What Are Some Tips for Successful Gardening?

[Ms Music]

White German, huh? I will have to see if I can find that on this side of the continent... So outside of the fact that it is organic, and YOURS, ;) what is so special about this garlic? This is the first year I have thought about growing it as my brother uses TONS. I intend to get the hard neck for storage purposes, but I personally don't know much about garlic... Also, do you have any suggestions for softneck?

ps - I just perused my favorite local seed catalog, and they don't have White German... *sniff* I will have to go through all my catalogs this weekend. Need to order anyway!

 

[hypatia]

Garlic is garlic,and onions are onions, but its the soil that makes a difference. If I planted Turbos garlic here, it would not taste the same.

 

[Ms Music]

Yeah, I kind of figured that... I went through my catalogs this weekend, and none of the local ones sold those varieties. His favorite varieties probably wouldn't even grow here, as we have such a short, cool summer. () So I guess I will stick with the ones that sounded good when I went through the catalog a month or so back. Best stick with what growers know perform best locally!

But I still would like to know if his garlic is so desired because of something like size, or heat, or something else. Not that I would sell mine like he does, its just that having the bulbs be really REALLY good is probably the only thing that would encourage me to make space to grow them year after year.

 

[turbo]

But I still would like to know if his garlic is so desired because of something like size, or heat, or something else. Not that I would sell mine like he does, its just that having the bulbs be really REALLY good is probably the only thing that would encourage me to make space to grow them year after year.

I plant my garlic cloves in the late fall or early winter. Keep your soil well-fertilized with composted manure and/or well-rotted compost, and your garlic will thrive. It's important to mulch the beds with mats of clean straw, IMO, to keep the soil-temperature up in the spring. I get early crops, and get summer heat (in shaded shelter) to cure the garlic. Curing is really important. Leave the fronds on, and hang the garlic to cure it so that the goodness from the foliage gets taken up by the bulb.

 

[dlgoff]

I have a common Silver Maple tree like this,

and just noticed it is blooming. And low and behold...Honey Bees.

Yea!

 

[turbo]

Yeah, I kind of figured that... I went through my catalogs this weekend, and none of the local ones sold those varieties. His favorite varieties probably wouldn't even grow here, as we have such a short, cool summer. () So I guess I will stick with the ones that sounded good when I went through the catalog a month or so back. Best stick with what growers know perform best locally!

But I still would like to know if his garlic is so desired because of something like size, or heat, or something else. Not that I would sell mine like he does, its just that having the bulbs be really REALLY good is probably the only thing that would encourage me to make space to grow them year after year.

FedCo Bulbs has an on-line presence, so you can order from them. Our growing seasons are short and generally cool, but that's not a problem with German White or Russian Red hard-neck varieties. Order the bulbs in summer for fall shipment. Separate the cloves and plant them in well-fertilized (manure and compost) beds before a hard frost, and mulch them well. They will be one of the first plants to emerge (though crocuses can beat them to the punch), and they will mature by July, probably so you can hang them in a shady warm place to cure.

The bulbs are kind of pricey, so you might have to hold off on eating your first years' crop and save those bulbs for propagation and planting next year's crop.

http://www.fedcoseeds.com/bulbs.htm

 

[Borg]

I've been trying to get my wife to grow vegetables in our garden for several years. I know that once she sees how much can be grown, she will be hooked.

Because of the increasing food prices at the store, I finally convinced my wife to let me have a small container to grow some lettuce. After that, she decided to also grow some dill and arugula also. We planted them yesterday.

 

[turbo]

I've been trying to get my wife to grow vegetables in our garden for several years. I know that once she sees how much can be grown, she will be hooked.

Because of the increasing food prices at the store, I finally convinced my wife to let me have a small container to grow some lettuce. After that, she decided to also grow some dill and arugula also. We planted them yesterday.

Another herb that does very well in containers is basil. Get the Italian bush variety for the best yield. Fresh basil is wonderful for cooking, and you can make pesto out of it, too. We also plant Thai basil, which is nice too. Still, try the traditional Italian variety first.

 

[physics girl phd]

mmm... specialty garlic. I used to saute varieties from our farmer's market in butter and used the mix in popcorn.

I'm wondering what I'll plant in one of the herb pots that our landlord left in the front porch. The rosemary in one of them didn't make it through the winter. The chives are coming in nicely though.

 

[Borg]

Another herb that does very well in containers is basil. Get the Italian bush variety for the best yield. Fresh basil is wonderful for cooking, and you can make pesto out of it, too. We also plant Thai basil, which is nice too. Still, try the traditional Italian variety first.

Yeah, I wanted to plant basil but she doesn't like it. The main goal is to get her interested in growing food so it's not a big deal.

 

[Astronuc]

It's almost gardening season. We may have snow tomorrow though.

In the meantime, think about food, the land and good stewarship.

http://farmproject.org/content/food_matters_for_stewardship

If one doesn't have a garden, join a local CSA.

 

[dlgoff]

I did a light till today to get the goodies (ash & chicken pop) distributed and to remove small weeds wanting to start. It shouldn't be too long before I begin planting some cold crops.

 

[turbo]

CSA farming is catching on here, in more of a formal fashion that it had been in years past. A lady that I knew casually gardened, sold produce, waitressed, and worked other extra jobs in the off-season for years to save money to buy farmland. She now has her own 25-acre farm and some well-worn equipment, and she sells shares to consumers. She gets money for seed, diesel, fertilizer (organic), etc, and in return, her consumers get weekly boxes of fresh organic produce. If yields are good, her production far exceeds her generous shares, and she can make extra money at the local farmers' markets. In a bad year (we've had a couple, recently) things can get real tight, but she's still hanging in there.

If my wife should pre-decease me, I'd will my Kubota and accessories to Billie. She deserves the help.

 

[physics girl phd]

We just had a friend (about 4 years younger than me) buy a 6-acre farm last summer in an auction in Yellow Springs OH (where I used to live when I worked for the Air Force Research Labs). She's got her work cut out for her.

The farmhouse was deemed uninhabitable by her original bank (and I could see why), but she had enough in savings to buy it without them.. and did live there this past winter, probably heated as much by her two dogs as by her newly inserted woodstove. But she's put in more insulation, reroofed the house, cleared out a lot of trash and made other improvements to the two small outlying buildings, started flocks of chickens and ducks, etc... as well as taken down two "free barns" she found on craigslist and transported the lumber to her place, with plans to rebuild (at least in part) at her place (to add sheep or goats, and possibly rabbits). She's done much of this kind of thing before in helping other people with their farms, and has been a farm manager for another farm for 2-3 years, so she knows her stuff (and is stubborn), so I don't doubt she'll get it going (though I told her if things feel tight she should consider selling the lumber from ONE of the barns to a furniture-maker -- her place is starting to get called "the lumberyard" and other people with barns they want gone are calling her!). She will continue vending another farm's raw milk and cheeses at the farmer's markets along with her fresh produce, and house yet another farm's two farm-interns... so there's at least some additional income (and another local has arranged to park his camper on her property for just enough to cover her annual property taxes). She's not going to go CSA yet for a few years, to establish the crops and know how well things are going... but is looking to do so eventually.

Can't wait to see her on a drive-through this spring or summer and see her planted crops. Since she just acquired the farm last summer, she didn't have any "crops" then except for the eggs (she got a deal on her starter flocks because they were just turning one).

 

[turbo]

I just placed my seed order with Johnny's. With shipping, it's almost exactly $80. Still, I don't mind doing the work and amending the soil, etc, so the money for seed is dwarfed by the value of the food that we get out of that garden. Even in "bad" years with inconsistent temperatures, droughts, and monsoons, we get plenty of food to use fresh, can, pickle, freeze, and put into cold storage. This year, I'm going to till up another section of front lawn (almost no front lawn left - Yay!) for an herb garden. Plenty of varieties of basil, oregano, parsley, cilantro, etc to grow. Plus I ordered a low-bushing variety of ornamental (very colorful) and edible hot peppers called "Prairie Fire". My wife can use them to border her stone raised-bed flower garden.

 

[dlgoff]

Turbo. Is your ankle going to be ready in time for planting preparation? Be easy on it at first so you can make full use of the growing season.

I'm in the process of putting up a shed in my garden area to keep all my garden implements. I've already done a light leveling/spreading till; next a deep till then plant.

 

[Evo]

Turbo. Is your ankle going to be ready in time for planting preparation? Be easy on it at first so you can make full use of the growing season.

I'm in the process of putting up a shed in my garden area to keep all my garden implements. I've already done a light leveling/spreading till; next a deep till then plant.

How's my chicken?

 

[dlgoff]

How's my chicken?

I attached somed pictures in the "PF Random Thoughts" thread. You may have missed them. https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=3227664&postcount=7705"

This is was April 3rd:

[PLAIN]https://www.physicsforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=33980&d=1301871732

Now their wing feather are starting to develop. But still "cheep" and are still really cute.

If you had a cage etc., I would bring it too you. Otherwise, next summer when they start laying, I can ship you her fresh eggs. Home grown eggs have thicker shells and can last for months refrigerated and when I collect them, they get washed and go directly in the refrigerator.

 

[Evo]

I attached somed pictures in the "PF Random Thoughts" thread. You may have missed them. https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=3227664&postcount=7705"

This is was April 3rd:

[PLAIN]https://www.physicsforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=33980&d=1301871732

Now their wing feather are starting to develop. But still "cheep" and are still really cute.

If you had a cage etc., I would bring it too you. Otherwise, next summer when they start laying, I can ship you her fresh eggs. Home grown eggs have thicker shells and can last for months refrigerated and when I collect them, they get washed and go directly in the refrigerator.

I did miss them!

Awww, they're so cute! They stay in a little pile. I love you for raising one for me! I can't wait to get eggs!

 

[turbo]

Turbo. Is your ankle going to be ready in time for planting preparation? Be easy on it at first so you can make full use of the growing season.

I'm taking it real easy on the loads, and trying to work on no-load flexibility, stretching, etc for rehabilitation. One way or another, I'm going to make this all work. If I need a neighbor to help me wrestle around that big PTO tiller (lots of iron there) and attach it, I can arrange that, easy.

I'll have to watch the preliminary hand-work (hoeing, setting up my cattle-panel trellises, etc) so I don't get re-injured with unexpected footing on soft or uneven ground, but I can deal with it. I'm not unemployed/disabled. I have a full-time summer job growing, tending, harvesting, processing, canning, and freezing food. Luckily, my wife has an industrial job that provides her with 401K opportunities and health insurance for both of us.

I might have to expand my garlic production next year. The artisan butcher/deli shop proprietor wants even more hard-neck garlic than I can provide, and after the first time that my wife took a batch for them to "try out", her husband the butcher told her not to sell any of it, but to keep it for their use. My wife took a much larger batch to them, so his wife displayed it prominently with what I think are excessive prices, and it has disappeared. Their regular customers are willing to pay 95 cents/bulb for high-quality garlic and stop in asking for it. I can't afford to be certified as an organic grower, but there has never been a speck of herbicide/fungicide/chemical plant-food used on this property since we bought it 6 years ago. The quality of the food speaks for itself, though.

BTW, If I got certified organic, I could easily charge $3/bulb plus shipping for this high-quality hard-neck garlic. That's what FedCo charges, and they severely limit quantities, and sell out every year.

 

[dlgoff]

I can't wait to get eggs!

It will be a pleasure.

Hey. You have a meat man. Now you'll have an egg man.

 

[dlgoff]

...The quality of the food speaks for itself, though.

I know exactly what you mean. Garden produce, just like home grown eggs; once you tried them, store bought just taste awful.

I've raised gain (corn & milo) feed steers and the cuts of beef can't be compared to anything you can buy.

 

[hypatia]

Now you'll have an egg man.

coocoocachew

 

[Evo]

coocoocachew

LOL. Isn't my baby CUUUTE? :!)

 

[lisab]

coocoocachew

So glad I'm not the only one who thought that

 

[turbo]

I am not the egg-man. A very cute young lady approached me last summer while I was distributing garlic to lady-friends, and told me that I am the garlic-man, though. She is an artist and she supports the local community garden, so I got her started growing hard-neck garlic. She has young kids in the school district and helps tend the community garden located in back of the elementary school, so I'll help her with garlic production as needed. Growing garlic is not a typical avocation for gardeners, here. It's much more typical for people to fall back to growing stuff that their grandparents grew, like varieties of pole beans or strains of red potatoes, for instance.

 

[Borek]

Out of 10 Peter Pepper seeds put into soil over two weeks ago, only one germinated so far

 

[Borg]

Our lettuce and arugula has sprouted but the dill hasn't made an appearance yet. I'm looking forward to lots of lettuce this summer.

 

[Evo]

Here is a branch on one of the jalapeno plants that I brought inside during the winter. It's blooming and setting peppers like crazy.

 

[dlgoff]

Here is a branch on one of the jalapeno plants that I brought inside during the winter. It's blooming and setting peppers like crazy.

Excellent. It's starting to get warm and sunny enough that you will be able to get it back outside. What a great head start.

I know a couple that has a pepper plant they've been bringing in every winter for many years. They had to transplant it in a half barrel sized planter. I'm kidding you not. The "trunk" was ~4" in diameter and had bark on it like a tree.

I just got back from buying my green house cold crops. So I'm hoping that we don't get a lot of hot/above average days. I going to wait until late afternoon to put them in the ground so today's sun doesn't shock them. I bought 1/2 dozen of each; Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts.

 

[turbo]

I would love to have enough sunlight in this cabin to bring in some prized peppers, but I have neither the space for large containers, nor enough light to keep the plants alive. After my father-in-law lost one leg to gangrene (complication of diabetes) and was still gravely ill, he started raising chili peppers in a galvanized wash-tub in a sunny window. They were very snarly little peppers!

He picked up a taste for very hot peppers during WWII, as a liaison between the military and governments in Indo-China, working with insurgent groups in Japanese-occupied territories and helping arrange the construction of air-fields/refueling stops. The poor guy suffered long-term effects of malaria and other tropical diseases all the rest of his life, which certainly didn't make his battle with diabetes any easier.

 

[Borek]

4/10 germinated. Still not as expected, but better than two days ago. Peter Pepper seems to be a slow starter - all other peppers germinated much earlier.

 

[turbo]

4/10 germinated. Still not as expected, but better than two days ago. Peter Pepper seems to be a slow starter - all other peppers germinated much earlier.

Hopefully you can pick a peck.

 

[dlgoff]

I just got back from buying my green house cold crops. So I'm hoping that we don't get a lot of hot/above average days. I going to wait until late afternoon to put them in the ground so today's sun doesn't shock them. I bought 1/2 dozen of each; Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts.

We are having some cool damp weather right now and my cold crops are loving it. It's 43 deg F.

 

[Astronuc]

Excellent. It's starting to get warm and sunny enough that you will be able to get it back outside. What a great head start.

I know a couple that has a pepper plant they've been bringing in every winter for many years. They had to transplant it in a half barrel sized planter. I'm kidding you not. The "trunk" was ~4" in diameter and had bark on it like a tree.

I just got back from buying my green house cold crops. So I'm hoping that we don't get a lot of hot/above average days. I going to wait until late afternoon to put them in the ground so today's sun doesn't shock them. I bought 1/2 dozen of each; Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts.

I have never heard of a pepper plant lasting many years. Any chance you could get a picture?! A 4-inch dia. trunk is impressive!

 

[dlgoff]

I have never heard of a pepper plant lasting many years. Any chance you could get a picture?! A 4-inch dia. trunk is impressive!

It impressed me too. Especially the bark. I'll try to get over to their house and get a picture (I'll need to borrow my daughters camera).

In the winter, it didn't seem to be getting that much light, however it was in a south facing window. They gave me a sample of the fruit (in the summer they move it outdoors) and I didn't think it tasted all that good.

 

[rhody]

It impressed me too. Especially the bark. I'll try to get over to their house and get a picture (I'll need to borrow my daughters camera).

In the winter, it didn't seem to be getting that much light, however it was in a south facing window. They gave me a sample of the fruit (in the summer they move it outdoors) and I didn't think it tasted all that good.

Astro, dlgoff,

I have a chili book that claims with proper care, the plants can live ten years or more, however, when dlgoff claims that the pepper plant is in a barrel and is 4 inches in diameter, that may be true, but at that size they have to be more than ten years old, however, I am only guessing. I posted a picture of bansi pepper plant from my pepper book awhile ago in this thead, I just dug the book out again, and here are three other pics adjacent to it, see thumbnails... Compared to these pictures, the trunk must be twice as big as the pic on the right, it will be interesting to see them in comparison.

I just moved four more plants from starter seed cups to a small pot, keeping the roots warm and watering sparingly from the bottom with warm water. My other three ghost pepper plants (started late January) are looking real healthy and getting big, hope to see them produce good pepper stock this year. I am thinking about bringing some to a local bagel shop, have them chop them (with rubber gloves on) real fine and bake into bagels, they may not be able to sniff the vapors while they cook, right now it is just a pie in the sky idea, but whole knows they could catch on. Time will tell.

Rhody...

 

[Ouabache]

I attached somed pictures in the "PF Random Thoughts" thread.
This is was April 3rd...
...Home grown eggs have thicker shells and can last for months refrigerated and when I collect them, they get washed and go directly in the refrigerator.

Ah say boy, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTwnwbG9YLE"... So we have another backyard chicken enthusiast.. Good to hear it. You mention red pullets (in the other post).. Are you referring to Rhody Reds?

I'm a member of a local chicken co-op, we have 7 families all pitching in, we take care of 22 laying hens.. and have Rhodys (brown eggs) Leghorns (white eggs) & Ameraucanas (blue-green eggs).. These were born last April. And yep I can attest, the eggs do have thicker shells, especially with all the calcium we give them. But I wouldn't want to keep eggs around for months (refrigerated or otherwise).. The "http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/Does_Washing_Food_Promote_Food_Safety/index.asp" " (natural coating) on freshly laid eggs, act as an antibiotic, keeping bacteria from penetrating the shell.. Washing fresh eggs removes this bloom. I don't wash my eggs til using them. Only when giving them to friends & family will I go the extra step and wash any soil or poop off.

These friendly critters often undertake this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ9wlI4GXck" chook is quite a show stopper.

To keep this in the realm of gardening.. Chickens will eat bugs that are garden pests. They are a great source of natural fertilizer and will even trim your lawn

 

[dlgoff]

Astro, dlgoff,

I have a chili book that claims with proper care, the plants can live ten years or more, however, when dlgoff claims that the pepper plant is in a barrel and is 4 inches in diameter, that may be true, but at that size they have to be more than ten years old, however, I am only guessing. I posted a picture of bansi pepper plant from my pepper book awhile ago in this thead, I just dug the book out again, and here are three other pics adjacent to it, see thumbnails... Compared to these pictures, the trunk must be twice as big as the pic on the right, it will be interesting to see them in comparison.

The middle and right picture are similar to the plant that these folks have. Thanks for posting them.

They told me once what type it was, but I've forgotten now. The fruit had a sort of purple hue.

 

[dlgoff]

Ah say boy, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTwnwbG9YLE"... So we have another backyard chicken enthusiast.. Good to hear it. You mention red pullets (in the other post).. Are you referring to Rhody Reds?

You know, I'm not sure. I bought them from the Tractor Supply Company and they were just call red pullets. I'm assuming they are Rhody Reds. Anyway, they said "I hope you like brown eggs"; which I do.

 

[rhody]

Ouabache,

Ohh, the shame, imagine, poor Rhody now being reduced to nothing more than a brown egg laying machine...

I should have thought of this possibility before choosing my name over two years ago. Face-palm... expletive deleted...

Rhody... (No..., hear comes the Dogpile, I can feel it http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...dsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:21,s:24&biw=1366&bih=585"...)

 

[turbo]

I hobbled out to the garden to check the garlic, and the shoots are poking through the heavy straw mulch. We have some unseasonably cold weather in the forecast, so I can't pull back the straw to give the garlic a chance to get up to the light. Garlic is very cold-hardy, but I don't want to find out what a hard freeze could do to the plants.

 

[dlgoff]

Take it easy on the ankle turbo. You have plenty of good weather coming.

 

[turbo]

Take it easy on the ankle turbo. You have plenty of good weather coming.

Yes, I'm pushing it and I shouldn't. Then later today my wife volunteered me to take the tractor to a neighbor's house and pull some diseased evergreens bordering their driveway. Unfortunately, neither the owner or her son knew anything about how to rig a chain, so I had to get off the tractor, hobble out to the bucket and show him how TWICE. I'm pretty sore now and the swelling has gotten worse. Time to lay low for a few days.

My wife thought it would be a nice gesture because running the tractor isn't too tough on the ankle, and there would be a male there to handle the rigging. Unfortunately, he was absolutely clueless, so I had to rig the chain myself the first couple of times so I wouldn't have to raise the loader bucket excessively (unsafe condition under heavy loads). My wife is used to rural Maine guys who know how to run and maintain heavy equipment, run chain saws, etc. Instead, I got teamed up with a life-long city boy. Live and learn.

 

[Ouabache]

You know, I'm not sure. I bought them from the Tractor Supply Company and they were just call red pullets. I'm assuming they are Rhody Reds. Anyway, they said "I hope you like brown eggs"; which I do.

I think you will like the Rhody's. They are more a consistent egg-layer and also friendly
chickens. They don't mind if you pick them up and hold them.. Here’s a http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpZyDSnZ6VM" they are. You get to hear their funny cackling sounds in this clip.. I wonder what kind of coop are you going to build for them? Don't forget to protect them from wild predators (short list: fox, coon, possums, fisher-cats, owls, skunks & notagoshawks )

Ohh, the shame, imagine, poor Rhody now being reduced to nothing more than a brown egg laying machine...
I should have thought of this possibility before choosing my name over two years ago. Face-palm...

Hey, now we've given you some new ideas, in case you'd like to change your avitar

 

[dlgoff]

I think you will like the Rhody's. They are more a consistent egg-layer and also friendly
chickens. They don't mind if you pick them up and hold them.
...

I wonder what kind of coop are you going to build for them? Don't forget to protect them from wild predators (short list: fox, coon, possums, fisher-cats, owls, skunks & notagoshawks )

I've raised red chickens for several years; it's just been a while.

I have a wood constructed building with steel barn roofing. The inside is floored with nesting boxes.

I do have to rebuild the outside pin so that they will be safe from predators when they go out during the day. But for now, they can just stay inside until I get around to buying some rolls of chicken wire.

 

[dlgoff]

I just got back from buying my green house cold crops. So I'm hoping that we don't get a lot of hot/above average days. I going to wait until late afternoon to put them in the ground so today's sun doesn't shock them. I bought 1/2 dozen of each; Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts.

We are having some cool damp weather right now and my cold crops are loving it. It's 43 deg F.

The cold crops are doing really well. I can see some really good stir fry dishes coming this summer.

Today I finally got around to put out some tomato plants. It was a perfect day with high humidity, cloudy to prevent sun shock, and a little rain coming later tonight. It's been a long time since there's been a good tomato season here. But I'm thinking this year is the year for a bumper crop. Bacon and tomato sandwiches, here we come.

 

[Ms Music]

I have flowers on one of my tomatoes! So hopefully I will be getting better weather this year, and gorging on bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches (or just tomato sandwich). Yummmm!

Cold crops are almost done, everything is going to seed. We just stir fried all the leaves and flower heads (like broccoli flowerettes) from the brussel sprouts. The only thing left now is kale and collard greens. And they will be gleaned here shortly. *sigh* Must get garden planted SOON! Must not resort to nasty grocery store food...

Also, must look into growing a pepper at work next winter. *lightbulb moment*

 

[Evo]

The cold crops are doing really well. I can see some really good stir fry dishes coming this summer.

Today I finally got around to put out some tomato plants. It was a perfect day with high humidity, cloudy to prevent sun shock, and a little rain coming later tonight. It's been a long time since there's been a good tomato season here. But I'm thinking this year is the year for a bumper crop. Bacon and tomato sandwiches, here we come.

The weather channel is calling for large damaging hail tonight. I hope you are spared.

 

[dlgoff]

The weather channel is calling for large damaging hail tonight. I hope you are spared.

I just watched the forecast for my area (DirecTV by area code) and they are saying a 40% chance of thunderstorms late tonight but I don't see any hail in the forecast. To me, it looks like the heavier storms may be southeast of you. Anyway thanks for your hope.

Have you moved that pepper plant outdoors yet? You might want to make sure it's protected just in case.