AgentOrange
03-20-2024, 03:01 PM
Last year I had no where to grow them, this year I do.
My Pop taught me how to grow them, and I have had success over the years.
Advice from the web is mostly kids repeating what another posted until it is accepted as fact. That don't make it facts.
I post this now as "now" is the time to get your ass in gear if you want a good crop. Don't cry in June about your lousy mators if you did not prepare your soil in March. Just sticking some plants in the ground in April is not the best option.
If growing from seed, now is a good time to start them. I am too lazy, so will wait and buy plants. The best thing with seeds is you can choose from endless varieties. https://www.gurneys.com/
No matter, now is the time to start getting your soil ready. You need to get out there a "few weeks" before planting and dig dolimite and compost into your soil. Dolomite provides calcium and magnesium. It has more magnesium than regular lime. It will need time to break down, so get it in the ground a few weeks before planting. You will need the dolomite, don't worry as to "too much" as this is different from the bags of lime you dump on your lawn. I also mixed in some organic fertilizer. 10-10-10 works but you can add too much if not careful. Organic is better.
Your soil needs to drain well. Digging in some perlite would be a good thing if ground planting, as would adding as much organic materials as you can. Don't add raw manure this late, but any compost is OK. Dig as deep as your back will tolerate and mix things up well. If you add fertilizer, "go easy" or use organic. Too much nitrogen is not a plus for mators as you will have great leaves and less fruit.
Clemson will test your soil, or you can just assume it is acidic, needs some nutrients, and go from there. A good pH is in the range of 6.2 to 6.8. Dolomite will raise pH but not that much. pH is important. If it is "way off", plants cannot absorb the nutrients no matter how much of that you add. In the UpState soil will tend to be be acidic. Normal soil in the yard with some additions will grow great mators. Carolina "red dirt" will grow most anything. Adding more organics (like tree leaves) is always a plus.
https://www.clemson.edu/public/regulatory/ag-srvc-lab/soil-sampler-mailer.html
Many mator problems will not occur if your soil is ready before April.
My Pop taught me how to grow them, and I have had success over the years.
Advice from the web is mostly kids repeating what another posted until it is accepted as fact. That don't make it facts.
I post this now as "now" is the time to get your ass in gear if you want a good crop. Don't cry in June about your lousy mators if you did not prepare your soil in March. Just sticking some plants in the ground in April is not the best option.
If growing from seed, now is a good time to start them. I am too lazy, so will wait and buy plants. The best thing with seeds is you can choose from endless varieties. https://www.gurneys.com/
No matter, now is the time to start getting your soil ready. You need to get out there a "few weeks" before planting and dig dolimite and compost into your soil. Dolomite provides calcium and magnesium. It has more magnesium than regular lime. It will need time to break down, so get it in the ground a few weeks before planting. You will need the dolomite, don't worry as to "too much" as this is different from the bags of lime you dump on your lawn. I also mixed in some organic fertilizer. 10-10-10 works but you can add too much if not careful. Organic is better.
Your soil needs to drain well. Digging in some perlite would be a good thing if ground planting, as would adding as much organic materials as you can. Don't add raw manure this late, but any compost is OK. Dig as deep as your back will tolerate and mix things up well. If you add fertilizer, "go easy" or use organic. Too much nitrogen is not a plus for mators as you will have great leaves and less fruit.
Clemson will test your soil, or you can just assume it is acidic, needs some nutrients, and go from there. A good pH is in the range of 6.2 to 6.8. Dolomite will raise pH but not that much. pH is important. If it is "way off", plants cannot absorb the nutrients no matter how much of that you add. In the UpState soil will tend to be be acidic. Normal soil in the yard with some additions will grow great mators. Carolina "red dirt" will grow most anything. Adding more organics (like tree leaves) is always a plus.
https://www.clemson.edu/public/regulatory/ag-srvc-lab/soil-sampler-mailer.html
Many mator problems will not occur if your soil is ready before April.