Capehog 2013 I have no idea what these peppers are

Sawyer · Apr 6, 2013

capehog said:
Guess I just have always called gas regular even though it is all unleaded now. The ethanol really is destroying our cars and small engines but the powers that be that are making more money off of it than the alternative so we will keep using it.

The cut worm sticks are branches I cut from the overhanging tree and burned off most of them. I kept these to make about an 8-10 inch length to place next to each plant. We have always done this to keep the cut worms from killing the seedlings til they get a month or so old and the cut worms cant get around the tap root. We dont have too much trouble each year with pests but I've walked out to check on things to see a small pepper or tomato laying down and I know a cut worm had dinner. There probably is a pesticide that will kill the cut worms but I rarely use anything on the garden and probably wont even use any seven dust this year on the peppers.

I burn the ethanol crap in my trucks, but I'm willing to pay the little bit extra for the 20 gallons or so I use per year in my small engines. There are four or five stations around here that sell ethanol-free. I haven't had any more line or carburetor problems since I switched. According to this site, Jordan's Kwikstop in Joneboro carries ethanol-free.

Okay, I remember now, I have heard of that trick with putting sticks right against the stem. I use paper towel and toilet paper tubes, cut to 1" or so lengths as collars around young plants. Seems to work.

capehog · Apr 6, 2013

Thanks Sawyer for the gas tip. I'll burn the half gallon left through the mower and start buying the ethanol free.

capehog · Apr 9, 2013

Thunderstorms tomorrow but I am taking the chance today. I put out about 60 "mix" plants meaning either they came in from Joe as mix seeds or they are from the trays that I did not label correctly and have no earthly idea what they are. It will be like Christmas in July when these start turning colors.

The 60 or so plants that were labeled correctly I will grid into the rest of the garden and try some of the blue walmart bags as a test.

Plants in dirt in April are always a good thing.

Thanks for looking enjoy your day.

Sawyer · Apr 9, 2013

Hope you've got some covers handy. We have a chance of frost over here for Thursday and Friday mornings. I think we often get colder here than you get over there, but still...

capehog · Apr 9, 2013

I sell golf umbrellas and have plenty on hand that were damaged over the years plus a full supply of pots etc. The umbrellas will cover a few plants each keeping any frost or dew off. I dont miss the NWA cold mornings. Didnt realize how much a difference between Jonesboro and Fayetteville temp wise until I started college all those years ago.

capehog · Apr 15, 2013

Well the rain and storms finally stopped and the sun came out to dry the land again. The storms did take at least 4 plants and several more are hanging on for dear life but we shall see what happens. Temps in the 80's this week with popup showers possible. June has arrived.

I ended up with 121 plants in the ground and bags from my first seed trays Jan 1st. Experience is the best teacher and I will do better in 2014. I have 6 bell peppers that didn't go in the other garden to try my hand at containers this year. Picked up a few huge pots at estate auctions so far this spring for a few buck each.

For information 5 Miracle Grow blue bags moisture control 55 quart will fill up a little over 15 blue WalMart bags. I didn't fill them to the brim or pack the soil. My thinking was I can always come back and top dress after the plants get over the top of the bag. Good bad I don't know yet we shall see. I had about 1/3 of a bag of MG regular put it in the wheel barrow with the other and got a few more bags that I picked up at various events. Next time you go to a county fair or one of the business expos take a friend and pick up as many of the bags as you can. This of course is if you want to use them for gardening or you can put supplies and the like. Gardening should be as cost effective as possible in my opinion and if I can recycle or use an item for a purpose other than originally designed then the better off for me. The WalMart bags are .50 each with tax so it was worth a try.

Yes I know my rows are crooked but by the time I was at the near end of the garden my knees were killing me and my back was just on the brink of going sideways. If these get to the levels that I've been told it wont matter anyway the spread will be so great it will look like a jungle.

Sawyer · Apr 16, 2013

Looking good. You're ahead of me on the planting. I'm holding off until this next round of cold weather gets behind us.

When I was a kid, gardening was a family affair and the rows were measured and laid out with string, everything neat and tidy. Now, I just wing it. The plants don't care.

capehog · Apr 16, 2013

Sawyer said:
Looking good. You're ahead of me on the planting. I'm holding off until this next round of cold weather gets behind us.

When I was a kid, gardening was a family affair and the rows were measured and laid out with string, everything neat and tidy. Now, I just wing it. The plants don't care.

36 degrees Saturday night. BOO

capehog · Apr 18, 2013

Last night I watched the tornado coverage on the internet West of us in Oklahoma where there was baseball size hail 90mph winds heavy rain. I decided to try an experiment today and took several golf umbrellas I can't sell due to tears in the fabric cut the handles off and drove into the ground. The storms came and were nothing too bad really but since the wind never got up I know the plants underneath were protected.

Standing water will drain soon

We will be in the high 30's tonight. I'm ready for this to be over and back to normal low temps at night.

Sawyer · Apr 18, 2013

It's the rise of the mole people! (I hear they don't like rain.)

capehog · Aug 12, 2013

Finally getting to post here again. We've had more rain in NE Arkansas this summer than I can remember. As of August 11 we are 2.15 inches over with more expected today. Seems like every 3 days we have thunderstorms or just a steady rain. Now I'm really glad I put 3 inches of mulch down or my garden would have lost even more to erosion.

My plants are surviving and starting to really put on some pods. If I have learned anything from this year it is to label everything from day one so I have a complete chart of what plant is in what position. At this point the only thing I can recognize is a chili de arbol and jalapeno. The rest are going to be up to the members here to offer their best guesses. I bought seeds from Judy and NMSU and several members were kind to send seeds to me this spring: ajijoe, Justaguy, Scarlet Fire, Nortexchilijs, landracer and Island Dan with much thanks to each one of them for the help and encouragement.

Now on to the pictures please take a look and offer what you think the plant and pepper might be

This is todays pick

These chocolate dont seem to get any bigger than they are now. Just a small pod.

I hope you all are having a good growing year. Thanks for looking and your input.