Some random questions about growing autos outdoors

[farmergreen007]

Hi AFNrs
I have some questions about growing autos outside and some questions might be about growing autos in general because next spring will be the first time I do that. I think I will be growing SBR70, STONE DRAGON, and BLUEBERRY DRAGON

1. When going in the ground what is the best age to put a plant outside and what size container would be best to start them in? I was thinking maybe 1 gal burlap sacks would be kind of like a smart pot then I could put the whole thing in the ground

2. My grow is going to be a semi guerilla grow and I have no concerns about people finding my plants so instead of making individual holes for each plant I'm going to till up patches of land approximately 5'x5' and the top soil here is only about 9" to 12" deep with bedrock underneath. what kind of spacing should I use?

3. Would it be too late to put the plants in the ground after sexing them?

That's it for now I'm sure I'll have more questions thank you for any answers you might have

 

[Muddy]

If you can grow them indoors until they sex, that's how I would go about it. I've found that 1/2 gallon juice containers are perfect to grow autos until they sex. I cut off the top and poke some holes in the sides near the bottom for drainage.

I would also suggest that you test the pH of the soil sometime soon or in the early spring. If the pH is low you may need to add some dolomite lime to raise it. Lime is slow acting so doing it before hand will give it time to become effective. I would also suggest that you amend your soil with some composted manure, guano or worm castings. Growing outdoors you will likely experience periods of extended rain that may make it hard to give them supplemental feedings. Also mix in some perlite to keep the soil loose. Most top soils tend to compact and that can cut off needed oxygen to the roots.

Since your layer of top soil isn't very deep, the plants will tend to spread their roots more, so give them enough space. With the strains you mentioned I would suggest planting them about 2' apart minimum. Whether you do individual holes or till up an area is really a matter of personal preference. If you do individual holes just make them big enough so that there is plenty of nice, loose soil for the roots.

 

[epenguin]

That is a fine answer there Muddy, but I would say that 2ft is a bit close. If they really take off, then personally I would say a minimum of 4ft.
Great advice on the soil there brother. I learn and get tips every day from AFN. What a cool place this is.

eP.

 

[farmergreen007]

Sweet thanks muddy
2' spacing is about what I was thinking so I can get 9 plants in each patch, I can't wait to have a weed patch

In each patch I tilled up I put a five gallon pail of compost and a five gallon pail of composted cow manure about two gallons of worm castings and about 10 gallons of potting soil that had all that stuff in it plus kelp meal and crab shell I also spread lime and plan on getting some more kelp meal crab shell and some bat guano to put in the mix too and probably some more composed cow manure getting some soil ph testers is also something I have to do but I spread some lime anyway because the soil around here is a little acidic anyway so I expect to add some more of that in the spring too.

 

[farmergreen007]

Ep you say 4' I can only wish for my plants to get that big but they will be getting full sunlight all day long and at let 47 in the summer that is a lot of sun I definitely have to take that into consideration thank ep

 

[Muddy]

You're welcome. On the soil tester, don't waste your money on those $20 ones you find in the big box stores. Get yourself a Control Wizard Accurate 8. You can find them on the web for around $50. Just be careful on the soil amendments. Autos only require about half the nutrient strength of photo sensitive plants. This is especially true for seedlings. If you do start them indoors, go with a soil less mix and supply light nutrients yourself rather than depending on the soil to feed them. By the time they sex and are ready to move outdoors they will be big enough to tolerate the stronger nutrient levels in your prepared spots.

 

[epenguin]

Outdoor they can get huge, like my girls this summer. If they are too close together they will block the sun from each other and trap humidity. You also need to be able to access them to strip out any pest, mould etc.

Good luck. I am going to go Geurrilla myself next year. Bring on the sunshine.

eP.

 

[farmergreen007]

Thanks again you two
Muddy, do you know if those disposable stripps are any good? after next year I'm going to get my soil tested at a lab so I know exactly what it needs I just don't think I will have the funds for that by next spring
the potting soil I will use to start them in is the same stuff they use in nurseries to start seedlings in it is basically 80%peat moss and 20% perlite I will add a little lime to that and probably mix some (half a cup or so) of composted cow manure to the bottom half of the container and feed them a little fish and seaweed if they need it I don't thing the composted cow manure I use will be too hot for them but I might be wrong, I have all kinds of 1/2 and 1 gallon planters but I grew some plants in smart pots this summer and the root structure was beautiful and strong so I thought burlap cut and made into a about a gallon size smart pot would be good to start them in with the added benefit of no transplant shock at all couple that with some seaweed fertilizer when I put them in the ground and they should go straight from growing to exploding (I hope)

EP
are those autos in those pics if they get that big I will be one happy little pot head I do plan on growing some photos too but those will be a real guerilla grow in a Swamp but I can only go see them once or twice before I harvest them that will be fun too I just need some hip waders.

I just went out and made my weed patches bigger now they are more like 10'x10' and added some more of the same amendments I think that would be big enough to get 9 plants in each patch with near 3.5' spacing I'm only ordering 36 seeds all regular and I have 3 patches so unless for some strange reason I get all females (witch would piss me off as I would have no seeds)I should have enough space now.

 

[farmergreen007]

New question

I plan on planting all my male plants and collecting pollen to make some seeds should I collect pollen from all the males or Just the best looking one?

 

[epenguin]

Dunno about the pollen issue, out of my area. But, yes, my girls were photo's. But, even the two Auto girls were fat lasses.
Good luck chum.

eP.