primitive has glassed-in front porch

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=268x4516

Oh my.

jwirr  (1000+ posts)        Tue Mar-08-11 10:32 PM
Original message
 
Need some advice. I have a beautiful little glassed in front porch with exposure to east and south sun. I want to use it like a greenhouse this summer. Want to put some tomatoes in ice cream pails and try some grape vines on mesh. Both for the grapes and to diffuse the light and control heat.

With my flowers I use miracle-grow because we do not eat them. However, I do not want to use it on foods. Is there a liquid organic fertilizer that can be applied like that to inside plants? I will be using some good potting soil to plant them in but I also want to fertilize them. Help?

Dyedinthewoolliberal  (1000+ posts)        Tue Mar-08-11 10:41 PM
Response to Original message
 
1. Fish fertilzer ought to do the trick...........

appleannie1 (1000+ posts)     Tue Mar-08-11 10:55 PM
Response to Reply #2
 
3. Good luck. I do pot gardening all the time. Tomatoes, peppers and hot peppers in season, and herbs inside all year round.

Hmmmmm.......

Shagbark Hickory (1000+ posts)      Tue Mar-08-11 11:09 PM
Response to Original message
 
4. Why do you want to fertilize them? Are they growing poorly?

jwirr  (1000+ posts)        Tue Mar-08-11 11:28 PM
Response to Reply #4
 
6. I just assumed that I would get more produce if it had some food other than potting soil. Am I wrong?

Shagbark Hickory (1000+ posts)      Wed Mar-09-11 09:39 AM
Response to Reply #6
 
8. Hang on a second. Maybe I'm not understanding. You're trying to grow grapes and tomotoes INDOORS?

Uh huh.

jwirr  (1000+ posts)        Wed Mar-09-11 12:01 PM
Response to Reply #8
 
9. In MN there is no guarantee that the season is long enough to let plants mature. We have been growing tomatoes on our porches for years now - even bring them inside in the winter with a east window and have fresh tomatoes all year long. Grapes are a new thing for me but I understand that they grow in a greenhouse so why not my porch. I also like the idea of herbs inside. May even try other items. We also have outside gardens and two greenhouses plus orchards etc. Been trying to grow our own a long time - watched my father garden all his life - he would head into town and stop at the homes of every person he knew who was in need, giving the products away after my mother had canned her share.

Shagbark Hickory (1000+ posts)      Wed Mar-09-11 01:57 PM
Response to Reply #9
 
11. Woody plants need to be outdoors in the elements. It's not the same as tropical houseplants or herbs that are adapted to indoor living. Tomatoes I am not sure about but I would be very surprised. If it could be done it would solve the world's food crisis.

EC  (1000+ posts)        Wed Mar-09-11 12:12 AM
Response to Original message
 
7. Fish emulsion can really, really stink when it heats up

less offensive would be a manure tea...swaddle a bit of manure in cheesecloth and put into a bucket of water..like a tea bag...just keep refilling the water as you use it.

"Manure tea."   Hmmmmm.....

Remmah2 (320 posts)      Thu Mar-31-11 10:22 AM
Response to Original message
 
13. Drainage

Watch the drainage on the buckets. I put holes in my buckets and catch pans under them so I don't drown my tomatoes when they're in buckets.

Also Miracle Grow, I'm okay w/it as a vegetable fertilizer. I use zero pesticides. I consider Miracle Grow a friendly fertilizer.

[LC EFA]

jwirr  (1000+ posts)        Tue Mar-08-11 10:32 PM
Original message
 
...

With my flowers I use miracle-grow because we do not eat them. However, I do not want to use it on foods. Is there a liquid organic fertilizer that can be applied like that to inside plants? I will be using some good potting soil to plant them in but I also want to fertilize them. Help?

Why certianly I can help.

What you need is something called Urea - It's available at your local agricultural supplies store. You will have to tell the salesman that you want the "wink wink nudge nudge good stuff" or they'll sell you the crappy inorganic variety. You'll need several tons of it so it pays to have a rental truck standing by to carry it all home.

Bonus points for ordering while clad in a hijab or while speaking arabic.
 

[true_blood]

appleannie1 (1000+ posts)     Tue Mar-08-11 10:55 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. Good luck. I do pot gardening all the time. Tomatoes, peppers and hot peppers in season, and herbs inside all year round.

Primitive says good luck and that she/it does gardening all the time, but yet, offers no advice??
 

[Chris_]

Primitive says good luck and that she/it does gardening all the time, but yet, offers no advice??
 

Would you take advice from a DUmmy?

[true_blood]

Would you take advice from a DUmmy?

Excellent point.
I would the exact opposite of what they offer for advice.

[longview]

Manure tea is pretty popular around here where our soil is not very good for vegetables and flowers, but we have an abundance of manure.

We utilize the remaining nutrients left from cows, horses and sheep. Soak it in a buck, tub or trough and bucket out the water that has nutrients onto whatever we want to grow.  You can even buy screens and nets to fit over certain tanks/troughs to steep the nutrients out. 

It is better than having doo doo all around the house, IMO.

Just an obscure fact from the messy prairie.

[franksolich]

Manure tea is pretty popular around here where our soil is not very good for vegetables and flowers, but we have an abundance of manure.

We utilize the remaining nutrients left from cows, horses and sheep. Soak it in a buck, tub or trough and bucket out the water that has nutrients onto whatever we want to grow.  You can even buy screens and nets to fit over certain tanks/troughs to steep the nutrients out. 

It is better than having doo doo all around the house, IMO.

Just an obscure fact from the messy prairie.

I wouldn't go through even that much trouble, madam.

I'd just leave it lay, like I do with the cat droppings.

Given the extremes in temperatures and climate, it's gone back to the soil in no time at all.

Same as what those nuisancesome big birds splatter on the lawn here during the summer.

[GOBUCKS]

Manure tea is pretty popular around here where our soil is not very good for vegetables and flowers, but we have an abundance of manure.

If you told a DUmmy that, he'd question how much sugar you have to stir into your cup.

[Adisa]

Fish fertilizer?  In an enclosed area??  EWWWW!!!!

[BlueStateSaint]

Fish fertilizer?  In an enclosed area??  EWWWW!!!!

Remember who we're talking about here--DUmb****s.  Said fish fertilizer would probably be a breath of fresh air, compared to the stench that emanates from them.

[IassaFTots]

Manure tea is pretty popular around here where our soil is not very good for vegetables and flowers, but we have an abundance of manure.

We utilize the remaining nutrients left from cows, horses and sheep. Soak it in a buck, tub or trough and bucket out the water that has nutrients onto whatever we want to grow.  You can even buy screens and nets to fit over certain tanks/troughs to steep the nutrients out. 

It is better than having doo doo all around the house, IMO.

Just an obscure fact from the messy prairie.

You gotta buy it at the Tractor Supply here.  Black Kow. 

FWIW, I have been growing lettuce in POTS all winter in my sunroom.  Haven't had to buy any since December.