Gardening: My Tomatoe and Pepper Progress

[imasickboy]

Indeed. It's nearly time. I'll be ordering my seeds and such before the night's over. FWIW, https://www.seedsavers.org/ has free shipping on seed orders over $30. Expires tomorrow.

Only 8 weeks until planting day here.

 

[brewcat]

I need to get some beds built for my iris. I've been screwing around with hybridizing. Not sure what I'll be doing for food. Probably add at least one raised bed.

 

[z-bob]

I'm gonna plant mostly sweet corn this year. The weeds and the disease are outta control in my garden, and I think a crop rotation will help. I will plant some peppers of course, and 2 or 3 Celebrity (extremely resistant variety) tomatoes. I'll start the pepper seeds in 2 weeks when I get back from a trip to Texas, and the tomatoes in April.

I do have 2 kinds of tropical milkweeds up in flats under fluorescent lights, and native milkweed seeds in damp paper towels in the fridge to be planted soon (my wife raises monarch butterflies) And some lemon seedlings and date seedlings that I have no idea what I'm going to do with -- maybe pawn them off to my brother in Houston.

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

I'm first going to plant some lettuce, 3 varieties standard leaf and Romain then Bokchoy, going to try to food saver and freeze this year rather than eat it all in a week

 

[user 211287]

For pepper seeds checkout Pepperlover and MidWestChileheads. Good pricing and free shipping.

 

[estricklin]

I made a big order to stokes in early February, and started my seeds about 2 weeks ago. I have about 30 peppers, 30 tomatoes, cabbage, onions and eggplant. I'll try to get some photos up soon.

 

[z-bob]

For pepper seeds checkout Pepperlover and MidWestChileheads. Good pricing and free shipping.

I think my favorite pepper is "Hot Rod", a hybrid Serrano pepper from Johnny's (might be available elsewhere too) Large peppers that look like skinny jalapenos, and extremely prolific. I'm out of seeds, but I saved some seeds last year -- since they are hybrids there is no telling what I'll get.

I also save seeds from interesting dried or fresh red peppers. Last year I planted seeds from a 2" slender pepper from the Asian market (they just called them Thai peppers) Those were good; they grew like Tabascos but bore earlier.

 

[user 211287]

Hot Rod is a pretty common variety of serrano. Chileplants dot com stocks them. I normally grow SERRANO TAMPIQUENO when i grow serrano. I think its a landrace or heirloom.

One year i was so disgusted with dud jalapenos i grew about 4 times as many serrano. Then last year i grew Mucho Nacho and Chichimeca. Both were heavy producers and really nice amount of heat. This year im adding Biker Billy and Farmers Market to the jala list too. I like my jalapenos hot most of the time so only the FM is mild.

I dont like the vast majority of Thai peppers. The Thai Giant Orange though is really nice. Much milder and you can taste more than just heat. Prik Chee Fah are a bit larger than Dragons or Birdeye and also a little milder.

 

[HoppyDaze]

I got peppers rockin already.

Yellow Brainstrain
Fatalii
Datil
Chocolate Moruga Scorpion
Yellow Manzano
Mustard Bhut
Goat Horn
Rosemary
Purple Cayenne
Atomic Starfish
Scotch Bonnet
Large Orange Thai
Hot Beads
Aji Amarillo
Aji Margarenteno

A few more I can’t think of

 

[Oldskewl]

I got peppers rockin already.
View attachment 561310

Yellow Brainstrain
Fatalii
Datil
Chocolate Moruga Scorpion
Yellow Manzano
Mustard Bhut
Goat Horn
Rosemary
Purple Cayenne
Atomic Starfish
Scotch Bonnet
Large Orange Thai
Hot Beads
Aji Amarillo
Aji Margarenteno

A few more I can’t think of

Damn!

 

[user 211287]

Sofar ive got these sprouted and they look like they are going to make it

1-Miraflores Market rocoto (yellow)...seeds from the market in Peru
5-Aji Arnaucho...1 more might still come up
6-Pappa Dreadie Scotch Bonnets (yellow)
3-Scotch Bonnet MOA Red

Germinating atm
6-7 Aleppo from isolated seeds
6-7 Peruvian Mini Red Rocoto

Still have many more to go but most of those dont require a long germination period or growing season. This is my first year trying rocotos. Ive got several heirlooms from Turkey and Syria im trying for the first time too. Mostly bell types with a little heat.

Thanks to a friend on thehotpepper forum im lucky enough to be able to grow these this year.

 

[HoppyDaze]

what's your handle on THP? Mine is ColdSmoke...I'm a trouble maker, of course.

 

[user 211287]

ShowMeDaSauce

 

[user 211287]

Well most of the Mini Rocotos germinated. I got 5 of the 6 in jiffy pots now. I really prefer the paper towel method to germinate then move them to a small starter pots. It took about 2 weeks.

 

[estricklin]

I had some Purple Top Turnips that were very small at the start of winter, now I have a couple hundred this size!

 

[applescrap]

Awesome turnips estricklin. I am wondering if I could use some sort of clear plastic hung over the cages as a makeshift green house. Problem is we get snow in july sometimes and march is our snowiest month. But still greenhouse would be cool. The cages have proven effective at holding tarps during freezes

 

[brewcat]

Awesome turnips estricklin. I am wondering if I could use some sort of clear plastic hung over the cages as a makeshift green house. Problem is we get snow in july sometimes and march is our snowiest month. But still greenhouse would be cool. The cages have proven effective at holding tarps during freezes

Yes. Look up garden plastic. Also cold frames/low tunnels to get some ideas.

 

[imasickboy]

Awesome turnips estricklin. I am wondering if I could use some sort of clear plastic hung over the cages as a makeshift green house. Problem is we get snow in july sometimes and march is our snowiest month. But still greenhouse would be cool. The cages have proven effective at holding tarps during freezes

CPVC bends nicely and can make a good hoophouse frame for some plastic.

 

[estricklin]

Here are the turnips, I had to pull what was left they were bolting way faster than we could eat or give them away. I got almost everything tilled, and my cabbage, Swiss Chard, potatoes, mustard greens, spinach and onions are planted.

 

[HoppyDaze]

Hot ones!

 

[user 211287]

Nice!!!

None of mine are even close to that large but im using just a combination of cheap T8s and a T12 fixture. Scotch Bonnets are the hottest i have sprouted atm. I may do a 7 Pot Brown and a Naglah Brown but i really dont get into super hots. ATM im outta room until i can move seedlings. Its still too cold here for a mini greenhouse outside so im kinda stuck atm.

 

[Hanglow]

I've had one measly seed germinate from about forty seeds so far. Getting mildly worried. Usually I find chilli seeds have a great germination rate and I don't think I've done anything wrong.

I think I'll get some grow lights for next year so I can start them a bit earlier

 

[z-bob]

I've had one measly seed germinate from about forty seeds so far. Getting mildly worried. Usually I find chilli seeds have a great germination rate and I don't think I've done anything wrong.

I think I'll get some grow lights for next year so I can start them a bit earlier

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HEYCRI8/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 I have some better T5HO fixtures ("high bay" fixtures with better reflectors), but these are really good for the price. And it's nice to be able to use 2 lamps or 4; it's switchable.

 

[HoppyDaze]

I’ve been using this set up for years. Figured it would have broke down on my by now at that price point, but it just keeps ticking.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005DO30MI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_mevWAbXV2YJH9

 

[estricklin]

I use cheap brooder lamps, but my goal is only to get them big enough for the garden.

 

[applescrap]

Have always wanted to start seeds in net cups, simple sub irrigation

 

[user 211287]

I use cheap brooder lamps, but my goal is only to get them big enough for the garden.

Ive been wanting to try these in that type of fixture.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EFK7XE6/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Over 3500 lumens for around $19

 

[estricklin]

Ive been wanting to try these in that type of fixture.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EFK7XE6/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Over 3500 lumens for around $19

I've used some large bulbs in the brooder lamps before, but I have mostly been using 60-100 watt LEDs, keeping the bulbs very close to the plants ( an inch or 2) at all times. It seems to work just fine and it allowed me to use more brooder lamps for a lot less money. I'll post a pic of my setup later.

 

[user 211287]

I think the one i posted is a true 40watt, not an equivalent rating. Never tested in on a kill a watt meter though. You would not want to keep it that close to plants. Same company sells a 50watt cree COB grow light for $29. Cree COB leds are SUPER bright.

 

[user 211287]

Another one joins the window sill crowd.

Mini Red Rocoto

The MOA Reds and Aleppo been there for a few days now and love it. I should take a pic from today too. They have grown since this one.

Just took a couple pics of the same ones today. This "worm tea" works killer. This is like 3 days difference.