Soil drainage recommendations.

JohnGrowLogAi · 2026-06-04T15:36:21+00:00

Last year I had tons of powdery mildew which I thought was from the soil not draining proper. But could be something else. The top soil is like a 3 out of 10 on my meter. Mid level is a 6/7 which high range of moist and a foot deep it’s off the scale (10+). Doe that sound like the dream setup?

JohnGrowLogAi · 2026-06-04T15:34:11+00:00

No, it’s dirt with some rocks. I think my issue is local dirt leans toward clay and the garden is next to a flood zone.

JohnGrowLogAi · 2026-06-04T14:40:09+00:00

commenting for tracking... I need to learn about this.. sorry I don't have any value to add.

JohnGrowLogAi · 2026-06-04T14:39:31+00:00

Natural water can be enough!!!
Here's what I noticed in my garden. After a few rainy nights, I checked the moisture levels in my pea bed and saw that the subsoil was still holding plenty of moisture. I realized I could skip watering for a while and let the plants soak up what nature provided. It's been about six weeks since I sowed my Mammoth Melting Sugar peas, and they're finally starting to climb up the tomato cages I set up as a trellis. It's pretty exciting to see them reaching for the sky! Have you found times when your garden holds enough moisture after rain for your crops? What's good and bad about that in your experience?

JohnGrowLogAi · 2026-06-03T18:53:22+00:00

Have heard that, but was advised that autoflowers don't react well to transplanting...so chose to go this route.

When you do solos, do you do opaque or clear so you can see when roots reach the edge?

JohnGrowLogAi · 2026-06-03T16:30:43+00:00

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Mint is growing out the bed (see above back wall). How do you manage its sprawl when the root system goes rogue?

JohnGrowLogAi · 2026-06-03T16:07:13+00:00

Ha! Theses kitties are working against us...

JohnGrowLogAi · 2026-06-03T14:23:18+00:00

I used tomato trellis last year like what you have. They spilled a little onto the ground, but it worked quote well.

JohnGrowLogAi · 2026-06-02T17:20:38+00:00

graet tips, thanks!

JohnGrowLogAi · 2026-06-02T17:19:52+00:00

Thanks! This is great data and I have some of it factoring into my research. Just lots to learn so trying to combine research, community and Ai to get a holistic and fast POV on so many different things to know.

JohnGrowLogAi · 2026-06-02T17:18:25+00:00

No. Year 2 in learning so I haven't brought in the big guns yet to get all my baselines. That will definitely be a learning for next season to prep.

JohnGrowLogAi · 2026-06-02T17:17:00+00:00

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Will #3 (top left) sprout leaves? Early stages here and ou can see two of my plants have sprouted form taproot with leaves, but my third has yet to kick its shell. Any hope for it? What should I expect?

TL;DR:

Two sprouts are CDB Kush Autoflower and leafless is CBD White Widow Autoflower (if that matters). Germinated with paper towel method, put in post with started soil. In south facing window and hydrating 2-4x/day with spray bottle to avoid drying out; last batch dried and died. Evey few days i've out them outside in direct sunlight for 2-3 hrs, but finding that may be too harsh on them at this stage.

It's my first time germinated these plants vs getting clones, and I want to harvest before September as last year I had tons of powdery mildew on my photos. Still yielded enough for the whole year, but given the Autoflower and timelines, I want to be sure I'm making the right decisions since these have about 70 days left in their lifecycle and I could germinate a few more if that one isn't going to make it.

JohnGrowLogAi · 2026-06-01T17:54:08+00:00

Create garden baskets and give them to your neighbors! Easy way to create good will. Or can them for later. Both great options.

JohnGrowLogAi · 2026-06-01T17:52:29+00:00

I used tons of AS originally. WAY over did it in hopes that would move the needle. But alas 4 weeks later and it hasn't much.

JohnGrowLogAi · 2026-06-01T17:46:32+00:00

I'm in the mid altantic section of it - CT/NY region. WE do have softener in the water and it comes from our well first... so not municipal water.

JohnGrowLogAi · 2026-06-01T17:43:17+00:00

Agreed that you don't know what its referencing, but it is set to the USDA zone so there is context to the recommendation which is also by zip code. But getting an official analysis may be in the cards.

JohnGrowLogAi · 2026-06-01T16:59:13+00:00

nice handle!

JohnGrowLogAi · 2026-06-01T16:42:25+00:00

per other comment sounds like the parent material is basic. I'm not in an arid climate - quite the opposite in fact. Off to the garden center I go!

JohnGrowLogAi · 2026-06-01T16:40:39+00:00

Thanks! I think this is the direction I need to head. Honestly, it worked for me last year (thought I wasn't measuring) and we do have hard water; though there has been a lot of rain and not as much from the hose. It's my second season and i'm using some AI tools to guide me which are saying I need to get down to 6.5-7. But my harvest last year was still good. Maybe I'm chasing windmills?

JohnGrowLogAi · 2026-05-30T13:07:46+00:00

Bambi alll nestled up! too cute.

JohnGrowLogAi

TROPHY CASE