What Are Some Tips for Successful Gardening?

[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.

 

[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.