No-till planter, I need feedback on anything done wrong.

[Giggles]

Hi all

Just set this up, hoping it's more or less correct? Using information taken from various UK420 no till threads and BAS (peat). 

will be popping lil-daves b-line f2 and OTD from MTG for the first outing.

Using rain water and Tapwater mix.

When should I add Worms?

When Funds allow thinking of Blumat drippers, the shed hasn't enough headroom for a soaker and a Blumat Moisture meter.

Planter

350ltr

130cm length 

67cm width 

40cm depth

100 ltr peat

80 ltr Biochar charged for 3 days with 18 month old rotted horse manure tea.

80 ltr worm cast.

40 ltr used bio buzz

50 ltr compost from garden 

10kg Elixir volcanic rock dust.

13 cups Elixir seaweed meal.

1 cup Elixir lime

1.5 cups of soil trace elements Elixir

Turned over and over for 3 days to ensure well mixed, currently tested at PH 6.7.

Now it is sitting at 20c for a week or 2 before adding a cover crop of clover, buckwheat, Phacelia and Alfalfa.

 

 

 

[Miles `n Smiles]

dunno about the soil mix,but having a heat mat buried under 350L of it would cause me a few sleepless nights,just saying like.

[Giggles]

I understand what your saying, the heat mat is sitting on 50mm rock wool slab and working well, if it shorts the RCD will trip.

I have enough space to fit tube heaters if or when the Matt fails

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

Looks good mate nice build

 

Think worms can go in soon as your soil has cooled down (if it heats up when first mixed think they often do)

[RUFUS HOUND]

i think @MindSoup does no till 

Edited January 31, 2023 by RUFUS HOUND

[MindSoup]

14 hours ago, Giggles said:

When should I add Worms?

 

If your WCs are fresh and good quality then there will most likely be worms and eggs in there already, I never had to add any myself (used elixir WCs), the eggs look like a giant version of the little ball that seals an ink cartridge, you might have spotted them when you mixed. Cut a banana/avacado in half lengthwise, nestle it into the surface of the soil and scuff a bit of mulch over them to stop flies, give it a few days and you'll soon know if there's any worms present,they will all head straight for the banana/avo, have a great big squishy orgy and then have loads of little wormy babies, Ahhh the miracle of life. 

 

E2A your mix sounds fine, probably didn't need the biobizz but no harm done. It's probably on the lighter side nutrients wise, that's not a good or bad thing, I reckon with a bed that size, as long you keep a decent mulch layer and some cover crop chopped and dropped here and there you'll be grand.

Edited January 31, 2023 by MindSoup

[Giggles]

I will try the banana, although I don’t remember seeing anything resembling worms or eggs, the company/farm I got them from seem to specialise in selling worms, so they may sieve the castings? Will soon see.

The castings came in 8 leaky canvas bags, courier wasn’t happy.

[MindSoup]

Yeah I think some places screen it more fine than others but you might get lucky, you wouldn't necessarily notice the eggs if you weren't looking for them. 

[Greenfingers420uk]

Really nice work so far mate

[Greenfingers420uk]

Hows this working out for you ??

[Giggles]

4 hours ago, Greenfingers420uk said:

Hows this working out for you ??

 

 

Greenfingers 

I have a diary started in led grows.

So far, the heat-mat is working and keeps the bed between 23-25, added 1kg of worms about 2 weeks ago, cover crop is growing well, I added nematodes 2 weeks ago and although the fungus gnats have reduced they are still there, will treat with nematodes again this week.

Blumats got added today, just waiting to sex the plants before adding to the bed, tube heaters should be here tomorrow to raise air temperatures.