• Blog your pepper progress. The first image in your first post will be used to represent your Glog.

Devv-2018-Loving life in the dirt

Here we go again! ;)
 
This year will be a mix of in the dirt and container growing. Mostly in the dirt. I have some OW's going, 5 are cut back, 6 are pubes that still spend time outdoors as the weather allows. I have pH issues in the dirt, working on that, and hoping for some better results this season. One thing the wife and I decided is to NOT grow into the fall again. I was pulling plants the same weekend I started my seeds. I'm using 4 2 bulb T8's with 6,500K bulbs, and 1 4 bulb T5 with I believe 6,500K bulbs.
 
So here's the list:
 
Planted 12-3-17

~Aji Amarillo
~Aji Dulce
~Scotchbrain
~Scotchbrain-Morugawelder
~P. Dreadie's-Windchicken
~BOC-Windchicken
 JA Habs
~Aji Oro
~pdn-bonda w PaulG
~pdn-bonda p PaulG
~pumpkin bb6-Morugawelder
~pumpkin bubblegum Bhuter
~orangegum tigermamp Bhuter
~7-pot cinder Bhuter
~pimente-neyde Bhuter
~Big Black mama-OCD Chilihead
~Brainstrain-Reaper OCD Chilihead
 
Planted 12-30-2017
 
~Jalapeno-Zapotec, Orange, Farmers.
~Poblano
~Bell-Yellow, Red.
~padrons
Hot Hatch
~Ancho
~Antep Aci Dolma
~Big Jim
~Anaheim
~Large Orange Thai
~Gochu-Stickman
~Aji Limo Rojo
Jimmy Nardello
 
Planted 1-1-2018
 
~Yellow Brainstrain- Pepperguru
 
The ~ indicates we have lift off.
 
I planted extra early to beat the heat, hoping for pods before the temps go crazy. I may have to buy more lights...LOL
 
Pics sometime tomorrow ;)
 
 
 
Click to expand...
stickman said:
Yeah, between work, home and family there's lots going on here too. Not enough hours in a day to maintain a glog this year. At least I can report that I'm bringing my soil pH down... last year the garden pH was 7.7 and this spring it's 7.5

Good luck to you too!
Click to expand...
 
I hear ya Rick!
 
This year has been harder time wise for me as well.
 
Keep it green buddy!
 
 
PaulG said:
Welcome to the land of retirement, fellas! I did the early
retirement thing from the school district I worked for, then
went and taught at the college level for 9 years. That was
great. I worked about 20% of the time I did as a school
teacher, and made about 45% of my school salary by
working at three different places. One does what one
needs to do!
 
Now I am fully disengaged, and no looking back!
 
 
Rickster! I have missed you, my friend. I know you
have all kinds of awesomeness that we all want to
see in your garden.
 
I took your 'advice' from a couple of seasons ago
and started adding a Silica fert to my routine. I can
really see the difference, so thanks for doing that
research, Buddy!!
 
Keep the faith, my friend!
Click to expand...
 
Oh that retirement! I can just taste it. No more up at 4:15AM ;)  So I had an offer from my Mom; she wants me to quit on my birthday, which is October. She even offered to match the potential lost funds. I'll probably go until January, as that's what I told them at the workplace.
 
I will be ordering the silica tonight as I need all the help I can get ;)
 
 
Devv said:
The garden:
 
247.jpg

 
Maters gone wild. I cut them back once, and will again tomorrow. Hornworms out the wazoo this year. 30 plus squished so far.

 
 
Click to expand...
 
Looking so awesome in the jungle. Do you carry a compass so you can find your way out of there?  How do you find hornworms in there? Look for the defoliated sections?
 
I have a jalapeño plant that looks like yours. It made a whole bunch of the tiny red pods early on and now it's shooting out the big green ones like crazy. I wish I grew a couple more of those plants. All extremely delicious pods so far.
 
 
DWB said:
 
Looking so awesome in the jungle. Do you carry a compass so you can find your way out of there?  How do you find hornworms in there? Look for the defoliated sections?
 
I have a jalapeño plant that looks like yours. It made a whole bunch of the tiny red pods early on and now it's shooting out the big green ones like crazy. I wish I grew a couple more of those plants. All extremely delicious pods so far.
 
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Dee!
 
Yeah the bastages like to strip the tops and hit the top maters. Sunday morning I hit all the maters and peppers with the Dipel dust (BT). We were just pulling them off, like in years past, but they just keep on coming. Normally I would kill 4-5, this year we're close to 40, maybe more. My poor Annuum's have been hit hard by the worms too on the West side of the garden. It looks like a kid was out there  playing with scissors :shh:
 
 
Devv said:
 
Thanks Dee!
 
Yeah the bastages like to strip the tops and hit the top maters. Sunday morning I hit all the maters and peppers with the Dipel dust (BT). We were just pulling them off, like in years past, but they just keep on coming. Normally I would kill 4-5, this year we're close to 40, maybe more. My poor Annuum's have been hit hard by the worms too on the West side of the garden. It looks like a kid was out there  playing with scissors :shh:
 
Click to expand...
Boooo...hate me some hornworms! I think they can do more damage than rabbits or deer.
https://youtu.be/ZR_jubXHc0w
 
 It's been a busy few weeks. Peaches, Potatoes, Garlic, and Corn all in. Starting to get some ripe peppers that DON'T have bug holes in them ;) Dipel dust saved the corn, just a few worms.
 
Ok, a few pics...
 
270.jpg

 
Raised bed peppers Aji Arnaucho
 
273.jpg

 
Jimmy Nardello
 
274.jpg

 
275.jpg

 
White Bhut
 
276.jpg

 
PDN x Bonda White
 
 
stc3248 said:
Awesome! Ripe ones starting to trickle in...won't be long and the big pulls will start rolling in. Hope your weather holds for a while before they shut down for the summer.
Click to expand...
 
Yeah, I'm pleased compared to the last few years. Getting them in early has really helped. Although the plants still suffer from nutrient uptake issues.  However, I will get my share of peppers. ;)
 
The weather is getting close here, we shall see..
 
The biggest mistake I ever made regarding gardening was to bring in the heavy topsoil. That stuff was supposed to help with the sandy drainage issues. That it did. But, it was crap. And crap is a nice way of saying the place I bought it from needs....well you know. I think some idiot thought that lime was the answer. The PH is crazy, 8.4 last year, down to 8.0 this year. It seems only the peppers hate it :rolleyes:  So my advise is: before you purchase top soil, have it tested. I wish I had...if I could dig it out I would! At least now the water I use is 6.4 from the sky.
 
I'm seriously considering a 100% container grow next year, while I continue to nuke it with elemental sulfur. I bought 75lbs yesterday, this may take 2 years...regardless, I will win in the end :crazy:
 
 
Hey Devv, given you are apparently not growing in the optimal soil, I think your results are even more incredible - really nice work. Those plants are simply staggering, and the number of pods this early in the season confirms it! :)

In terms of soil optimization, while declaring that I haven't tried this (yet) in practice, have you read 'The intelligent gardener' by Steve Solomon? He gives what seems like excellent advise on how to amend the soil to give optimal conditions for your plants. I can imagine your frustration with having done all that work with the top soil, and it not ending up giving you the benefits you were aiming for. Perhaps some extra amendments will get you there in the end? I came across it on these forums last year, although I can't quite remember via whom... ;)

Good luck with the imminent harvests!

Sent from my ZTE A2017U using Tapatalk
 
lespaulde said:
Hey Devv, given you are apparently not growing in the optimal soil, I think your results are even more incredible - really nice work. Those plants are simply staggering, and the number of pods this early in the season confirms it! :)

In terms of soil optimization, while declaring that I haven't tried this (yet) in practice, have you read 'The intelligent gardener' by Steve Solomon? He gives what seems like excellent advise on how to amend the soil to give optimal conditions for your plants. I can imagine your frustration with having done all that work with the top soil, and it not ending up giving you the benefits you were aiming for. Perhaps some extra amendments will get you there in the end? I came across it on these forums last year, although I can't quite remember via whom... ;)

Good luck with the imminent harvests!

Sent from my ZTE A2017U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
 

Thanks!
 
I read that book! I sent my soil to Logans Labs in Ohio last year and added the goodies as directed. I tested my sand today..LOL as that's what's here and it came in just under 7.4 PH wise. Rick (Stickman) mentioned that book last year. So I guess I'll add some more sand this winter, on top of the sulfur treatment. ;) That and I have close to 8 yards of compost, and will get 6 more tomorrow. It's free from the county. I added the top soil prior to the 2015 grow. I went from a killer year to a dismal year. We will get it right ;) 
 
Being the PH is so high I've been feeding both dirt wise and via foliar applications
 
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