Hello from Southern Colorado

Mr.Moon.00 · Apr 5, 2024

Hey everyone!

I'm new here, so I thought I would introduce myself. I have been growing cannabis for the last six years in SoCal (indoor tents and outdoor gardens). My passion is integrating permaculture design strategies into cannabis cultivation, and I just relocated to southern Colorado. I will be growing this year in 40-gallon fabric pots, and I now have two 20'x100' hoop houses with raised beds in them. I'm interested in organic farming, too, and I look forward to developing a nice outdoor garden.

I'm looking for any organic slow-release fertilizer recommendations from the community. I was looking at Sustane 8-4-2 organic fertilizer. Still, I have had a heck of a time finding retailers and have even communicated with their regional sales manager, but they only deal in selling 40-bag pallets that they cannot break up.

So, if you have any recommendations, It would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for taking the time,

Mr. Moon

ArtfulCodger · Apr 5, 2024

Welcome to The Farm!

Gmix · Apr 6, 2024

Hi and welcome to the farm

Slow release organic ; try guano it’s what I use and get great results from

Mr.Moon.00 · Apr 6, 2024

Gmix said:
Hi and welcome to the farm

Slow release organic ; try guano it’s what I use and get great results from

Thanks, @Gmix

Mr.Moon.00 · Apr 6, 2024

ArtfulCodger said:
Welcome to The Farm!

Thanks @ArtfulCodger !

BearWater · Apr 6, 2024

Welcome to the Farm! I think you got Build a soil in Colorado, I haven’t used their stuff but have reached out to them for questions with a quick response. I have seen it recommended from other members on this site as something that works with results : )

Mr.Moon.00 · Apr 8, 2024

BearWater said:
Welcome to the Farm! I think you got Build a soil in Colorado, I haven’t used their stuff but have reached out to them for questions with a quick response. I have seen it recommended from other members on this site as something that works with results : )

Thanks, @BearWater. I reached out to them for some recommendations. Appreciate!

BearWater · Apr 8, 2024

Mr.Moon.00 said:
Thanks, @BearWater. I reached out to them for some recommendations. Appreciate!

of course! Glad you’re getting into it! : )

Deadstill · Aug 26, 2024

Mr.Moon.00 said:
Hey everyone!

I'm new here, so I thought I would introduce myself. I have been growing cannabis for the last six years in SoCal (indoor tents and outdoor gardens). My passion is integrating permaculture design strategies into cannabis cultivation, and I just relocated to southern Colorado. I will be growing this year in 40-gallon fabric pots, and I now have two 20'x100' hoop houses with raised beds in them. I'm interested in organic farming, too, and I look forward to developing a nice outdoor garden.

I'm looking for any organic slow-release fertilizer recommendations from the community. I was looking at Sustane 8-4-2 organic fertilizer. Still, I have had a heck of a time finding retailers and have even communicated with their regional sales manager, but they only deal in selling 40-bag pallets that they cannot break up.

So, if you have any recommendations, It would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for taking the time,

Mr. Moon

Howdy, and welcome to the Farm!

Let me know if you have any questions about the climate here in SoCo. What part of SoCo are you in/near? I'm approximately 50 miles east of Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Been growing out here for over 10 years, and let me tell you, this place will challenge even the most experienced growers. Most have come, tried, failed, and left. Few remain. It's definitely not ideal conditions and if you don't have a very sturdy greenhouse or indoor facility, forget about growing any long flowering Sativas unless you cover them and start flowering in July

Guaranteed to snow/frost by late Sept. Early Oct every damn year. Grasshoppers the size of your thumb that will chew plant stalks in half in 20 minutes. Ping pong sized hail storms constantly. Gale Force 100+ mph winds. You name it we got it

Mr.Moon.00 · Aug 27, 2024

Deadstill said:
Howdy, and welcome to the Farm!

Let me know if you have any questions about the climate here in SoCo. What part of SoCo are you in/near? I'm approximately 50 miles east of Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Been growing out here for over 10 years, and let me tell you, this place will challenge even the most experienced growers. Most have come, tried, failed, and left. Few remain. It's definitely not ideal conditions and if you don't have a very sturdy greenhouse or indoor facility, forget about growing any long flowering Sativas unless you cover them and start flowering in July Guaranteed to snow/frost by late Sept. Early Oct every damn year. Grasshoppers the size of your thumb that will chew plant stalks in half in 20 minutes. Ping pong sized hail storms constantly. Gale Force 100+ mph winds. You name it we got it

Thanks for the support! I'm in the southern part of the San Luis Valley, so I have some protection from the mountains, but I'm still experiencing 50-60 mph wind gusts in the springtime. I hear you about the people who have come and failed. It's a graveyard of grow ops out here!

Mr.Moon.00 · Aug 27, 2024

I wanted to post some pictures of this year's growth so far. It's coming along nicely! I started with about 5 tons of manure-based compost in the springtime, and it has been pretty hands-off. I just let them do their thing. I am currently using compost tea every other watering.

-Mr. Moon

Organic13 · Aug 27, 2024

Beautifully done.

BearWater · Aug 27, 2024

nice set up! Love that hoop house

plants are looking mighty fine! Very healthy : )

Mr.Moon.00 · Aug 27, 2024

Organic13 said:
Beautifully done.

Thank you!

Mr.Moon.00 · Aug 27, 2024

BearWater said:
nice set up! Love that hoop house plants are looking mighty fine! Very healthy : )

Thanks! It's my first time growing in hoop houses, so it's definitely been a learning experience! Usually in tents or outdoors, but it's a pretty harsh climate here in Southern Colorado, so it's been a lifesaver from the wind!

BearWater · Aug 27, 2024

Mr.Moon.00 said:
Thanks! It's my first time growing in hoop houses, so it's definitely been a learning experience! Usually in tents or outdoors, but it's a pretty harsh climate here in Southern Colorado, so it's been a lifesaver from the wind!

I have been around a few and always really like the idea! You’re kind of getting/making the best of both worlds of indoor and outdoor… kind of lol! I just always really liked it : )

I cant even imagine that!? Obviously it’s holding up to that, but hows it looking long term? Is the outside material having to be replaced yearly?

Mr.Moon.00 · Aug 27, 2024

BearWater said:
I have been around a few and always really like the idea! You’re kind of getting/making the best of both worlds of indoor and outdoor… kind of lol! I just always really liked it : )

I cant even imagine that!? Obviously it’s holding up to that, but hows it looking long term? Is the outside material having to be replaced yearly?

I like it. I can keep both ends open for good airflow and batten down the hatches if it gets too cold at night. I have a 6mm "cool max" plastic that I put on this year, and it was a beast to put on in the wind out here. It's usually a four-person job, but it was just me and my business partner this year. The wind ripped the plastic when we put it on, and I almost got whisked away Wizard of Oz style several times! The plastic is rated for four years, but being at 7700 ft elevation and with the wind, I'm guessing I'll get two, maybe three seasons out of it if I'm lucky. It's already pretty beat up just from the wind. But the steel arches are cemented in, so it can take a beating.

Changes for the next cycle: I'd change it to get roll-up sides with a bug screen for cross ventilation, as I have been battling the summer heat. I have two that are 100'x20' and plenty of space. I will take out the raised beds this winter to remove any wood (wood boring pest hazard) and opt for fabric pots for ease of movement, airflow to the root system, and quarantine if I need to remove an infested plant. But keeping the ends open has allowed a lot of predatory insects and birds to enter and take care of any pests on the plants.