CaneDog 2020

2020 is underway, so it's time to start the new season's glog!  Odd times though, as I'm still harvesting stragglers from last season while the earliest of my 2020 starts are already up.  Grow areas are a bit disorganized as a result 
 
This season's grow should be a little more balanced than last season, though I'll still have a ridiculous number of rocotos - many OW's plus a bunch of new varieties - and quite a few carry-over OW wilds, too.
 
A big "thanks" to all who shared seeds with me for this season.  I'm appreciative and excited to have lots of cool varieties in the mix, many of which I got to watch you grow last season and can now try myself.  I think I'm current with everyone, but if by any chance you were expecting seeds from me that may have slipped through the cracks just shoot me a PM.
 
As I mentioned, things aren't super organized right now, but here's a few pics anyway.
 
I planted a few seeds early, just because I couldn't hold off the extra few weeks without planting something.
 
Amarillo de Arequipa Rocoto just popped- Thanks CTB!

 
Ecuador Sweet Rocoto twins - and a big shout out to the two peeps who sent me seeds for these. Both sources germinated and I'm really happy to have them growing.  Disclaimer: they may look overly wet, but these just got sprayed (to avoid HH's) and it's a very porous medium.

 
Put another few rocotos in to soak today.

 
This is a galapagoense that popped a few days back, exactly 100 days after sowing.

 
And this pod contains Jalapeno Zapotec x Purple Jalapeno F1, one of a couple F1 JZ crosses I'll be growing out this season. The other is Tekne Dolmasi x JZ.

 
Finally, I got a solid recommendation on a new media mix I'll be trying out this season in a few variations. The mix is heavy in partially composted bark fines, a fir/hemlock mix as pine's hard to get locally. It's proving to be a veritable mycelium factory.  Bodes well for good symbiosis with the appropriate fungal species this year.

 

 
Heck, they're even fruiting out the drainage holes... 

 
 
That's it for now.  Good luck to all in 2020!
CD

 

[solid7]

 
Thanks. I use an Excalibur 9-tray. Not the  cheapest out there, but I've had it for years and it does a great job.

 
I have one of those, myself.  My dehydrator probably works great anywhere else...  But in humid Florida, no dehydrator that I've ever owned, really seems to do a fantastic job.  Although this one works as well as anything.  I'd sure love to try it out in a dryer climate.
 
 

 
You know, I've grown raspberries for about forever and don't remember ever having had an issue with aphids on them.  What I get here is rust.  Never too bad, but seems like always those little orange spots on the lower foliage.  At least it doesn't spread to the peppers  

 
I've started to see some aphids show up on my tomatoes here on my little porch garden.  Honestly, though...  Nothing at all like what I've usually experienced about 3 times by now back home.  The aphids here are push overs.  I smashed a few of them, and rubbed their carcasses out on the stems of the plants they were attacking.  I had about 12 on one plant, and since I've been keeping an eye on them, I haven't seen another one.  God, I wish it were that easy in FL.  Did I just get lucky, or are they gonna ramp up?

 

[CaneDog]

I've started to see some aphids show up on my tomatoes here on my little porch garden.  Honestly, though...  Nothing at all like what I've usually experienced about 3 times by now back home.  The aphids here are push overs.  I smashed a few of them, and rubbed their carcasses out on the stems of the plants they were attacking.  I had about 12 on one plant, and since I've been keeping an eye on them, I haven't seen another one.  God, I wish it were that easy in FL.  Did I just get lucky, or are they gonna ramp up?

 
You can get them bad up here too, but your right in assessing that it's not like in the FL.  I don't usually have a problem with aphids here unless plants are moving between inside and outside and they take advantage of the protected time to reach critical mass.  You can see one little aphid on the purple flower in the first picture of the last set and I'll see stuff like that - a few to half-dozen here and there - throughout the season without them getting out of hand. 
 
If I see several on a plant I'll smash or rinse them off before they multiply too much and spread. If I saw a dozen on one plant I'd probably rinse the plant off under the theory that for every one I see there's more I don't and rinsing gets many of those too.  Seems that as long as you slow their roll and prevent critical mass the beneficials are usually enough to keep them in check.  

 

[PaulG]

First class grow going there, CD!

It looks like the slow start to our season
may finally be turning around, buddy 
 
Good luck getting those 80-or-so plants tucked
into their new community garden plot. You got
your work cut out for you there!

 

[Wiriwiri]

Post # 697 ..Great photography  CD...love those close-ups with so much detail..I should aim (pun) to take better photos  of
my plants...agenda for another day.
 
Seems like Cap1242 is competing with the C. Galap to see  who gets to use  the razor first. Great close up...captured it all.
 
Con't success this season.

 

[Uncle Eckley]

Nice work on that plot, CaneDog!  Looking forward to seeing it color up!

 

[CraftyFox]

Hey CD, and everyone else. I haven't had much time to keep up on here with everything going on. I keep watching these De Sorta putting on pods and think about you all though.. 
I'm down to the De Sorta, or two, if the other fruits the same.. The Little Brown, which went bonchi on me after it dropped all of it's leaves and pods last winter.. And two of the three Texas Pequins I had going. Lost the rest between the Winter losses and the transfer back outdoors. 

De Sorta has been flowering and putting on pods for a couple weeks now, and the smaller one just started.. Little Brown is holding out, but looks healthy. I suspect it wants a bigger pot..

I didn't start anything new yet this year, but hope to get a better start next round.. Too many aphids last winter, and too much going on this Spring. Hope you all are doing well and look forward to catching up on your Glogs when I have time. 

 

[CaneDog]

Hey CD, and everyone else. I haven't had much time to keep up on here with everything going on. I keep watching these De Sorta putting on pods and think about you all though.. 
I'm down to the De Sorta, or two, if the other fruits the same.. The Little Brown, which went bonchi on me after it dropped all of it's leaves and pods last winter.. And two of the three Texas Pequins I had going. Lost the rest between the Winter losses and the transfer back outdoors. 

De Sorta has been flowering and putting on pods for a couple weeks now, and the smaller one just started.. Little Brown is holding out, but looks healthy. I suspect it wants a bigger pot..

I didn't start anything new yet this year, but hope to get a better start next round.. Too many aphids last winter, and too much going on this Spring. Hope you all are doing well and look forward to catching up on your Glogs when I have time. 

 
Hey Crafty!  I've been wondering how you've been.  It's definitely busy times right now for me too.  Glad you have a few peppers to keep you going and especially a couple of the De Sortas. Despite crossing red, they still put out some hefty pods with that De Seda shape.  I have two yellow De Seda going this year. One OW that was the only non De Sorta from that seed batch, plus a new start from that yellow De Seda, which is an indoor plant and still rather small.
 
You piri piri is a star of my grow this season.  I have two of them in smallish pots right now and some ripe pods already I'm about to harvest.  Then I'll pot them up to see how much I can get out of them the rest of the season.  I also have 1 of your Chocolate Hab "Gurney," which is doing well.  Like several of my chinense, it set pods early in the season during a brief stretch of nice weather, but the weather turned poor and the pods remained small. One just turned brown, however, and hopefully has seeds.  It's also flowering and setting a new wave, which hopefully will be bigger.
 
 
Good to hear from you.

 

[CaneDog]

Nice work on that plot, CaneDog!  Looking forward to seeing it color up!

 
Thanks E.  Me too!
 
New Avatar, I see.  You know, every time I see "doomsday prepper" written out my brain translates it into Doomsday Pepper, which I think would be an awesome name for a super hot pepper.

 

[Uncle Eckley]

 
New Avatar, I see.  You know, every time I see "doomsday prepper" written out my brain translates it into Doomsday Pepper, which I think would be an awesome name for a super hot pepper.

 
It's funny in a grim sort of way.  I really wish George Carlin was here for this.  It's only a temp; Leto will be back before long.

 

[CaneDog]

It's funny in a grim sort of way.  I really wish George Carlin was here for this.  It's only a temp; Leto will be back before long.

 
Yeah, Carlin was sharp and had a unique perspective.  Plus he could be hilarious.  
 
I've never rotated any AV's through, but I'd consider seasonal or topical additions.  Maybe I should give the 'dog a mustache come Movember.
 
Or perhaps a mask right now...

 

[CaneDog]

I took a few quick pics on the deck today.
 
Got these dwarf cherokee tigers gifted to me the other day.  They're solid starts - check out those trunks! - and have the cool chartreuse foliage.

 
A mutant candlelight is beginning to ripen pods.

 
The first of the isolated PC-1 annuum pods are ripe.

 
Couple shots of the Giant Yellow Rocoto x Rocopica F1.  It's a big plant and it's producing plenty of pods.

 

 
And a couple eximium pics

 

 

[CaneDog]

My galapagoense has been setting pods for a while now, but appears to be starting to slow.  As this is my first experience growing it, I'm happy that production has been as good as it has.  Given how well a few other people are doing with this one too, perhaps it's not quite as finicky as I'd been led to believe. That said, it wasn't quite plant it and forget it either - at least not for me  - but I after a few adjustments along the way it seems pretty happy.
 
Here's a pic of the plant.  It's in a fairly small 5" container and is about 15" tall and wide.  Growing inside in my T5HO tent.

 
Here's another shot at higher resolution - click to expand - which better shows the pods.  I don't think it's dropped any flowers and I'd estimate there are probably 50+/- pods on it.  They hide pretty well - and many are still small - but hopefully they're easier to see in this picture.  I let it get just a little too dry a couple days ago and I've seen fewer blooms since.  I'm not sure if it's nearing the end of the first wave or it's just a temporary set-back due to my goof-up.  EDIT:  Looks like my attempt at higher-res pic was compressed to the extent it isn't really helping.

 

[Uncle Eckley]

Gorgeous, CD.

 

[Pr0digal_son]

Nice C.galapagoense. They aren't as prolific as the other undomesticated species;single and occassionally two fruits per node. There are some benefits to squishing them in small containers as you have done,one being fruit set.

They are damn hot,probably the hottest wild I have tried,but extremely tough seeds and obviously not one for eating. Still worth a grow. I usually grow them every few years to freshen up my stock. The quality of the seeds degrades rapidly.

Cheers

 

[solid7]

I took a few quick pics on the deck today.
 
Got these dwarf cherokee tigers gifted to me the other day.  They're solid starts - check out those trunks! - and have the cool chartreuse foliage.

20200720 Cherokee.jpg
 

 
I was just having a relook at tomatoes.  I was so excited to get tomatoes going up here in the PNW, that I went in with full enthusiasm.  Now, my patio dwarfs aren't doing too bad, and it's a nice little escape.  But I have to admit, you were right.  I oversold this area for tomato growing based purely on my optimism.  Looking back at some Florida winter tomatoes:
 

 

[CaneDog]

Gorgeous, CD.

 
Thanks, E.  I'm pulling for your Haskorea. That has to be frustrating seeing the leaves go limp like that - though I will say that pod in the picture looks outstanding!  I hope I can still get some decent production from mine despite that it's behind where it should be for the season.  I did give it a prime raised bed spot, so the ball's in its court. 
 

Nice C.galapagoense. They aren't as prolific as the other undomesticated species;single and occassionally two fruits per node. There are some benefits to squishing them in small containers as you have done,one being fruit set.

They are damn hot,probably the hottest wild I have tried,but extremely tough seeds and obviously not one for eating. Still worth a grow. I usually grow them every few years to freshen up my stock. The quality of the seeds degrades rapidly.

Cheers

 
Thanks, Prodigal.  I hope your grow is doing well.  I remember you had some very cool plants growing. 
 
The galapagoense has been a fun grow since I got it back on track.  It's interesting to hear you comment on the smaller container.  I read enough in advance to have an idea how to give it suitable conditions, but the smaller pot was trial and error.  I'd potted it up into a slightly bigger and deeper container and it didn't like it at all - I've been thinking likely the depth resulted in wetter feet than it preferred.  I moved it back to a smaller pot with slightly better media porosity and it's been happy since the change.

 

[CaneDog]

I was just having a relook at tomatoes.  I was so excited to get tomatoes going up here in the PNW, that I went in with full enthusiasm.  Now, my patio dwarfs aren't doing too bad, and it's a nice little escape.  But I have to admit, you were right.  I oversold this area for tomato growing based purely on my optimism.  Looking back at some Florida winter tomatoes:

 
And this year's weather is worse than usual, we've got that going for us, too.  Seattle's been cooler and damper this year than I can remember.  Still, you can grow some decent tomatoes up here and there's a good bit of season left, especially if we get a good September.  I'm pretty psyched about these dwarf tiger cherokee.  Even though they're small for the date, I'll find a way to get them to produce some 'maters.

 

[solid7]

 
And this year's weather is worse than usual, we've got that going for us, too.  Seattle's been cooler and damper this year than I can remember.  Still, you can grow some decent tomatoes up here and there's a good bit of season left, especially if we get a good September.  I'm pretty psyched about these dwarf tiger cherokee.  Even though they're small for the date, I'll find a way to get them to produce some 'maters.

 
Yeah, they're all going nice, but growth rates just aren't as stellar as I'm accustomed to.  Not gonna complain, though.  I keep my little stand of plants for sanity, not competition.  But honestly, if I end up out here for long, I'm gonna have to secure a full time remote gig, and get a plot on the other side of the pass.  I got a little goofy seeing the growing that's going on out there (think Wenatchee).  Reminded me of home. (when I was a kid)
.
I'll be looking forward to meeting up with you out at the garden, but this weekend is another out-of-towner.  Gonna bring back some Oregon brews, for next time around. 

 

[Bhuter]

Hey, Cane!
Just dropping in to say..........

Holy WORK! You've been busy! Very nice everything!

I'm sorry I don't get around much. I get discouraged when I see awesomeness like your results!!!

That Galapagoense........beautiful!!!! Fantastic growing techniques!

Whew........

I crossed the Galapagos Frutescens (mother) with CGN 22184 (Peach Frutescens: Father)
I don't know why. Just cuz......

 

[CaneDog]

Hey, Cane!
Just dropping in to say..........

Holy WORK! You've been busy! Very nice everything!

I'm sorry I don't get around much. I get discouraged when I see awesomeness like your results!!!

That Galapagoense........beautiful!!!! Fantastic growing techniques!

Whew........

I crossed the Galapagos Frutescens (mother) with CGN 22184 (Peach Frutescens: Father)
I don't know why. Just cuz......

 
Thank, man.  I just reading about some of your crosses while catching up with your recent glog posts just now.  Your plants seem to have grown a ton over the last little while.  I didn't get the CGN 22184 you sent me to sprout, so it's cool to see yours.  However, I did get one of the peach amazonian frutescens you sent me to pop and it's starting to get bushy in the T5HO tent.  Looks like it's going to be a good one.