley close-up?.........sandy?

fo · Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 13

Thanks,

Well, it's 1/3+ of "Black Gold" a local blend to lower high PH here, a generous helping of my vintage compost and the rest native soil...

I haven't tested the PH, and I'm still a bit concerened about my water:

I'm on a well and this stuff is pretty darn alkaline...

I notice the net of my peat pots show signs of salt deposits. (yikes)

I've tossed in generous scoops of soil sulfur, and add it to my water bucket as well...

I'm afraid to fertilize, it's just so dang hot...

110 right now in the GH...

Advise is more than welcome.

Thanks again
fo

Tin Can Man · Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 17

fo,

We have well water here to, and of course it's hard water, like 23 on the hardness scale. Not sure about the alkaline.

Soil here is limestone. Never had it tested, but everything seems to grow ok.