Alpha Hydroponics GLOG 2012

Pulpiteer · Jul 16, 2012

AlphaHydroponics said:
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...

Thanks Chris, I did get to try a datil from romy6 earlier in the year, so thank you very much for the offer, but it shouldn't be too long before my plants are throwing out pods - although not as many as yours is. That plant is awesome. I've just heard so much about them, I was curious what people really like to do with them. Thanks for the suggestions. You'll have to let us know how the infusing goes. That's an interesting way to use peppers that I may try yet this year. I like the idea.

AlphaHydroponics · Jul 16, 2012

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

Thanks Fernando.... Ended up cutting it back Hard, including the roots, in March.... switched nutes... and moved it to the deck (open, outdoors) from the greenhouse.... it never stopped... i anticipate we will harvest about 2-3 more pounds off it... some green/ unripe mind you... but it has produced well overall

RPM55 said:
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

Robert

Thanks Robert,

Happy with the results and the surprises this year in all of the gardens.
Let us know if you ever go hydro... be happy to answer any questions..
Regards, Chris

AlphaHydroponics · Jul 17, 2012

Seeded the best Datil pods... infused some tequila.... going to bed

Pinoy83 · Jul 17, 2012

those pods gonna be drunk tomorrow :drooling:

AlphaHydroponics · Jul 22, 2012

Some pod highlights from the gardens....

Mystery pepper... some kinda cross... anyone care to venture a guess?

Morouga Scorpion

Aji yellow

Yellow 7 pot

Red Congos

Ripening Red Congo

Bhuts

Funky shape JSB

PaulG · Jul 22, 2012

Chris, those pod pics are great! Good growin', man!
How long do you keep the Datils in the vodka, and then
what do you do with the peppers?

armac · Jul 22, 2012

Your mystery cross looks like a red scotch bonnet I received from France. Hotter than a jalapeño, but not a scotch bonnet. The pods look very similar to mine.

Where did you get your seeds?

AlphaHydroponics · Jul 22, 2012

PaulG said:
Chris, those pod pics are great! Good growin', man!
How long do you keep the Datils in the vodka, and then
what do you do with the peppers?

Thanks Paul... (it is actually tequila), vodka coming soon.... I think about 2 weeks, but the rule of thumb i am applying is when the pods lose their color (seem to be about half way home). As for the peppers, i think i may infuse some salt with them. Been playing with that this weekend with fresh pods... have had some success.
I think the tequila flavor might enhance the salt even further.. will let you know!

armac said:
Your mystery cross looks like a red scotch bonnet I received from France. Hotter than a jalapeño, but not a scotch bonnet. The pods look very similar to mine.

Where did you get your seeds?

Thanks Armac... the seeds were labeled yellow jsb, but of the four plants i kept, two are growing true, one is the one i just posted and the other is really weird (not even close to a scotch bonnet) further back in the glog... I will let you know when i eat one what the heat is... Seeds came from Aji Joe

Sanarda · Aug 7, 2012

Caught up on things over here and glad I did. Everything is looking soooo good... Hate to hear about the idiots at the community garden. I think that garden needs a nice fat rottweiler sitting in it.

AlphaHydroponics · Aug 12, 2012

Sanarda said:
Caught up on things over here and glad I did. Everything is looking soooo good... Hate to hear about the idiots at the community garden. I think that garden needs a nice fat rottweiler sitting in it.

Thanks Pia. Catching up here as well. I prefer German Shepherds..... Lots of pods to process and grow log updates to manage....

Lots of progress at the Alpha Hydroponics Gardens... We received some steady rain over the last few weeks and high temps (90f+) pushing out the fruit and color.

Here are some highlights: 5 color chinese

Red Congo

Thai hots

Golden Cayenne

Morouga Scorpion

Takasume

Hibiscus

Red Congo

And from the kitchen ..... we finished the tequila infusion.....

Whipped up some seafood tacos.... Shrimp, snapper, red jsb, seaweed salad, queso.

Thanks for looking!

A few more photos to post.... can i getta reply please?

DocNrock · Aug 12, 2012

Just got a chance to check out your glog. Man, that hydro system is bomb. That Datil's root system is unbelievable, as is the volume of quality pods its pumping out. Everything else looks great, as well. Sucks about the community garden incident. Maybe put a little video camera on a gnome and put it in the garden?

Oh, and here's your bump/reply!

Brent

AlphaHydroponics · Aug 12, 2012

DocNrock said:
Just got a chance to check out your glog. Man, that hydro system is bomb. That Datil's root system is unbelievable, as is the volume of quality pods its pumping out. Everything else looks great, as well. Sucks about the community garden incident. Maybe put a little video camera on a gnome and put it in the garden?

Oh, and here's your bump/reply!

Brent

Thanks Brent... We appreciate your support. The DWC yielded about 3 pounds of fruit. Had to freeze a gallon of pods in order to keep things moving along. Ground down a ton o dry Datil for flakes. Should last me a while. As far as the community garden goes, We haven't experienced any more theft, but have taken precautions to minimize further incidents.. so far so good.

Some Black zebra heirloom tomatoes from the garden:

Caspian Pink one pounder

Thai hot mini harvest

Gold Cayenne

Mad Scientist · Aug 12, 2012

Do you give the tomatoes any special treatment before harvest or are they getting regular nutrient solution? - I grow a few tomatoes in rockwool, passively, and someone recommended to give them pure water the last weeks before harvest, and I've heard from people who are "flushing" the system with special solutions...

Edit, and, yeah: nice fruits, by the way

AlphaHydroponics · Aug 12, 2012

Hey Herwig,

Thanks for your feedback.

Need to clarify, that the tomatoes shown in the photos are from an organic soil grow, not hydro.... no intent to mislead... sorry.

However, to answer your question... Yes, if you intend to harvest hydro tomatoes, We would (and do) flush with distilled/ purest water available (usually 7-10 days ahead of harvest).

You can also flush, harvest the ripe fruits, (leaving the smaller fruit) and revert to nutes as you seem fit... multiple harvests... That is one of the beauties of hydro, plant control.

Mad Scientist · Aug 12, 2012

Thanks a lot!

Sanarda · Aug 12, 2012

Wowww. I need to clean out my basement so I can start using Hydro. Those pods look phenommmmm.......

GA Growhead · Aug 12, 2012

Nice pods! The black zebras tomatoes are crazy looking.
Looking good!
Take care.
ga gh

thegreenman · Sep 18, 2012

hey AH no updates?

benzo · Sep 23, 2012

Looking great over there Alpha

Variety is the spice of life lol.

AlphaHydroponics · Sep 25, 2012

Mad Scientist said:
Thanks a lot!

Sanarda said:
Wowww. I need to clean out my basement so I can start using Hydro. Those pods look phenommmmm.......

GA Growhead said:
Nice pods! The black zebras tomatoes are crazy looking.
Looking good!
Take care.
ga gh

thegreenman said:
hey AH no updates?

benzo said:
Looking great over there Alpha Variety is the spice of life lol.

First and foremost... sorry for the lack of updates....We have been busy over the last 6 weeks or so with a variety of activities that have had us hoppin... Trade shows, seminars, new products, new warehouse,community garden, harvest and processing... to name a few. Slid in a trip to DC to visit the family and take the little one to the Air and Space and Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian.

The end of August marked our 1 year anniversary here at THP. We are very pleased to have met all of the generous people here.
We continue to learn a great deal and benefit from all of the resources provided. Thank You!

Locally:
We were fortunate to attend the Decatur, (Georgia) Farm to School Symposium with a focus on school garden programs, health and wellness with students food options at school... To say the least, listening to and meeting the educators tasked with implementing these efforts, (big and small) is inspiring. If anyone is interested in more information about Farm to School initiatives, October is National Farm to School month.

The Community Garden has been a tremendous success. The opportunity to participate has exposed us to a myriad of people, growing techniques and palettes. We have been able to employ and improve our skills as well. A great deal of visitors came by this season with compliments, questions and queries. Perhaps a few future members.
Everyone seems to benefit from a community garden in the neighborhood. If you have the opportunity to get involved, we highly recommend!

The AACT (active aerobic compost tea) brewing has been paying off in overall plant health, yield, pest and disease control...

We were able to maintain our soil gardens as "organic" (no chemical ferts, no chemical pesticide or herbicides). Only home compost, worms, organic nutrients, compost tea, and water. We did have the occasional pest "surge" , have an under performer, and in the case of a tomato plant or two, yanked em. But overall, decent yields.

Sent off a few batch of heat to some loyal customers and supporters of Alpha Hydro.

Of note... a THP member sent me a box of goodies too... an unexpected but well received gift.. They know who they are... Thank You!

From the Garden(s)... and Kitchen... Been busy harvesting, drying, infusing, saucing and consuming.... Grilled JSB pepper sauce (inspired by MGOLDS farewell sauce thread)