Beerbreath's Glog 2014---There are many like it, but this one is mine

Hybrid Mode 01 · May 21, 2014

Man, sorry to hear about that wind beating up on your OWs. I guess you know that when I say "I feel your pain", you know I'm speaking from experience this year.

Your red bhut looks like it's set to explode, though. With a nice, thick root system, it's gonna have all kinds of energy to push out a big flush of leaves! Hope your weather levels out and starts to cooperate with your grow.

Seacowboy · May 27, 2014

How are things coming along for you? Hope to see some updates on that aquaponics all fired up soon. Wish I had the time to get one going or at least have kept my hydro grow up.

beerbreath81 · May 27, 2014

Seacowboy said:
How are things coming along for you? Hope to see some updates on that aquaponics all fired up soon. Wish I had the time to get one going or at least have kept my hydro grow up.

thanks for checking in...

I have been thinking that the larger aquaponics maybe taking a back seat untill next year, as the season progresses I find myself having less and less time to finish it up. Well see what happens though. On the other side of things, I did get all peppers and part of tomatoes, cabbage, califlower, and broccli in the garden this past weekend. It was really hot when I went to transplanting so a few of them are not very happy but they all got a heavy watering and then were really beat up by the wind later in the evening, so they are being tested right out of the gate.

Aquaonics is done cycling so ill get some cheapy goldfish in there this week. Went ahead and put a loney pepper in there and it is doing really well, the pics below is the third day after adding to system.

OW is really coming back!!

Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend!

OCD Chilehead · May 27, 2014

Between work, home, and garden you've got to be exhausted. No wonder you haven't been around. Glad to hear the OW is recovering. That garden plot looks fantastic. I can picture a Devv's set up shade cloth, wind break and the whole shebang. Much envy here. Thanks for sharing and keeping us up to date. Hope you find time to relax.

beerbreath81 · May 28, 2014

OCD Chilehead said:
Between work, home, and garden you've got to be exhausted. No wonder you haven't been around. Glad to hear the OW is recovering. That garden plot looks fantastic. I can picture a Devv's set up shade cloth, wind break and the whole shebang. Much envy here. Thanks for sharing and keeping us up to date. Hope you find time to relax.

Hey Chuck
yes, but starting to slow down a bit. These past few weekends have been really busy, or there is tornado warnings high winds etc. As this is my first year growing out on the open plains this year is kind of a trial run to see how things go, my hopes arent that high, and in hindsight i probably should have went a little smaller this first year, but oh well. Next year will be adapt/modify is my thinking and yes, devv's setup has my attention too, I hope to one day have a garden set-up that pumps out production like his does. Besides the wind being a real concern, the dirt out here is horrible too, it has sooo much clay, when wet its very slick and very spongy you literally sink. Then when it hardens its as hard as concrete. With over 100 pepper plants I ought to get something this year tho

OCD Chilehead · May 28, 2014

beerbreath81 said:
Hey Chuck
yes, but starting to slow down a bit. These past few weekends have been really busy, or there is tornado warnings high winds etc. As this is my first year growing out on the open plains this year is kind of a trial run to see how things go, my hopes arent that high, and in hindsight i probably should have went a little smaller this first year, but oh well. Next year will be adapt/modify is my thinking and yes, devv's setup has my attention too, I hope to one day have a garden set-up that pumps out production like his does. Besides the wind being a real concern, the dirt out here is horrible too, it has sooo much clay, when wet its very slick and very spongy you literally sink. Then when it hardens its as hard as concrete. With over 100 pepper plants I ought to get something this year tho

I heard about the tornado warnings. No Good. I always have low expectations. That way I'm surprised when the outcome is different. I'm dealing with the clay issue as well. I need to get planting. Still working on soil mix. I think your plant count is good. Sometimes we lose a few plants along the way. You have good odds with 100 plants. The worst thing that can happen is you have a huge seed stock. That's what I'm hoping for. Hang in there. Keeping my fingers crossed you get some favorable weather.

beerbreath81 · Jun 2, 2014

well, it's been a week since i put these in the ground and it has been another week of rain and less than favorable winds. All the tomatoes have been destroyed by the wind, I have some reserves in the garage that I may replace with but I think my tomatoes ane just too weak and leggy for the winds may have to get a few small ones from home depot.

Here is a shot of the garden on 5/30

I have left the garen completly alone through the week, just watering as needed and this weekend decided to do a walkthrough and access the damage. We have

The good:

The bad:

and the UGLY

Its interesting to me that all the plants have been exposed to the exact same conditions, and yet each pepper plant handles the conditions differently. I think all in all i have lost a little over a dozen plants, mostly young ones. The only one that really hurt was the Carolina Reaper, I gave a few away and only had one left and its not looking very happy, dont think it will make it through. So I guess Ill be looking on here a little later in season for a few pods

.
Irrigation System arrived last week, I have decided to hold off this year on the irrigation. We have soo much going on right now and I dont want to set up until I have a final layout of the garden established. So I will pack it away until next year. I then decided to play in the dirt a little while last night and build up some berms around the peppers, this will really help watering and keep the walkways dry. Got a good start last night but will take a few days to complete.

Here is one that I really hope does good this year its looking really good
Black Pearl:

Cabbage aint doin to bad either

Got some pumpkins and watermelons in the ground last night and hope to plant the okra, cucumbers, carrots within the next few days

Also put fish in aquaponics and a strawberry plant, you can see the wind has taken its toll on the pepper plant.

Finished off the weekend with some burgers and taters..mmmmmm

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

OCD Chilehead · Jun 2, 2014

Overall looking good. Sorry to here about the Reaper. I have some growing this year. If I get an abundance of pods I'll send you some. Strawberries looking good. Massive leaves. Thanks for the update.

beerbreath81 · Jun 6, 2014

Quick update, got some time in the garden monday and tuesday...got some rows of bush beans going, and potaotes, beets, and carrots in the back rows

Corn is sprouting

no work for wednesday and thursday, we got rain..alot of rain

more rain on the way, yay

Shotgun says HI

Have good weekend everyone!

Seacowboy · Jun 6, 2014

Man I open you get a break from the rain soon.

You do any bird hunting out there with Shotgun?

beerbreath81 · Jun 6, 2014

Seacowboy said:
You do any bird hunting out there with Shotgun?

hadnt had much time to work with her, I took her out couple phesant seasons ago to my brothers place just to see what she'd do, she does ok with the sound of the shotgun but runs away from the dead bird.... :crazy:

. We also tried to get her in the water....she either cant swim, or is too afraid of the water it didnt go good. I think I got a broken one

I'll have to get a picture of her sometime in the backyard, it's fun to see her stalk and try and get the sparrows around the house, she can do this all day long...its definatly in her blood.

OCD Chilehead · Jun 6, 2014

BB81 looking good. Have a good weekend

Devv · Jun 7, 2014

Wow!

I really like what I see!

Where is all that rain coming from? I thought Colorado was in a drought? Can I have some?

Anthony, impressive garden and work going on there!

The soil being clay: my first place in Tejas in the early 80's was iron ore|clay, like zero drainage. I was the guy scarfing leaves every evening on the way home from work during the raking season. I'm sure many a homeowner was thinking "what the heck is he doing?" as I filled the bed of my truck, but I didn't care

After 2 years the clay was now soil. I can't remember EVER watering the garden back then as it rained in those days. After I sold the place it got back to me from a friend from the new owner" damn that garden soil is saaweet!" Made my day

Here, in Devine I'm on the other side of the spectrum. Adding heavy soil to the sand, and I continue to add the composted leaves, and anything that can build the soil. So, I say find a source, a free one is best

Might be more labor, but you have to weigh the time versus $$$ factor.

IMHO I would work the soil before the investment in wind protection. I've only just started in trying to do that. Sure it helps, but having a fantastic growing medium is a priority in my book

Sure the wind tears up the plants some, but if they're in a super healthy environment, they will persevere!

Good luck this season, you're off to a great start!

beerbreath81 · Jun 9, 2014

Devv said:
Wow!

I really like what I see!

Where is all that rain coming from? I thought Colorado was in a drought? Can I have some?

Anthony, impressive garden and work going on there!

The soil being clay: my first place in Tejas in the early 80's was iron ore|clay, like zero drainage. I was the guy scarfing leaves every evening on the way home from work during the raking season. I'm sure many a homeowner was thinking "what the heck is he doing?" as I filled the bed of my truck, but I didn't care After 2 years the clay was now soil. I can't remember EVER watering the garden back then as it rained in those days. After I sold the place it got back to me from a friend from the new owner" damn that garden soil is saaweet!" Made my day

Here, in Devine I'm on the other side of the spectrum. Adding heavy soil to the sand, and I continue to add the composted leaves, and anything that can build the soil. So, I say find a source, a free one is best Might be more labor, but you have to weigh the time versus $$$ factor.

IMHO I would work the soil before the investment in wind protection. I've only just started in trying to do that. Sure it helps, but having a fantastic growing medium is a priority in my book

Sure the wind tears up the plants some, but if they're in a super healthy environment, they will persevere!

Good luck this season, you're off to a great start!

Thanks for the kind words and advice. Earlier in season I met up with THP member "catherinew" and she hooked me up with a truckload of bagged leaves. She has hundreds of bags that people dropped of during the fall. If i had a place to store them she would be getting many more visits from me

and definatly plan to visit her again early next season.

The rain, (and wind) has been relentless this year. Just when the garden starts to dry out we get another rain storm. Last night it dumped on us for about 4 hrs, many tornados touched down in the area too but it all passed and all is well.

I do have two "backup" plants that are up near the house that we can babysit/cover when we get word that wind/hail is on its way. I'm thinking I may pull three more of my favorites from the garden and move them up front too. The tomatoes that I planted have had all thier folage stripped from them but I noticed the other day that they are tring to come back. I am constantly surprized by the resiliance of plants. I have some reserves still in my garage that I have been to afraid to put out, but i bought some cages this past weekend and my plan is to wrap the cages in painters plastic to protect them from the wind, create a greenhouse effect. We'll see how it goes.

Thanks for stopping by!!

OCD Chilehead · Jun 9, 2014

Sorry to hear about all the bad weather. The painters plastic might work. Be careful not to cook them. Temps will get pretty hot. Maybe small sections so they still have airflow. I hope your luck changes with the weather. Good luck

beerbreath81 · Jun 9, 2014

OCD Chilehead said:
Sorry to hear about all the bad weather. The painters plastic might work. Be careful not to cook them. Temps will get pretty hot. Maybe small sections so they still have airflow. I hope your luck changes with the weather. Good luck

Good thinking, I never tried this before....my plan was to leave the top open, not fully enclosed. Do you think they will get to hot?. The cages I got are like these

http://www.lowes.com/pd_15474-16418-697800_4294612578__?productId=3653750&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&facetInfo=

so I guess I could cut out a couple squares to let some airflow. Thanks for the tip!

OCD Chilehead · Jun 9, 2014

beerbreath81 said:
Good thinking, I never tried this before....my plan was to leave the top open, not fully enclosed. Do you think they will get to hot?. The cages I got are like these

http://www.lowes.com/pd_15474-16418-697800_4294612578__?productId=3653750&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1¤tURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=

so I guess I could cut out a couple squares to let some airflow. Thanks for the tip!

Those cages are awesome. I still think in direct sun it will heat up. With the temps in the 80s in the shade in the sun would be a lot warmer with plastic might be 20 degrees warmer or more. Just guessing here. Maybe set a cage up and cover with plastic and record temp somehow to get a idea. It's kind of like leaving your truck windows up in the sun. Interested in seeing what the temp may be. Might have to try this experiment my self.

OCD Chilehead · Jun 15, 2014

You know me. Just checking in. Hope all is well on your side of the mountain.

beerbreath81 · Jun 17, 2014

OCD Chilehead said:
You know me. Just checking in. Hope all is well on your side of the mountain.

Update 6/17---

Thanks for checking in Chuck. Another week of high winds and and an unwelcomed hail storm made a visit this past weekend with "marble" sized hail. Was able to cover the plants up near the house but the garden took another beating. Between that and the wind if they were ever given the chance to take off they would be some Monsters! I'm thinking this weekend I might pull a couple favorite peppers from the garden and put them in containers up near the house.

We took a trip over to a tree farm this past weekend and picked up a few trees that I'm pretty excited about. 2 semi dwarf peach trees, an apple tree and a cherry tree. Little by little I'm getting this spot into what I'm wanting. Just sucks starting over from scratch, but we'll get there. Its all for the love of the game, haha. Also have a few grapes I need to get into the ground. Just so skiddish planting anything because it only takes a few days for the wind to rip it to pieces.

The garden is really starting to get discouraging, rain, wind are really trying my patience. On the flip side though most of the plants look hidious, have had all foliage stripped by wind and hail. They are showing signs of a rebound I just hope they can kick it into over drive.

As for the plastic wrapped tomatoes, its a little early to see how they will do. Not seeing much growth out of them, and the holes allowed too much wind in and whiped up the leaves pretty good.

Tomatoes before

Tomatoes after

OW

Z. Bird

Taters up in garden

Green Bean broke soil

Pepper on the rebound

Pizza for Sun dinner--no plate pic, hungry

Hope everyone had a good weekend

OCD Chilehead · Jun 17, 2014

Sh*t. One of these days some good fortune will come your way. Sorry to here about all the frustration and mishaps. The OW and Zbird are looking good. Don't give up hope yet. Hang in there brother.