20260102 1029 Friday Sunny morning
4 flowers found.
Transplanted 3 more at the other corners last 3 days.
So, 6 mini pumpkins in 3 foam boxes.
Healthy.
20251222 1000 Monday sunny morning
Ha ha ha, my Christmas gifts!
Today I got in many foam boxes with different sizes, almost all with nice cover.
(anything container 30 L and above can support fruiting vines.)
- 1 unit 34 cm x 25 cm x H 19 cm, 16 L, suitable for herbs, coriander, lettuce
- 2 units 42 cm x 21 cm x H 14 cm, 12 L, suitable for Chilli, small greens
- 2 units 44 cm x 30 cm x H 18 cm, 24 L, suitable for Brinjal, Okra
- 2 units 53 cm x 24 cm x H 26 cm, 33 L, suitable for Tomato, Cucumber.
- 3 units 45 cm x 32 cm x H 22 cm, 32 L, suitable for Mini Pumpkin
- 2 units 54 cm x 39 cm x H 28 cm, 59 L, suitable for Winter melon, watermelon😂🎄 Best Christmas gifts ever for a grower!Foam boxes with lids are gold for experiments — cool roots, stable moisture, cheap, and flexible.I basically just received a mini research lab.
Here how I plan for farming
- 1 unit 34 cm x 25 cm x H 19 cm with cover, use for hydroponic or soils farming.
- 2 units 42 cm x 21 cm x H 14 cm with cover, use for hydroponic or soils farming.
- 2 units 44 cm x 30 cm x H 18 cm with cover, use for hydroponic or soils farming.
- 2 units 53 cm x 24 cm x H 26 cm with cover, use for hydroponic or soils farming.
- 3 units 45 cm x 32 cm x H 22 cm with holes, soil grow mini pumpkins 南瓜贝贝, one pumpkin plant per box, mulch with leafy vegetables on top
- 2 units 54 cm x 39 cm x H 28 cm with cover, use for hydroponic or soils farming.
❓ Is it good to grow pumpkin in foam box?
✅ YES — very good, especially sizes:
#5 (45×32×22)#6 (54×39×28)
Many growers use foam boxes successfully for pumpkins.
Planning with ChatGPT:
Firstly assign each foam box size to the right crops, so we can learn fast and farm successfully to achieve efficient food growth..
🧰 GENERAL RULE FOR FOAM BOXES (IMPORTANT)
Before the table, remember:
✅ Always add drainage holes for soil farming (unless hydro)
✅ Elevate box slightly (brick / tile)
✅ Soil depth matters more than surface area
✅ Lid = excellent for:
seedling nurserypartial shadereducing evaporation
📦 FOAM BOX ASSIGNMENT GUIDE
1️⃣ 34 × 25 × H19 cm (1 unit)
Shallow–medium depth
✔ Best for:
Coriander
Lettuce
Spinach
Nai bai / Xiao bai cai
Radish
Beetroot (small)
Seedling nursery tray
❌ Not good for:
Carrot (too shallow)
Pumpkin / melon
💡 Tip: Great as “cut & come again” box
2️⃣ 42 × 21 × H14 cm (2 units)
Very shallow
✔ Best for:
Microgreens
Herbs (mint, basil, coriander – small harvest)
Spring onion
Seedling germination box
❌ Not for root crops or fruiting plants
💡 Tip: Use lid as humidity dome during germination.
3️⃣ 44 × 30 × H18 cm (2 units)
Medium depth, good surface
✔ Best for:
Radish
Beetroot
Short carrot varieties
Lettuce mix
Spinach
Pak choy
Onion greens
💡 Tip: Excellent for root crop experiments.
4️⃣ 53 × 24 × H26 cm (2 units)
Deep + long — very good
✔ Best for:
Carrot (full size)
Beetroot
Ginger
Turmeric
Brinjal (1 plant)
Chili (1–2 plants)
💡 Tip: One of your most valuable sizes.
5️⃣ 45 × 32 × H22 cm with holes (3 units)
🔥 YES — VERY GOOD for pumpkins & gourds
✔ Best for:
Mini pumpkin (1 plant per box)
Cucumber
Sponge gourd
Bitter gourd
Long beans
Okra
✔ Can also do:
Cherry tomato (1)
Brinjal (1)
💡 Tip: Because it has holes, drainage + airflow is already good.
Add compost generously.
6️⃣ 54 × 39 × H28 cm (2 units)
🌟 PREMIUM BIG BOXES
✔ Best for:
Winter melon (1 plant)
Pumpkin (1 plant)
Mini watermelon
Papaya seedling
Ginger / turmeric clumps
💡 Tip: If you only keep 1 heavy melon per box, fruit quality will be excellent.
❓ If I bury seeds directly into normal soil, will they still sprout?
✅ YES, especially for:
pumpkin
winter melon
cucumber
beans
okra
They WILL sprout.
⚠️ But:
slower
uneven
higher failure for old seeds
For experiments, totally fine.
For important crops, seed tray / fine mix is better.
🧪 BEST EXPERIMENT PLAN
You now can do agricultural :
🌱 Same crop in different box sizes
🌱 Soil vs hydro
🌱 Shallow vs deep
🌱 Net climbing vs frame support
🌱 Sun vs partial shade
This is real knowledge — not textbook.
重型瓜 “缓慢填土 + 支撑环 + 原地育苗法” ：
对重型瓜类非常适合，特点是：
🌱 重型瓜新种法流程整理
容器准备
布袋（plant bag）或泡沫箱
底部放 直径 6 寸 hollow ring，作为主茎保护环
育苗阶段
hollow ring 内放 约 15 cm 泥土
种子直接播入 ring 内泥土
初生苗期逐步加土，同时插支撑竿
成长加土阶段
提高 整桶 hollow ring,
种植袋或泡沫箱底部慢慢加土 或者 厨余，肥料， compost (少量)
每次 只加少量，渐渐填满
hollow ring 保持坐在泥土上方支撑主茎。
果实阶段
底部土填好后，foam box 可用作盖子，增加温湿度
支撑主茎和果实 → 坐果稳定
不用移植，减少干扰
管理要点
坐果期 控制氮肥，不疯长叶
可加少量有机肥（厨余、compost），
铺在 hollow ring 外围边缘
及时挂果实吊篮，防止果重压伤藤
💡 优点总结
从育苗到结果，整个过程不移植
hollow ring 保护主茎，根部可以自由伸展
易于管理重型果（冬瓜、南瓜、西瓜、蜜瓜）
果实承重易控制，不易烂根
整理一张 冬瓜坐果期肥料速查表，
让你一眼就知道 哪些可以用、哪些要避免。
🥒 冬瓜坐果期肥料对照表
类型
示例
坐果期能用？
作用 / 注意事项
高氮化肥
尿素、硫酸铵、硝酸钾（高氮比例）
❌ 避免
会促叶子疯长，消耗果实养分 → 瓜小不甜
有机堆肥 / compost
成熟花园堆肥、腐熟厨余
✅ 少量
铺在土表外围即可，慢慢释放养分，避免靠果柄或主茎堆厚
钾肥
香蕉皮、木灰、硫酸钾（化学）
✅
促进果实膨大、甜度增加、果皮硬
磷肥
骨粉、复合肥中磷
✅ 少量
帮助果实发育和根系健康，量不要多
氮含有机物（轻量）
咖啡渣、蔬菜叶边角料
✅ 少量
可以提供微量氮，不会让叶子疯长
蛋壳 / 钙肥
蛋壳粉、石灰
✅ 少量
强化果柄和果皮，增加抗裂性
💡 使用小技巧
量要少、铺外围：离果柄 10–15 cm，不要堆在果下
浇水后慢慢吸收：不要直接堆湿泥土上 → 烂根或烂果
叶子够用就不要再补氮：坐果期主要养果