Basil and Pepper Window Box

April 5th

After a month in the window, the Mixed green bell pepper/Basil window box is doing well.

April 23rd

We alternated Genovese and Dark Purple Opal basil seeds in rows around the the green bell peppers to maximize the amount of plants in the container.

May 5th

Mixed green bell peppers and green and purple basil, growing together in a window box. 

Since peppers and basil thrive in the same conditions, they can share the planter without competing with each other.

We need a bigger stick...

The tomato plants are growing rapidly and require constant attention. They need to be watered and rotated everyday to prevent the taller plants from shading the smaller ones. So far the German Lunchbox and the Black Cherry tomatoes are growing the fastest, but all of the other varieties (Transparent, Beauty King, and Mini Orange) are not far behind them.  

May 5th

April showers bring May snow showers

It looks like another spring storm coming...Here's what The National Weather Service has to say.

.. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON MDT SATURDAY FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 5500 FEET...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREAT FALLS HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 5500 FEET FOR SNOW... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON MDT SATURDAY.

* TIMING AND MAIN IMPACT: RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SNOW FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 5500 FEET THIS EVENING. A LIGHT SNOWFALL IS THEN EXPECTED OVERNIGHT AND INTO SATURDAY MORNING.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE EXPECTED FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 5500 FEET... WITH UP TO 6 INCHES POSSIBLE NEAR RIDGE TOPS.

* VISIBILITY: VISIBILITIES WILL BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE MILE AT TIMES IN FALLING SNOW.

* ELEVATIONS: FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 5500 FEET.

* OTHER IMPACTS: THOSE RECREATING IN THE BACK COUNTRY SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR WINTER LIKE CONDITIONS TONIGHT. MOUNTAIN PASSES COULD BE SNOW OR SLUSH COVERED AT TIMES OVERNIGHT AND INTO SATURDAY MORNING.

* LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE: BATTLE RIDGE PASS... BOZEMAN PASS... TARGHEE PASS... WEST YELLOWSTONE... BIG HOLE PASS... CHIEF JOSEPH PASS... MONIDA PASS... BOULDER HILL... ELK PARK PASS... HOMESTAKE PASS AND RAYNOLDS PASS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES... AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

FOR SPECIFIC ROAD AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS IN MONTANA... DIAL 5 1 1.

Also, here's a few designs we have been working on after hearing a few logo suggestions.

A fresh, local, and organic tomato getting gnarly through the gullies.

An old expired can of tomatoes taking it easy after the long trip to Montana.

Tomato Update

The tomatoes are beginning to out grow the room. The tallest plants are close to 20".

We had to install more lights on the underside of the shelf for the small seedlings and clones that will later replace the larger plants when they are moved to flower.

When the plants are about a foot and a half, they are moved to the flowering room. The light cycle is cut from 20 hours of light to 12 hours; and the light source also changes to a 600w high pressure sodium grow light because it has a different color spectrum(orange/red) that helps the plant flower. These changes make the plants think it is late summer and time to start producing fruit.
After about two weeks, flowers will begin to form all over the plant. Some of the smaller container cherry varieties, such as Tumbling Tom, will become completely covered in flowers.

The plants will need to be staked after about a month because the stems cannot support the rapid growth. Tomato cages, store bought or homemade, work great for when the plants are mid-sized.

Indeterminate type, or vine tomatoes, will begin to stretch with the longer nights and more intense light. This can be a problem when growing indoors because of the confined space. Since most of the best tasting varieties are indeterminate, it is important to control the vines as they grow. The Sweet 100 hybrids that have been flowering for 2 weeks have been bent down and tied back to the cage to prevent them from growing into the ceilings. A layer of chicken wire attached to the ceiling allows the vines to continue to grow upward without taking over the whole room. 

Spring cleaning

   The tomatoes are enjoying the full strength fertilizer. Some are growing about 1½ inches a day, but a few seem to be less vigorous. To help them along, we have been rotating the plants around the shelf to provide an even light source for all of the plants. Although moving the plants is beneficial for their growth, it can create a huge mess in your grow room. Crowded spaces and spilled dirt and water can become a breeding ground for disease quickly because of the heat and humidity common in most productive grow rooms. The easiest way to keep your plants safe from disease is to clean the grow room once a week. 

To do this, remove all plants from the grow room. Vacuum or sweep up all loose dirt/growing medium that has spilled from previous moves. Using bleach or an organic cleanser spray all the surfaces in the room. Let the air out for a few minutes and wipe down all of the sprayed surfaces. Leave the room open to air out until the smell of the cleaner has faded, about an hour or two. Now wipe the containers clean of loose dirt and debris with a damp rag.

 Now that the room and containers are clean, begin to move the plants back to the grow space.  Move plants that were not receiving as much light to the best-lit part of the room and rotate the others into the vacant space. By keeping the grow space clean, you can prevent many incurable diseases that can occur when growing vegetables indoors.