Re: pepperhead212's 2023 garden

[pepperhead212]

And here are the rest of the peppers. Had to wait until today to photograph, because I had watered it last night from the bottom, and couldn't move it for a while. The larger ones in the lower R are Jalafuego, and Big Mic (not Mac) - a new one to me.
And here are the rest of the peppers. 4-23. As with the tomatoes, the small ones are ones I filled pots with later, for which certain varieties had no sprouts. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

[pepperhead212]

Don't know how that double posted! I had something else, anyway.

I gave up on the pepper seedlings - after that jyoti sprouted after 3 weeks, that was the last I held any hope for. Usually, I stop it even before this - maybe a little more than 2 weeks. But I still had 3 that had no germinated seeds, until that one.
Finished with the pepper seedlings this year. Vermiculite went into some more potting mix. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

[pepperhead212]

I just checked those bitter melon seeds for the last time today (once early, and once late, every day), and one of the hybrid whites is starting to pop open in just 4 days! That is incredibly early, for these things.
Hybrid White bitter melon, starting to sprout after just 4 days in the IP. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

[pepperhead212]

The day is getting there soon! It looks like 5-4 will it be 50° or higher for a low, so in a few days, I'll start hardening off the tomatoes, and shortly after, the flowers and eggplants. The tomatoes I might start a couple days later next year, as they are still growing slightly too fast!
Tomatoes, 4-26, started on 4-6 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Those LED "replacements" for T8 bulbs, I got in Home Depot, grew beautifully. I posted these on another thread, and I said there that I reversed the trays every few days to cook evenly.
peppers, under half old T8 bulbs, and half replacement LEDs. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Eggplants, Zinnia, and Mexican Sunflowers, 4-26. Started on 4-1. Grown under half LEDs. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Yesterday I planted my basil seeds - 6 varieties, a couple new ones, just to check them, and the usual. I don't want them too early, since most of what I want it with is tomatoes! Still have a little in the hydro, but the tomatoes will be the main ingredients they go with.

[Wildcat82]

Wow, your plants look amazing! It would take me 6 weeks to get my seedlings the same size.

[pepperhead212]

I went out today, and after all that rain, I had to mow the lawn. When I opened the shed, the planting mix I had made up just before the rain came, was covered with a white fungus - the micorrhyzae I had put a small amount of in the mix, when I made it. Maybe this stuff is why these plants are growing so fast this season?

This wasn't super-moist when I mixed it up, but it was still wet enough to get the micorrhyzae growing in the mix.
Micorrhyzae, growing on some mix I had made, sitting in the shed for 3 days. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Here are some of the eggplants and zinnias (I snipped those flower buds from those largest ones), 30 days after planting the seeds. I'll have to plant these later next year, for sure. Tomatoes are overgrown, and those were planted on 4-6.
Eggplants and zinnias, 5-1 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

[pepperhead212]

I put out my tomatoes today, to harden off - they are overgrown already, and hopefully this cold we have of a 56° high (15° below average) will slow them down! I'll probably plant them Thursday. Soon, those eggplants and flowers will get hardened off, too.

[pepperhead212]

My basil seeds are all germinating now, and a bunch of volunteer dills all over. Here are some of my perennial herbs coming back strong. The old rosemary wasn't totally killed off, but I dug it up and planted the one I had in a fabric pot, "back up plant", and this season I'll start another one, as a back up. The Syrian oregano also got killed almost entirely from the two 7° nights, which didn't bother it other years - I covered the clump with a very thick layer of dry leaves, but it didn't help this year. But, I took some cuttings, as always, and rooted them (easy to root) and kept those as back ups, and they are growing quickly.
Sweet marjoram, 5-2 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

My large leaf sage, coming back strong, 5-2 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Italian sage, grown from Renee's seeds, years ago. Coming back, after cutting totally back, for the winter. 5-2 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Rosemary, getting a lot of new growth after a lot of rain. 5-2 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

About half of the mint bed, showing the peppermint (larger leaves) getting stronger this year. 5-2 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Regular chives, slower than the garlic, and I planted a bunch more new seeds, coming up in the area. 5-2 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Some of the clusters of garlic chives, with several more elsewhere. 5-2 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

[pepperhead212]

I planted my tomatoes today - not a great day, but the only rain was spotted, and not enough to wet anything, and it got to about 60°. Right now it's getting brighter out. I planted 29 tomatoes, and only one Sunsugar (which I planted 2 extras of!) broke a stem, and I have 17 extra plants, in case anything else dies, before it strengthens (a friend will take the rest of them!). Only one I planted 3 of - that Oaxacan Jewel that grew so well least season. I originally had space for 2 Pink Boar Salad seedlings, but they were smaller than any other seedlings, especially one of them, so one of those spots was filled with that Oaxacan Jewel.

After eating a small snack, I'm going out now to plant the few flowers I have - zinnias and Mexican Sunflowers.

[pepperhead212]

Everything is taking well, with no problems on any of the tomatoes or flowers. Today I took my last tray out of the kitchen (finally) - the one with the pellets I have been putting sprouted asparagus seeds in. I pulled all my asparagus out of that row last fall, because I gave up on those things. They were over 4 years old, planted from bulbs, which were supposed to be almost all male, but whatever they were, they never improved - the sprouts that would come up in spring would flower (or whatever you call that) before they could be used at all. But I decided to buy some purple asparagus seeds, when Pinetree had their sale a couple weeks ago. The package said 25 seeds, but it had 31, and I got 26 to sprout. And just yesterday, some started sprouting in the pellets, so today, I 'tilled, and planted them.

[pepperhead212]

The eggplants went in today (these things are just 2 days over 5 weeks old!), just a little more than 2 weeks after moving the pellets to those large pots. The ichiban were the largest of any, yet they were some of the slowest to germinate, since they were also the oldest! The batac was second, but had the most roots, as they were just starting to circle in the bottom of the pots.
Ichiban eggplant, planted 5-7 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Batac on L, and Louisiana Long Green, planted on 5-7 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

U of Hawaii long green eggplant L, and Choruoku green, planted on 5-7 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Only had one of all 7 of those String eggplant seeds I had left germinate. I remember last year's seeds germinated ok, but the 2 plants I had weren't even the same thing, but the 2 I gave a friend were the string EP, and she liked them. If this one looks and grows like it, I'll bag some blossoms and save some seeds.
Asian String eggplant, planted on 5-7 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Besides these plants, I just received some free seeds of Matrosik eggplant from someone (thanks @Ginger2778!), and while I am starting them 5 weeks later than the rest, I figured I'll get them in plenty of time, and they grow well in FL, so they should be able to stand the heat I have!

[pepperhead212]

I also planted a number of cucurbits yesterday. I checked the tray that those, and the okra are all planted in Jiffy Pellets, and pulled out all the ones with a set of true leaves, and labeled them, and took them out and planted them. I had 4 cucumbers, 2 kajari melons, 1 calabash gourd, and 1 of 2 bottle gourds, with some bitter melons still coming.
Calabash gourd, planted 5-7 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

One of the Kajari melons, planted 5-7 by pepperhead212, on Flick

One of the Bottle gourds went in today, 5-7, still one coming up. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Snowy #6 Cucumber, 5-7 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Peppers are definitely going out soon! It's getting warmer out (with no cold times in the long time forecast), and those plants are getting huge, considering that I planted most of them on 4-1, chinense peppers a week earlier. Some of them (jalapeños, as usual) are starting to get little flower buds, which I snip off quickly - they are probably getting rootbound. I will probably plant those a little later next season.
Peppers on 5-8, ready to go out, for sure! Just a little over 5 weeks old. The 32 smaller peppers. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

The larger peppers, 4 chinense peppers in the back, started a week early, and just 12 jalapeño, thai, and other typically larger varieties in the front. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

[Mark_Thompson]

Man, your seedlings are just phenomenal. No yellow leaves, no weaklings, deep green, impressive.

[pepperhead212]

Thanks Mark! I think it must have something to do with that micorrhyzae I have in the soil mix, and the small amount of hydroponics nutrients, I use as the only fertilizer I put in the water. I only had 2 zinnia plants with some yellow leaves on the top, I think because they were totally shaded by another variety! Now outside, on their own, they are greened up.

I put in 5 varieties of long beans today. 6 of my Thai red beans, 4 of some I got from @Mark_Thompson in Hawaii - a "Yardlong pole" - and the other 3 I got from that seed company Asian Garden 2 Table: 8 "Vine Full #5" (green pod), 7 "Vine Full #9" (white pod), and 8 "Sweet White" (a lighter color pod). I'll see how they grow, and how they taste, compared to others, but they all seem to be tropical, so they shouldn't be the type that stop growing in the heat of the summer.

[pepperhead212]

I put my peppers outside today, to start hardening off - good day, as it was cloudy much of the day, and just a little cool and breezy. I'll bring them back into the back porch these next two nights, then start planting Thursday, as Wednesday night is supposed to be the last in the low 50s. And these are definitely ready to plant!
The larger pepper plants, the 4 on the left the Chinese varieties, about a week older. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

The smaller 32 pepper plants, shown from the top, hardening off on the deck, 5-9 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

[worth1]

Those are some great looking plants.

[pepperhead212]

Thanks! And these were all growing under the cheap T8 bulbs, one pair those new LED replacements.

[pepperhead212]

The peppers are all in today - 34 total, of 16 varieties...I think. The first ones planted were the chinense varieties, on 3-19, so this is after 60 days - 13 days fewer for all others. The Aji Dulce were the fastest to sprout and grow, of the chinense - next year I'll have to start them maybe 5 days later, as they were getting a little rootbound, and the Datil were just starting to a few buds on them. And those others that were getting flower buds (that I try to pick off, but they were getting hard to keep up with!) - Thai vesuvius, Superchili, Jalapeño m, and Jalafuego - I'll start on 4-7, instead of 4-1.
Aji Dulce, getting ready to plant, and getting a little bit rootbound. 5-11 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Datil on L, with the Aji Dulce, planted on 5-11. I started these and the other chinense varieties on 3-19 this year. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

I forgot to go out and photograph the Wartryx pepper - didn't grow quite as large as the aji dulce, but some of the leaves are HUGE! Only one germinated early, but I got another, eventually, and still have that under the lights, for my friend.

These two Pimiendo de Pedron were the only plants of any that did not look good, after planting (they also didn't grow as quickly as most), but later they perked up.
2 Joe E Parker on R, 2 Pimiendo de Pedron in M, and one Number 6-4. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

2 Big Mic on L, 2 jalapeño M, and 2 Pumpkin spice jalapeño. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

2 Hanoi Markets, on R, 2 Jalafuegos in M, and 1 Numex 6-4 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

3 Aruna in back, a Japanese Yatsufusa on R, and a Maui Purple. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

2 Thai Vesuvius on R, a Thai Dragon on LF, and Jyoti on LB. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

6 more of some of the same peppers, in the front bed, in front of zinnias, and what will be some of the okras. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

[worth1]

Excellent.

[pepperhead212]

I didn't do much in my garden today, after helping my friends at their place, but did a few odds and ends out their. Also took a photo of that wartryx superhot pepper I planted yesterday. Of the chinense peppers, this had the largest leaves! Also photographed the larger tomato plants - the other of the 3 largest was the Brandyboy F1, but the photo looked like I was 10 feet away! Oh well...there will be more! Surprisingly, the cherries aren't up there with the largest, but it's only been a week (actually, 8 days) since planting.
Wartryx pepper plant, with some HUGE leaves! Planted 5-11 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Hippie Zebra tomatoes, some of the largest plants, a week after planting. 5-12 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Oaxacan Jewel tomatoes, two of the largest plants a week after planting. 5-12 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Last night, and this morning I got some of my okra planted. I got 3 each of the Big Buck, and Star Of David, with one extra of each. Had a problem with Emerald (older seeds) and Hill Country Red (new this year), and got 2 and 1 of each, and needed 1 and 2 more of each, respectively, to fill their boxes. The Little Lucy also didn't all germinate, which are all saved seeds, and usually germinate very well. So a couple nights ago I soaked them in some of that KNO3 solution I use for peppers - I just got the idea when I saw the stuff on the shelf! I soaked about a dozen Little Lucy seeds, 6 HCR, and 4 Emerald, for 12 hours, then put them on damp PTs, and in less than 12 hours, the LL had several very small sprouts, and in another 12 hours, most of the LL had about 3/8" sprouts, only one each of the others, with a few more tiny sprouts started. So I planted 2 of the LL outside, directly, and all the rest in pellets - I'll wait and see which grows better. My friend will get all the extras, like she did those others today!