Gardening: My Tomatoe and Pepper Progress

[z-bob]

My peppers are less than 2" tall and just have their first set of true leaves. But they are growing rapidly; I don't think I'm all that far behind because I can't set them out until about Memorial Day. I just ordered some new pepper seeds that intrigued me last night: a chilitepin x "Lemon Drop" hybrid. None of the ads for them say how long they take to mature, so I might be pushing my luck with those. I'll plant the seeds as soon as they get here.

Just started the tomato seeds today.

The tropical milkweed seeds that I started early look like crap. Might be too cold for them in my basement even with the bright lights. The native milkweeds seedlings are doing very well and are about ready to move to 4-packs.

 

[estricklin]

My peppers are less than 2" tall and just have their first set of true leaves. But they are growing rapidly; I don't think I'm all that far behind because I can't set them out until about Memorial Day. I just ordered some new pepper seeds that intrigued me last night: a chilitepin x "Lemon Drop" hybrid. None of the ads for them say how long they take to mature, so I might be pushing my luck with those. I'll plant the seeds as soon as they get here.

Just started the tomato seeds today.

The tropical milkweed seeds that I started early look like crap. Might be too cold for them in my basement even with the bright lights. The native milkweeds seedlings are doing very well and are about ready to move to 4-packs.

You might try getting a cheap heating pad from Amazon, just make sure it doesn't have the auto shutoff feature.

 

[estricklin]

Got my tomato plants in the ground yesterday. Cabbage is growing well too. I'm going to spend a good bit of time today tilling and getting my rows.

 

[z-bob]

You might try getting a cheap heating pad from Amazon, just make sure it doesn't have the auto shutoff feature.

Thanks. I just figured out that the tropicals have spider mites. I gotta figure out how to take care of that before they spread. Neem oil? If I use neem, I wonder how long before they are safe for caterpillars? (if I don't use *something* on them, they won't survive long enough to be caterpillar food)

About a week ago I was surfing the Internet late at night after one too many 7% beers. And I ordered some new pepper seeds; a chiletepin x "Lemon Drop" cross, from https://tictail.com/townsendchiliandspice. They got here Thursday. They sent me a freebie packet too, a variety called "Aji Bolsa de Dulce". I'm finding conflicting information about whether that's a hot pepper or mild, but either way it's an interesting one.

I opened the Tepin X seeds yesterday to start them in a wet paper towel, and I wasn't sure how many to plant with such a late start. Should I plant all 10, or save some for next year (or to replant in case of disaster)? I opened the packet and there's almost 30 seeds in there. So I started 10, and have plenty leftover for later. I will do the same today with the Bolsa seeds.

So I just wanted to give a shout-out to Towns-end Chili and Spice for such good service on such a small order. I will place a larger order with them next year.

 

[estricklin]

Thanks. I just figured out that the tropicals have spider mites. I gotta figure out how to take care of that before they spread. Neem oil? If I use neem, I wonder how long before they are safe for caterpillars? (if I don't use *something* on them, they won't survive long enough to be caterpillar food)

About a week ago I was surfing the Internet late at night after one too many 7% beers. And I ordered some new pepper seeds; a chiletepin x "Lemon Drop" cross, from https://tictail.com/townsendchiliandspice. They got here Thursday. They sent me a freebie packet too, a variety called "Aji Bolsa de Dulce". I'm finding conflicting information about whether that's a hot pepper or mild, but either way it's an interesting one.

I opened the Tepin X seeds yesterday to start them in a wet paper towel, and I wasn't sure how many to plant with such a late start. Should I plant all 10, or save some for next year (or to replant in case of disaster)? I opened the packet and there's almost 30 seeds in there. So I started 10, and have plenty leftover for later. I will do the same today with the Bolsa seeds.

So I just wanted to give a shout-out to Towns-end Chili and Spice for such good service on such a small order. I will place a larger order with them next year.

I would probably break out the big guns and use some perethrin on them.

By the name of that pepper, you would think they are mild? Translates to something like "Bag of Candy". Only one way to find out though!

 

[z-bob]

I don't think pyrethrin works on mites. I have an ancient bottle of Keltane but the mixing directions are gone. With a little research maybe I can figure out how to use that. (been off the market for years, not because it was unsafe but because it contained traces of DDT)

 

[user 211287]

Dulce in Spanish means sweet. The common Aji Dulce (chinense) is extremely mild. Basically no heat at all but.......This is a not the common Aji Dulce and its a baccatum. Im growing the regular one this year along with Trinidad Perfume and Brazilian Starfish (baccatum).

Nigel's reviews are normally spot on and i really like his videos.

Thick-walled and very, very crunchy, as you can hear!. The flavor is exceedingly sweet and fruity, with a bit more heat than I expected. I`d say just about around Jalapeño heat, which was a lovely combination. Of course, there`s that awesome baccatum flavor in addition to the sweet, fruity backbone.

So if you like Brazilian Starfish you will probably love it. Next Tuesday a local grower is bringing me 2 Antep Aci Dolma seedlings. Its a Turkish bell type with jalapeno heat or a tad more and they are supposed to be REALLY sweet too. Seeds atm are pretty uncommon.

 

[HoppyDaze]

Great pepper! I love Nigel's reviews, always informative.

 

[user 211287]

I enjoy his video reviews more than any other. I hope he is ok. He hasnt posted on the forum in awhile or done any recent pepper videos. Ive heard he is just busy with other things.

I think im going to put that Bolsa De Dulce on my list for next year or maybe even grow one indoors this winter for next year. Im a huge fan of sweet baccatums. My Citos and Lemon Drops are just as Nigel says too. Remove the seeds and placenta if you want to remove a huge amount of the heat.

 

[HoppyDaze]

I have freezer bags full of lemon drops in my deep freeze. Still haven't decided what to do with them.

 

[user 211287]

Say hello to my leetal friends. These bad boys are already covered in buds and a couple pods.

 

[HoppyDaze]

very nice!

Here are some of my super hots.

 

[user 211287]

Im only growing 1 ghost but 8 Scotch Bonnets. 5 Pappa Dreadies and 3 MOA Reds. Everything else except the rocotos should be well under 80k shu. I can buy fresh supers locally but i cant get the vast majority of the others im growing. Ive never even seen a fresh rocoto for sale at the markets other than the occasional Manzano if i want to drive down to "little Mexico".

Really hoping for a good crop of Aleppos more than anything and they are off to a great start.

 

[HoppyDaze]

Are you going to isolate the Dreadies? If so, I’d love some seeds!

 

[user 211287]

Ive got some mesh bags to cover them once i see flowers but its not fine enough to stop open air pollination, just insects. I could just keep them on the deck but they would be sharing space with Aleppos too. Ive got more chinenses than i had planned so i dont have many isolation options other than moving them to the north side of the house.

 

[estricklin]

Are you going to isolate the Dreadies? If so, I’d love some seeds!

Do peppers cross easily? It seems like they wouldn't, but I planted a wide variety and was hoping to save some seeds. If some did cross it wouldn't be the end of the world I guess but would like to know what I"m planting. I have a large seed bank but some of the heirlooms I want to save.

 

[user 211287]

P. Dreadie seeds from isolated stock are highly prized by some growers. I dont want them cross pollinating with my MOA reds even though its also a killer Scotch Bonnet. Some varieties can cross breed and some are a real bear to cross like rocotos with anything else but another rocoto (pubescen).

Many of the diehards even hand select pods for the seeds just like the original grower did. He pasted away in 2015 IIRC so its a big deal to keep his strain as true as possible. It took him years of careful pod/seed selection.

I keep my Aleppos away from any other annuums. Good seed stock is way way too hard to get atm. Luckily they all popped first. None of my other peppers have flowers yet except for 2 jalapenos so im all set for next year's seed stock. My Aleppo seeds came from a grower that only grew Aleppos last year to make sure they all grew true. Ive tasted his Aleppo powder from last year and it was outstanding.

 

[applescrap]

Love to see the root bags, i think I am going to plant this weekend. The gardens look awesome already guys.I don't think I'm going to set up floats and everything. With a hose it'll be very easy to quickly fill the kiddie pools once a week. Since I'm not going full automatic watering it takes too long to wait there till the floats all fill. And then if you forget and leave them on.... I could dial it up and go full automatic watering but the plastic of the kiddie pool isn't quite right. I contemplate building a deck with a flood floor built in for the automatic watering. With one float in the low spot it would keep the whole floor flooded with the exact right amount of water.

 

[Apple_Jacker]

Got a dozen cayennes and 4 habeneros going a month ago or so. Also have 2 Marzinera tomatoes, 1 San Marzano, and 1 Black Krim. I'm trying all of these in pots this year, except for 1 of the Marzinera plants.

In the ground, I have bush beans, cucumbers, collards, Russian kale, and Swiss Chard.

 

[user 211287]

Good sign. My mini red rocoto is blooming. They take forever to ripen after setting pods.

If you like habanero, give Scotch Bonnets a try. About the same heat but i think the flavor is better. My MOAs last year had really nice sized pods. Much larger than the orange habs i grew the year before. The MOA reds im growing this year come from a seed stock known for being large.

Im trying the Mazinera for the first time this year. I just noticed today it has a 4 little maters on it. Im also growing a Burpee Big Mama and a heirloom with "potato leaves".

 

[estricklin]

My garden is growing pretty well. I have about 30 tomatoes, and a dozen peppers that I started from seed back in the winter. Corn, pole beans, purple hulls, hops, cucumbers, watermelons, cantaloupes, sunflowers, cotton, (to watch it bloom) 6 or so different herbs, squash, zucchini, cabbage, potatoes, onions and lots of okra! My pepper plants got mixed up and so I have no idea which ones made it and which ones didn't. My seedlings did poorly this year from, not sprouting to several of them dying because I forgot to water them. I had planted 36.

Oh and I have 2nd year hops growing now. I decided on saving the pepper seeds to just chance it, but hedge my bets by saving a few seeds from several different peppers instead of many from a single one. I read the chances of peppers crossing are fairly low but it does happen.

Hope everyone's gardens are doing well.

 

[passedpawn]

Got a dozen cayennes and 4 habeneros going a month ago or so. Also have 2 Marzinera tomatoes, 1 San Marzano, and 1 Black Krim. I'm trying all of these in pots this year, except for 1 of the Marzinera plants.

In the ground, I have bush beans, cucumbers, collards, Russian kale, and Swiss Chard.

Er, a dozen cayennes? What are your plans?

 

[applescrap]

warm fermented bock and gardens. Pic of each pool. I am going to just hand water pools this year, well maybe, and vine squash up tomato cages. I hope?!

 

[brewcat]

Got one bed planted out. Okra, peppers and eggplant. Also some containers with eggplant and peppers. Was wanting to get another bed going but don't know if I'll have time.

 

[user 211287]

I have several pods already, ive even eaten a few Mucho Nacho but i thought these looked cool.

These 2 are supposed to be Scotch Bonnet MOA reds and they came from a reputable seller. They look pretty painful to me.

This one is a very uncommon milder habanero type from Peru called Aji Arnaucho. They ripen to red.

My Brazillian Starfish looks like it will be a huge producer. Ive had great luck with baccatums and im rather fond of the flavor too.

 

[Hanglow]

Yeah I'd have the toilet paper in the freezer before trying them out

I topped my chillies I have in pots a few days ago. seemed to have worked. I forgot to that with the ones in my greenhouse though, so they are a bit lanky but I can stake them and I have tied down a few tops to try and get them to bush out a bit more

Here's a few pics from my allotment a few days ago, I have weeded it since honest


Hop plant growing up and over a post for a fruit tree cordon

Greenhouse - growing chillies, gherkins, there's a young grape vine in there and I have just added a couple of melons in grow bags on the shelf. Not grown them before

Rhubarb and the fruit cordons - 4 or 5 apple trees and two plum trees

squash and pumpkins on left in border, fruit cage around redcurrants and blueberries, some raspberries on right

tayberry, raspberry and blackberries

 

[Boomer]

First last night so...

 

[brew703]

Not much to see but there are a few flowers. 7 Pot Primo. Started this one in November 2017.

 

[user 211287]

Yeah I'd have the toilet paper in the freezer before trying them out

I got a feeling the first pic is not a bonnet. I wont know for sure until i get a ripe pod but it looks like a Naga Morich. Roughly 4-5 times hotter than a MOA red bonnet. I wont eat peppers that hot but i will use them for making hot sauce or powder.

 

[applescrap]

Beautiful gardens evilgrin and hanglow. I like the peppers. I didnt grow much, just jalopenos for my green sauce i think. Oh and ancho. Going to try to vine squash this year. Where it was got powdery mildew.