Thank you so much Curtis for putting all this out for us to see! It really helps and now I will be getting one of those movable frames for my pottingsoil. Fantasstic! :)
curtis you have inspired me ti start my own urban gardening business. i am working on microgreens first, but i hope that one day i can be as successful.
Curtis, love your informative videos. I start tomato and pepper seeds in a heated room and use a fluorescent light setup. I use my own vermicompost added to seed starting mix, but always have problems with fungus gnats. Do you have that problem using worm castings in your greenhouse?
Curtis, Sharpie has gone back to the original formula. Look for "industrial". Won't fade for over a year. I use white electrical tape for marking the sides of plug trays (big box store). Sticks real good and the black sharpie shows up. Also, for tags, I cut slats from Venetian blinds any length I need. (dumpster diving)
You can always just put half the soil in the deeper tray if you wanted, Microgreens really don't seem to need that much soil to grow well in, just comes back to the question on much often do you want to water them really. The difference I noticed would be once a day or once every 2 days if you did full soil amount to half amount
Curtis, I really appreciate your videos and the information. I am just starting in my yard in Lawrence Ks and intend to share with neighbors as well as markets. I do have chickens of about 2 years now. I retired from Walmart to raise my 2 younger kids being a single parent now. I love you tube and am gleaning from you and a few others for my style of gardening. Your videos are awesome and just thank you...Teresa
Hi Curtis. I just had an offhand thought. You use lights in your nursery but not in your heated greenhouse. Why not hang a few lights out there and see if it boost production? I'm going to start heating my greenhouse about the 10th of March or so, and I intend to run lights to give my greens every advantage I can.
Could you do a show specifically on lighting requirements for an indoor nursery? I'm in your course, but could use some specific advice on lighting. I have a four-foot-wide shelf like you recommend and run a light above it. With flats turned sideways, so as to fit four, I'm struggling with keeping enough light for the ends. I think it'd be a swell show: bootstrapping, workarounds, etc... Thanks so much!
How long does it take for your tomatoes to start coming out of the ground? Because I have a way to get them to start in a week or less but it maybe too Time-consuming for you. For me in my home garden, I grow about 150 tomato plants and I give more than half of them away to other gardeners. I put them between wet paper towels and and into a plastic Ziploc bag. I get them to germinate and to about 1" tall in probably under a week. They get a nice long root too, but you'd have to hand stick them individually into your little cubicles.
Hi Curtis, what kind of grow lights do you use over your microgreens? trying to figure out from your videos: are they completely enclose or have an IP rating? blue spectrum i guessing. currently shopping for my first grow lights. Keen to keep costs down but the world of grow lights is a lot to decipher
hey Curtis that was a fantastic video, lots of good info!! love the disconnects on your watering system, thank you for informing us on your fertilizers that you use in the greenhouse lots of good info I love it... I know you're using some other fertilizers out in the field would like to hear about those as well I know you use aged turkey manure but if I might ask what else do you use? thanks bro
A year ago I bought 130 10 by 20 trays online, almost all have been replaced with a locally bought tray that is far more durable. the cheap ones crack because the micro greens trays are moved around a lot. best
I'm curious about that Sunshine Mix you use for germination. I think in another video you mentioned it was simply a mix (about 50/50?) of peat and fine vermiculite. I'm assuming that the price of this product is cheap enough that it would not be profitable for you to make this mix yourself? In the past, I've germinated seeds simply in fine vermiculite but this year I'm trying a mix of 1/3 each of potting soil, coir and vermiculite. So far, I've germinated peppers in this mix (started them about a week and a half ago) and while I got good germination, I'm not quite sure this is a better way. It seems that this mix requires much more watering than simply vermiculite. Love your videos and I've learned a lot - not only from the videos but also from the comments. Thanks.
i used sunshine mix for years. i would like to see you try some coco side by side with the sunshine. i would like to see how it does with microgreens. way better roots in coco from my experience and its much cheaper than sunshine mix
+Gonzo W haha thats funny! you must be buying some shit coco mulch at home depot. coco leaches salts. thats why house and garden makes their a and b cocos with extra calmag for that reason. 9 bucks per brick of nf coco. go to my channel check out my roots! no comparison. coco is waaaaaay better!
+Gonzo W it all comes treated from Sri Lanka unless you buy the low grade stuff. doesnt matter what country you are in. all that shit comes from the same place.
I've never had success with it. I've tried a few brands over the years and just gave up because I wasted so much time on getting the salt out, and soaking it. For me in Canada, it's hardly that much more of an ecological product, taking into consideration how far it needs to ship to get here. Peat may not be the most sustainable product, but it is local for me.
Curtis, how do you water around your grow lights? Do you turn them off and wait for them to cool first? I love this channel and your book, so helpful!!! Thanks
Hi Curtis, appreciate all the work you've done with your book and these videos. I'm planning on building a planting table as well as a post harvest station to accompany the other work I've done. Do you varnish/finish your wood planting table to protect against water? Seems like a good amount getting on it regularly with how much you use them. Any thoughts on alternative materials for construction?
Hi Curtis, I know you made a video on growing micro greens, but in regards to the Sunflower shoots, do you do anything more than brushing them with your hands to knock the hulls off? I love growing them, but don't know if I need to salad spin them, to help get more hulls off them. Grazie
do you have any special techniques for starting plugs, or do you just pop in the seeds individually? i wish there was a faster way without buying a vacuum seeder
when you plant those microgreens in the shallow trays does that inhibit the root growth? also, are microgreens able to harvest again after its first yield? love ur vids btw !
Pro Tip: I have a huge cement mixer that I mix all my soil in. I mix pro-mix, coco coir, perlite, epsom salt, lime, azomite, potash,bio-live, bone and fish meal. done. the ultimate mix.
Hi Curtis, I know that it says in your book that you use T8 fluorescent fixtures in your nursery; any specifics on what bulbs to buy? How many watts? Any brands you would recommend?
Even though I'm only a hobby gardener, I like to watch videos from professional growers like you, essentially because I'm cheap and lazy. I've found that professional growers for the most part are averse to spending time or effort on processes or ingredients that don't add value. I like that. That being said, I noticed when you were reading the list of ingredients in your "pixie dust" (Gaia Green 4-4-4) that it contains among other things, Rock Dust. After a lot of research, I came to the conclusion that Rock Dust really doesn't add anything to a normally healthy soil. That's really a minor point I admit, but it leads me to a more general question: I notice that you frequently analyze your inputs and labour costs to determine if there are efficiencies to be gained. Have you done any kind of comparisons to see if this particular input is indeed adding value or are you simply basing the use of the product based on your knowledge and experience? And many thanks for your efforts in posting informative, high quality videos. Cheers
Maybe you could comment on the amount of nursery greenhouse space needed to support the garden operation. I have done a few calculations, and I get a ratio of about 25 to 1; i.e. 1 square foot of greenhouse space can support 25 square feet of garden using transplants. This ratio goes up somewhat if you can make small plugs work well. Also, if you are using transplants on only half of your beds, the rest being direct seeded, (radishes, spinach, salanova), then you would need only 1 square foot of greenhouse space for 50 square feet of garden. What rule of thumb would you have for nursery space to support, say, 10,000 square feet of garden? I realize this would depend on crop selection. Also, I would not include space for micro greens or winter cropping. Just nursery. This might be a useful rule of thumb for people to consider. Also, to be clear, the greenhouse space is that which is available with light to grow starters in flats.
You're on the right track in your thinking, but I don't think it's that simple because it depends on what kind of crops you're growing. When I started, I had a 200 square foot greenhouse with a good amount of vertical space, and that was for a half acre of lots of mixed vegetables. My farm now doesn't need nearly as much nursery space for the field crops, but it does for microgreens.
I had the same question. Regular trays can be found in abundance. Shallow trays however, seem to be harder to find. So far my research has lead me Second Sun Hydroponics...but at $1.68/tray. Twice what a deeper (2 inch) 1020 costs. Thanks for all the information Curtis!
I'm also looking for 1" deep trays in the UK and despite a couple of hours on the internet I haven't found any. How can they be so hard to find? If any of you have any links so I can see what I'm looking for or even order from abroad that would be great. If not I guess 2" trays would do.
Hi, I've managed to track down something similar. Plant pots direct: www.plantpotsdirect.co.uk These shallow trays are not on their website yet but if you email them they can order them for you. I spent about an hour online searching and these are the best I've found so far. Will let you know what they're like when they arrive. External dimensions = 375mm long x 244mm wide x 35mm deep (with lip)
Abideen Turky عابدین ترکی Then you also need to feed and water the oxen. It then becomes a huge hassle and not as efficient. That's where permaculture differs.
curtis you have inspired me ti start my own urban gardening business. i am working on microgreens first, but i hope that one day i can be as successful.
Even though I'm only a hobby gardener, I like to watch videos from professional growers like you, essentially because I'm cheap and lazy. I've found that professional growers for the most part are averse to spending time or effort on processes or ingredients that don't add value. I like that. That being said, I noticed when you were reading the list of ingredients in your "pixie dust" (Gaia Green 4-4-4) that it contains among other things, Rock Dust. After a lot of research, I came to the conclusion that Rock Dust really doesn't add anything to a normally healthy soil. That's really a minor point I admit, but it leads me to a more general question: I notice that you frequently analyze your inputs and labour costs to determine if there are efficiencies to be gained. Have you done any kind of comparisons to see if this particular input is indeed adding value or are you simply basing the use of the product based on your knowledge and experience? And many thanks for your efforts in posting informative, high quality videos. Cheers
Thank you so much Curtis for putting all this out for us to see! It really helps and now I will be getting one of those movable frames for my pottingsoil. Fantasstic! :)
Having good equipment makes the planting process so much faster.
curtis you have inspired me ti start my own urban gardening business. i am working on microgreens first, but i hope that one day i can be as successful.
You can! Go for it. Just don't forget that you're running a business at the end of the day and need to be profitable.
Curtis, love your informative videos. I start tomato and pepper seeds in a heated room and use a fluorescent light setup. I use my own vermicompost added to seed starting mix, but always have problems with fungus gnats. Do you have that problem using worm castings in your greenhouse?
Am really looking forward to your tomato planting and all the bits involves when planting tomatoes, so excited to see!
Curtis, Sharpie has gone back to the original formula. Look for "industrial". Won't fade for over a year. I use white electrical tape for marking the sides of plug trays (big box store). Sticks real good and the black sharpie shows up. Also, for tags, I cut slats from Venetian blinds any length I need. (dumpster diving)
The mini-blinds idea is freaking BRILLIANT. Thank you!
You can always just put half the soil in the deeper tray if you wanted, Microgreens really don't seem to need that much soil to grow well in, just comes back to the question on much often do you want to water them really. The difference I noticed would be once a day or once every 2 days if you did full soil amount to half amount
Curtis, I really appreciate your videos and the information. I am just starting in my yard in Lawrence Ks and intend to share with neighbors as well as markets. I do have chickens of about 2 years now. I retired from Walmart to raise my 2 younger kids being a single parent now. I love you tube and am gleaning from you and a few others for my style of gardening. Your videos are awesome and just thank you...Teresa
Hi Curtis. I just had an offhand thought. You use lights in your nursery but not in your heated greenhouse. Why not hang a few lights out there and see if it boost production? I'm going to start heating my greenhouse about the 10th of March or so, and I intend to run lights to give my greens every advantage I can.
Curtis, I am very surprised most of your videos haven't been flagged and taken down because this is straight up porn.
Could you do a show specifically on lighting requirements for an indoor nursery? I'm in your course, but could use some specific advice on lighting. I have a four-foot-wide shelf like you recommend and run a light above it. With flats turned sideways, so as to fit four, I'm struggling with keeping enough light for the ends. I think it'd be a swell show: bootstrapping, workarounds, etc... Thanks so much!
How long does it take for your tomatoes to start coming out of the ground? Because I have a way to get them to start in a week or less but it maybe too Time-consuming for you. For me in my home garden, I grow about 150 tomato plants and I give more than half of them away to other gardeners. I put them between wet paper towels and and into a plastic Ziploc bag. I get them to germinate and to about 1" tall in probably under a week. They get a nice long root too, but you'd have to hand stick them individually into your little cubicles.
Onya Curtis.....you're the man !! Good onya mate !!
Hi Curtis, what kind of grow lights do you use over your microgreens? trying to figure out from your videos: are they completely enclose or have an IP rating? blue spectrum i guessing.
currently shopping for my first grow lights. Keen to keep costs down but the world of grow lights is a lot to decipher
hey Curtis that was a fantastic video, lots of good info!! love the disconnects on your watering system, thank you for informing us on your fertilizers that you use in the greenhouse lots of good info I love it... I know you're using some other fertilizers out in the field would like to hear about those as well I know you use aged turkey manure but if I might ask what else do you use? thanks bro
A year ago I bought 130 10 by 20 trays online, almost all have been replaced with a locally bought tray that is far more durable. the cheap ones crack because the micro greens trays are moved around a lot.
best
I'm curious about that Sunshine Mix you use for germination. I think in another video you mentioned it was simply a mix (about 50/50?) of peat and fine vermiculite. I'm assuming that the price of this product is cheap enough that it would not be profitable for you to make this mix yourself?
In the past, I've germinated seeds simply in fine vermiculite but this year I'm trying a mix of 1/3 each of potting soil, coir and vermiculite. So far, I've germinated peppers in this mix (started them about a week and a half ago) and while I got good germination, I'm not quite sure this is a better way. It seems that this mix requires much more watering than simply vermiculite.
Love your videos and I've learned a lot - not only from the videos but also from the comments. Thanks.
$28 per bail. one bail makes 78 flats. Yes, making it is just something else to do and for me not worth my time.
What about the lighting? Are they just regular florescence fixtures? Or are they "Grow" lights? Are they on a timer? Does one timer control them all?
i used sunshine mix for years. i would like to see you try some coco side by side with the sunshine. i would like to see how it does with microgreens. way better roots in coco from my experience and its much cheaper than sunshine mix
+Gonzo W haha thats funny! you must be buying some shit coco mulch at home depot. coco leaches salts. thats why house and garden makes their a and b cocos with extra calmag for that reason. 9 bucks per brick of nf coco. go to my channel check out my roots! no comparison. coco is waaaaaay better!
+Gonzo W it all comes treated from Sri Lanka unless you buy the low grade stuff. doesnt matter what country you are in. all that shit comes from the same place.
I've never had success with it. I've tried a few brands over the years and just gave up because I wasted so much time on getting the salt out, and soaking it. For me in Canada, it's hardly that much more of an ecological product, taking into consideration how far it needs to ship to get here. Peat may not be the most sustainable product, but it is local for me.
Curtis, how do you water around your grow lights? Do you turn them off and wait for them to cool first? I love this channel and your book, so helpful!!! Thanks
I just water underneath them.
ok ya, just didn't look like a lot of room but you can get your soaker wand in there no problem. thanks!!
Do you need to rotate the flats, N-S, to even out the sun exposure and even the growth?
Hi Curtis, appreciate all the work you've done with your book and these videos. I'm planning on building a planting table as well as a post harvest station to accompany the other work I've done. Do you varnish/finish your wood planting table to protect against water? Seems like a good amount getting on it regularly with how much you use them. Any thoughts on alternative materials for construction?
Steel. We're going to eventually rebuild everything inside with steel.
Hi Curtis , I wanted to ask you where did you get your cell block trays? and the fertilizers?
Can you put the links of where you get your pots,trays and soil please in your next video
Hi Curtis, I know you made a video on growing micro greens, but in regards to the Sunflower shoots, do you do anything more than brushing them with your hands to knock the hulls off? I love growing them, but don't know if I need to salad spin them, to help get more hulls off them. Grazie
+Gianna Iandelli the washing, spinning and drying takes care of the rest.
Thanks Curtis! I love your content 🌱🍀🌱
do you have any special techniques for starting plugs, or do you just pop in the seeds individually? i wish there was a faster way without buying a vacuum seeder
Check out my website impseeder.com
when you plant those microgreens in the shallow trays does that inhibit the root growth? also, are microgreens able to harvest again after its first yield? love ur vids btw !
Do you have a video with suggestions for a basic greenhouse structure for those of us just starting out?
Bravo! 👍
Hi Curtis, what size trays do you start salvanovia lettuce starts in? Do you use the 200 or 128?
Either work, but we do 200's most of the time.
hi curtis would a nursery work in a hot climate ? my plants have difficulty in adjusting in it when i transplant do you have any advice?
A hot climate nursery is the same but with shade cloth and tons of ventilation. Transplant when it's cooler, and water lots.
thanks curtis
Pro Tip: I have a huge cement mixer that I mix all my soil in. I mix pro-mix, coco coir, perlite, epsom salt, lime, azomite, potash,bio-live, bone and fish meal. done. the ultimate mix.
Hi Curtis, I know that it says in your book that you use T8 fluorescent fixtures in your nursery; any specifics on what bulbs to buy? How many watts? Any brands you would recommend?
Not really. Just bulbs that say they're good for growing.
your raised bed seems pretty empty. what are you planning for it?
It get's no light right now because the greenhouse in front of it is shading it out. In a couple weeks, we'll put more stuff in it. Not sure yet.
what is the mix you are using while preparing soil
in our country we cant grow tomato in 2.5 inch pot
Even though I'm only a hobby gardener, I like to watch videos from professional growers like you, essentially because I'm cheap and lazy. I've found that professional growers for the most part are averse to spending time or effort on processes or ingredients that don't add value. I like that.
That being said, I noticed when you were reading the list of ingredients in your "pixie dust" (Gaia Green 4-4-4) that it contains among other things, Rock Dust. After a lot of research, I came to the conclusion that Rock Dust really doesn't add anything to a normally healthy soil. That's really a minor point I admit, but it leads me to a more general question: I notice that you frequently analyze your inputs and labour costs to determine if there are efficiencies to be gained. Have you done any kind of comparisons to see if this particular input is indeed adding value or are you simply basing the use of the product based on your knowledge and experience?
And many thanks for your efforts in posting informative, high quality videos. Cheers
Where do you get your 1x10x20 flats? It's becoming quite the pita trying to source them in Ontario.
Thanks Curtis...Great book by the way. ;-)
Locally. I have no options for you. Sorry.
Could you put up your source? I could get in touch with them.
They have no website. The Professional Gardener, based in Calgary.
Got them here, thanks!
professionalgardener.ca/
Maybe you could comment on the amount of nursery greenhouse space needed to support the garden operation. I have done a few calculations, and I get a ratio of about 25 to 1; i.e. 1 square foot of greenhouse space can support 25 square feet of garden using transplants. This ratio goes up somewhat if you can make small plugs work well. Also, if you are using transplants on only half of your beds, the rest being direct seeded, (radishes, spinach, salanova), then you would need only 1 square foot of greenhouse space for 50 square feet of garden.
What rule of thumb would you have for nursery space to support, say, 10,000 square feet of garden? I realize this would depend on crop selection. Also, I would not include space for micro greens or winter cropping. Just nursery. This might be a useful rule of thumb for people to consider. Also, to be clear, the greenhouse space is that which is available with light to grow starters in flats.
You're on the right track in your thinking, but I don't think it's that simple because it depends on what kind of crops you're growing. When I started, I had a 200 square foot greenhouse with a good amount of vertical space, and that was for a half acre of lots of mixed vegetables. My farm now doesn't need nearly as much nursery space for the field crops, but it does for microgreens.
T
You Rock!! How can i get you to Colorado to consult me on my farm in Larkspur? New farmer with 10 acres only using a 1/4 acre. I need help!
Did you ever consider buying plug plants ?
do you wash your micro greens after harvest
Ergonomics do save lot a ATPs and time too ....
Where did you get the microgreen flats?
Locally. Nowhere I can recommend.
I had the same question. Regular trays can be found in abundance. Shallow trays however, seem to be harder to find. So far my research has lead me Second Sun Hydroponics...but at $1.68/tray. Twice what a deeper (2 inch) 1020 costs. Thanks for all the information Curtis!
I'm also looking for 1" deep trays in the UK and despite a couple of hours on the internet I haven't found any. How can they be so hard to find? If any of you have any links so I can see what I'm looking for or even order from abroad that would be great. If not I guess 2" trays would do.
I'm looking for them too.
Hi, I've managed to track down something similar. Plant pots direct: www.plantpotsdirect.co.uk These shallow trays are not on their website yet but if you email them they can order them for you. I spent about an hour online searching and these are the best I've found so far. Will let you know what they're like when they arrive. External dimensions = 375mm long x 244mm wide x 35mm deep (with lip)
What kind of lights do you have over your micros?
Where can i get the Gaia green fertilizer to buy?
Cool video!
the 50k sub bowl is gonna be packed soon eh;)
Better be a bong haul!
excellent content
Grrrreat information 👍🏻👍🏻✌️
What brands of seed trays are tougher?
Is there a silicone pot option?
Would you consider using rabbits manure as fertiliser?
If I had them on the farm, maybe.
ever use soil blockers?
You farm in cold region,
If you farmed in India, you would only need a pair of ox , for ploughing,
And few cows , to produce organic manure
cold region and in the city,( urban farmer) no room for OX or COW
Abideen Turky عابدین ترکی Then you also need to feed and water the oxen. It then becomes a huge hassle and not as efficient. That's where permaculture differs.
Awesome Stuff:')
whoops just saw it. guess I just should let vid finish.
IS A GREENHOUSE NURSERY IS NECESSRY IN A TROPICAL COUNTRY
What is your take on the Japanese paper pots?
Here is a link to a quick youtube video showing it in action.
ua-cam.com/video/EWd8gBJgEMY/v-deo.html
curtis you have inspired me ti start my own urban gardening business. i am working on microgreens first, but i hope that one day i can be as successful.
Even though I'm only a hobby gardener, I like to watch videos from professional growers like you, essentially because I'm cheap and lazy. I've found that professional growers for the most part are averse to spending time or effort on processes or ingredients that don't add value. I like that.
That being said, I noticed when you were reading the list of ingredients in your "pixie dust" (Gaia Green 4-4-4) that it contains among other things, Rock Dust. After a lot of research, I came to the conclusion that Rock Dust really doesn't add anything to a normally healthy soil. That's really a minor point I admit, but it leads me to a more general question: I notice that you frequently analyze your inputs and labour costs to determine if there are efficiencies to be gained. Have you done any kind of comparisons to see if this particular input is indeed adding value or are you simply basing the use of the product based on your knowledge and experience?
And many thanks for your efforts in posting informative, high quality videos. Cheers