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I have a question about vermiculite. Is it safe to buy the vermiculite that is sold in the insulation isle at the hardware store? It's a lot cheaper than the vermiculite sold in the garden section and it's even distributed by a horticulture company.
I have a question about vermiculite. Is it safe to buy the vermiculite that is sold in the insulation isle at the hardware store? It's a lot cheaper than the vermiculite sold in the garden section and it's even distributed by a horticulture company.
Thoughts?
I just read some articles about it. The verdict..it is a little coarser and not as consistently sized as the garden bags. The one "potential" drawback is if it is toxic at all. Get the name of the company and e-mail them or call them.
Then let us know what you find out
This was written in response to one person's e-mail request:
"Hi Maria
Thank you for contacting Sun Gro. If the product is “Sunshine” or “Stronglite” brand, then the vermiculite is the same as what is used in greenhouses. It may be coarser (larger) size but it will work well in your garden.
Happy Gardening.
--Kathryn
Based on the company's response, it sounds like the major difference is just lack of uniform sizing in the insulation....????"
We had to bring our containers in because we had some freezing temps this week. We opened them to see how they were doing and our peas are already popping up! I don't know how to include a photo here but I uploaded them to my page. Woo Hoo!
We have tomatoes, broccoli, peas, spinach and something else I can't recall right now (brain fog ;-) in these containers. I plan to put the carrots and lettuce in separate containers since they need something deeper. I'll put the cilantro in the hanging basket on the side of the deck if ever decides to stop raining here.
Well got my elevated raised garden bed put together & loaded down with organic soil but can't plant until after May 10th. It will be nice to watch the plants grow instead of staring at a privacy fence this summer.
Well we put our first tomato and pepper plants in last week, the frost decided they would ruin all our hard work, so I am about to go out and start over. We did cover everything, only to lose all but 2 pepper plants. Now, we have no choice but to pray for no more frost. It is pretty unlikely. If I don't plant today I I will have to wait til we get home from vacation the middle of May. it is now or never.
I cheated and bought some Romaine plants. I am so impatient with seeds, lol. I planted some beets and the lettuce Saturday.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mjd07
We had to bring our containers in because we had some freezing temps this week. We opened them to see how they were doing and our peas are already popping up! I don't know how to include a photo here but I uploaded them to my page. Woo Hoo!
We have tomatoes, broccoli, peas, spinach and something else I can't recall right now (brain fog ;-) in these containers. I plan to put the carrots and lettuce in separate containers since they need something deeper. I'll put the cilantro in the hanging basket on the side of the deck if ever decides to stop raining here.
Yay…it is so exciting when our seeds start to sprout Love your pics. How and what are you doing with your sprouts? I may have to dig my sprout jar out
BTW, if you want to know how to load your pics:
1. Add them to an album(which you did)
2. Copy a single picture
3. Click Post Reply. Once that page opens click on the little yellow box that looks like mountains and a stamp.
4. "After" the hight lighted http:// paste your picture.
5. It should show up when you submit your post.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaxson
Well got my elevated raised garden bed put together & loaded down with organic soil but can't plant until after May 10th. It will be nice to watch the plants grow instead of staring at a privacy fence this summer.
Plants are so much better
Quote:
Originally Posted by nmnita
Well we put our first tomato and pepper plants in last week, the frost decided they would ruin all our hard work, so I am about to go out and start over. We did cover everything, only to lose all but 2 pepper plants. Now, we have no choice but to pray for no more frost. It is pretty unlikely. If I don't plant today I I will have to wait til we get home from vacation the middle of May. it is now or never.
You are all so lucky that you can even put a shovel into the ground, never mind plant your vegetables. I have tomatoe plants started and they're going to sit inside in the pots for a long time yet. I wish the "risk of frost" was our only worry lol.
Up here in the great white (damned) north lol, we still have snow all over our yard and it's April 21st!!! Freezing rain and possible snow flurries predicted today This year we've had more snow and cold weather than I can ever remember. Sometimes we get snow in early October, so this is going to be a very short growing season, if at all.
Yay…it is so exciting when our seeds start to sprout Love your pics. How and what are you doing with your sprouts? I may have to dig my sprout jar out
I started the seeds on top of the fridge and then we planted the sprouts in our containers. I was thinking about starting a compost bin so I can add to my potting mix, but I'm not sure yet. I have to read up on that and figure it out.
What do you do with your sprouts?
Thanks for the instructions on how to add the photos. I will give a try when I have some more photos to upload.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gouligann
Up here in the great white (damned) north lol, we still have snow all over our yard and it's April 21st!!! Freezing rain and possible snow flurries predicted today This year we've had more snow and cold weather than I can ever remember. Sometimes we get snow in early October, so this is going to be a very short growing season, if at all.
I moved to NC from Chicago four years ago and I remember many snowy Easters there. I have quite a few photos of the kids in pretty Easter outfits that no one can see because they are covered in snow suits.
If it's any consolation, it's been a bit nippy here in NC lately. Someone was kind enough to post in our state thread about the frost which is how I knew to bring in my containers. Plus, you'll have some beautiful weather this Summer when it will be a million degrees here. ;-)
This year we've had more snow and cold weather than I can ever remember. Sometimes we get snow in early October, so this is going to be a very short growing season, if at all.
We've had a lot of snow & below normal temps in the lower 50 too. So wondering how our summer is going to go since we just got snow last week too. Thankfully it is not sticking around log now. At least you have your plants started I don't anywhere to keep them inside so will sow seeds soon outside.
I L-O-V-E Heartland TV show y'all have that we don't here.
nmnita hope your frost holds off also it is time to grow things somebody tell Mother Nature OK?
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and bought some Romaine plants. I am so impatient with seeds, lol. I planted some beets and the lettuce Saturday.
Love your pics. How and what are you doing with your sprouts? I may have to dig my sprout jar out
This year we've had more snow and cold weather than I can ever remember. Sometimes we get snow in early October, so this is going to be a very short growing season, if at all.
