Im still very enthused about JC. Plus, I keep getting approached by people that wish me to grow it for them. I've had to learn a bit about business since becoming interested, I no longer post every development, but suffice to say, I'm still involved, still growing JC and still making headway in germination, propagation, cloning, grafting, aeroponics, hydroponics and a bit more.

I set out 200 new seeds in 5 inch planters, in ONE day, 60 seeds sprouted and are 4 inches tall. I cant wait to get home after work today and see further results.

My trials and research are exceeding anything any University or commercial operation is doing. At this rate I hope I can plant a seed and expect fruit in 6 or 7 months from a fully grown tree.

 

30 of the 40 I planted have germinated, Im hoping for a few more still. thats 75% so far for this batch.

none of the 100 i planted last sunday has germinated, a few more days might start showing some results.

I picked up another 150 or so 5 inch planters and will be planting all of them today.

for those of you serious about growing jatropha here in south texas. I've found something I think you'll be interested in. I've had this corroborated by Dr. Miller at Texas A&M University as well.

These jatropha curcas plants will grow to height quite a bit faster if you plant them in partial shade, they will strive to get up higher to reach full sunlight. after they are a couple of feet tall, you can move them to full sunlight for the rest of their lives.

but germinating them in partial shade helps them propagate faster.  I've picked up some shade cloth and will be installing it today as well.

I've read of some companies starting projects here in Texas. such as a denver firm, (cant recall the name at the moment) and Green Gold Ray Energies Inc.

I've tried contacting them, neither has responded, Im still looking for a partner with some small to medium amount of acreage to grow JC.

after today's planting i will have enough seedlings, saplings and small trees to cover half an acre. I plan on purchasing about 100 or more 5 inch pots every 2 weeks and getting the plants started so there is a shorter wait between finding the land, planting the jc, and first harvest. I'd love to have a full 2 acres ready (the number of seeds i have on hand right now.

The biggest hassle right now is finding the land. no one seems interested. But I'll keep looking.

Hope your projects are going as well or better than mine. so far Im just having a lot of fun and trying not to be discouraged after every failed attempt at obtaining land.

2 acres is all i need to start.

that would be a good sized project just to prove its feasibility.

open to suggestions, if you have any, leave a comment or email me

clcheek@yahoo.com

clint

 

for the first time, i got my seeds to generate MUCH later than the usual 3-6 or 7 days. I planted 80, in a topsoil/sand (half and half) mixture, after 9 days, there was still 0 of 80 (i had to recount all i had planted). then, the day before yesterday, so August 27th, boom! theres 49, I looked yesterday and had 58, I just got home from work today and there are a total of 72.

So Im still cooking at 90% for this batch. And some more may still come up. I'll give the un-germinated seeds maybe 3 more days. Im happy with 90%. I've still another 50 or so planters to fill, just ran out of soil and sand. (may have another bag of each in the garage, I'll have to check).

this puts me at about 240 seedlings/saplings up and growing now, and a fricken hurricane bearing down on La. I just hope it stays away from Texas.

Putting in my app for the VA loan to get the 25 acres I first mentioned. Hope it goes through, Im very seriously running out of room in my yard. Maybe I should start building a green house in the back yard? Just so I can keep planting all during Fall and Winter. Besides, I'd have a place to put my aeroponic systems then too.

Man this is such a blast.

 

I am purchasing enough equipment to raise 48 plants aeroponically.

I've planted another batch of seeds and will get some more done today as well.

Im going to transfer 48 of the seedlings I have growing now into my aeroponic systems, 12 per system.

i'll keep you updated on how much faster they are growing with aeroponics.

Not much happening, the 50 acres seems to have fallen through. I found 35 acres in Aransas Pass with pretty much the same deal. They provide the land, and mentioned they also had a tractor, tiller, mower, ponds and a few small buildings as well for germination and/or hydroponics.

Havent heard much lately, So I've stopped planting more seeds. I've about 130 or so seedlings/saplings, and really cant plant anymore seeds due to the fact I've run out of space to put them.

My other shipment of seeds has arrived as well, so I have 2200 seeds on hand, I'm hoping they last through fall and the winter (highly doubtful) so i can plant next spring if I find some land.

I keep checking different real estate sites, craigslist, the local papers, and the prices just keep going up. I found a 1/2 acre lot for $75,000 in Holiday Beach of all places, (I am aware there are much cheaper sites for sale, just illustrating how much some land is going for).

Between skyrocketing prices for acreage, and contracts that stipulate I have to put up a $250,000 bond just to do some sharecropping, I am beginning to think i'll probably never find any land to grow on.

I'll keep looking for now though. Hope springs eternal. LOL

I've planted 24 seeds and 19 germinated and are growing. I've replaced the seeds that didnt grow with new seeds, but so far we're looking at about a 75% germination rate for seeds purchased at Echo from Florida, not too bad actually.

I've purchased Burpee for veggies and such and had 0% germination before so I am happy with 75% for Jatropha.

I've tried to upload pics but so far I still dont have access to.

hope to have some up for you soon.

Clint

 

31 going so far. well, a few seeds hasnt germinated yet but will in the next few days.

still looking for land in south texas if you know of any at a decent price. say 3500 per acre or less

 

clint

sorry for the delay in updates.

today, i got my order in from ECHO in florida,

155 seeds (well, 15 packs) average 10 seeds each, 4 bucks per pack.

just got back from walmart with a chevy blazer full of potting soil and some decent sized planters.

 

I've 7 plants started and about to plant as many seeds as i can. now all i need is some land. holy cow its expensive around here.

still trying for some pics to upload on my living plants. i'll get that done soon, i promise.

best of luck to all of you trying.

clint

 

so far, all of my plants are doing well. i've made an offer on 11 acres of land, just waiting on feedback from the owner. kind of doubt it will happen but i remain hopeful. will repost and add pics if it does that way i can better track the growth.