Live Stoner Chat Hi from a Greenhorn

[Clarky]

These are 2 pics of the same place from different angles. Its the outside of the pond and a pretty steep hill. The hill gets full sun from sunrise to sunset. This is where I made my first pathetic attempt at growing this year. Started way to late.

This is the opposite side of the hill in the first 2 pics. The ground levels out a good ten feet before the water.

The right side also get good sun just not as good due to a couple willows.

The plan is to grow some monsters in the area shown in the first couple pics. I want to dig into the side of the hill and build a raised bed about 10'x40'. This year i just dug some big holes but when I watered it just ran down the hill.

 

[MickJ]

That's why I use vermiculite, it's just makes the soil look golden.

When using coco, perlite is not needed. I've run this mix in small to very large pots without a problem. Also, if you have to dispose of soil, no telltale white specks.. I've heard of people busted because the used perlite in outdoor gardens!

LOTS of compost mixed into the clay should make for a great soil!

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[MickJ]

Planting on a hill, have to make your site level.

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[MickJ]

Looks like a nice spot, would make gardening a pleasure!

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[Clarky]

Its my favorite place in the world. Good fishing too

 

[gold01ca]

Welcome from a fellow newb!
Any potential wildlife issues (deer, rabbits etc) at your new outdoor grow site?

 

[Clarky]

Yup. Had something dig up and bury one of my plants. Groundhogs or whatever it was seem to like digging in the soft dirt/manure. Lots of rabbits around and a few deer. I made a quick fence out of stakes and twine and it stopped whatever was digging. Eventually I will build a fence of some kind around the garden.

 

[gold01ca]

I'm picturing that tunneling varmint in the movie "Caddyshack"!

 

[G.Leave]

When using coco, perlite is not needed. I've run this mix in small to very large pots without a problem. Also, if you have to dispose of soil, no telltale white specks.. I've heard of people busted because the used perlite in outdoor gardens!

LOTS of compost mixed into the clay should make for a great soil!

Clay is super hard to work with depending on sticky factor and overall density, but yes like pop22 said if you mix LOTS of compost or light soil it will work well. Depending how sticky it is you might have to make raised mounds to help with drainage.

Take a handful and make it into a large sized golfball...press your finger into the ball does it simply insert into the soil and leave a hole? Does it crack, or does it almost break apart? Dig a small hole big enough to house a 2 liter pop bottle and drill holes or cut the bottom off and insert and fill with water...how long does it take to drain out?

 

[Clarky]

The clay doesn't drain at all. I plan on removing it from the garden and using all new soil. Planning on tiling the bottom of the garden so I dont run into drainage problems. This year i just dug a little downhill trench from the planting holes and it seemed to work fine, Any recommendations on how deep my garden should be to allow maximum growth?