• Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)

Posted: **Mon Dec 30, 2019 1:38 pm**

Marsha, I look to YOU for so much info. Really admire you for all the different varieties you grow. (And sharing). Plus Your expertise in growing beautiful transplants and your mucho experience with Earthboxes.

I took a workshop at the Live Oak Extension and we toured a huge greenhouse facility. They had live bumblebees which was really neat to see but they covered the vibrator thingies in class. It was only when I was lurking over at TV
That I read about the Vegibee that I got one. So thanks Florida posters. I do think it makes a big difference.

I just got home and picked off a bushel of diseased leaves on just a few plants.

and it’s raining and gloomy right now. My disease spores laugh at the copper now.

Don’t worry about the microbes not being in the mix to break down organic fertilizer. I have read that too but never found that to be true. Either the microbes are there in the potting mix or the fertilizer but the nutrients become available. Otherwise my strictly organic boxes would do poorly. And , this is just a personal opinion, I think you are getting a huge benefit with the flavor aspect with the organic fert.and then your conventional additives must help with the yield. But the only way to tell is to do an organic box vs conventional box and then one where you use both.

Love seeing your pics and reading your evaluations on your tomatoes.

Posted: **Mon Dec 30, 2019 3:06 pm**

Looking great! (We had sleet today, so I really needed to see some tomatoes on the vine!)

Posted: **Mon Dec 30, 2019 3:31 pm**

OH! Marsha, I missed your wonderful posts, I love it

Posted: **Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:46 pm**

MsCowpea wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 1:38 pm Marsha, I look to YOU for so much info. Really admire you for all the different varieties you grow. (And sharing). Plus Your expertise in growing beautiful transplants and your mucho experience with Earthboxes.

I took a workshop at the Live Oak Extension and we toured a huge greenhouse facility. They had live bumblebees which was really neat to see but they covered the vibrator thingies in class. It was only when I was lurking over at TV
That I read about the Vegibee that I got one. So thanks Florida posters. I do think it makes a big difference.

I just got home and picked off a bushel of diseased leaves on just a few plants. and it’s raining and gloomy right now. My disease spores laugh at the copper now.

Don’t worry about the microbes not being in the mix to break down organic fertilizer. I have read that too but never found that to be true. Either the microbes are there in the potting mix or the fertilizer but the nutrients become available. Otherwise my strictly organic boxes would do poorly. And , this is just a personal opinion, I think you are getting a huge benefit with the flavor aspect with the organic fert.and then your conventional additives must help with the yield. But the only way to tell is to do an organic box vs conventional box and then one where you use both.

Love seeing your pics and reading your evaluations on your tomatoes.

Thank you again. Maybe we can do a joint tasting, yours and mine together. Maybe it is the Espoma helping with the taste of mine. Curious to see your pure organic ones and do a tasting. I remember our fruend Jan saying she tasted yours doing organic vs not organic, and the organics tasted better.

Posted: **Mon Dec 30, 2019 8:18 pm**

Great to see your tomatoes in their glory once again Marsha!

Posted: **Mon Dec 30, 2019 8:24 pm**

HL2601 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 8:18 pm Great to see your tomatoes in their glory once again Marsha!

Thank you so much!

Posted: **Mon Dec 30, 2019 10:18 pm**

Marsha - you bring up a good point about TT - this year I just mixed it throughout the EB and my plants really took off. I started looking at your Jack's - Does it only come in a 1.5 lb package?

So glad to have you back where you belong....lol

Posted: **Tue Dec 31, 2019 12:33 am**

Beautiful vegetable plants Marsha. Everything looks so green and healthy.

Posted: **Tue Dec 31, 2019 12:40 am**

Barb Fl.

Funny you should mention that you are mixing in the fertilizer. My original boxes must be 20+ years old.
I don’t know if anyone else remembers this or not but the original instructions said to mix in 3 cups of organic
fertilizer throughout the mix. Only if you used the 2 cups of synthetic fertilizer was the strip on top. I have always done it this way. Now I am trying some with it all on top. Another thing, they always said to mix in the dolomite throughout. I can’t bring myself to spread it on as a layer as they do in their newer videos.

(Marsha, we will have to do some comparisons.)

Posted: **Tue Dec 31, 2019 5:24 am**

Barb_FL wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 10:18 pm Marsha - you bring up a good point about TT - this year I just mixed it throughout the EB and my plants really took off. I started looking at your Jack's - Does it only come in a 1.5 lb package?

So glad to have you back where you belong....lol

Unfortunately it only comes in the 1.5 lb. I would buy 5 lb at a time if I could. Thank you for the nice sentiment, it's so nice to be welcomed like this, and such a comfort to have you here too, Barb.

Posted: **Tue Dec 31, 2019 5:26 am**

AZGardener wrote: ↑Tue Dec 31, 2019 12:33 am Beautiful vegetable plants Marsha. Everything looks so green and healthy.

Thank you. With the tremendous amount of rain we have had, I better get out there and trim, then spray the copper, disease is inevitable.

Posted: **Tue Dec 31, 2019 5:42 am**

MsCowpea wrote: ↑Tue Dec 31, 2019 12:40 am Barb Fl.

Funny you should mention that you are mixing in the fertilizer. My original boxes must be 20+ years old.
I don’t know if anyone else remembers this or not but the original instructions said to mix in 3 cups of organic
fertilizer throughout the mix. Only if you used the 2 cups of synthetic fertilizer was the strip on top. I have always done it this way. Now I am trying some with it all on top. Another thing, they always said to mix in the dolomite throughout. I can’t bring myself to spread it on as a layer as they do in their newer videos.

(Marsha, we will have to do some comparisons.)

In my Earthboxes, I mix the dolomite throughout, but my TT is in a strip. I do remove it every year even though the folks on the EB forum say they just turn it into the mix every year. I think it might make the mix more muddy over time if mixed in. Have you ever noticed the organic fertilizer strip when removed is all slick and muddy? Mine sure is.

Elaine - I watched that video on YouTube and saw that homemade mulch cover tied in knots at the 4 corners, and I really want to try it.(retired, I have time, haha) Thanks for suggesting to watch. I know you can purchase the black/white row cover by the roll, and its not too expensive. For that matter, I can purchase the just white one, I never use the black side. Even more cost effective. That technique looked perfect. The newest EB mulch covers are too big and loose, so rain puddles are collecting on top.Im going to try it. [mention]Barb_FL[/mention] I bet you will want to experiment too, knowing you!
Supposed to dry out today(finally), so maybe I can do a few more photos.

Posted: **Tue Dec 31, 2019 7:09 am**

You know it - I will be looking for that video later today. Marsha - Do you want to start a Florida / Hot Humid thread or just post everything on this thread. I started one this season at TV, and put the important stuff in the first post - Seabright cards, your fungal spray.

How long does that 1.5 lb tub last? - Did you ever try the Mega Crop sample? I'm really happy with the product.

Elaine - I have done with just organic in EB vs control plants but will wait until Marsha gives the OK to post here or a new thread.

Posted: **Tue Dec 31, 2019 7:36 am**

Barb_FL wrote: ↑Tue Dec 31, 2019 7:09 am You know it - I will be looking for that video later today. Marsha - Do you want to start a Florida / Hot Humid thread or just post everything on this thread. I started one this season at TV, and put the important stuff in the first post - Seabright cards, your fungal spray.

How long does that 1.5 lb tub last? - Did you ever try the Mega Crop sample? I'm really happy with the product.

Elaine - I have done with just organic in EB vs control plants but will wait until Marsha gives the OK to post here or a new thread.

Let's go with a new thread Barb. That way folks looking for Florida info will be able to see it better. I'll use this one for stuff relevant (and tangents from) my own garden.

Posted: **Tue Dec 31, 2019 8:05 am**

Wonderful to see your loaded-up plants; I’m starting seeds this weekend.
I recycled an electric toothbrush instead of springing for a vegi-bee and it worked well.

I love Carbon to death but wish it were a little more disease resistant. Nothing (so far!) tastes like it.

Posted: **Tue Dec 31, 2019 8:58 am**

Hope this isn't OT for this thread.

Can we have an Earthbox section? I just bought one

. I don't live in FL though

Posted: **Tue Dec 31, 2019 9:11 am**

there is a earthbox section, containers,earthbox, raised beds, .

Posted: **Tue Dec 31, 2019 9:20 am**

Labradors wrote: ↑Tue Dec 31, 2019 8:58 am Hope this isn't OT for this thread.

Can we have an Earthbox section? I just bought one . I don't live in FL though

Living in Florida could be changed.☺

Posted: **Wed Jan 01, 2020 9:45 am**

Wonderful to see your lush tomatoes Marsha! I've always noticed your plants seem so healthy--do you battle Septoria in your garden or not so much? I am rather diligent about pruning early and often when I see any specks, but it doesn't seem to matter too much. Although we've had fair wet summers the past few years.

Posted: **Wed Jan 01, 2020 4:31 pm**

Just took these

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Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)

Re: Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)

Re: Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)

Re: Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)

Re: Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)

Re: Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)

Re: Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)

Re: Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)

Re: Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)

Re: Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)

Re: Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)

Re: Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)

Re: Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)

Re: Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)

Re: Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)

Re: Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)

Re: Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)

Re: Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)

Re: Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)

Re: Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)

Re: Marsha's garden 2019/20(optimistic here, lol.)