What Are Some Tips for Successful Gardening?

[Evo]

Here is my first attempt at growing peppers. My grocery store jalapeno.

As you can see in the background, summer is gone, so I will be moving this to the office as soon as I get the peppers harvested. It is still flowering, so I have hope that it will continue to be happy.

Looks wonderfully healthy and quite a load there!

If you have ample light, they will continue flowering and producing throughout the winter. The secret is in gently shaking or vibrating the bush when blooms are present in order to release pollen. Trust me, it works like magic.

 

[rhody]

Ms Music,

Very nice, I see you are watering with one of those bulbs from the bottom up, good idea. Let us know what you think of the heat from those peppers when you use them for cooking, etc... Are you sure you don't want some ghost seeds ? With a little practice in small amounts they grow on you. I am planning a test with them with aged tequila next, will let you know how it goes in my Tequila thread, maybe this weekend.

Rhody...

 

[AJKing]

Just reading a few pages of comments, it seems that gardening has been really beneficial for some.

Well, I'm in a bit of a funk and could use a side project. Does anyone have any starter plants to suggest?

It'd have to be something that could grow inside during the Canadian winter, and I'd like it if it bore something edible :P.

 

[NeoDevin]

Just reading a few pages of comments, it seems that gardening has been really beneficial for some.

Well, I'm in a bit of a funk and could use a side project. Does anyone have any starter plants to suggest?

It'd have to be something that could grow inside during the Canadian winter, and I'd like it if it bore something edible :P.

I'm in Edmonton and am successfully growing habanero peppers in pots...

 

[NeoDevin]

I was thinking of that when I mailed them with US postage only. If they bounce I will send them with the correct amount. Earlier this year I had something I ordered for my bike from Canada, and it took 2.5 weeks to arrive. Homeland security measures quadruply multiplied I suspect. One way or another we will get you your seeds, have no fear Rhody is here... hehe...

Rhody...

After a long (14 hours!) day of work today, I didn't get home until almost 11 (about 10 minutes ago), to find that my wife had left an envelope on the table for me. I opened it up to find two little packets of seeds!

Now I just need to find some time to start them...

Thanks!

 

[rhody]

Evo Child has my mail box key, so i don't know yet.

Evo,

Doesn't someone there have a master mailbox key ?
If you are getting mail delivered and I assume you are stalk the mailman and have him get it for you.

Rhody...

 

[rhody]

Just reading a few pages of comments, it seems that gardening has been really beneficial for some.

Well, I'm in a bit of a funk and could use a side project. Does anyone have any starter plants to suggest?

It'd have to be something that could grow inside during the Canadian winter, and I'd like it if it bore something edible :P.

AJ,

Here you go, google is your friend: http://www.growvegetablesindoors.com/what-are-the-easiest-vegetables-to-grow-indoors/"

If you try any of the suggestions, let us know the good, bad and ugly of it will you ?

Rhody...

 

[Ms Music]

Ms Music,

Very nice, I see you are watering with one of those bulbs from the bottom up, good idea. Let us know what you think of the heat from those peppers when you use them for cooking, etc... Are you sure you don't want some ghost seeds ? With a little practice in small amounts they grow on you. I am planning a test with them with aged tequila next, will let you know how it goes in my Tequila thread, maybe this weekend.

Rhody...

I actually haven't watered with the glass bulb, but I figured it would be the best option once I brought it to work (my only south facing window), so I stuck it in when I transplanted it so that I would not damage the roots later when the plant was older. The roots have now grown around the bulb stem. I have just been pouring water into the tray then plopping the pot back into the tray. Works on a deck, but not a desk.

For a cool temperature grown jalapeno, it actually has decent heat. I ate the first red one a few weeks ago. But it definitely is not hot enough for my favorite Thai soup recipe. Not sure what I will use them for, maybe pickled green beans? I need a snack here at work and we have tons of green beans.

About the ghost seeds, I will admit you are wearing me thin on saying no. I actually had a dream last night that I made home made tabasco sauce from your ghosts. I was trying to figure out what container to use (or maybe an eye dropper) when I woke up. My brother has some dried ones that I will attempt eating first, and if they don't cause too much pain, I just may cave. I *DO* like heat, just not pain. Ghosts sound painful!

To Evo: Last time I counted it had two dozen fruits, and still flowering! Most of the fruit is small, but that could be because of the cold summer we had. The only issue it had was the white spots on the leaves when we had long rainy streaks. (I only posted the good side picture, the photo of the other side has the white showing) I have been pleasantly surprised how healthy it has been.

Shout to Turbo: Is it too late to plant garlic? I completely forgot... We don't normally have frost until late, but our heat is definitely gone. 60s in the daytime, high 40s to low 50s at night. Too cold?

 

[turbo]

Shout to Turbo: Is it too late to plant garlic? I completely forgot... We don't normally have frost until late, but our heat is definitely gone. 60s in the daytime, high 40s to low 50s at night. Too cold?

Actually, it is too early to plant garlic. You should wait until you have had some pretty good frosts and the ground has cooled off. I planted mine in hard-frozen ground one December, which was a lot of extra work. Remember to plant the cloves pointy end up, root end down or your garlic will be stunted. Cover them with a couple of inches of soil, and mulch the rows with several inches of oat straw. The garlic will be the first thing up in the spring, unless you grow crocuses.

 

[Ms Music]

Yay! Maybe I still have time to order then. If not, I have no issues with buying some at the store and planting that... For my first attempt, at least.

 

[turbo]

Find a co-op near you and order hard-neck varieties. I use German white garlic and Russian red. They are very tolerant of the cold. The people that supply your co-op will have harvested their garlic back in July/early August and have been curing it by air-drying. It's not too early to locate a source, but you may have to wait a month or two until the co-op gears up for shipping fall bulbs.

 

[Evo]

My ghost pepper has buds!

 

[turbo]

My ghost pepper has buds!

Yay! Sadly, all of my peppers have flowers, and there just isn't enough left of the season to get any chilies out of the new growth.

 

[Evo]

Yay! Sadly, all of my peppers have flowers, and there just isn't enough left of the season to get any chilies out of the new growth.

Mine will be coming inside and getting full spa treatment.

 

[Ms Music]

Mine will be coming inside and getting full spa treatment.

Ooooh, can I steal that phrase?

My pepper will also be getting the full spa treatment. (c) Evo. ;)

 

[Borek]

We have some nice, warm weather now, and my peter peppers are finally ripening

This is strange. I have at least 6 varieties in pots. All treated exactly the same way - same soil, identical watering, same amount of sun. Most plants look OK, some look great, with dark green leaves, some look weak and yellowish. Apparently their needs are slightly different. I think next year I will plant only those that looked good this year. Plus peter peppers (unfortunately they look pathetic )

Now that I think about it... perhaps it was not the same soil. Or at least it was bought in two batches. But I don't remember enough details to say if there is any correlation.

 

[rhody]

Mine will be coming inside and getting full spa treatment.

Make sure you have their nails done and painted nicely too...

I can't believe I just said that !

Did you get your mail ? I am sure the seeds are in there.

Seriously, once you have buds, peppers are about I am guessing 3 to 4 weeks away.

Rhody...

 

[rhody]

This is strange. I have at least 6 varieties in pots. All treated exactly the same way - same soil, identical watering, same amount of sun. Most plants look OK, some look great, with dark green leaves, some look weak and yellowish. Apparently their needs are slightly different. I think next year I will plant only those that looked good this year. Plus peter peppers (unfortunately they look pathetic )

Now that I think about it... perhaps it was not the same soil. Or at least it was bought in two batches. But I don't remember enough details to say if there is any correlation.

Borek,

I only had to deal with one variety, and all of the potential pitfalls with ghosts. With multiple varieties you will drive yourself nuts trying to figure it out and keep it straight. I am facing that now, I have five or more varieties started last weekend. I am sure I will be asking the same questions you are soon.

Rhody...

 

[turbo]

This is the first year out tree has borne peaches. Not a big haul, but they are sweet, ripe, and really juicy. The dark spots on the skins are due to nitrogen deficiency, and don't affect the flavor or quality of the fruit. I have to prune the tree aggressively this winter, and feed it with blood meal and manure next season.

 

[rhody]

Nice haul Turbo... I like fruit, with pears being my favorite.

Rhody...

 

[turbo]

Nice haul Turbo... I like fruit, with pears being my favorite.

Rhody...

I have to get my wife to plant more Hostas under the peach tree, so those big leaves will cushion the fall. Many of the best peaches that I got were ones that had fallen off the tree and onto the ground.

 

[Ms Music]

and feed it with blood meal and manure next season.

Turbo, I can't find the article now (figures...) but a couple of weeks ago I read where someone studied the soil where bone meal had been added, and not added, and found that when blood meal was added the good/bad bacteria levels were actually off. They had decided that they were no longer going to use blood meal, and were trying to get the good bacterial levels back up. I thought the article was in relation to rose care, but as I said I can't find anything with a quick google.

Although in trying to find the article, I found a website stating that deer and rabbits tend to leave plants alone that have been given blood meal. I definitely need to remember that if I ever get moved onto the mountain.

 

[Ouabache]

This is the first year our tree has borne peaches.

Those look like some tastey fruit. Did you find it better to eat them outside. (lest the juice drip all over)

Well it is already that time of the year to replant the garlic. I have a small patch, two 8 ft rows, and the Russian cultivar gave us some wonderful heads this summer.

So I don't know how many happened to catch my thread about https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=498846&page=6,#87" soil (eating beetle grubs, tomato horn worm larvae, & other bugs, mulching the weeds and fertilizing). This fellow down under, has an ingenious approach. Reminds me of a gerbil maze

 

[turbo]

My organic-gardening neighbor built a wood-framed coop with mesh on the top, walls and floor, and shelter in one end. That end had a couple of wheels on it, and he could pick up the lighter end and roll his broilers around anywhere he wanted them. He is a vegetarian, but his wife, daughter, and little grand-daughters love to eat chicken, and he wanted the girls to know where that chicken-meat comes from. They watched him slaughter the birds and prepare them for the freezer.

When another neighbor (squeamish guy!) called me to come gut out a deer that he had shot, the girls graduated from seeing chickens slaughtered to seeing a nice buck being gutted out. Their grandfather and I gave them an anatomy lesson along the way, pointing out the intestines, stomach, etc, and how they are connected, showing them the liver, lungs, heart, etc. As "payment" for gutting out the deer, my squeamish neighbor let me take home organ meats, and I gave some of both the heart and liver to the girls' grandfather so he could prepare them for their supper. Thumbs up on the heart, and less enthusiasm for the liver.

I was brought up doing this kind of stuff (helping when I could) from the time I was very young, and it's something that most kids these days have no chance of witnessing or participating in.

I generally don't plant my garlic until the soil is very cold, but short of freezing. If garlic gets too much of a head-start before the severely cold weather arrives, the sprouts could be damaged over the winter, despite being well-mulched with straw. Of course, around here, night-time winter temps of -20 to -30 deg are not out of the question.

 

[turbo]

Cold rainy weather - blah! No danger of killing frost soon, but I have a bumper-crop of unripe chili peppers and they'll never ripen. The drought stunted my plants, then waves of heavy rains came. The plants actually perked up and the peppers filled out, but we didn't get enough hot sunny weather to ripen them. I hate making chili relishes out of all green peppers, but that may be my only option this year, if a sneak frost doesn't get my garden first.

 

[Astronuc]

Cold rainy weather - blah! No danger of killing frost soon, but I have a bumper-crop of unripe chili peppers and they'll never ripen. The drought stunted my plants, then waves of heavy rains came. The plants actually perked up and the peppers filled out, but we didn't get enough hot sunny weather to ripen them. I hate making chili relishes out of all green peppers, but that may be my only option this year, if a sneak frost doesn't get my garden first.

That's pretty much been the case since Irene blew through. We've had a few days of sun, but the rest overcast or raining. It's been too cool or wet for peppers and tomatoes. The kale loves it.

I found one more orange habanero, and there are about 2 dozen on plant and a dozen on the other that a green. They are also about 30 to 50% smaller than I've had in the past. I just tried on that I picked a few weeks ago. It is hot! I also harvested some ripened jalapeños (7), cayenne (6) and hot cherry (2). There are dozens more on several plants, but they are all green. And the bigger of two habanero plants has more flowers.

 

[NeoDevin]

Of course, around here, night-time winter temps of -20 to -30 deg are not out of the question.

You southerners and your mild winters. Around here daytime winter temps of -40 are not out of the question.

 

[Borek]

This year most of my peppers are definitely much more mild than the last year. I wonder what it means for the new variety that feels hot

I must admit I am not THAT into hot peppers. My eyes got tearful just from reading about ghost peppers.

 

[turbo]

I hauled all of my pepper plants this afternoon. Most got hit by this morning's frost, and tomorrow morning's frost is expected to be much harder. I got lots of sweet peppers, like Bells and poblanos. An igloo cooler full of Hungarian Wax (paprika) chilies and habaneros. Plus over 1/2 of a 32 quart cooler full of jalapenos. I have to find homes for these peppers. Due to the crappy growing season, they are not anywhere near as hot as I have hoped. While I was pulling habanero plants, I was eating raw peppers. This is NOT a normal year. I won't bother sending chilies (Carribean Reds/Savinas) to Rhody as they are not worth the effort. If I can eat them on the fly while harvesting them, they are not hot enough to merit attention.

 

[turbo]

Preparing for tonight's hard freeze, my wife harvested all our Rosemary. It is now hanging from the beams in our kitchen, and the place smells great.

 

[Astronuc]

We had frost this morning. I think the peppers are still surviving. No hard freeze yet.

 

[rhody]

I just changed from one pot to three separate pots and added some new soil for my ghosts. Have them indoors under grow light and if warm enough put out in the sun during the day, peppers and buds are still forming. I only got one chocolate ghost out of the bunch I tried to start 14 days ago, I used up all my old seeds, that is probably the reason. Just started 5 ghosts (new seeds) in a new container in these high tech seed bed thingees, I will take a picture and post, they look like Styrofoam cups, and are split to the middle on one side, you wet them, squeeze out excess moisture, the plop the seed where ever you wish, and put on a heat mat in closed container. Every day of two, check them and spritz with a water spray, and hope fully they will sprout. Since they are man made, there is no fungus, germs, etc... to worry about in the soil. Will see if they work or not.

Rhody...

P.S.

Here is a picture of the new starter things I used. They were just released so you won't find them anywhere. They look like cotton balls but have a firmer consistency.

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/2536/startern.jpg

 

[Evo]

We're having an Indian summer, 86F tomorrow.

 

[PAllen]

Very poorly. My wife and I have excellent brown thumbs.

 

[Evo]

I just changed from one pot to three separate pots and added some new soil for my ghosts. Have them indoors under grow light and if warm enough put out in the sun during the day, peppers and buds are still forming. I only got one chocolate ghost out of the bunch I tried to start 14 days ago, I used up all my old seeds, that is probably the reason. Just started 5 ghosts (new seeds) in a new container in these high tech seed bed thingees, I will take a picture and post, they look like Styrofoam cups, and are split to the middle on one side, you wet them, squeeze out excess moisture, the plop the seed where ever you wish, and put on a heat mat in closed container. Every day of two, check them and spritz with a water spray, and hope fully they will sprout. Since they are man made, there is no fungus, germs, etc... to worry about in the soil. Will see if they work or not.

Rhody...

Jiffy 7 pellets. pellets. low tech. cheap. my ghost was started in a pellet

 

[rhody]

Jiffy 7 pellets. pellets. low tech. cheap. my ghost was started in a pellet

I know Evo loves to rub it in. hehe... BTW, did you get the peppers and gloves I sent to you ? Go have a look at my last post, those things are funky looking, huh ? Will see if they work in a few days.

Rhody...

 

[turbo]

My chilies are very disappointing. While I was pulling up the plants and harvesting chilies, I was eating habanero chilies whole. Very mild! I had hoped to send some to rhody for comparison with his ghosts, but there is no point in it. Somehow, the peppers never developed any real heat this year. I got quite a lot of fruits, but there isn't anything practical that I can do with them because they are too mild to make relishes or salsas out of.

 

[Borek]

This is interesting, as my peppers are also much milder than the last year - and while it could happen there was a similar weather here and in Maine, it would be quite a coincidence.

 

[turbo]

Our summer started out cool and wet, then we went into an extended drought, followed by very wet weather from the remnants of two hurricanes. The plants were very lush and green and were still flowering when I pulled them out (just in time to avoid a hard frost). Still, the chilies never developed the heat that I am used to.

I wonder also if the truck-load of manure that I tilled in last fall gave the chilies too much nitrogen... I wish I could have left them in the ground longer - we're heading into a very warm spell. Currently, it's sunny and 80 deg in the shade, and a week of this might have helped a bit.

 

[Evo]

I know Evo loves to rub it in. hehe... BTW, did you get the peppers and gloves I sent to you ? Go have a look at my last post, those things are funky looking, huh ? Will see if they work in a few days.

Rhody...

Ok, I'm taking a crowbar to my mailbox tomorrow.

 

[Evo]

Our summer started out cool and wet, then we went into an extended drought, followed by very wet weather from the remnants of two hurricanes. The plants were very lush and green and were still flowering when I pulled them out (just in time to avoid a hard frost). Still, the chilies never developed the heat that I am used to.

I wonder also if the truck-load of manure that I tilled in last fall gave the chilies too much nitrogen... I wish I could have left them in the ground longer - we're heading into a very warm spell. Currently, it's sunny and 80 deg in the shade, and a week of this might have helped a bit.

No, you didn't pull them out!

 

[turbo]

No, you didn't pull them out!

Yep, I did. The tops were already withered and blackened by frost, and the next night's frost was expected to be much harder. It was. Squash, cukes, peas, etc... bye-bye. Broccolli and kale can hang on 'til snow, as can root vegetables such as beets and carrots, otherwise the productive period of the garden is gone. Time to harvest the apples and process them for freezing and button up the place for cold weather.

 

[Astronuc]

turbo, may be you should use a plastic sheet for a few days. One year I pulled some plants only to have a warm, mild spell before the really cold weather set in.

Another year, I kept tomatoes in the ground until November. I'd covered them with plastic sheet, and I seem to remember using a 100 W lamp under the sheet. They kept producing and I had shopping bags of tomatoes, although at that point, most were green.

I've still got my peppers in the ground. The days are cool, and the nights are clear and usually upper 30's or low 40's. I'm thinking of using the plastic sheet again to warm up the air around the peppers and keep them warm at night.

 

[rhody]

My peppers had a hot day on my trek deck, and when I came home all three plants were wilting from the heat, being given off by the deck planking. I watered them and put them on the lawn. This stressing gives them more heat, they look fine this morning. Too much heat for too long and pftttt, no more ghost plants, so you walk a tight rope when you do this.

I should have taken a before and after picture to show you. I will try to remember next time.

Rhody...

 

[dlgoff]

I'm going to take your advice of starting some ghost seeds now rhody. I have the heating pad, pots, soil, and seeds () but still need to round up a good grow light.

 

[rhody]

I'm going to take your advice of starting some ghost seeds now rhody. I have the heating pad, pots, soil, and seeds () but still need to round up a good grow light.

I just got my confirmation and pwd to the Ghost Pepper Guide from Ms Music's link ghostpeppers.com, but the site has been hacked, only the first page is showing. Will let you know what I learn when the owner, Paul, fixes it, I sent him a heads up e-mail.
Today was ideal for growing hot and dry. Did the peppers get there yet Don ?

Rhody...

 

[dlgoff]

I just got my confirmation and pwd to the Ghost Pepper Guide from Ms Music's link ghostpeppers.com, but the site has been hacked, only the first page is showing. Will let you know what I learn when the owner, Paul, fixes it, I sent him a heads up e-mail.
Today was ideal for growing hot and dry. Did the peppers get there yet Don ?

Rhody...

No mail yesterday but I'm expecting them this afternoon. My taste buds are already watering. [URL]http://www.fishesninverts.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_drooling.gif[/URL]

Edit: They arrived this afternoon. Thanks a lot. I used an X-Acto knife to slice one of the green ones starting from the bottom. The last slice was the top half. The best word I could come up with to describe the flavor and heat; delightful. Now I am even more excited about growing these little morsels.

 

[Borg]

My wife and I went for a country drive yesterday. As we always do this time of year, we checked out a few apple orchards online beforehand. My wife is always looking for a bargain and always asks if they have seconds (or sauce apples) for a reduced price. When she called one they told her that "anything left on the ground is free". She asked if there was much left and they replied "it depends on how energetic you are". We were energetic.

 

[rhody]

My wife and I went for a country drive yesterday. As we always do this time of year, we checked out a few apple orchards online beforehand. My wife is always looking for a bargain and always asks if they have seconds (or sauce apples) for a reduced price. When she called one they told her that "anything left on the ground is free". She asked if there was much left and they replied "it depends on how energetic you are". We were energetic.

Nice Haul Borg(s) family,

Ghost apple sauce perhaps ?!

Rhody...

 

[Astronuc]

My wife and I went for a country drive yesterday. As we always do this time of year, we checked out a few apple orchards online beforehand. My wife is always looking for a bargain and always asks if they have seconds (or sauce apples) for a reduced price. When she called one they told her that "anything left on the ground is free". She asked if there was much left and they replied "it depends on how energetic you are". We were energetic.

Lot's of apple sauce, apple crisp, apple pie, stewed apple, and/or apple cider!