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British Columbia, Canada

Well, I've got $350 that I have saved up over the past three years. Since this'll only be my third year growing AG's, I need some help deciding what to buy. I always used to buy from ray's seedoutlet.com, but he closed it down for a while and now I want to try Tom's ExtremePumpkinStore.com. I'm willing to spend about $150-$170 there.

So far my must-haves are:

-Two bags of Mycorrhizal Inoculant with Organic Fertilizer 2.2lbs.

-Two All Purpose Row Cover Fabric 6ft x 20ft

-Two Soluble Kelp Powder.

What kind of supplies do you think would be good for a 13 year old? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.
-Jordan.

4/16/2010 10:22:16 PM

canal winchester ohio

You need some sort of fungicide program. I would suggest a quart of Companion.

4/16/2010 10:47:19 PM

Minnesota

Fish emulsion.

4/16/2010 11:39:27 PM

Midwest

Gypsum
pulp mill fabric or sand for under the pumpkin
I would suggest Cyonara insecticide instead of the row cover fabric. I tried to surround/cover my plant one year and it was not that effective.

4/17/2010 3:07:30 AM

Ohio

JA, Id just Email Tom, he will hook you up and recommend to you what you need along with all the new gizmo gadgets
that the heavy hitters like to use that really works
for them.
I ask him every year about the new and old products that he thinks I should use,he knows all his products inside and out,mostly because he uses all of them.
Tell him what your soil samples are,and Im sure he will hook you up no problem.

I like all 3 of what these guys suggested, especially Christrules for Gypsum, I like the stuff Tom sells of the Liquid Gypsum, you will definitely save money
on using the liquid stuff verses what you buy in a bag, plus it works faster.

Another thing I would definitely buy, thats
if you run into problems with vine borers like we do in Ohio,is Merit WP.(Even if you dont have vine borers its still a all around great pesticide)
And if you want to save money and go with a product that has a lighter dose of merit in it then Id go with the Bayer Tree Advance.

Best of luck to you this year JA.

4/17/2010 4:40:20 AM

Ohio

Brooks, good idea on the Bayer Tree Advance, I was recently going through my regular lawn chems and found a bottle and noticed it had merit in it.

4/17/2010 9:57:45 AM

Taber, Alberta

Jordan
Are there any other serious growers in the Kelowna area? If so, talk to them and find out what works. Have you had any problems with powdery mildew in your previous years? Any bugs that eat your plants? Local knowledge is the key. Then go out and get your stuff.

Have you done a soil test? Get a good one done. If you are playing with bad soil, no matter what you do on top of the soil, you won't do as well with the stuff underneath. Pay for this now, or pay the price later with small pumpkins. I know it's not as fun as buying stuff for the patch, but the knowledge you get will be immense. Then amend the soil as your test results indicate.

How are the weather conditions in the spring? If you get cold nights (I've never been to Kelowna in the spring, just baked there in the summer) spend some cash on hoophouses (they don't need to be too fancy), soil heating cables (can't find anyone in Canada these days that sell them)) or cheap heaters. Keep your babies warm at night if you need to, otherwise, you will be far behind come summer.

Hope this helps.
Alan

4/17/2010 10:16:00 AM

[email protected]

Jordan,


Grab a bottle of Mosquito Barrier too. Same as Garlic Barrier bu much stronger so cheaper to use. Repels Cucumber Beatles, etc.

Try to find an adult to apply imidacloprid for you. Insecticides can wreak havoc on young nervous systems.

4/17/2010 1:04:46 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Jordan, all good suggestions here! You can get your fish emulsion at a garden centre or places like that. You won't be bothered with cucumber beetles or vine borers and will most likely only have to worry about aphids as far as insects go.

Great advice from Alan! You need to ammend that rocky sandy soil that you have there in Kelowna with a good supply of compost. Take some of that money and get a few yards of good local compost and incorporate that and you will do great this year!!

http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/pentictonwesternnews/news/88488177.html

Lake Country Compost Distributors
1790 High Road, Kelowna, BC 250-470-9664

Also, you could call or visit your local education centre at;

Compost Education Centre
2363 Springfield Rd, Kelowna, BC 250-868-2768

Send Tom and email and he will suggest supplies for you as well.

4/17/2010 8:01:35 PM

Taber, Alberta

I know Glenn has used it in the past, and I throw a bag in every planting site every spring. If you can get Seasoil in bulk, get it. It's really good stuff. It can get a little pricey buying it by the bag, but it will help out your soil.
www.seasoil.com

If you are looking for some extra cash, they have a photo contest every year of people who have used Seasoil. You can win gift certificates at a local garden centre that sells Seasoil. Both Glenn and I have won. You can see my pics under the 2007 winners. It's very simple to enter (go to the contest section of their website). A few minutes of effort can get you a nice prize for next year.

4/17/2010 8:24:39 PM

British Columbia, Canada

Thanks everyone for the great advice! I will take it all into consideration.

Unfortunately there's no other growers in Kelowna/West Kelowna that I know about, It has just gotten too hot. I've never actually meet another grower in person.

I'm still confused about how exactly I'd get the pesticides onto the plant? Do I need some sort of sprayer or would a small hand-mister work?

Though my main problem is fighting the heat, wind and fires, which I don't have much control over. I have thought about making a year-round green house out of some sort of fabric, what does everyone think of this?

As for the garden, I have added over 20 bags of diffrent composts. Though I think it could use a little more.

Thanks everyone!
-Jordan.

4/19/2010 9:45:23 PM

Seattle, WA

I find the fish hydrolysate to be far superior to the emulsion when considering a fish product. Much better for the microbes, which is the main point of the fish (fungal growth). 2 most popular brands are Neptune's Harvest and Organic Gem.

4/20/2010 6:27:43 PM

Taber, Alberta

Fires, unfortunately, is one of those things we can't help you with.

Have you set up a misting system to keep things cool during the heat? They are easy to do if you get a watertimer. E-mail me if you are interested and I can help you out with this. [email protected]
Good luck,
Alan

4/20/2010 6:33:22 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Gosh, Alan is right again...Sea Soil is a fantastic product and I also use it in my planting spots as well as in all my flower beds and container pots.

Jordan, get your parents to take you to Costco in Kelowna and get a few large bags of Essential Soils (Sea Soil packaged for Costco) and incorporate that into your planting area. It is only $8.99 for a large 42 litre bag and is worth the money.

http://www.seasoil.com/essential-soils-made-with-sea-soil.html

4/20/2010 9:45:10 PM

Anacortes, WA

Soil test is most important. This will tell you what you need. I As North Shore Boys say, I don't think bugs are a problem. Balanced soil seems to be more important than anything else. A cloche or hoop house is good to get plants off to a good start.

4/25/2010 12:48:16 AM