Spring 2020

Flower Field Layout

Reference:

flower-field

Spacing Plan

To compute the number of plants per bed; each bed is 48 inches (4 feet) wide and 1,200 inches (100 feet) long, as shown above, and by planting with 9-inch spacing, I can fit ~665 plants in each bed:

665 plants per bed, that's 6,650 plants for the entire field

Spacing Template

Irrigation Setup

Flow

Knowing your flow rate is critical to sizing your system.

I did a flow test with the spigot out in the field. It took about 55 seconds to fill 5 gallon bucket. I used the following formula to compute gallons per hour (GPH). Or you can use the flow calculator from dripworks.com

5 gal    60 sec   60 min   18,000 gal
------ x ------ x ------ = ---------- ~=  327 GPH
55 sec    1 min    1 hr       55 hr

Flow Capacity: 327 GPH

To provide your lawn with one inch of water takes a little over half a gallon per square foot (0.623 gallon to be more exact). That means that every 10’x10’ area will require over 62 gallons of water.

For one 80x4 bed it takes about 200 gal to provide 1" of water.

.623 Gal    (80ft x 4 ft bed)
--------- x ----------------- = 199.36 ~ 200 gal
  1sq ft

Using the drip-tape-estimator given 3 beds with 4 drip lines per bed on 80 feet long bed using 8mill 8" low flow tape I get Total water required: of 192 GPH. I am not sure if I understand correctly but that is about the 200 gal from above so I think it will take:

about 1 hour for 1" of water

Soil Type

Next we need to know our soil type:

In my case I am not sure, I will guess loam for now.

Loam - requires a 0.5-1 GPH emitter (let's go with 0.75 GPH)

Product Selection

According to the description Drip Tape sounds best for my situation:

Drip Tape is best for long, straight row crops. It is the most economical way to water your plants and is easy to install and maintain.

To start I am going to buy a kit. There seems to be two kits that could do the job:

If I only use two strips of drip tape per row then I could get the medium kit. However, the medium kit leaves no room for error and I feel like 9 inch spacing for the plants is denser than normal so I better go with at least three strips of drip tape per row. Given that I will get the large kit with an extra timer so I can automate two zones.

In this blog post Floret says they use four strips of drip tape per four foot bed but they have sandy soil and even say that you could get by with two or three strips if you don't have sandy soil, so that validates my choice.

I will be going with the drip tape row crop large kit

Zones

The drip tape that comes with the large kit uses drip tape part# TA1508L which is rated at Flow per 100 feet is 20 GPH. So that is 20 GPH for each strip of drip tape. I need 30 strips total for the field which would require 600 GPH (20 GPH X 30 strips), but my system can only generate 327 GPH. Therefore, if I split my field into two zone, 5 beds requiring 15 strips each, then each zone will only need 300 GPH (20 GPH X 15 strips) which is less than 327 GPH, so we are good.

two zones, each requiring 300 GPH (20 GPH X 15 strips)

Germination Station

Shelf Layout

The image below shows the layout for one shelf of the germination station. Each shelf will be able to hold 288 plants, four starter trays of 72 plants each.

288 plants per shelf

Station

Each station is a five shelf unit. The top shelf is used for storage and four shelves will be used for germination. Each station will be able to hold 1,152 plants, four shelves of 288 plants each.

1,152 plants per station

Greenhouse Tray Layout

Beds Summary

Garden Planner

Main cutting beds, annuals with irrigation.

Spacing

# Plant Propagation Start Between plants in row Between rows Rows per bed Fabric Irrigation
1 Dahlias tuber outside 16 in 16 in 3 yes yes
2 Dahlia Mix seed inside 12 in 16 in 3 yes yes
3 Ranunculus corms outside 8 in 10 in 4 no yes
4 Anemone corms outside 6 in 10 in 4 no yes
5 Cosmos seed inside 9 in 9 in 5 yes yes
6 Larkspur
7 Zinnias seed inside 9 in 9 in 5 yes yes
8 Black Eyed Susans seed inside 9 in 9 in 5 yes yes
9 Snapdragon seed inside 9 in 9 in 5 yes yes
9 Stocks
10 Celosia
11 Gormphrena
12 Marigold
13 Choc.Qn Anne's Lace
14 Sweet Pea

Varieties

In this table if the number of plants is fixed then the bed-linear-feed will be computed in the Garden Planner app. However in most cases the bed-linear-feed is given and the number of plans is computed. Note a "plant" might require several seeds (or tubers or corms) if it is a "thinning" plant like the pumpkins or if you need to sow several seeds per plant.

Plant Variety Row Group Fixed Derived Sow per plant Stock† What to Buy (stock * 1.2)
Dahlias Jan Ryecroft (Sm 4”) 6A 5 tubers 9 LBF 1 tuber 5 tubers 5 tubers
Lady Natalie (Sm 4”) 6A 5 tubers 9 LBF 1 tuber 5 tubers 5 tubers
Golden Scepter (Sm 2”) 6A 5 tubers 9 LBF 1 tuber 5 tubers 5 tubers
Black Satin (Sm 2-4”) 6B 5 tubers 9 LBF 1 tuber 5 tubers 5 tubers
Cornel (Sm 4”) 6B 5 tubers 9 LBF 1 tuber 5 tubers 5 tubers
Dorothy (Sm) 6B 5 tubers 9 LBF 1 tuber 5 tubers 5 tubers
Franz Kafka (Sm 2-3”) 6C 7 tubers 8 LBF 1 tuber 7 tubers 7 tubers
Wizard of Oz (Sm 3”) 6C 3 tubers 8 LBF 1 tuber 3 tubers 3 tubers
Peaches n Cream (Med 4-6“) 6D 8 tubers 12.5 LBF 1 tuber 8 tubers 8 tubers
Conn.Coral (Med) 6D 8 tubers 12.5 LBF 1 tuber 8 tubers 8 tubers
Mystique (Med 4-6“) 6D 8 tubers 12.5 LBF 1 tuber 8 tubers 8 tubers
BoomBoom White (Med 6”) 6E 5 tubers 9 LBF 1 tuber 5 tubers 5 tubers
Sweet Nathalie (Med. 5”) 6E 5 tubers 9 LBF 1 tuber 5 tubers 5 tubers
Lancresse (Med 4-6“) 6E 5 tubers 9 LBF 1 tuber 5 tubers 5 tubers
Thomas Edison (Med 6”) 6F 5 tubers 9 LBF 1 tuber 5 tubers 5 tubers
Shiloh Noelle (XL 10”) 6F 5 tubers 9 LBF 1 tuber 5 tubers 5 tubers
Hamari Gold (XL 10”) 6F 5 tubers 9 LBF 1 tuber 5 tubers 5 tubers
Penhill Watermelon (XL 10”) 6G 8 tubers 12 LBF 1 tuber 8 tubers 8 tubers
Otto’s Thrill (XL) 6G 8 tubers 12 LBF 1 tuber 8 tubers 8 tubers
Café Au Lait (XL) 6G 8 tubers 12 LBF 1 tuber 8 tubers 8 tubers
Mix (seed) 6H 30 LBF 90 plants 2 seeds 180 seeds 216 seeds
Cosmos Versailles Mix 7A 6 LBF 40 plants 1 seed 40 seeds 48 seeds
Dbl-Click SnowPuff 7B 6 LBF 40 plants 1 seed 40 seeds 48 seeds
Dbl-Click Mix 7C 6 LBF 40 plants 1 seed 40 seeds 48 seeds
Rubenza 7D 6 LBF 40 plants 1 seed 40 seeds 48 seeds
Sea Shells 7E 6 LBF 40 plants 1 seed 40 seeds 48 seeds
Zinnias Jazzy Mix 7F 6.5 LBF 45 plants 6 seeds 270 seeds 324 seeds
Oklahoma White 7G 6.5 LBF 45 plants 6 seeds 270 seeds 324 seeds
Queen Red Lime 7H 6.5 LBF 45 plants 6 seeds 270 seeds 324 seeds
Giant Mix 7I 6.5 LBF 45 plants 6 seeds 270 seeds 324 seeds
Giant Salmon Rose 7J 6.5 LBF 45 plants 6 seeds 270 seeds 324 seeds
Uproar Rose 7K 6.5 LBF 45 plants 6 seeds 270 seeds 324 seeds
Snapdragons Potomac Custom Mix 8A 10 LBF 65 plants 1 seed 65 seeds 78 seeds
Rocket Mix 8B 10 LBF 65 plants 1 seed 65 seeds 78 seeds
Costa Silver 8C 10 LBF 65 plants 1 seed 65 seeds 78 seeds
Madame Butterfly Mix 8D 10 LBF 65 plants 1 seed 65 seeds 78 seeds
Costa Mix 8E 10 LBF 65 plants 1 seed 65 seeds 78 seeds
Black-Eyed Susans Triloba 8F 12.5 LBF 85 plants 1 seed 85 seeds 102 seeds
(Cornflower) Hirta Cherokee Sunset Mix 8G 12.5 LBF 85 plants 1 seed 85 seeds 102 seeds
Hirta Indian Summer 8H 12.5 LBF 85 plants 1 seed 85 seeds 102 seeds
Hirta Cherry Brandy 9I 12.5 LBF 85 plants 1 seed 85 seeds 102 seeds
Anemone DeCaen White 10A 10 LBF 80 plants 1 root 80 roots 80 roots
DeCaen Blue White Mix 10B 5 LBF 40 plants 1 root 40 roots 40 roots
Lord Lieutenant 10C 4 LBF 32 plants 1 root 32 roots 32 roots
Super Mix 10D 6 LBF 48 plants 1 root 48 roots 48 roots
Ranunculus Romantic Mix 10E 12 LBF 72 plants 1 root 72 roots 72 roots
Red 10F 6 LBF 36 plants 1 root 36 roots 36 roots
White 10G 12 LBF 72 plants 1 root 72 roots 72 roots
Bridal Mix 10H 18 LBF 108 plants 1 root 108 roots 108 roots
Violet 10I 3 LBF 16 plants 1 root 16 roots 16 roots
Purple/ White Picotee 10J 9 LBF 52 plants 1 root 52 roots 52 roots
Pink/ White 10K 12 LBF 72 plants 1 root 72 roots 72 roots
  • † Stock is exactly what is needed gut when growing from seed, always order 20 percent more. The What to Buy has 20% added to stock in some cases
  • lbf - linear bed feed. The number of plants in a LBF depends on spacing, for example with a 9in x 9in, 6 LBF will hold about 40 plants.

Filler and Foliage

Floret said 50% Foliage and filler

Filler

# Plant
1 Baby's Breath (Gypsophila)
2 Bishops Flower
3 Love-in-a-Mist

Foliage

# Plant
1 Dusty Miller perennials but grown as annual
2 Scented Geranium
3 Grasses-Panicum "frosted explosion"
4 Eucalyptus "silver drop", "seeded"

Sunflowers

Sunflower beds, no irrigation

# Variety
1 Single bloom
2 Blush

Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkin Patch, no irrigation

# Variety Size Days to Maturity Vine Length Between plants in row Between rows Grow Link
1 PipSqueak Small 100 Medium 33 in 8 ft † JS
2 Racer Treated Medium 85 Short 33 in 6 ft † JS
3 Howden Large 115 Long 60 in 12 ft † JS
4 Casperita Mini 77 Medium 18 in 10 ft † JS
5 Flat Stacker Medium 95 Long 42 in 12 ft † JS
6 Ornamental Mix Gourd 95 Medium 60 in 8 ft † JS

† - For direct seeding, sow 2 seeds per spacing, 1/2-1" deep. Thin to 1 plant per spacing after seedlings are established

Pumpkin Field

Soil Test

Results:

Summary of the recommendation:

The numbers in this table represent lbs/1000 sq ft

Nitrogen, N Phosphorus, P2O5 Potassium, K2O
2-3 1 1
> For example 2.5 lbs/1000 sq ft of N

The main cutting field is 10 locations (4x100) each location 400 sq ft so that times 10 locations gives a total of 4,000 sq ft. 

main cutting field 4,000 sq ft
N -  8 - 12 lbs  (4000/1000 * 2) - (4000/1000 * 3)
P -  4 lbs       (4000/1000 * 1)
K -  4 lbs       (4000/1000 * 1)

To calculate how much fertilizer is needed using the following calculation. This formula can be calculated for N, P or K.

Lbs. N recommended / %N in the fertilizer blend x 100 = lbs. fertilizer needed per 1000 sq ft

So 10-10-10 all purpose fertilizer is generally available at THD.

Lets compute how much of the 10.10.10 is need for P and K, then I will need to supplement for N.

# given a 40 lb bag of 10-10-10

40 lbs * 10% N = 4 lbs of N ( which is 4 to 8 lbs short of what we need)
40 lbs * 10% P = 4 lbs of P ( which is what we need)
40 lbs * 10% K = 4 lbs of K ( which is what we need)

N sourced from urea

To make up the shortfall of N let look at some urea which is rated at 45-0-0

# given a 4 lb bag of 45-0-0

4 lbs * 45% N = 1.8 lbs of N per bag 

Therefore we would need 4 bags which has 7.2 lbs of N ( 7.2 = 4 * 1.8). This is in the 4 to 8 lbs shortfall range.