What Are Some Tips for Successful Gardening?

[Ms Music]

Impressive! I've seen figs on trees, but not 3 inches diameter - not even in Houston.

*puffs up with pride* Thanks! I really should have placed that one on the gram scale.

Turbo, if you can grow any varieties in your area, you really should get one. They are HEAVEN. I would say even MORE of a difference between peaches and plums. An improperly picked fig will taste like dirt. They absolutely MUST be picked with either cracks or honey dripping, and can not be shipped or they would be a puddle of goo. If you look at the picture, you can see the cracks in both figs.

Which reminds me, I need to run past my rental house and pick Italian Prunes if they are on.

 

[turbo]

Turbo, if you can grow any varieties in your area, you really should get one. They are HEAVEN.

I don't know anybody who grows figs here. I'll have to look into it. You get nice (though wet) weather moderated by the Pacific. We get relentless (COLD!) arctic highs all winter, and lots of fruit trees will not survive the winters.

 

[flyingpig]

In the 4th grade we planted flowers for assignment. Needless to say, mine died...

Gardens r way to expensive for me

 

[Ms Music]

I don't know anybody who grows figs here. I'll have to look into it. You get nice (though wet) weather moderated by the Pacific. We get relentless (COLD!) arctic highs all winter, and lots of fruit trees will not survive the winters.

If there aren't any varieties that are cold hardy to your area, figs actually are quite happy in a pot as they are very slow growers. My fig tree is still in a pot, it was just pruned last year for the 1st time. Those two figs actually came from my brother's tree, no one knows what variety it is, but it doesn't produce well here. He has hundreds of figs, but only about 5 that have ripened. I have a Desert King, it had maybe 12 figs, there is one left that will probably be ready tomorrow, and 3 teeny ones that may not ripen. When mine gets as big as his, I will be drowning in figs. Our dad gave him the fig that he has, and my dad passed away nearly 19 years ago.

So if you have a sheltered area that a pot could winter, select something that likes your summer heat and go for it.

 

[Evo]

My ghost pepper from Rhody.

 

[Evo]

The weather has turned cold, so the plants are coming into Evo child's old bedroom. Taken this morning, very cloudy. If it was sunny, you would be blinded by the light, windows to the left are south, windows to the front are west. I'm really sad to be moving because my new old place has only a few windows facing west. Not good for wintering sun loving plants.

 

[rhody]

My ghost pepper from Rhody.

Very nice Evo,

From the looks of it I would guess you are about a month away from getting buds, flowers, then peppers. Your challenge as I see it will be to bring IT indoors, put them on a heat mat to keep the roots nice and warm, and then make sure they get full sun whenever possible, and if needed supplement with a grow light. Once you see flower buds give them a shot of miracle grow plant food. I wouldn't be surprised to see peppers around the beginning of November, continuing to Thanksgiving. You will get hotter peppers if you let them wilt a bit before watering and bring them back. I did this at least six times and it seems that the capsaicin is more potent this year. Once the peppers are gone, trim the stems back like a rose bush and keep indoors for the winter, you may get more leaves but that is no big deal, just keep the roots healthy like I did and you will get peppers again next year. I lost so many plants compared to you, you are careful and obviously have a green thumb. If the leaves get fungus or turn yellow, strip them and new ones will grow back like mine did.

Rhody...

 

[Astronuc]

We have frost warnings in our area - in the middle of September! Lows at night in the mid-30's and highs in the mid-60's already.

Growing season is more or less over.

 

[Hepth]

yeah it got really cold here in detroit, my tomato plants have about 25 green tomatoes on them, had to bring them all inside today, they may never ripen... the plants were starting to really wilt with the cold and too much rain.
My poblanos are doing fine, jalepenos are wilting, green peppers are fine, and cherry tomatoes have only 4 fruit...

 

[Evo]

This season has been another dud. We had a late cold spring, cool summer that turned into an inferno, first it's too cold for the plants then it's too hot for the plants and then BOOM, cold weather, season over.

 

[Hepth]

Im almost willing to go buy some (or 1) HPS lights for them. I think one 200W would be fine, I only have a bout 7 plants and they get decent window sun. But does a $50 kit justify some really cheap veggies... Its a tough call, I just want them to succeed!

 

[Evo]

Im almost willing to go buy some (or 1) HPS lights for them. I think one 200W would be fine, I only have a bout 7 plants and they get decent window sun. But does a $50 kit justify some really cheap veggies... Its a tough call, I just want them to succeed!

If they live throught the winter, you will get a headstart on next year's crop and won't have to get new plants.

 

[dlgoff]

This season has been another dud. We had a late cold spring, cool summer that turned into an inferno, first it's too cold for the plants then it's too hot for the plants and then BOOM, cold weather, season over.

This reminds me of the time when a late spring frost was forecast and my peach trees were in full bloom. Since I really wanted to do something to save the blooms, I bought a bunch of these, put 200 watt heat lamps in them, and clamped them to the trees so the heat went up through the blooms. It was a hard freeze, but it worked.

Now I use a couple to light and heat Rogers coop.

 

[Astronuc]

This reminds me of the time when a late spring frost was forecast and my peach trees were in full bloom. Since I really wanted to do something to save the blooms, I bought a bunch of these, put 200 watt heat lamps in them, and clamped them to the trees so the heat went up through the blooms. It was a hard freeze, but it worked.

Now I use a couple to light and heat Rogers coop.

I've done something similar with plastic sheets and a 100W lightbulb for tomato plants, or just plastic by itself, to prolong the growing season for a couple of weeks.

 

[turbo]

We had a frost last night, but not hard enough to kill the garden. Yet.

 

[OmCheeto]

This season has been another dud. We had a late cold spring, cool summer that turned into an inferno, first it's too cold for the plants then it's too hot for the plants and then BOOM, cold weather, season over.

Nooooo!

We had a great, albeit late starting, season out here. My Cherokee Purples are the largest tomatoes I have ever grown(4" across!)

But it started raining two days ago, and I'm afraid they will never turn purple.

btw, does anyone else cut up water noodles to make armrests for their tomatoes? I think these girls may need bra's or something.

 

[Evo]

Nooooo!

We had a great, albeit late starting, season out here. My Cherokee Purples are the largest tomatoes I have ever grown(4" across!)

But it started raining two days ago, and I'm afraid they will never turn purple.

btw, does anyone else cut up water noodles to make armrests for their tomatoes? I think these girls may need bra's or something.

Very clever. I have made slings for tomato vines by cutting up and tying together plastic grocery bags, then attaching them to wood poles.

 

[Borek]

I have plenty of peppers (that is, for a few pots). But it is getting cold and I am afraid my peter peppers won't get red, they are green so far; only one looks like ripening. And we had a frost tonight as well, luckily peppers look OK.

 

[Evo]

I'm wondering if this early onset of wintery weather means we are in store for a very cold winter?

 

[Borek]

Frost in September here is not that rare.

 

[Evo]

I'm wondering if this early onset of wintery weather means we are in store for a very cold winter?

Ah, we're having unusually cold weather here.

 

[rhody]

My ghost pepper from Rhody.

Evo,

How many seeds did you start and how many died off or succumbed to lack of water, fungus, aphids, etc... ? I want to compare to my efforts.

Rhody...

 

[Evo]

Evo,

How many seeds did you start and how many died off or succumbed to lack of water, fungus, aphids, etc... ? I want to compare to my efforts.

Rhody...

Just this one for the ghost. I have one seed left. I used a jiffy 7 pellet. I use miracle grow to water it.

For the ornamentals, I planted all 6 seeds, but only 2 sprouted. I used potting soil. Both are alive and healthy.

I'm telling you, jiffy 7 pellets are the way to go.

 

[rhody]

Just this one for the ghost. I have one seed left. I used a jiffy 7 pellet. I use miracle grow to water it.

For the ornamentals, I planted all 6 seeds, but only 2 sprouted. I used potting soil. Both are alive and healthy.

I'm telling you, jiffy 7 pellets are the way to go.

Arghh... I feel like a dummy, give Evo the garden goddess with a green thumb one damn ghost pepper seed and she gets 100% success whereas I have about a 20% overall success rate. Do you use miracle grow right from the start or after you transplant them to bigger pots ? Did you water from the bottom, anything else I should know ? I didn't have much luck with the jiffy pellets, that's why I switched to good potting soil instead.

The ornamental's once they produce cute colored peppers will look really cool. I found they are pretty hot too if you decide to nibble on one. Great conversation pieces.

Rhody...

 

[lisab]

Yesterday afternoon, I was helping a friend lay out fence post lines around his garden. We unknowingly walked too close to (or maybe directly on) a yellowjacket nest - a type of wasp that burrows underground. They came out and swarmed us...we ran for our lives but still ended up with several stings.

It could have been a lot worse, it wasn't a huge nest.

OUCH!

 

[Evo]

Yesterday afternoon, I was helping a friend lay out fence post lines around his garden. We unknowingly walked too close to (or maybe directly on) a yellowjacket nest - a type of wasp that burrows underground. They came out and swarmed us...we ran for our lives but still ended up with several stings.

It could have been a lot worse, it wasn't a huge nest.

OUCH!

OUCH! I was trimming the hedges once and chopped into a wasp nest. Only got one sting, but that was enough.

 

[rhody]

Evo,

I asked this question: What and when you use to help you plants get started ?

Do you use miracle grow right from the start or after you transplant them to bigger pots ?

Rhody...

 

[dlgoff]

I received some good looking ghost pepper seeds in the mail today.

Thank you rhody. I have Jiffy seed starter soil and pots, so I will be starting some experiments soon.

 

[Evo]

Evo,

I asked this question: What and when you use to help you plants get started ?



Rhody...

I make a weak solution and start to use it after the pellet is transplanted into the pot. I use it for all waterings.

 

[rhody]

I received some good looking ghost pepper seeds in the mail today.

Thank you rhody. I have Jiffy seed starter soil and pots, so I will be starting some experiments soon.

I make a weak solution and start to use it after the pellet is transplanted into the pot. I use it for all waterings.

Thanks Evo,

I will try that, and Don, Evo and Turbo, read my last https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=3515816&postcount=584" in turbo's hot stuff thread (the linked document), these suckers will grow indoors in three years they can be 12 or more feet high, and I am told you can get two crops per year. If you raise outdoor plants, you want them to reach maturity in August and September, so the article recommends you start them in Jan/Feb. I would like to get an "artificial harvest not based on mother nature's summer heat". To do so requires some kind of wrap around electric blankets that will keep the pot soil about 80 degrees F. That is my next challenge. Something that is safe, and will not burn the house down.

Turbo, I will put some fresh peppers in the mail tomorrow after work, you should have them in a few days.

Rhody...

 

[turbo]

Thanks Rhody. I will look for them, save the seeds, and try to negotiate with the local greenhouse-guys to see if they will start them early for me in exchange for getting some "brood stock" of their own. I just don't have enough sunny exposure to start them indoors, plus the south-side of my house is the coldest side in the winter because the wood stove is located in the living room on the north side. I would love to have a real greenhouse, but without furnaces and the attendant costs, it would be difficult or impossible to successfully start delicate plants in February. This is what March looks like around here.

Now where would I put a greenhouse, and how would I get to it and heat it in February?

 

[Astronuc]

I received some good looking ghost pepper seeds in the mail today.

Thank you rhody. I have Jiffy seed starter soil and pots, so I will be starting some experiments soon.

My seeds arrived yesterday. Thanks, rhody!

I'm contemplating cold storage, but might try some growing in-doors.

My pepper plants outside have numerous flowers (now that it's the end of the season), and they are full of green peppers. I found one orange hab, and lots of green ones, but they are small. It's been too cool and wet for the last month. The habs never took off, probably because other varieties outgrew them and they didn't get sufficient sun. I may bring the habs inside before we get freezes.

 

[turbo]

I've had similar "luck" Astro. The only mature chilies that I'll get this year will probably be Hungarian wax chilies. I'll harvest all I can get, chop and freeze them, but a batch of chili relish is probably out of the question. Sad.

 

[dlgoff]

I would like to get an "artificial harvest not based on mother nature's summer heat". To do so requires some kind of wrap around electric blankets that will keep the pot soil about 80 degrees F. That is my next challenge. Something that is safe, and will not burn the house down.

I've worked with many pharmaceutical walk-in environmental chambers that provided temperature and humidity control. The one I hated most to enter was the 40°C/75%RH chamber. Sounds perfect for what you want to do.

 

[rhody]

I've worked with many pharmaceutical walk-in environmental chambers that provided temperature and humidity control. The one I hated most to enter was the 40°C/75%RH chamber. Sounds perfect for what you want to do.

Don,

I just feel off my chair, thanks...

Rhody...

 

[turbo]

Yay. I haz ghost seeds! Thanks, Rhody.

 

[rhody]

Yay. I haz ghost seeds! Thanks, Rhody.

Once you start them under heat mat in a covered clear container with damp paper towels, you should see the bifurcated seedlings fight their way through soil in ten days, under a constant 80 F of so. Every day or two open the container and make sure the seeds are moist, that's about it. That is the easy part, after that you are fighting all the maladies discussed in this thread. I stuck a cheap stick on thermometer in the container to monitor the temperature as well.

Rhody...

 

[Evo]

I was lucky, it was warm enough when I started mine, and I put the pellet in a shallow plastic cup and set it outside.

 

[rhody]

I was lucky, it was warm enough when I started mine, and I put the pellet in a shallow plastic cup and set it outside.

You might not remember exactly, but how long do you think it took to germinate ? My best time under heat mat is around 10 days, I believe.

Rhody...

 

[Evo]

You might not remember exactly, but how long do you think it took to germinate ? My best time under heat mat is around 10 days, I believe.

Rhody...

I'd guess around the same.

 

[rhody]

Ok,

That leaves Evo, and NeoDevin who haven't reported in on getting their seeds. Let me know when you do, Ok ?

Turbo, I sent your package today, fresh picked, a couple near ripe ones and about six or so green ones, you should have plenty to experiment and report back with. Just be careful with your health, add these babies gently in small amounts at first, I don't want you checking out because of these things.

Who knows a year from now we could be sharing and comparing recipes. I bought more potting soil, and am going to start some chocolate ones, old seed, and new seed ghosts and try to get a good half dozen healthy plants. I will let you know when I find my year round growing blanket, and once I find one, if it in fact accelerates the growing of these finicky little buggers.

Rhody...

 

[turbo]

Wow! Thanks Rhody. I'll be looking forward to getting them. Maybe start with a batch of chili and black beans...

 

[NeoDevin]

I haven't received mine yet. Being in Canada I expect they may take a little while crossing the border. Maybe another week or so before I start to get worried.

 

[rhody]

I haven't received mine yet. Being in Canada I expect they may take a little while crossing the border. Maybe another week or so before I start to get worried.

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...

 

[Evo]

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...

I certainly hope you took the normal precaution to sew the seeds into the lining of a stuffed teddy bear to avoid detection.

There are laws about transporting agricultural products across boundaries.

 

[turbo]

Wow! Thanks Rhody. I'll be looking forward to getting them. Maybe start with a batch of chili and black beans...

I have warned my wife. I'm sure that we will find lots of dishes in which to feature them, but NOT in the same quantities the we use of Hungarians, jalapeno, cayenne, etc. I'm already well-acquainted with the snarliest habs, so I think that the haz-mat procedure is well in place.

 

[rhody]

I certainly hope you took the normal precaution to sew the seeds into the lining of a stuffed teddy bear to avoid detection.

There are laws about transporting agricultural products across boundaries.

That idea crossed my mind too Evo, but I know of no disease that can be transported with a seed alone, I may be dead wrong about this, however. Let's wait and see if in another week they don't show up, then it will be on to plan B. BTW, did your seeds make it there ?

Rhody...

 

[Evo]

That idea crossed my mind too Evo, but I know of no disease that can be transported with a seed alone, I may be dead wrong about this, however. Let's wait and see if in another week they don't show up, then it will be on to plan B. BTW, did your seeds make it there ?

Rhody...

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

 

[rhody]

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

Well, text message that petulant child, or have her overnight mail the mailbox key, or better yet jimmy the damn thing, hehe...

Rhody...

 

[Ms Music]

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.