Message Board - BigPumpkins.com

Oak Grove, Mn

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=1&p=679108

I wonder how many people want to join it now.

Speaking of cumcumbers...what ever happened to the triple crown: tomatoes, cucumbers and onions. I would be too late for onions, but I do have a carrot going.

3/23/2020 5:56:48 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Bob:
There never was a cucumber board. Porkchop made it up and wanted to banish me to it. As far as the Triple Crown, it died from lack of interest. I gave up on it when nobody wanted to enter. I give it to you if you want it as it is over for me. I am now marooned in Florida and have no idea when I will get home. Travel is not so easy at present. I saw a guy going to the bathroom along the side of the road yesterday. I think he was afraid to use a public toilet.

3/23/2020 6:38:16 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Don't ruin it Marv..I know the secret status of the cucumber board. I have the 150 sq ft contest and the winter grow, so I really should not take on another competition. I thought the idea of the triple crown was good. Unfortunately, i really sucked at onions. The tomato board has been good about promoting other small vegetables. Hopefully that will continue.

I feel for you Marv. Things are bad all over the country, but being away from your permanent home would be even worse. I can imagine the drive back to Pa would be miserable. Restaurants closed, hotels questionable. I don't think I would want to get on an airplane at this time if they are still flying.

I am sure you will make the best of the situation. Watch out 5 gallon competitors, Marv might have time to concentrate. I know you have been researching soil for the past few years. What do you think is needed for the difference between outdoor soil and potting soil?

3/23/2020 6:49:41 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Since you asked;
Choosing a Growing Medium
After choosing your container, you will need to decide what you are going to use as a growing medium. Most growers would agree that a special soil mix is necessary for successfully growing in containers. Soil from your garden, if you have one, will not do. Many use packaged growing materials purchased from their local gardening center. These are highly developed to give your plants everything they need. Commonly used brands include Miracle Grow Potting Mix and Premier Pro-Mix container soil. There are many others on the market.
The basic ingredients of soil-less potting mixtures usually include organic material such as peat moss, redwood sawdust, hardwood bark, pine bark, plus other materials as vermiculite, perlite, pumice, and sand, in different combinations and ratios depending on the product. These mixtures all have several things in common. They allow for fast drainage after watering. They retain air and they retain an appropriate amount of moisture. They do so to different degrees depending on their exact makeup. Regular garden soil is far too dense and does not drain properly, hold enough air, or retain enough moisture for container gardening and so is not recommended. Whatever you use in your pots must be fertile and loose so that the roots can develop to their maximum potential in the limited space available. Regular garden soil, simply put, does not measure up.

3/23/2020 7:04:37 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Another option to be considered is making your own growing medium and that is what I would suggest. After all, we are growing tomatoes, not cacti. There are many recipes available for container growing mixes. Below is a recipe for Al’s 5-1-1 Growing Mix which is recommended by many successful container growers. The amount you will need depends on the size and number of containers you plan to use. You can multiply or divide the recipe as necessary.
Al’s 5-1-1 Mix, recommended on the GardenWeb.com Container Growing Forum
2 to 3 cu. ft. pine bark fines
5 gallons sphagnum
5 to 10 gallons coarse perlite
2 cups dolomitic garden lime
½ cup micronutrient powder
Pine bark fines are simply small pieces of bark, about the size of a dime, essentially micro nuggets, and about an eighth of an inch thick, some a bit bigger and some a bit smaller. They are sold in gardening centers as pine bark mulch, bark fines or mini-nuggets. Brand names include Vita Bark, Soil-Pep and Royal Gardens Pine Bark Mini-Nuggets. The latter is available at Lowe’s. Be certain you do not purchase shredded pine bark mulch! If you are concerned that the size of your pine bark is a bit large, you can double the amount of sphagnum peat moss you add to as to increase moisture retention (A 5-2-1 Mix). If you can find bark that meets the size requirements and has been composted, that is even better since fresh pine bark does use some nitrogen as it degrades. So to this you might want to add a little extra nitrogen.
These materials can be mixed on a tarp and then moistened by misting them with a garden hose. The materials should then be allowed to stabilize for two weeks and then can put in your growing containers and planted. It would be better if they could even compost for a month or so as the bark will take up some nitrogen as it breaks down.

3/23/2020 7:05:12 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Hope that helps. This is taken from the upgraded version of my tomato book.

3/23/2020 7:07:39 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Wow, Marv, I just think you kicked up the 5 gallon competition a couple of notches. I am still going to go hydro. Maybe I should go shopping at the hydro store this weekend if they are still open. Now, I need to be concerned about the soil growers. The contest this year should be great fun.

I am waiting in anticipation for your new book. I learned so much from your first. Keep up your spirits Marv...we will get thru this time.

3/23/2020 7:23:46 PM

Central NY

Porkchop didn’t make up that board...that was between you and eddy...I just thought it was a good idea seeing as, well....you know ...poke yer eddy doll....pffft

3/24/2020 10:07:20 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

In football it is called "piling on." Hmmmmm..

3/24/2020 10:39:44 AM

spudder

Why are the requirements so hard? You have to learn to be more inclusive. Give grower216 a break.

3/24/2020 12:11:31 PM

719.5 Pounder

North Of The Border

Why are you talking about me? I was just wondering what it was, because I had never seen it before, and I did not know it existed. I am still not convinced that it exists.

3/25/2020 2:14:34 PM

Penryngarden

Penryn CA

Can I send a photo of my Giant Winning Cucumber I grew last year?

3/26/2020 1:20:11 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

FYI: THERE IS NO CUCUMBER BOARD! It was all fake news that started with Iceman when he wanted to banish me to a nonexistent place. Forget the cucumber board. Fake news! For further information please contact Iceman on the Onion Board.

3/26/2020 11:02:59 AM

spudder

NOT FAKE NEWS. Stop denying it. Eddy and Porkchop would not lie. The secret society is has been exposed.

3/26/2020 1:12:51 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

wait...you said i was in...how can I be in a nonexistent place? Oooh, I get it Marv...we are suppose to make people think it doesn't exist.

People, the cucumber board is just a figment of someones imagination. Obviously, no one on this board has an imagination so it must not exist.

Ummm, Marv....when do we get the secret cucumber chat room?

3/26/2020 4:15:19 PM

Central NY

When you send him an 8x10......eeeww

3/26/2020 5:31:30 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

We get one when Ken says we get one. I just found out that Porkchop's cucumber has Peyronies Syndrome. Look it up Porkchop. lol

3/26/2020 6:09:22 PM

Central NY

I’m not sending you pics marv...stop emailing me...perv

3/26/2020 7:15:34 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

I already have the pics. Check out my facebook account.

3/26/2020 7:21:48 PM

Central NY

Wow!... nice pickle bob!!!.....why are you grinning so close to it in that photo marv?.....and that hashtag?.....#wholikesmayo?....strange....good pic though...

3/26/2020 8:12:16 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

I do not know what your are looking at porkchop....but you need to get your sources correct. So far in my growing career..i have never tried to grow a cucumber. This year will be my first. I made it to the cucumber board with just a few seeds and hope for the future.

Porkchop...are you feeling dejected, that you do not have a secret board?

Penryngarden...i have only 4 different seeds for genetics...I could trade you something that I have for something of yours. I don't need pictures...just your word. Send me an email...bnot1962@gmail.com

3/26/2020 8:36:37 PM

Central NY

You sure bob?....I just assumed you sent that pic...I can see the beard through the leather mask...I dunno who that is then...marv?

3/26/2020 8:52:10 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Come on Porkchop. Lets get back to something actually productive. Growing giant vegetables is serious stuff.

3/26/2020 8:55:53 PM

Central NY

Lol....sorry....

3/26/2020 8:58:42 PM