Maximum Yield Modern Growing | Canadian Edition | May June 2017
In this issue of Maximum Yield, we cast a wide net to bring you the best and latest information possible to help you get started growing your own food. From the basics like cleaning your equipment to the best methods for preparing your plants to live outdoors, to more advanced topics like lighting and nutrient delivery, there is something in this issue for all levels of grower.
In this issue of Maximum Yield, we cast a wide net to bring you the best and latest information possible to help you get started growing your own food. From the basics like cleaning your equipment to the best methods for preparing your plants to live outdoors, to more advanced topics like lighting and nutrient delivery, there is something in this issue for all levels of grower.
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By Steve Cather<br />
Scrub your pots<br />
When was the last time you actually<br />
cleaned your pots? Most gardeners dump<br />
the dirt out and consider the container<br />
ready for reuse. Those used pots still<br />
hold organic material, nutrient salts, old<br />
soil, and possibly pests. A good blast<br />
with a garden hose is usually enough to<br />
restore them to a like-new condition. If<br />
the accumulation is more persistent, you<br />
may need to use a small brush to break<br />
the chunks loose. When using fabric<br />
pots, you may be best served by replacing<br />
them after two to three crops.<br />
Clean your glass<br />
You spent all that money on the latest<br />
and greatest equipment. Make it work for<br />
you at peak efficiency. If you have vented<br />
hoods with glass, you need to keep them<br />
clean. You're paying for the light. Make<br />
sure it reaches your plants. A layer of<br />
dust inside a light fixture can prevent<br />
that valuable light from reaching your<br />
leaves. Clean the glass inside and out at<br />
least every 90 days.<br />
Calibrate your pH meter<br />
That fancy pH meter you bought needs to<br />
be regularly maintained. If you haven't<br />
been consistent with calibrations, now<br />
is the time to correct that situation. If<br />
your meter isn't calibrated, those nutrient<br />
problems you have been battling will<br />
just continue to get worse. Correct pH<br />
is critical for healthy plants with strong<br />
defenses. Establish a routine of cleaning,<br />
calibration, and testing your meters.<br />
“<br />
Pre-planting and<br />
post-harvest are the<br />
best times to replace<br />
smoke detector<br />
batteries, check your<br />
carbon monoxide<br />
detectors, test your<br />
carbon dioxide<br />
regulators, sensors,<br />
and alarms for<br />
proper operation.”<br />
Test your safety equipment<br />
A safe garden feeds a safe gardener.<br />
Pre-planting and post-harvest are the<br />
best times to replace smoke detector<br />
batteries, check your carbon monoxide<br />
detectors, test your carbon dioxide<br />
regulators, sensors, and alarms for<br />
proper operation. Carbon dioxide can<br />
be dangerous. Don't cut corners on this<br />
equipment. Keep it in fine fettle so it will<br />
do the same for you.<br />
Clean or replace your filters<br />
If you use air conditioners, carbon filters,<br />
or water filters, now is the time to restore<br />
their efficiency and efficacy. A dirty<br />
water pump filter will reduce flow and<br />
may be a source of disease and disaster.<br />
Wash your water pump filters and<br />
check your filters often. I can't stress this<br />
enough. A carbon filter with a thick layer<br />
of dust on the pre-filter is not working as<br />
well as it could. Clean or replace your<br />
carbon scrubber pre-filter once per year.<br />
Spend the time now or do the time later.<br />
An ounce of prevention may just add up<br />
to a pound of cure.<br />
grow cycle<br />
45
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