Water Rules for Chico, CA

Lawn watering restricted to three days a week.
Odd numbered addresses: Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.
Even numbered addresses, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
No lawn watering on Monday
• No watering from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., except by drip irrigation, microsprayers or by hand.
• New homes need to have drip irrigation for landscaping.
•Water should not flow to non-irrigated surfaces, like sidewalks or into the gutter.
• When watering, water should not run off the landscaping.
• When washing cars, the hose needs to have a shut-off nozzle.
• Water features such as fountains need to recirculate.
• No watering outdoors within 48 hours of a measurable amount of rain.
• No watering or refilling ornamental lakes or ponds except to sustain existing aquatic life.

For the past few years I have been actively experimenting with many water conservative method of gardening.  I have built experimental gardens which I enjoy sharing with others. 

If you are interested seeing a variety of water saving ideas, and wish to visit my gardens send me a message on Facebook - bob.campbell.chico

Some of my gardens can be scaled up to commercial size while others are appropriate for apartment balconies.

Testing Garden Assumptions

I don't believe everything I read or hear and tend to experiment with a lot of ideas.  This guy likes to do the same, but I have to say he is doing a much better job of testing garden assumptions.  If you have ever wondered about the efficacy of things like coffee grounds, Epsom salts, or rock dust, here's the place to see for yourself what you might expect.

Kratky Method-DWC-Compost Tea Hydroponics #2 Hydroponic Tomatoes

I have considered conducting this same experiment.  After skipping ahead to #5 it appears that using synthetic fertilizer won out over compost tea.
It only makes sense if you believe the vast amount of research that has been done around formulas.

Here are the formulas I've been able to collect from https://hydro-gardens.com/product-category/fertilizers/chemgro/

Tomato Formula 4-18-38
  Dutch Tomato Varieties
     Seedlings
     2.27 gm/gal Chem-Gro 4-18-38
     1.14 gm/gal CaNO3
     1.14 gm/gal MgSO4
     pH = 6.5
     Conductivity 1200ppm + Source water
    (1.60 mhos + Source Water) at 2nd cluster of flowers
   To 4th Flower Cluster
     2.27 gm/gal Chem-Gro 4-18-38
     2.27 gm/gal CaNO3
     1.14 gm/gal MgSO4
     pH = 6.2
     Conductivity 1500ppm + Source water
      (2.00 mhos + Source Water) at 4th cluster of flowers
   Older Plants
     2.27 gm/gal Chem-Gro 4-18-38
     2.27 gm/gal CaNO3
     1.14 gm/gal MgSO4
     pH = 6.2
     Conductivity 1500ppm + Source water
      (2.27 mhos + Source Water)

Heirloom Tomatoes may find this formula a bit too high in nitrogen so some experimentation will be required.
 

Chem-Gro makes several fertilizers.
Below are formulas that balance NPK and nutrients specifically for different crops.
Tomato Formula 4-18-38
Strawberry Formula 8-12-32
Lettuce Formula 8-15-36
Cucumber Formula 8-16-36
Pepper and Herb Formula 11-11-40
Hobby Formula 10-8-22
Southern Vegetable Formula 7-14-36
Hydroponic Special Formula 5-11-26








Strawberry Formula 8-12-32
   After Transplanting
     1.14 gm/gal Chem-Gro 8-12-32
     1.14 gm/gal CaNO3
     0.71 gm/gal MgSO4
     pH = 6.5 - 6.8
   Flowers Begin To Open
     1.70 gm/gal Chem-Gro 8-12-32
     1.70 gm/gal CaNO3
     1.14 gm/gal MgSO4
     pH = 6.5 - 6.8

Lettuce Formula 8-15-36
   Seedlings
     2.27 gm/gal Chem-Gro 8-15-36
     1.70 gm/gal CaNO3
     1.14 gm/gal MgSO4
     pH = 6.4 - 6.7
     1350 ppm + Source Water
     1.80 mhos + Source Water
   Mature Plants
     2.27 gm/gal Chem-Gro 8-15-36
     2.27 gm/gal CaNO3
     1.41 gm/gal MgSO4
     pH  = 6.0 - 6.5
     1575 ppm + Source Water
     2.10 mhos + Source Water


Cucumber Formula 8-16-36
   Seedlings
     2.27 gm/gal Chem-Gro 8-16-36
     1.70 gm/gal CaNO3
     1.14 gm/gal MgSO4
     pH = 6.4 - 6.7
     1350 ppm + Source Water
     1.80 mhos + Source Water
   Mature Plants
     2.27 gm/gal Chem-Gro 8-16-36
     2.27 gm/gal CaNO3
     1.42 gm/gal MgSO4
     pH  = 6.4 - 6.7
     1570 ppm + Source Water
     2.20 mhos + Source Water

 Pepper and Herb Formula 11-11-40
   Seedlings
     2.27 gm/gal Chem-Gro 11-11-40
     1.70 gm/gal CaNO3
     1.14 gm/gal MgSO4
     pH = 6.2 - 6.5
     1350 ppm + Source Water
     1.60 mhos + Source Water
   Mature Plants
     2.27 gm/gal Chem-Gro 11-11-40
     2.27 gm/gal CaNO3
     1.41 gm/gal MgSO4
     pH  = 5.8 - 6.2
     1500 ppm + Source Water
     2.20 mhos + Source Water
 
 Hobby Formula 10-8-22

   Seedlings
     2.27 gm/gal Chem-Gro 10-8-22
     1.14 gm/gal MgSO4
     pH = 6.2 - 6.5
     800 ppm + Source Water
     1.07 mhos + Source Water
   Mature Plants
     4.54 gm/gal Chem-Gro 10-8-22
     1.14 gm/gal MgSO4
     pH  = 6.2 - 6.5
     1500 ppm + Source Water
     2.00 mhos + Source Water

 Southern Vegetable Formula 7-14-36
   Seedlings
     2.27 gm/gal Chem-Gro 7-14-36
     1.70 gm/gal CaNO3
     1.14 gm/gal MgSO4
     pH = 6.4 - 6.7
     1375 ppm + Source Water
     1.83 mhos + Source Water
   Mature Plants
     2.27 gm/gal Chem-Gro 7-14-36
     2.27 gm/gal CaNO3
     1.41 gm/gal MgSO4
     pH  = 6.0 - 6.5
     1575 ppm + Source Water
     2.10 mhos + Source Water

Hydroponic Special Formula 5-11-26
   Seedlings
     2.84 gm/gal Chem-Gro 11-11-26
     1.14 gm/gal CaNO3
     0.57 gm/gal MgSO4
     pH = Adjust to your crop
     1350 ppm + Source Water
     1.80 mhos + Source Water
   Mature Plants
     2.84 gm/gal Chem-Gro 11-11-40
     2.27 gm/gal CaNO3
     1.14 gm/gal MgSO4
     pH  = Adjust to your crop
     1570 ppm + Source Water
     2.20 mhos + Source Water