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!
 

 

[Devv]

 
First of all loved your glog. Been looking through it past weeks, good stuff. And on the reaper cross: Few days ago I saw someone on the forum here mention that the reaper is actually an unstabilized cross itself, so some variation is to be expected. Can't remember who said it though.
 
What kind of onions do you have there? Grown from seed or starters? I've had trouble with growing from seed here, very slow growing and practically no bulbing. Been wondering what I've been doing wrong.

 

Thanks! it's been a rough 2 seasons with illness in 2015 and a half hearted start this season. But I'm back to 100%, if I ever was there...LOL
 
I grew those onions from seed. I planted them in Early September. They should hit dirt here in the next 2 to 4 weeks. I don't remember the type, but they're long day. Actually short day do a bit better here, but I can grow both types so being I could only find this seed, here we go
 
The key thing is both Garlic and Onions when grown from seeds (Garlic from cloves) are a 9 month endeavor. Here in Texas I plant Garlic September 15th and the Onions typically the second week of January. The Onions I plant in January (in the dirt) are either store bought (if seeds fail) or from seed, they need to be pencil diameter at dirt day (January 15th for here). Harvesting the onions when the tops fall over in June, and Garlic when 1/3 of the tops fall over about the same time.
 
Good luck with your grow!

Nice looking plants Scott. Glad your hard work paid off.

Hope you have a Merry Christmas.

 

Thanks Chuck! It's been quite a long season to get some garden fresh pods finally from the garden
 
Thanks for the Christmas wishes! May yours be a special one!

 

[Plantguy76]

Scott I've got some shallots bulbs that I am thinking of sowing in a bed or container next season .
Have you ever grown any before to my understanding there flavor is both onion & garlic like.

 

[Devv]

Scott I've got some shallots bulbs that I am thinking of sowing in a bed or container next season .
Have you ever grown any before to my understanding there flavor is both onion & garlic like.

 
Yes, I've grown Shallots in the past. They're easy to grow and we love them; but they don't keep well in our climate. I always set them out with the Onions, and harvest them about the same time. I think you'll do better than we do here, being it's cooler where you're at. Give them a try !
 

 

[Devv]

Well, it's supposed to hard freeze here. I knew it would this winter; we're coming out of an El Nino, and into a La Nina. Monday morning is slated for a hard freeze, 25-28° a pepper killer. So we pulled everything that showed promise:
 

 
Still have the gals in pots stowed away in the shop

 

[Plantguy76]

I will plant some shallots this may then probably will have a lot of cinnamon basil an maybe some glob season basil volunteers next season like this 2016 season.
I think I will pot them up if I do an sell them at the farmer's market.
I am going to get into dwarf tomatoes next season as well & plant honey boat squash at moms still working things out
Johns (trident) package still hasn't come maybe tomorrow figure it's held up at Hazelwood mo.
Anyway Scott merry Christmas & happy new year & all the best next season

 

[Devv]

Merry Christmas Jason!
 
Good luck this coming season too   You might want to try Early Girl tomatoes. Very tasty, they are just crazy producers and can well too. Not the largest tom's. About tennis ball sized. I grew 60 or so plants and processed well over 100 quarts.
 
Good luck with the Shallots too!

Thanks Chuck!
 

 
I look forward to growing these!

 

[Plantguy76]

Merry Christmas Jason!
 
Good luck this coming season too   You might want to try Early Girl tomatoes. Very tasty, they are just crazy producers and can well too. Not the largest tom's. About tennis ball sized. I grew 60 or so plants and processed well over 100 quarts.
 
Good luck with the Shallots too!

Thanks Chuck!
 

 
I look forward to growing these!

Looking good Scott I got Andy's King Boc that along with with gator jigsaw & bahamian beast a f1 are just a few I am looking forward to growing.
I am thinking some of these are just going to be 1 or 2 plants sunrise scorpion will make the list as well & lots of bonnets
Man I will be glad when spring is here this cold weather is for the bird's
Speaking of bird's I've been seeing geese I would have thought they be south by now .

 

[Devv]

I'm surprised at the late geese fly, especially this year. Come to think of it, I haven't seen the normal fly over. But I would expect they're in over-drive now with the cold we've had already.
 
So the freeze took out the dirt grow, I was hoping for a winter like the last 2 years,,,Oh well, I still have the ones in the pots and the newbies are sprouting. So my grow goes into month #13
I love it! Back in the saddle!

 

[PaulG]

You have taken extending a grow season to new heights, Scotty!
 
It's great to see someone mocking the weather, daring it to stop
your grow!  Except for the freezing part, however.  How hard a freeze?
Might some bounce back?
 
Merry Christmas, my friend!

 

[Devv]

You have taken extending a grow season to new heights, Scotty!
 
It's great to see someone mocking the weather, daring it to stop
your grow!  Except for the freezing part, however.  How hard a freeze?
Might some bounce back?
 
Merry Christmas, my friend!

 
Merry Christmas!
 
All the dirt plants had to be pulled up, they died in the cold. But the potted plants, 7 or 8 of them, are fine. In fact I have to do some pulling in the morning before we head to see Mom in Az. She's an hour from Vegas; so we're there for 2 days and 2 days in Vegas, our Anniversary # 37!
 
If this was the last 2 years all the dirt plants would still be going until I got tired of them But we changed to La Nina and the cold is back. All is good, I have a freezer full and the starts are coming along
 

 

[OCD Chilehead]

Merry Christmas. Hope your having a good time.

Happy Anniversary. 37 years! Wow!

 

[Devv]

Merry Christmas. Hope your having a good time.

Happy Anniversary. 37 years! Wow!

 

Thanks Chuck!
 
Our first date was 42 years ago in November, seems like yesterday
 
Just got in a few hours ago, some of those seeds popped while we were gone. Woot! Thanks again!
 
And a Happy New Years to all!