Products we are happy with (good finds)
 

Found these coir cubes, I don't start seed in them but they are the first transplant.
About $0.30 each by the case at my local greenhouse supply.
They work great, and give plants enough room until I can get them outside. They are about 4" square.

[url]http://fibredust.com/grow-cubes/[/url]

This makes quick work of scooping soil. I love this thing and want to add another to my supplies.

[URL]https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/groundwork-stainless-steel-garden-scoop?cm_vc=-10005[/URL]

The cup and drinking glass.
Worth

My black 100' water hose that does not kink.

I have been known to cuss at a kinked water hose before :twisted:

My new find this year is tomato clips.
Although usually they are used for stringing , but you can use them with stakes and trellis too.
@ 10 cents a piece , they are worth it. Don't forget, they are reusable.
Another use : supporting some heavy truss of tomatoes.

[QUOTE=Gardeneer;641515]My new find this year is tomato clips.
Although usually they are used for stringing , but you can use them with stakes and trellis too.
@ 10 cents a piece , they are worth it. Don't forget, they are reusable.
Another use : supporting some heavy truss of tomatoes.[/QUOTE]

Gardeneer:

I love using the clips this year too!

If you ever get near Buffalo ★★★★★★★★ VA on the North Carolina border (or you want to pay shipping) Berry Hill Irrigation sells large quantities for just over a penny a piece.

I finally got work out that way and stopped by. It's just a large metal warehouse with really nice people.

[url]http://www.berryhilldrip.com/MG23-Tomato-Clips-Bag-or-Case-for-Training-Vines-on-a-Trellis..html[/url]

I clip everything now! :twisted:

[QUOTE=Rockporter;641487]This makes quick work of scooping soil. I love this thing and want to add another to my supplies.

[URL]https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/groundwork-stainless-steel-garden-scoop?cm_vc=-10005[/URL][/QUOTE]

I have several similar trowels. I bought a store brand at Menards but it was discontinued. Then I bought Fiskars Big Grip Trowel from Home Depot. Rock solid for several years. Gone from HD, but available to order on Amazon.

I also bought a scoop from Bond. This had welds that attached the scoop to the handle. Melted like butter when I applied the slightest force when digging. Make sure you examine the construction before making a buying mistake like I did. The connection between the handle and scoop should be a solid piece, not welded together.

- Lisa

[QUOTE=Nematode;641482]Found these coir cubes, I don't start seed in them but they are the first transplant.
About $0.30 each by the case at my local greenhouse supply.
They work great, and give plants enough room until I can get them outside. They are about 4" square.

[URL]http://fibredust.com/grow-cubes/[/URL][/QUOTE]

Great find, Nematode. Keeps the fungus gnats uninterested which is the primary advantage of coir over peat for me. How deep does the brick get? I usually finish up with a plastic pot 5.5 in depth. I may transition to 1/2 gal grow bags next year. Tried two as an experiment and really like them.

They were around a dime from Paradigm Gardens hydro store here in the Big O..

- Lisa

[QUOTE=greenthumbomaha;641534]I have several similar trowels. I bought a store brand at Menards but it was discontinued. Then I bought Fiskars Big Grip Trowel from Home Depot. Rock solid for several years. Gone from HD, but available to order on Amazon.

I also bought a scoop from Bond. This had welds that attached the scoop to the handle. Melted like butter when I applied the slightest force when digging. Make sure you examine the construction before making a buying mistake like I did. The connection between the handle and scoop should be a solid piece, not welded together.

- Lisa[/QUOTE]

You'll just have to see the quality of the product. I always look at the quality before I buy.

I am more cautious now for sure!

It really looked nice on the rack. I had no idea the welds were junk until I used it. Why make things that don't work! Turned me off to that brand forever.

- Lisa

My Fiskars Big grip garden hand transplanter.

I had forgotten the free thing that comes in handy - I started saving the lidded plastic containers strawberries and Campari tomatoes come in. They should work well for others to take home some cherry tomatoes in. After all, that's what they're made for.

Black Hen 2-3-2 chicken manure compost 20lbs bag I find locally for $11.

Dramm [URL="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001O83LMQ"]small[/URL] and [URL="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002WGIMVO/"]big water breaker nozzle[/URL].

Those fabric grow bags.

[QUOTE=greenthumbomaha;641535]Great find, Nematode. Keeps the fungus gnats uninterested which is the primary advantage of coir over peat for me. How deep does the brick get? I usually finish up with a plastic pot 5.5 in depth. I may transition to 1/2 gal grow bags next year. Tried two as an experiment and really like them.

They were around a dime from Paradigm Gardens hydro store here in the Big O..

- Lisa[/QUOTE]

They are 1/2" thick as bought, and hydrate to maybe 3" or so thick.

I put them in a plastic gutter thats on a not level grade, and water from one end which keeps it easy.

[QUOTE=maxjohnson;641543]Black Hen 2-3-2 chicken manure compost 20lbs bag I find locally for $11.

Dramm [URL="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001O83LMQ"]small[/URL] and [URL="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002WGIMVO/"]big water breaker nozzle[/URL].

Those fabric grow bags.[/QUOTE]

I don't know about the brand, I use the same type on a wand with a brass ball valve.
I don't like those dialing plastic things with a trigger. I want to water where it needs to be watered with a gentle shower but full flow.
It took me a long time here to find one.

[QUOTE=AlittleSalt;641542]I had forgotten the free thing that comes in handy - I started saving the lidded plastic containers strawberries and Campari tomatoes come in. They should work well for others to take home some cherry tomatoes in. After all, that's what they're made for.[/QUOTE]

When I have recycled plastic veg containers, sometimes folks seem to think that I'm just giving them tomatoes from the store. :?:

I do things on a little larger scale than a few here... I have what I call the Amish rototiller. it is a manual "tiller" one side has a set of cultivator tines and if you turn it over the other side has a wide scuffle hoe which is supported by a "wheel of cutting tines" I will have to get a picture of it and post it. it is obviously manual... takes a bit of muscles and a knack to get started using it but it makes no smelly fumes in the high tunnel while I am weeding/cultivating. works great after rototilling with a larg tiller in the garden, too. I like it quiet and this fills the bill.
A manual backpack transplanter. you fill the tank with your fertilizer water push down on the handle (which is about the size of the cell of a 3 pack from those disposable black plastic packs you buy plants in and throw away} while it is being pushed into the soil releases the the water via a spring and you literally mud in the plant. it is a two person job and goes extremely quick. we plant up about 10 rows 120' long in black plastic mulch... lots and lots of transplanting.
Felco pruners. I have had mine since high school. I graduated in 87.... 1 blade.
ARS pruners.
a never kink hose. I don't care what brand... but it had better not kink! with a ball valve on the end and quick connect couplers at ever end for every disconnect and addition or wand change.
a waterwand and a hanging basket wand with a dramm head. I have many in many different sizes. red, yellow, black purple... the narrow and the regular. different sizes for different jobs.
wonder waterer nozzle for seedlings in the propagation house
a mist nozzle...
I have a lot of products I am happy with and a lot I have tossed.

[QUOTE=clkeiper;641596]I do things on a little larger scale than a few here... I have what I call the Amish rototiller. it is a manual "tiller" one side has a set of cultivator tines and if you turn it over the other side has a wide scuffle hoe which is supported by a "wheel of cutting tines" I will have to get a picture of it and post it. it is obviously manual... takes a bit of muscles and a knack to get started using it but it makes no smelly fumes in the high tunnel while I am weeding/cultivating. works great after rototilling with a larg tiller in the garden, too. I like it quiet and this fills the bill.
A manual backpack transplanter. you fill the tank with your fertilizer water push down on the handle (which is about the size of the cell of a 3 pack from those disposable black plastic packs you buy plants in and throw away} while it is being pushed into the soil releases the the water via a spring and you literally mud in the plant. it is a two person job and goes extremely quick. we plant up about 10 rows 120' long in black plastic mulch... lots and lots of transplanting.
Felco pruners. I have had mine since high school. I graduated in 87.... 1 blade.
ARS pruners.
a never kink hose. I don't care what brand... but it had better not kink! with a ball valve on the end and quick connect couplers at ever end for every disconnect and addition or wand change.
a waterwand and a hanging basket wand with a dramm head. I have many in many different sizes. red, yellow, black purple... the narrow and the regular. different sizes for different jobs.
wonder waterer nozzle for seedlings in the propagation house
a mist nozzle...
I have a lot of products I am happy with and a lot I have tossed.[/QUOTE]
please do post a pic. I am always looking for old school manual tools/equipment.

1) [B]Floranova[/B], one-part complete nutrient for soilless mediums. Easy to measure and mix, 1-2tsp per gallon of water at a cost of about 6 cents per gallon. I use it for seedlings and switch to Hydro-Garden's Tomato 4-18-38 after I pot-up.

2)

Bleach. For mixing the diluted bleach spray which makes long term plant survival much easier down here in the heat and humidity. My wife needs it for my white tee shirts I wear when gardening.;)

Metal conduit. For building my racks that support my strings that hold my tomato plants with those wonderful little clips that can be had for barely above a penny apiece.

Daconil and Copper fungicides for help keeping the foliage diseases at bay.

Cottonseed meal in the 50# bag. Great long term slow release fertilizer and it keeps the earthworms so happy in the garden.

Silicon grafting clips. Without them I would have probably stopped growing tomatoes in my blighted soil. Grafting has given me so much more flexibility in the varieties that I can now grow and enjoy.

Tomatoville. Where I have learned so much and enjoyed so many good discussions of gardening joys and woes.

Bill

[QUOTE=Ricky Shaw;641602]1) [B]Floranova[/B], one-part complete nutrient for soilless mediums. Easy to measure and mix, 1-2tsp per gallon of water at a cost of about 6 cents per gallon. I use it for seedlings and switch to Hydro-Garden's Tomato 4-18-38 after I pot-up.

2)[/QUOTE]

Good stuff. I like the idea of that wagon seat deal.

Redding handloading products.
I have used and have just about all of the brands and have found Redding to be of the highest quality.

I ran over my Dramm watering wand with my lawn mower. :(
All that is left is the value handel.
Worth

I know there were a lot of cheaply made ones and they got a bad reputation, but I love my Pocket Hose. I bought the heavy duty 50' version with the brass hardware a few years ago.

It's fantastic for hand watering and fertilizing with my hose end dispenser as it's much lighter and easier to maneuver around and between my raised beds than a vinyl or rubber hose.

I use it at least twice a week during the gardening season, and it's holding out very well. I always disconnect and drain it when I'm done, which takes no time at all. And it gets stored out of the sun in the Rubbermaid container with the rest of my garden gadgets.

My Honda FG110 garden tiller.

A roll of cable ties. 3-4 per plant, easily adjusted. Always handy. I attach many to the
supports early on in the season and have them pre-cut and ready to use. I can move
them easily. End of season they just form a big ball sticking together, now ready for this
year. Some were left out all winter and still fresh.

Oakley, doesn't that stuff get diseases on them?

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[QUOTE=Rockporter;641648]Oakley, doesn't that stuff get diseases on them?[/QUOTE]

Maybe if you have diseases. It certainly could be soaked in bleach/soap cleaner as i do
with re-using starting pots/cell trays.

Velcro type rolls have been available in garden centers for years but it is expensive and
really cheap quality. I used a good one 10-15 yrs ago but no longer available...

Nice! Thumbs up on the reflective plastic too!

Carolyn K > I have one of these
Roto Hoes as well. Bought it from Stokes back in the '80's. Its a gem for getting beds ready. other than replacing a few bolts and the wooden handle it has served me well.

MikeInCypress