Trying my first too soil mix

[A4]

It will warm up but not as hot as a compost pile. It should be nice and warm to touch but not super hot and the top may not be hot at all but if you dig down a few inches you should feel some heat in there. If you started with a good ewc tea it should be fine. Just keep it moist, not soaking wet but moist. If it dries out then a lot of your bacteria is going to die and that is the last thing you want. When you begin planting I recommend a good mulch or top dressing as well on your soil to keep it moist. Very important facet for our gardening needs.

 

[swampman]

Heres Somthing I read today

The Importance of this is Great In Tlo.
http://beforeitsnews.com/health/201...ly-ignored-inexpensive-superfood-2494822.html

 

[Eyes on Fire]

If you read that read a bit about the powdered version thats a 1:1 conversion and it supposed to do the exact same..Very nice read swamper dude.a wee bit more expensive though..lol.I have to order mine.and thats blackstrap specific too.
amended right too the soil n pot of cook and when ya pot..works excellent<<------Got a bunch new smiley guys aval now LOL!

 

[Dirt Weed]

Okay I've got another question for everyone, I was planning on letting my soil cook for 6 weeks and I'm approaching the start of the 4th week now, do I send a sample in for testing after the 4 weeks or should I wait the full 6 weeks to have it tested.

the reason I'm asking is that I'm getting low on Meds and I would prefer to harvest before I run out, but will result to purchasing meds if it's not recommended to test at 4 weeks, just don't want to waste 2 weeks if I still need to amend.

once again I thank you for your time and responses.

 

[A4]

4 weeks is normally enough time cooking except when it is really heavily amended or the microbes didn't get off to a good start. If you dig down into the center of it near the bottom and pull some soil out what does it smell like? If it smells clean, which is hard to explain but there won't be an off smell. It will smell fresh. Then you should be good to go and can send a sample in at any time. If it smells like dead carcasses or still has that shitty dead animal smell then it needs more time.

If you are pressed for time and you need to get a plant started, so long as it is not still "hot" you can get your plants in it and amend on the fly adding fish hydrolysate, bone meal and guanos as the plant grows which will all be quickly available. Or you could start your plants in a small container and by the time you have your results back you should be able to tier them into a larger container with the soil you are making now.

 

[Dazed]

Great thread!

 

[Dirt Weed]

This soil has never smelled bad, even from the start. When I put my hands in it at various depths I have areas that are very warm and other areas that are cold, or at least they feel cold compared to the hot/warm areas. I tumble the soil about every four or five days and check the moisture levels at that time. So far every time I've had to add RO water to keep it moist.

If by "hot"you mean un composted (raw) guano's/minerals then I should be fine, if you are referring to the temperature of the soil then I guess I'm not?

 

[A4]

When I refer to hot, yes on both accounts. If the temps of your soil are still up in areas then that is a sign of high microbe reproduction which means they are still eating like crazy. As they begin running out of food, which is the raw amendments you put in, then the soil temperature will begin to lower and that is a safe sign that most of your nutrients are available in the soil to the plant. If it is tested as it sits, still with some high temperatures then your soil test will be not be as accurate.

 

[Dirt Weed]

Perfect, that's what I needed to know. I will wait until I have no more warm areas before testing.

I might have to use some more synthetic nutes to keep me stocked but that's okay for now, just want to try TLO as it appears to solve a lot of problems and I really want to experience the taste. A4 thank you...

 

[swampman]

Good Luck with the Futhre TLO