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Growing Tomatoes

Raybo's CornTainer 'Patch' - May 15 (pics)

15 years ago

I've now planted 10 CornTainers this season, with the goal of harvesting 2 crops during our extended season in Santa Clara County.

While I planted only 3 CornTainers last season with a single variety (Gurney's Gotta Have-it), this season I will be growing in 10 'Tainers a total of 10 varieties. Here is the Gotta Have-it planted on March 10:

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Also planted at that same time were 2 'Tainers of Northern Xtra-sweet. The 'Tainer on the left did not have the Actinovate additive, while the one on the right was treated with it:

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Two 'Tainers of Legend were planted on March 23 (on the left), Seneca in the center 'Tainer (March 29), and Honey Select Triple-sweet in the 2 'Tainers on the right (April 11):

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I think I have the largest corn crop in Silicon Valley this year!

Raybo

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Comments (2)

bcskye
15 years ago
Looking good, Raybo. You convinced me that its something I'll try. Going to use the Early Sunglow. Looks like you planted 15 per container. Is that right? I've bought the Gotta Have It corn from a widow not far from us and I really liked it, but the DH said it was too sweet. He's more of the old fashioned type corn guy so hopefully he'll enjoy the Sunglow.
rnewste
Original Author
15 years ago
bc,

Yes, I plant 3 rows with 5 stalks each. I start the seeds in the house to make sure I have 100%. Actually start about 20 seeds to get 15 seedlings.

Ask your DH how corn can be "too sweet"? Wow!! I will take all your Gotta Have It in trade for a more "sour" corn variety for him!!!

Raybo
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RJ, The EarthTainer holds 3.3 cubic feet of potting mix. This season, I spaced the stalks at 6" distance from each other. Regarding last season, the plants exceeded 6 ft.: Production was satisfactory, but I spaced them too closely, something like 24 stalks per 'Tainer, and several of them never fully matured. The ears that did fully mature were about 6" to 7" long: This year already, the 15 stalks per 'Tainer really look healthy, so we shall see what kind of yield I get. kandhi, I use Miracle-Gro Potting Mix WITHOUT Moisture Control. The version with MC wicked up too much moisture in my early trials, and the one without MC works fine. It is also 25% cheaper on a cubic foot basis. Next year, I would like to experiment with some of Al's mix formulations to see if they improve on yield and longevity of use. I do agree with his view of bark fines, and as you can see in the above photos, I use bark fines during the growing season to screen the black moisture barrier from the sun, but when I pull out the root ball, I will let the bark fines fall into the hole, and mix them in with new potting mix for next season. Raybo
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Raybo, those pics are beautiful. Very inspiring. Love to read about all your experimentation too. I have only tried corn a couple of times (in the ground). First time too buggy. Second time , I stayed on top of the bugs but my corn was so starchy and inedible a cow wouldn't have eaten it. Oh well, try and try again. EG, your corn looks great too. Do you grow any in the ground too?
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Hey Timmy, How is life in Rhode Island? Growing in EarthTainers sometimes defies conventional logic! Here are two CornTainers from last season: Even though I had 24 stalks per 'Tainer, I still harvested about 15 ears of corn. This season, I am giving each plant about a 6" by 6" space, and I am expecting a more vigorous plant and hopefully, about 2 dozen ears per 'Tainer. Raybo
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bdank, Funny, I was just thinking this afternoon if I should revise the EarthTainer instruction guide to now recommend 3 cups of organic fertilizer, as the NPK numbers of the "New" Tomato-tone are significantly lower than the "Old" Tomato-tone. I am holding off on the hope that the new Microbes "may" offset the lowered NPK analysis. Here is a photo today of the Goose Creek pair, and the New Tomato-tone has caught up to the plant with the Old Tomato-tone: Stay Tuned!! Raybo
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