First Outdoor Grow

[Josepk]

Hello, I just spent like 3 hours searching for information and decided I needed to post.

So this is my 2nd attempt at growing. The first time was indoors and went fairly well.

I'm working with some really acidic forest soil. So what I'm going to do is dig out 2.5'x2.5' holes, spaced 3 feet apart at least from other plants, and I'm unsure about a soil mix, I was thinking something like this:

2 parts soil (50:50 Fox Farm Ocean / Soil already present)
1 parts Perilite
1 parts Verimiculite
1 cup worm castings?
garden lime

How much lime should I add?

Also, how should I go about changing the NPK ratio when flowering comes up? I need to drop the N level and increase P.

Also, whens an ideal time to plant these into the ground? I was thinking around week 2 after sprouting. What part of the summer is the light cycle going to start inducing flowering?

I could really use some help with my soil mix.
I could use some help. Thanks a lot.

Josepk Reviewed by Josepk on 05-10-2011. First Outdoor Grow Hello, I just spent like 3 hours searching for information and decided I needed to post. So this is my 2nd attempt at growing. The first time was indoors and went fairly well. I'm working with some really acidic forest soil. So what I'm going to do is dig out 2.5'x2.5' holes, spaced 3 feet apart at least from other plants, and I'm unsure about a soil mix, I was thinking something like this: 2 parts soil (50:50 Fox Farm Ocean / Soil already present) 1 parts Perilite 1 parts Rating: 5

[Josepk]

I have finalized my vegging soil after playing with my soil and testing its pH and TDS ppms.

A 5 gallon bucket is made up of:
2 parts Pro-Mix
1 part Vermiculite
2.5 cups pelleted lime
1 cup North Country Pro Gro (5-3-4) pellety/rocky fertilizer supplement
1/4 cup worm castings

Resulted in a pH near 6.9, and a TDS reading of 330 ppms. That will be a good starting fertilizer concentration, and seeing as how the pH is so low in the sourrounding area I want the pH to be as close to neutral as possible.

I'm going out to prepare the site tomorrow, digging holes and clearing weeds, along with laying down soil and lime.

Any suggestions for how the holes should be set up besides 3x3x3?

[rudy2010]

Sounds like you have the soil dialed. You may want to allow a little more room between plants if possible. You don't want one plant to shadow another if possible.

[Josepk]

Should I lay down gravel or something similar at the bottom of the 3' hole?

[De_budman]

Gravel is not required, but always is good to help drainage.