My First Georgia Outdoor Grow

Well guys, i've finally found a place to grow my first outdoor crop. It's shielded from view on all sides by trees, it's close to a creek so watering will be easy, and it's very easy for me to get to but obscure enough that no one would ever think to go there.

I plan on planting some seeds there some time around the second week in April. I have some Master Kush, Mango, Thai Stick, and Lowrider 2 seeds. I believe the Kush and Thai are sativa's and the Mango and Lowrider have more indica. The Lowrider's will serve as a testing ground for the bigger plants, and i will probably plant a few batches of them a month or so apart for the first few months of the grow season. Depending on how they respond to treatment, i can judge how the others should be treated.

My main questions are about soil, planting time, and starting the seeds.

Soil- The soil i'm planting in is pretty rich but has some clay in it. It retains moisture well, but i'm not sure how well it will hold oxygen. I went out today and dug several holes, back-filling them with a mixture of the native dirt, organic potting soil, and dead grass and leaves. Is there anything else i need to do to prepare my soil for seedlings?

Planting Time- I live in the middle of Georgia, and it doesn't stay cold here longer than March, but i was wondering what the safest time would be to start putting plants outside. I was thinking around the second week in April, but that's really just a rough guess. I'll probably be playing it by ear unless someone has some word on this subject.

Starting The Seeds- I've done a little bit of indoor growing in soil-less potting mix and i always started seeds in the mix. I've started experimenting with Jiffy cubes and i'm not really comfortable with them yet. But i want to give my plants the best chance they can get, so if anyone has any knowledge about starting seeds inside and transplanting them outside, I'd greatly appreciate it.

If anyone has any helpful tips for outdoor growing in middle Georgia, i'd love all the help i can get!

Thanks all and happy chiefin'!

Looks like you have a plan that's pretty good.

I think the soil sounds fine.

I live in TN,so we have simmilar climates. I usuall plant in April, but usually towards the end because sometimes we do have a cold spell in April that can kill young seedlings. I usually plant directly into the ground, but often times several of the sprouts get killed by bugs and such, so if you have high dollar seeds I would get them established in a pot, and then transplant them into the ground.

Keep us posted about your results.

Peace

When you say you plant directly into the ground, you mean you just put the seeds right into the ground? Or do you germinate them first? How long should i grow seedlings inside before i put them out?

I just stick them in the ground, and I would still start them outside, but have them in pots to keep them off the ground.

imo you should start them first to combat bugs and frost.

I start mine in 20 ounce plastic party cups. find my spot and dig up the soil real well and deep and take half out and add fox farm organic soil and mix it. I veg the plants on 24/0 for 2 weeks with 4 CFL lights indoors, with a small fan on them this builds the stem strength for outdoor wind. Then i take them to the spot and cut down the side of the cup and add to the loose soil the hole root ball I hold it with one hand and add more organic soil around the plant all the way up the stem so the ground is VERY even so water runs evenly. I water with distilled water for a week or two then add diluted veg nutes. Almost all my plants survive this way

I have a pretty sweet hidden "seed starter" for starting the seeds using 4 42 watt cfl's (dimentions 15"x24"x24"), so i'll probably do that. You say 2 weeks after the cotyledon pops up out of the soil should be enough time to start the plants?

I was thinking instead of plastic cups i would use those deep planting flats with 1"x1"x5" holes. That way i could transport them in a bookbag much easier out to the planting sight, since it's a short hike into the woods.

If anyone else has any advice, i'd be happy to hear it. I'll probably start sprouting a few lowrider's mid March and put them out there for an early start at the beginning of April, then start the rest of my seeds the first week of April to have them out and growing by the end of the month.

Peace!

Let see if i can get the pics to show up...

This is my "seed starter"

wow nice very nice secret grow box. I usually take another plastic cup and flip it upside down and tape around the base of the plant cup and then i put inside of a big container i put about 10 plants out every 3-4 days for a few weeks at a time. All grown in corn fields they turn into monsters good luck

Hey man,
Here is a few tips for growing in your area:

1. put them outside between 4/20 and 5/1 depending on what the weather looks like.

2. Start them now or very soon under lights so they will be big enough when you put them out to get the best start and hopefully lead to a good yield

3. Put as much compost and dead grass and pine straw and as much amendment as you can mix up in each hole.

4. Add Lime or wood ash to raise the PH. Get a cheap PH meter for $15.

5. Protect new plants from deer if in a wooded area by using wire mesh

Good luck