Alpha Hydroponics GLOG 2012

AlphaHydroponics · Jun 30, 2012

A quick HOTlanta update. Triple digit temps send me indoors. A great excuse to update the grow log!

AlphaHydro DWC is sucking down 2 gallons a day and bursting with fruit.

Hydroponic Datils ripening:

Red Congo setting fruit at the community garden plot

Ants Marching (any DMB fans out there?)

More free Labor. Daddy guarding one of the Bhuts.

Maui Purple at the community garden plot

Not a jamaican scotch bonnet.... Please give me your thoughts folks. Either a mislabel or cross? Of the 4 JSB's in the garden 2 are imposters

Brainy looking jsb

Enjoy your 4th of July Holiday everyone and Thanks for looking!

GA Growhead · Jul 1, 2012

I have the grand daddy long legs on look out too. Alway see five or more sitting on tops of the plants when i walk out in the garden. Your pict made me laugh. This triple digit weather is way serious. We need some rain!

Pepper-Guru · Jul 1, 2012

AlphaHydroponics said:
A quick HOTlanta update. Triple digit temps send me indoors. A great excuse to update the grow log!

AlphaHydro DWC is sucking down 2 gallons a day and bursting with fruit.

You're rockin that dwc bucket! Nice bush!

stc3248 · Jul 2, 2012

Been hot here too! Had to set the drip system for every 6 hours. 'Course my humidity is below 20% most days and single digit on occasion. I am freaking amazed every time I look at a hydro plant. Crazy how much growth and production you can get with the right setup. Stay cool and keep up the good work!
Shane

AlphaHydroponics · Jul 2, 2012

Ridiculous heat here.... but the gardens thrive none the less. Just waiting for the storms to follow... i fear they are not far behind and they are likely to be fierce...

Starting to move some peppers into the kitchen. Going to process some Datils this week, flakes, powders, hot sauce, etc.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th! Regards, Chris

Pulpiteer · Jul 4, 2012

Just made it through your glog. Love your set up! I think that is the most organized looking community garden I've ever seen. Does everyone have to build their own raised bed? Wow. Our is just a plot of land in town someone tills each year. I also love your datil, wow that's a ton of pods! Looking great!

Almost forgot to mention - your "welcome" gnome scares me a little. His sign says "Welcome," but his eyes say "Don't turn your back on me."

AlphaHydroponics · Jul 12, 2012

Grow log update.... the good, the bad and the ugly....

The good news is we finally have some rain... we were spared the damaging storms of other parts in the state and ended up with some decent soaks pushing plants and pods in the right direction...

Red Congo pushing out

Another look at the Red Congo pepper

Bhuts a bustin'

Green Zebra

Butch T turning

Naga Morich

The bad

Butch T rotting

Community Garden Pepper Theft

Someone decided our plot at the community Garden is their private Farmers Market and sampled only the choice, ripening pods from each of our plants.
In some cases, simply breaking of stems loaded with pods......

Thai Hot snapped

Black pearl robbed and snapped

In all, pepper thieves made off with dozens of pods, hitting 11 of 12 plants, and damaging half of them..

You know, if they wanted a pod or two, all they had to do was ask nicely.

stc3248 · Jul 12, 2012

That just plain stinks about the thieves...Hope you can catch them at it! Hey your Butch t doesn't look like a Butch t to me...what was your seed source??? Looks more like a Jamaican Hot Yellow...Butch t ripens red, and your plant looks to be an annuum??? Your pod shots looked great...then the heartbreaker photos at the end ughhh.

Pulpiteer · Jul 12, 2012

Man, sorry about the vandalism. How infuriating. It only takes one or two random people to ruin things for others. Hopefully they'll do no more damage.

On the plus side, the red congos and the bhuts look great. Those congos look huge!

Do the green zebras stay green then? They look cool - how do you know when they're done and how do they taste?

AlphaHydroponics · Jul 13, 2012

stc3248 said:
That just plain stinks about the thieves...Hope you can catch them at it! Hey your Butch t doesn't look like a Butch t to me...what was your seed source??? Looks more like a Jamaican Hot Yellow...Butch t ripens red, and your plant looks to be an annuum??? Your pod shots looked great...then the heartbreaker photos at the end ughhh.

Shane, thieves suck... especially pepper thieves... Agreed the "butch t" is not true... got it in trade.... got the bhut in photo in same trade seemingly growing true... hit or miss

Pulpiteer said:
Man, sorry about the vandalism. How infuriating. It only takes one or two random people to ruin things for others. Hopefully they'll do no more damage.

On the plus side, the red congos and the bhuts look great. Those congos look huge!

Do the green zebras stay green then? They look cool - how do you know when they're done and how do they taste?

Keeping the faith Andy.... the zebras are delectable ... they ripen to a slight orange shoulder... not huge fruit.. you judge ripeness by touch..the green stripes stay true throughout... i will post more pictures as they develop... as for taste,... pick em right, peel, and they are akin to a kiwi, i swear. I made green (bloody) marys last year.with them... good stuff

Pulpiteer said:
Just made it through your glog. Love your set up! I think that is the most organized looking community garden I've ever seen. Does everyone have to build their own raised bed? Wow. Our is just a plot of land in town someone tills each year. I also love your datil, wow that's a ton of pods! Looking great!

Almost forgot to mention - your "welcome" gnome scares me a little. His sign says "Welcome," but his eyes say "Don't turn your back on me."

...

Thanks for reading thru Andy..... sorry bout the gnome...

romy6 · Jul 13, 2012

Nice porn as always. You are gonna have an awesome summer if you can keep the scallywags out of your Community garden :party:

Melissa77754 · Jul 13, 2012

Amazing grow you got going on, that DWC datil is a beast! Sorry to hear about the thieves, people have no hearts these days. You should put a sign out saying it's under video surveillance, even if it's not, may help deter them in case they try to come back for another harvest. Keep up the good work

AlphaHydroponics · Jul 14, 2012

romy6 said:
Nice porn as always. You are gonna have an awesome summer if you can keep the scallywags out of your Community garden

Thanks Jamie.... Group work day at the community garden in the am... Overall it is well worth it despite the small set backs... We tend to post pictures of our plot, but at some point and under the correct topic, will share photos from other members plots,and the whole space... It is something we are very proud to be a part of and a great educational tool for everybody, ... including visitors.

AlphaHydroponics · Jul 15, 2012

Melissa77754 said:
Amazing grow you got going on, that DWC datil is a beast! Sorry to hear about the thieves, people have no hearts these days. You should put a sign out saying it's under video surveillance, even if it's not, may help deter them in case they try to come back for another harvest. Keep up the good work

Melissa, Thanks for your feedback... such are the ways and risks of the community garden... However, having two completely different outdoor plots, a greenhouse and our indoor gardens, is a nice hedge... (pun somewhat intended).
It adds diversity, extends the season and to the overall grow space.
I guess the point is, garden location,security, indoors, outdoors,hydro, organic, pests, weather conditions, power failure... no matter what you are exposed to potential issues affecting your grow, but hopefully not entire/ simultaneous crop failure.

Datil Pod Harvest part one.... From the Alpha Hydro DWC

Pod variation

spongey600 · Jul 15, 2012

great looking pods! that DWC Datil is looking amazing!

Pulpiteer · Jul 15, 2012

Wow those datils look amazing! What sort of dishes do you make with them? I've got three datil plants in my garden, but they're lagging behind in production right now. Your pics give me something to look forward to.

queequeg152 · Jul 15, 2012

awsome grow log, love the datil plant.
you ever mess around with rockwool slabs? im thinking of trying some indi toms greenhouse style with those grodan unislabs with a 3x3 or 4x4 block ontop.

AlphaHydroponics · Jul 15, 2012

spongey600 said:
great looking pods! that DWC Datil is looking amazing!

Thanks Eric.. I know you run DWC too..... I can send u some pods if u want sasbe... pm if u would like...
Regards, Chris

Pulpiteer said:
Wow those datils look amazing! What sort of dishes do you make with them? I've got three datil plants in my garden, but they're lagging behind in production right now. Your pics give me something to look forward to.

Andy,

Thanks for reading... the Datil seems to do well for us in the ground or hydro. It is a great pepper for a lot of dishes.
In the past, have made some sauces and dried flakes. This year expanding to infusing, oil, salt, vodka, tequila.
Otherwise, the fresh pods, chopped, on anything from eggs, fish, steak, pollo... a few pods to ya for sasbe if u want to speriment...

SocalChilehead · Jul 16, 2012

Wow pods look amazing that is a large harvest. That DWC plant looks crazy did you trim it early or just let it grow.

RPM55 · Jul 16, 2012

Man that Datil tree is kicking A$$. Those are some beautiful pods you've got there.
I am thinking of doing a DWC next season, I may have to hit you up for some advice.

Have a great day :dance:

Robert