Outdoor 3 x Early Top Tao (Photo, Reg) - Maria's Early Spring Games

[Exotic Flower]

Count me in, sounds like a great strain. The seed finder research was interesting! The prefect strain for some outdoor experimentation.

Going to start my Mandala Seeds 6 x Safari Mix (photo, reg) soon, too.

Thanks for your like bomb!!!

The Safari Mix: "The Safari Mix contains a mix of seeds from various experimental crosses in our breeder lab." http://mandalaseeds.com/Catalogue/Safari-Mix

So quite a range from sativas to indicas. But a good idea here, because sub-tropical is quite different from most Euro (Dutch, British, etc.) and American strains. Mandala strains are land-race heavy, a lot of Indian and northern African genetics, and the breed them in tough, harsh conditions. So I think that they will be great to go outside guerilla style!

 

[orrganic]

That safari mix sounds cool! Its kinda like the mephisto mixes, not bad. I'm after something like that. What country are you in? Its sounds like your planning on a nice outdoor patch.

 

[Exotic Flower]

That safari mix sounds cool! Its kinda like the mephisto mixes, not bad. I'm after something like that.

And.... they're pretty cheap, too!! Haha!

What country are you in? Its sounds like your planning on a nice outdoor patch.

I'm in some other country, where prohibition laws are kind of medieval.
That's about all I'm willing to say. Security is [HASHTAG]#1[/HASHTAG] issue, if you can understand.

Yes, outdoor patch. Really need to get my stuff together.
Have just made a nice online shopping cart of top quality soil, coco, pots and goodies.
Will prob get it in before the weekend, and then do site prep ASAP.

Meanwhile, those three little seedlings are happily doing their thing.

Need to get organized, and get ready for the six Mandala Safari plants, next.
I'll do my autos after that. Three stages, haha, too complicated, but should be effective.

 

[Habitual]

How bad is the local soil ? have you planted in it before? how well does it drain? sandy or clay? how safe and what access to your spot is available? I used to pack in loads of amendments this works best, custom to your local.

Can you get osmocote plus and D lime? this if your local soil drains well but not too sandy

 

[G.Leave]

Have you done any PH testing of the local soil? I have a couple of more things to look out for. Grab a handull of local soil and firmly form a ball that's slightly larger than golf ball. The use your finger and push it into the ball to the center point. Does the dirt break apart or does your finger simply leave a hole? If it breaks apart you have a nice soil consistency. If not you might want to amend the soil with something to break up its consistency like perlite or leaf compost.
I personally like option 2 for photos. The insta-transplant pots(sleeved) work well but I use them for autos as even a slight dirt shift can effect them greatly, rather than photos as photos are no problem to transplant and a slight setback on a photo is gernerally a small thing. Another reason I wouldn't use insta pots on my photos as the stalks get so big they would fill the entire pot with stalk and would not be able to get them out of the ground(the pots), plus potentially cutting off circulation
August 18th Blueberry Trunk(post storm damage)

 

[G.Leave]

How bad is the local soil ? have you planted in it before? how well does it drain? sandy or clay? how safe and what access to your spot is available? I used to pack in loads of amendments this works best, custom to your local.

Can you get osmocote plus and D lime? this if your local soil drains well but not too sandy

All excellent questions habitual!!

 

[Exotic Flower]

How bad is the local soil ? have you planted in it before? how well does it drain? sandy or clay? how safe and what access to your spot is available? I used to pack in loads of amendments this works best, custom to your local.

Can you get osmocote plus and D lime? this if your local soil drains well but not too sandy

Thanks, @Habitual !
I think I'm going to sample some, and at least pH test it. Looks more clay than sandy, and a bit rocky.
Access and safety is pretty darn good.
Can get Osmocote and other similar slow release pellet types, several sorts, equal NPK and heavier N types.
I've also just finally found a place to get a nice quantity of fine dolomite lime.
Have some more perlite and vermiculite, and can easily get plenty more.

 

[Exotic Flower]

Have you done any PH testing of the local soil?

Yeah, as I just mentioned in response to Habitual, should pH test definitely.

I have a couple of more things to look out for. Grab a handull of local soil and firmly form a ball that's slightly larger than golf ball. The use your finger and push it into the ball to the center point. Does the dirt break apart or does your finger simply leave a hole? If it breaks apart you have a nice soil consistency. If not you might want to amend the soil with something to break up its consistency like perlite or leaf compost.

I like this kind of rule of finger test. Workable and practical. Thanks!!
As mentioned, I have some nice amendments, and can easily get more.

I personally like option 2 for photos. The insta-transplant pots (sleeved) work well but I use them for autos as even a slight dirt shift can effect them greatly, rather than photos as photos are no problem to transplant and a slight setback on a photo is gernerally a small thing. Another reason I wouldn't use insta pots on my photos as the stalks get so big they would fill the entire pot with stalk and would not be able to get them out of the ground(the pots), plus potentially cutting off circulation
August 18th Blueberry Trunk(post storm damage)
View attachment 704791

Good points all around. These are just my freebie photo seeds.
While I want them to grow well, just getting them out them and surviving, and letting do their own thing, is the best option.
Also, the Mandala Safari seeds, reading Mandala's website, should be pretty damn hardy plants.
They breed them for things like low nutrient requirements and high heat.
They will be short season, though, because outdoors around here is no more than 13.5 hrs/day of light, so immediate flowering.
So, they won't turn into monsters like your Blueberry Beast!!!
Just a shorter 1m to 1.5m plant, nicely topped, great get a nice result, and stay discrete.

 

[Exotic Flower]

Thanks so much guys, for sharing your knowledge and experience.
It's finally raining a little here, so the soil won't be so dry.
Think I have a week or two to test the soil, get the goods, and prep the holes.

 

[Exotic Flower]

Early Top Tao (Photo, Reg) - Day 2

Three little babies under an electric sun, at ~21C, maybe 2.5cm = 1" tall.

It's fairly cloudy and raining outside today, so giving them some light with this little number.
It's a Osram Sylvania PAR38 17W light, with 7 x four spectrum 2.5 W LEDs.
2 Red (660nm), 2 Far Red (730nm), 2 White, 1 Blue (455nm)
Amazon product
It has a narrow beam, but just covers these three in less than 1'sq.

Slightly more close up of the marginally older seedling.

They're all looking very nice and healthy at this point.
Just got to get them past this seedling stage, and a couple of nodes of true leaves out.

Love and hugs,
MJS