I read the book at the library and liked it very much.

I have always loved his book and who can argue with the results. He was a Guinness World Record Holder. 27 foot tall cherry and 1368 pounds of tomatoes from 4 plants. 100 pounds from container grown tomato. And all done with COMPOST!

I sure was 'wishin' I could get my hands on some kudzu when I read his book but don't think the state of Florida would appreciate me introducing that invasive plant down here in S. Fl. (ha ha) We have our own invasives and sure don't need any others.

At my other house I had a triple compost bin that was just 15 feet from the neighbor's house. No problems, NO SMELL AT ALL and I even hauled in horse manure. When I read WIlber's book he said you could substitute alfalfa hay for the chopped up kudzu. I added that and in no time at all it smelled like I was cooking manure on the stove. It stunk up the ENTIRE neighborhood. But we played dumb,nobody trace it to us and luckily it didnt last for long.

We moved and now able to use alfalfa hay or anything else I want. But it is because of Wilber we love to compost.

I have used the thick hay as mulch and I use compost (but I don't think mine is as good as his). I am making an all out effort to make some very special compost now.
I just bought 2 half barrels as that is what he uses for containers.

Unfortunately I grow in the winter and it gets dark at 6:00 and is frequently 'coolish', sometimes cold. I also have very sandy soil. I wish I could grow super tall plants --I'll get the scaffolds and ladders. :)

Wonder why people with limited space don't try to emulate some of the techniques to dramatically
increase yield --even if they don't want to go for any records. You do need a source of manure but not alot and a few other imputs. Compost is the backbone of all the tips and tricks he teaches. Good luck with your plants.

Here is a link that might be useful: Book

Thanks Farkee, same to you.

As you know composting takes some time and my ground, planting method, mix and mulch were already dedicated by the time I got the book, so I'm trying a few of the things that it wasn't too late for. Namely, his pruning method and "reading" the plant for proper fertilization.

Both of those can be done on inground or container plants but I am concerned that 18 stems will be an awful lot of plant to keep thriving in 2 cubic ft containers and I'm using a fl weave for inground. I have the space and inclination to try to train lrg plants in the fl weave but I'm not sure I have the soil conditions and will likely cut it to 8 or 10 stems.

~~~ I have used the thick hay as mulch ~~~

It was straw but past tense? Why did you choose to discontinue?

What do you think of his keeping the lower suckers? Even some fairly hardcore non pruiners trim everything to the first flower cluster? And the severe pruining at planting time? Not sure I'll ever bring myself to even try that on a test plant.

Thanks

I had about 120 plants in the ground and 30 or so in containers. It was just alot of straw to peel off in those thick layers. Last season I 'fluffed' up the straw to make it go further but this is definately not what he recommends.

I also need to do the irrigation thing- I am still watering by hand.

Dave, I have read the pruning part so many times and I just don't get it so I have always let all the stems form which he says limits your plants to 20 pounds or something like that. My season starts in the fall so I will bring the book out and look at exactly what is growing to prune as recommended. Did you get the 18 stems? Good for you-gives me hope that it can be done.

The diagram on page 81 helps a lot and you've got to get yourself some soaker hose and a timer.

I haven't reached 18 yet but as mentioned, doubt my container size and current garden site's quality to support such plants and have pruned some he would have left but yeah, it can be done, in my zone, even with this late cool spring.

BIG cages would make it a lot easier as my bamboo tripods and fl weave has em kinda crowded to easily see what you're wanting to do.

"I wish I could grow super tall plants --I'll get the scaffolds and ladders. :) "
I don't know about that. :-) Take a look at the link below. Don't forget garden soil can get soft especially after a rain. I almost fell off the ladder 3 times trying to pick tomatoes. I've never done it again. Oh I still grow big stong healthy plants I just don't grow them as vertically. :-)

The picture was taken in July. It was over 10 feet tall then. The plant grew out of the cage and about halfway back down to the ground and back up a little. I guess it was around 15-20 feet at the end of the year.

Good luck.

Randy

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:90247}}

Randy they look fantastic!!!--what do you amend your soil with.

Yes, you are quite right about ladders. My husband was trimming a very tall palm , the ladder fell over, and as I thought he could be serious hurt I called 911. They sent an ambulance but they said it would be better if he was transported by helicopter. Helicopter landed near house. Luckily absolutely nothing was wrong-just the most incredible huge,dark bruise where he fell on top of the ladder.

Then just a few months ago he was standing on the side edge of the truck bed holding a pole saw and sawing away when a frond fell down and hit him in the eye. He had just taken off the safety glasses because of sweat. He fell backwards back into the truck bed and almost did a back flip out of the truck. Another trip to the doctors--could have lost his eye.

I am standing by watching all this doing what all wives do--yelling he shouldn't be doing it.

So I can send him up the tall tomato plants --he has lots of experience. :)

I recommend you mulch with trampolines

"what do you amend your soil with."
I till in the mulch at the end of the year or the following spring if it is too wet in the fall. I till in compost or composted manure in the spring. I cultivate in blood meal and bone meal and ashes. Oh and I put lime down sometimes too.

Randy

Randy, Wilber does alot that is similar to you.

He also grows cover crops that he tills in and Austrian peas by the plants.

But he also got the 110 pounds from one plant in a container--the secret must be that kudzu compost. Somebody ought to chop it up and mix with horse manure and bedding and compost to a high heat and sell the stuff. Great way to at least utilize that invasive plant and a waste product to boot. You would just have to be sure it was thoroughly composted.

Awesome thread... I was roaring with laughter on this one part, though:

"I recommend you mulch with trampolines"

ROFL!!!!!

~Angela

Hi All,

I too have read and love this book. I am going for it big time next year. I am composting as you read. Aloha

Try growing comfrey for compost instead of kudzu. Pick a spot in the yard devoted to comfrey. I bought crowns on etsy of the Bocking 14 Comfrey which doesn't spread from seed. But the roots are thick and go 14 inches all deep.

I have always wanted to incorporate comfrey in my vegetable garden - either added to compost or making tea. Read a lot about for years —it’s popular in UK . But, there is always a but,

I find it impossible to get it grow in 10 B zone . Semi-tropical. Doesn’t seem to like rainy season. I have tried several time with Bocking 14

Right now I have some comfrey purchased on EBay or Etsy (can’t remember) growing in containers. Hoping to get it started to then plant in ground. I got it to grow but they are not robust plants.