Devv's 2015 - 16, Life is good!

Well here we go again!
 
I just got finished planting seeds for 70 plants. Scaling back a bit this year; last year was a lot of work! That and I have to do more than garden this season
 
My apologies as I can't remember shit where I got all the seeds from. Some were harvested from pods some I saved, and some were sent to me. I can say this 99% originated from the most generous THP members!
 
Without further ado, here's the 2015 list:
 
Red 7 Pot Lava: Mikey
Black Thai        : Mikey
Yellow Jonah  : Mikey
Jack’s Choc Superhot: Mikey
Red Bhutlah   : Mikey
Tepin x Lemmon drop
Pimenta Lisa : Stefan
Brazilian Starfish
Bell
Poblano
Billy Biker
Jalapeno
Jimmy Nardello
Bishops Crown
Sweet Hungarian Paprika
Bahamian Goat
Urfa Biber
Jelly Bean White Hab
Jigsaw
Nagabrain F4
Numex Jalamundo
Cream Fatalii
Isabella Island Hab: Jim
Cherry Bomb: Jim
Moa
Kurt’s
JA Habs
White Bhut
Anaheim
Jigsaw
Burgundy
Ma Wiri wiri: Jim
Pepperdew: Jim
Pimenta De Padron: Jim
Wild tepin: Jim
Jigsaw
Six secrets from Stefan
Orange Primo: Mikey
Choc Bhutlah
Scotch Bonnet x Indian Red
Red Lava: Mikey
White Hab
Naga King: Rick
BOC: Rick
 
I leaned more towards peppers my wife can eat. After all she helped me quite a bit, I might as well grow some for her
 
Last season was a challenge regarding what was what. I eventually figured them out, but was not happy with the confusion. And yeah, I'm easily confused.
 
Here's a pic of the 70 starters:
 

 
Trying something different, the Jiffy's are numbered and will be entered into a spreadsheet. As they pop, they will go into the solo cups with permanent marker to label them.
 
This year I'm starting things in the converted hunting room (man cave?). LB wanted the extra bedroom back   The room is part of the shop; 24x8 and insulated. It's been rather nasty for the last 4 or 5 days, damp and temps below 52°, but it was 68° in there a few minutes ago. Also I'm trying a heating mat to help with germination, which was abysmal IMHO last year.
 
Anyone who knows how I fly, knows I like to grow in the dirt. I have a few in containers from last season, but they just don't do as well.
 
I put a ton (literally) of work into the soil since the start of last season.
 
I feel soil preparation is the key to success:
 

 

 
I tilled in over 24 yards of RCW and 10 yards of shredded leaves after pulling the plants in the fall.
 

 
I then planted Crimson Clover and Rye as a cover crop, this pic is from 2 weeks ago..
 

 
The area I planted the cover crop in is 2,300 to 2,500 square feet. Half is framed for sunshade. A must in the 100% summer sun the garden gets. There's some Comfrey of the left
 

 

 
Dec. 6th I tilled in the whole shootin' match. I waited too long. But I do like it when it darkens up. This is what it looks like after 2 2" deep passes. If you wait too long the roots form a sod, this makes for a bad day of tilling. I got this far and decided to call it. Shiner time!

Once I'm sure most is dead and wont come back when I water crop 2 goes in.
 

 
On 12-10

The grass on top has dried, and rain is forecast through Sunday (yeah right), so I tilled again. It brought up the grass from below and now the garden looks like last Sunday. I went a couple of notches deeper this time to break up more of the roots. I spread rye seed and watered for 45 minutes. It should come up quickly as the weather is warm for a week or more. 50's-70's.
 

 
This is the garden today, the second cover crop is just coming up. And I have to prep an area for onions, which hit the dirt January 15th. The rest gets tilled in at the end of the month.
 
I fly out of here tomorrow afternoon, and won't be back until a week from now. So I'd like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!
 

 

[Trident chilli]

Great insight into your new "bed" Scott .... first picture had me totally confused asking myself why would anybody bury tree stumps ... I can't wait to see it full of plants next season ... +1 on #940

 

[OCD Chilehead]

Great looking bed Scott. Classic looking Tepin/Lemondrop. Nice MOA's.

 

[Devv]

great to see the pottage , SCOTT !  

 

 Thanks! I'm really pleased with the fall garden results

Great insight into your new "bed" Scott .... first picture had me totally confused asking myself why would anybody bury tree stumps ... I can't wait to see it full of plants next season ... +1 on #940

 

Thanks! I started working on phase 2 this week, hopefully by the end of this weekend it will be finished, or close to it. So when completed it will be 20x6'. And I have the mini hugel beds on the other end that I buried 12's of rough wood chips in. Gola is to ease the everyday watering issues I have here in a semi desert climate.

 

[Devv]

Great looking bed Scott. Classic looking Tepin/Lemondrop. Nice MOA's.

 
Thanks Chuck!
 
The Tepin cross is a very nice pepper, I have a bunch in the freezer   Hoping all the MoA's come through too, as they're one of my favorites. No cover crop this winter, just too much going on with the fence and the hugel bed. I need more days off!   Sunday morning we have 40° expected, hopefully no frost!
 

 

[OCD Chilehead]

MOA's are fantastic peppers. Did you try that ScotchBrain this year? The one I had wasn't bad at all.


I hear ya Scott. I wanted more done on my hoop house by now. I did manage to get alll the hoops up into position I want to get some plastic over it before to long. Let me know if there are any seeds to something you want. I'm going to start sorting soon. I'll let you know what extras I have. Most of my garden will consist of crosses next year.

Take care.

 

[Devv]

MOA's are fantastic peppers. Did you try that ScotchBrain this year? The one I had wasn't bad at all.
 
I love the yellows, they just may be my favorites, and the sweet but hot reds. I really liked the taste of the browns Randy sent, until the fire killed me...LOL.


I hear ya Scott. I wanted more done on my hoop house by now. I did manage to get alll the hoops up into position I want to get some plastic over it before to long. Let me know if there are any seeds to something you want. I'm going to start sorting soon. I'll let you know what extras I have. Most of my garden will consist of crosses next year.
 
Sounds good, let me know what's what when they're sorted And hopefully I have something you'll want.

Take care.

 

They're talking 35-38° for Sunday morning, I'll be on the frost watch. I have a ton of peppers in the wings, well a ton for a fall crop..LOL. Phase 2 of the Hugel bed is almost ready for the wood phase. I really need to get myself in gear and snap some pics..

 

[Devv]

Put in 6 hours of hard labor today, the weather was fantastic. 45° in the morning and 60° for the high. Really nice to get to work without the sweating!
 

 
Phase two of the "hugel bed". 10x5x2'. Something about digging makes me feel young again, glad I can still do it
 

 
I wasn't pulling your chain about 24"s deep
 

 
Dead wood I harvested from around the place.
 

 
This is where I ran out of gas, and decided it was time for a "beverage of choice". Will finish in the morning

 

[Devv]

Well here we go again!
 
I just got finished planting seeds for 70 plants. Scaling back a bit this year; last year was a lot of work! That and I have to do more than garden this season
 
My apologies as I can't remember shit where I got all the seeds from. Some were harvested from pods some I saved, and some were sent to me. I can say this 99% originated from the most generous THP members!
 
Without further ado, here's the 2015 list:
 
Red 7 Pot Lava: Mikey
Black Thai        : Mikey
Yellow Jonah  : Mikey
Jack’s Choc Superhot: Mikey
Red Bhutlah   : Mikey
Tepin x Lemmon drop
Pimenta Lisa : Stefan
Brazilian Starfish
Bell
Poblano
Billy Biker
Jalapeno
Jimmy Nardello
Bishops Crown
Sweet Hungarian Paprika
Bahamian Goat
Urfa Biber
Jelly Bean White Hab
Jigsaw
Nagabrain F4
Numex Jalamundo
Cream Fatalii
Isabella Island Hab: Jim
Cherry Bomb: Jim
Moa
Kurt’s
JA Habs
White Bhut
Anaheim
Jigsaw
Burgundy
Ma Wiri wiri: Jim
Pepperdew: Jim
Pimenta De Padron: Jim
Wild tepin: Jim
Jigsaw
Six secrets from Stefan
Orange Primo: Mikey
Choc Bhutlah
Scotch Bonnet x Indian Red
Red Lava: Mikey
White Hab
Naga King: Rick
BOC: Rick
 
I leaned more towards peppers my wife can eat. After all she helped me quite a bit, I might as well grow some for her
 
Last season was a challenge regarding what was what. I eventually figured them out, but was not happy with the confusion. And yeah, I'm easily confused.
 
Here's a pic of the 70 starters:
 

 
Trying something different, the Jiffy's are numbered and will be entered into a spreadsheet. As they pop, they will go into the solo cups with permanent marker to label them.
 
This year I'm starting things in the converted hunting room (man cave?). LB wanted the extra bedroom back   The room is part of the shop; 24x8 and insulated. It's been rather nasty for the last 4 or 5 days, damp and temps below 52°, but it was 68° in there a few minutes ago. Also I'm trying a heating mat to help with germination, which was abysmal IMHO last year.
 
Anyone who knows how I fly, knows I like to grow in the dirt. I have a few in containers from last season, but they just don't do as well.
 
I put a ton (literally) of work into the soil since the start of last season.
 
I feel soil preparation is the key to success:
 

 

 
I tilled in over 24 yards of RCW and 10 yards of shredded leaves after pulling the plants in the fall.
 

 
I then planted Crimson Clover and Rye as a cover crop, this pic is from 2 weeks ago..
 

 
The area I planted the cover crop in is 2,300 to 2,500 square feet. Half is framed for sunshade. A must in the 100% summer sun the garden gets. There's some Comfrey of the left
 

 

 
Dec. 6th I tilled in the whole shootin' match. I waited too long. But I do like it when it darkens up. This is what it looks like after 2 2" deep passes. If you wait too long the roots form a sod, this makes for a bad day of tilling. I got this far and decided to call it. Shiner time!

Once I'm sure most is dead and wont come back when I water crop 2 goes in.
 

 
On 12-10

The grass on top has dried, and rain is forecast through Sunday (yeah right), so I tilled again. It brought up the grass from below and now the garden looks like last Sunday. I went a couple of notches deeper this time to break up more of the roots. I spread rye seed and watered for 45 minutes. It should come up quickly as the weather is warm for a week or more. 50's-70's.
 

 
This is the garden today, the second cover crop is just coming up. And I have to prep an area for onions, which hit the dirt January 15th. The rest gets tilled in at the end of the month.
 
I fly out of here tomorrow afternoon, and won't be back until a week from now. So I'd like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!
 

 

 

[randyp]

I stop by to see green on the ground,nothing but brown yards and our cover will soon be here.(SNOW)
 
Have a very special and happy holiday season with your family and friends,
God Bless and stay healthy Scott my friend
Randy

 

[PaulG]

Glad to see those healthy and podilicious plants still going
strong, Scott!  I hope you have a great closing to your 2016 season...
 
Wishing you and your family a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving holiday.

 

[Devv]

I stop by to see green on the ground,nothing but brown yards and our cover will soon be here.(SNOW)
 
Have a very special and happy holiday season with your family and friends,
God Bless and stay healthy Scott my friend
Randy

 

Thanks Randy!
 
Hope your holiday was fantastic I was out of town visiting my daughters family, and my son and his 4 kiddos were there. It was great, just chilling and no work to do..LOL

 

[Devv]

Glad to see those healthy and podilicious plants still going
strong, Scott!  I hope you have a great closing to your 2016 season...
 
Wishing you and your family a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving holiday.

 

Thanks Paul! I hope yours was a relaxing time filled with joy
 
The plants are still going strong and the weather has been great for peppers....so far
 
Now I don't know how the old post showed up there ^^^^, I just donno. LOL
 
Still working on taking down the old pool deck and building the fence, 2 more weekends should do it....I hope. I have 2 5 gallon buckets full of deck screws I've pulled so far
 
Still pulling a few here and there, and a lot on the vine.
 

 
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

 

[OCD Chilehead]

Hope you did as well. Peppers in November. Well done.

 

[PaulG]

Hey Scott.  How many seasons do you think it will take for the
hugelbed to break down enough to really provide the ideal
conditions for the plants?  Looks like some of the dead stuff is already
breaking down a little.  They should produce some great results for
you.  Wish I had the space to try stuff like that...
 
Glad to hear your spent Thanksgiving surrounded by grandkids!

 

[Devv]

Hope you did as well. Peppers in November. Well done.

 

It was a relaxing time I'm crossing my fingers that the pods mature, a few plants are simply loaded down.

 

[Devv]

Hey Scott.  How many seasons do you think it will take for the
hugelbed to break down enough to really provide the ideal
conditions for the plants?  Looks like some of the dead stuff is already
breaking down a little.  They should produce some great results for
you.  Wish I had the space to try stuff like that...
 
Glad to hear your spent Thanksgiving surrounded by grandkids!

 
Hi Paul,
They say year one if you supplement with a nitrogen fertilizer, which I did. To help year one, I added 5"s of the mulch I get from the county on top of the wood, and then put 8lbs of tomato fertilizer on it across the 20x6' bed. This was to get things going over the winter. Before doing that I filled the whole ditch with water twice to soak the wood really good. I then added 5"s of soil on the mulch and watered it well the next few days. I added an 8 lb bag of Espoma nutes on top of that and I'll keep it wet all winter. I have about 200 lb's or more of Espoma products that I scored from Wally World, most @ $2.50-5.00 per 8lb bag. So when I plant year one I expect most of the goodies to have leached down enough to not burn as it's 4 to 5 months away. I also made the beds proud of the soil level as I expect them to condense on down some as time passes. I do know the wannabe hugel beds I made on the South end of the garden earlier that are row specific, and 2' wide and 12 to 16"s deep, with just mulch in them, covered with 6"s of soil stay wet long after the rest of the garden after a rain. And that's my goal; to ease the watering issues here in the semi desert. Every day watering during the summer is not a fun thing   Also, they say the hugel beds store nutrients, and I'm all for that! We'll see how the experiment goes, if it works I'll add more as my body allows

 

[PaulG]

Sounds really good, Scott.  I'll be interested to see the results next season.
 

 

[Trident chilli]

Really looking forward to this project of yours Scott ... in previous glogs I have seen a grid or foot square layout do you intend to use something like this or to fill the hugelbed randomly with varieties of your choice

 

[Devv]

Sounds really good, Scott.  I'll be interested to see the results next season.
 

 

Me too! I can't wait to see how it performs. If year one is a "yawn" year two will surely kick in and be better. We have rain forecast, which really doesn't mean much here until it happens   But if it doesn't put much down, I'll keep watering it. I have the surface set like a dish, so we have no run-off on the edges if water is added slowly.
 

Really looking forward to this project of yours Scott ... in previous glogs I have seen a grid or foot square layout do you intend to use something like this or to fill the hugelbed randomly with varieties of your choice

 
I really haven't decided yet what's going in there; I'm tempted to put a mix in there and use that as a comparison to the rest of the garden. Just to see the difference if any.
 

 

[OCD Chilehead]

When will you be starting seeds, Scott?