DocNrock's 2013 Glog - 7/11/13

My 2013 grow officially began 10/14/2012, when seeds hit soil. After seeing Fernando (SocalChilehead) growing in his greenhouse "sanctuary" and KiNGDeNNiZ continuing to start new growth in his AeroGarden, as well as the community HP22B grow thread already being 8 pages, I broke down and started my 2013 grow. I was going to limit it to 50 varieties, but that ended up being 64, 77 including the plants I want to save from 2012. If some varieties don't pop or I end up losing some along the way, I might still be down to 50 (or less!) in no time. The grow list with pop dates is at the bottom of this post.

Since I had plenty of seeds I wanted to try an experiment. Which is better for germination, soil or Rapid Rooters? I have two mini-greenhouses with 36 soil cups each, and one mini-greenhouse with a 72 cell insert loaded with Rapid Rooters. All seeds were soaked overnight in water that had been boiled and cooled and contained a dilution of brewed chamomile tea and H2O2. The Rapid Rooters and soil were both moistened with the same mix. The soil is Sungro Sunshine mix #1 amended lightly with Ancient Forest and worm castings. Wondering if the organisms in the amendments might help break down the seed coat. Each cell contains about five seeds. This will force me to cull the weaklings, as opposed to trying to save them, hahaha! At most I will end up with two seedlings for each variety. If both survive, I can try to gift one of the two. I am thinking that some varieties may germinate better in soil, some better in the Rapid Rooters, and for some it may not make a difference. I read somewhere that kelp solutions are rich in growth hormones. Has anyone added a light kelp solution dilution to their germination setup? I was thinking of adding a couple of drops to each Rapid Rooter cell. Fert-wise, the kelp solutions are very, very weak. I doubt it would do any harm. Has anyone ever tried the kelp? I have not, but might try it later on anything that seems stubborn to sprout.

I am hoping these guys are all budded up come springtime, and ready for an early harvest. Since my indoor space is limited, I am giving serious consideration to building a small greenhouse in the backyard and putting in a couple of space heaters for the night time. I decided against a raised bed, and will probably go with 5 gallon Root Pouches for the larger plants. Some of the annuums and plants I'm as yet unsure of I will grow in 2 gallon pots. If I end up liking them, I can always up-pot them.

Getting organized:

Man, I hope I didn't mix any of these up! 64 cups to keep straight is a far cry from 3. It will be 6 months until I know for sure!:

Rapid Rooters:

Soil:

Let the waiting game begin!:

Also, in case anyone is interested, the white plastic labelling tags are available at Discount Hydroponics, $2.95/100! Cheaper than popsickle sticks!

Regarding the plants I already have, I am going to try to start cuttings off most of them in the event the plants don't make it over the winter. I won't need to start those from seed, although there are four varieties (Douglah, Fatalii, Barrackpore and Yellow Bhut) I am starting from seed, as well.

Question: When we start a new grow season, is it typical to just add to one's glog thread, or is it appropriate to start a new thread for the new grow year?

Anyway, happy growing to you all and thanks for looking. I'm hoping all the lessons I learned this year will help me to make this grow much more successful!

GROW LIST: I will try to edit in pop dates for both soil and Rapid Rooters. The Rapid Rooters might get earlier pop dates since I can see the rootlets before hooks form.

Sown seeds (65):

Trinidad Scorpion (AJIJOE) 10/20/12 (RR)
HP22B (Pepper Joe) 10/19/12 (RR), 10/27/12 (soil)
Primo (Primo) 10/22/12 (RR), 10/26/12 (soil)
Billy Boy Jonah (Silver_Surfer via Coheed) 10/22/12 (RR)
7 Pot Congo Gigantic (Pepperlover) 10/23/12 (RR), 10/26/12 (soil)
7 Pot Barrackpore (Biscgolf) 10/27/12 (RR)
Dorset Naga (Pepperlover - pods) 10/24/12 (RR), 10/26/12 (soil)
Naga Morich (Biscgolf - pods) 10/22/12 (RR), 10/24/12 (soil)
Bhut Jolokia (JoynersHotPeppers)
Red Rocoto (SocalChilihead) 10/22/12 (RR)
Malawi Peppadew (Refiningfirechiles) 10/19/12 (RR), 10/24/12 (soil)
Trinidad PI281317 (Pepperlover) 10/19/12 (RR), 10/24/12 (soil)
Anaheim (Pepperlover - gift)
7 Pot Chiguanas (Silver Surfer via Coheed) 10/23/12 (RR)
Red Devil's Tongue (Pepperlover - gift) 10/28/12 (RR)
Butch T (Pepperlover - pods) 10/24/12 (RR)
7 Pot Jonah (Pepperlover - pods) 10/27/12 (RR)
7 Pot Burgundy (Silver_Surfer via Coheed) 10/23/12 (RR), 10/26/12 (soil)
Infinity 10/20/12 (soil), 10/22/12 (RR)
Yellow Moruga (Pepperlover) 10/23/12 (soil), 10/23/12 (RR)
Yellow Brain (Biscgolf) 10/24/12 (RR)
Yellow Bhut Jolokia (Biscgolf) 10/26/12 (soil)
Fatalii (AJIJOE) 10/22/12 (RR),10/28/12 (soil)
7 Pot Yellow (Biscgolf) 10/24/12 (RR)
Peach Bhut (AJIJOE) 10/28/12 (RR)
Beni Highland (AJIJOE) 10/19/12 (RR), 10/22/12 (soil)
Trinidad Morova (Pepperlover) 10/23/12 (soil), 10/28/12 (RR)
7 Pot Orange (Silver_Surfer via Coheed) 10/23/12 (soil), 10/28/12 (RR)
Golden Cayenne (SocalChilehead) 10/19/12 (RR), 10/20/12 (soil)
Yellow Scotch Bonnet (AJIJOE) 10/22/12 (soil), 10/22/12 (RR)
7 Pot Brown (Biscgolf) 10/24/12 (soil)
Douglah (Biscgolf) 10/27/12 (soil)
Black Habanero (Refiningfirechiles) 10/20/12 (RR), 10/26/12 (soil)
Chocolate Scorpion (KiNGDeNNiZ) 10/22/12 (RR), 10/23/12 (soil)
Douglah x Chocolate Scorpion F4 (Silver_Surfer via Coheed) 10/23/12 (RR), 10/24/12 (soil)
Black Naga (Refiningfirechiles) 10/20/12 (soil)
Pasilla Bajio (Refiningfirechiles) 10/22/12 (soil), 10/27/12 (RR)
Long Chocolate Habanero (AJIJOE) 10/24/12 (RR), 10/24/12 (soil)
Chocolate Habanero (AJIJOE) 10/23/12 (soil), 10/24/12 (RR)
Black Stinger (Refiningfirechiles) 10/22/12 (RR), 10/23/12 (soil)
7 Pot White (Pepperlover) 10/24/12 (RR), 10/27/12 (soil)
Giant White Habanero (AJIJOE) 10/22/12 (RR), 10/23/12 (soil)
White Bullet Habanero (AJIJOE) 10/22/12 (RR), 10/26/12 (soil)
White Devil's Tongue (Silver_Surfer via Coheed) 10/28/12 (RR)
Serrano (Pepper Joe - free) 10/19/12 (RR), 10/19/12 (soil) ***FIRST SOIL***
Jalapeno (Pepper Joe - free) 10/19/12 (RR), 10/20/12 (soil)
Red Bell (store bought pepper) 10/19/12 (RR), 10/26/12 (soil)
Andy F1 Gochu (Stickman via SocalChilehead) 10/17/12 (RR) ***TIED, FIRST OVERALL*** 10/23/12 (soil)
Korean Winner Hybrid (Stickman via SocalChilehead) 10/17/12 (RR) ***TIED, FIRST OVERALL***
Pimenta de Neyde (SocalChilehead) 10/28/12 (RR)
Trinidad Scorpion Green (SocalChilehead) 10/19/12 (RR)
Most Prolific C.chacoense (Pepperlover - gift) 10/23/12 (RR)
Royal Black (AJIJOE) 10/22/12 (RR), 10/26/12 (soil)
Assam (SocalChilehead) 10/19/12 (RR), 10/22/12 (soil)
Trinidad Scorpion "FG" (AJIJOE) 10/19/12 (RR), 10/24/12 (soil)
Australian Lantern Habanero (AJIJOE) 10/26/12 (RR), 10/26/12 (soil)
Aji Yellow (AJIJOE) 10/23/12 (RR)
Jamaican Hot Chocolate (KiNGDeNNiZ) 10/22/12 (RR)
Aji Omnicolor (OROZCONLECHE) 10/19/12 (RR)
Not-Trinidad Scorpion (long yellow pod from Arboretum, KiNGDeNNiZ) 10/22/12 (RR)
Mystery Chocolate Mix (Silver_Surfer) 10/23/12 (RR)
Red Congo (AJIJOE) 10/23/12 (RR)
Peach Habanero (AJIJOE) 10/19/12 (RR), 10/22/12 (soil)
Yellow Hablokia (AJIJOE) 10/20/12 (RR), 10/22/12 (soil)
Sown 10/20/12
Yellow Bell (store-bought pepper) 10/23/12 (RR)
Sown 10/28/12
Chocolate Bell (Refiningfirechiles)
Jay's Peach Ghost Scorpion (Refiningfirechiles)
Malaysian Goronong (Refiningfirechiles)
Douglah (Refiningfirechiles)
Peter (Refiningfirechiles)
Yellow Bhut (Refiningfirechiles)
Chocolate Bhut (Refiningfirechiles)
Aji Pineapple (Refiningfirechiles)
Aji Dulce 1 (Tradewinds)
Datil (Tradewinds)
Goat's Horn (Tradewinds)
NuMex Big Jim (Tradewinds)
Paprika (Tradewinds)
Brain Strain 7 (PepperRidge)


What I hope to save from my current grow, either whole plants or clones (13):

Carribean Red (local nursery)
Aji Panca (Refiningfirechiles)
Peter Pepper (Refiningfirechiles)
Jamaican Yellow Mushroom (Refiningfirechiles)
Moruga (Refiningfirechiles)
Malaysian Goronong (Refiningfirechiles)
Thai Dragon (North Park Produce)
Chenzo (North Park Produce)
Red Brain Strain (Baker's Peppers - pods)
Chinese 5-color (Orozconleche)
Aji Dulce (Orozconleche)
Datil (Orozconleche)
Bonnie "World's Hottest Hab" (Fatalii?) (Home Depot)

I'm going to do my best to keep one of each alive, but with 77 total, I might be lucky if a few croak!

 

[DocNrock]

I was wondering if you had planted any seeds out of all those pods. I hope they do well for you

Thanks Vincent. I got plants out of everything I sowed except for the White Devil's Tongue. But no worries, this forum came to the rescue in no time flat (Shane and Jamison)! If you look at the first post in my glog, there is credit given for each seed source. I believe you're listed a few times.

Plants are looking so nice out there. The mention of chenzo has me longing for that first black pod to hit the omelet as I can't hold out any longer. That was my first ripe pepper last year and it replaced the super chili as my omelet pepper early in the year.

Keep the plant porn coming. Amazing grow.

Thanks Bodeen. It means a lot when I read compliments from the master growers on this forum like yourself and others who have posted in my humble glog.

I wish I had enough Chenzos on my one plant to send you a box. There are a few pods, just not ripening very fast. I haven't tried one black. How do the black ones taste compared to when they turn red? I've been waiting for them to turn red before harvesting.

 

[stickman]

It's all looking good Doc... I'm especially jealous of the ripe Anaheims... made Posole in the slow cooker for supper last night and I could have used them ... I had to make do with roasted, peeled and frozen instead...

I'm liking what I see in the WallyBag experiment... it'll be interesting to see how well they hold together in an extended season, how well they keep the chiles cool in midsummer heat and how well they root prune. I'll look forward to the commentary and the pics.

 

[DocNrock]

It's all looking good Doc... I'm especially jealous of the ripe Anaheims... made Posole in the slow cooker for supper last night and I could have used them ... I had to make do with roasted, peeled and frozen instead...

I'm liking what I see in the WallyBag experiment... it'll be interesting to see how well they hold together in an extended season, how well they keep the chiles cool in midsummer heat and how well they root prune. I'll look forward to the commentary and the pics.

Thanks Rick! I'm looking forward to seeing how the Wally bags hold up, as well. Cayennemist said they held up great for him...and the plants got too big for him in those bags...a good problem to have! So we will see. Plenty of commentary and pics will be forthcoming.

 

[WalkGood]

Brent, I know you've been busy but where are the updated pics mi pepper lovin bredren

 

[stc3248]

Hope you fared well last night...Looks like a frosty morning in your neck of the woods. Calling for 33 here Monday night, so my place will see temps at or below 30...its gotta be nice to have that greenhouse to shelter them babies in!

 

[DocNrock]

Brent, I know you've been busy but where are the updated pics mi pepper lovin bredren

Thanks for looking, Ramon, but I had to tuck the plants I took outdoors back into the g-house on Thursday evening. We've had frosts for the past couple of nights, and are predicted for the next couple, as well. Nothing really to photograph, so I'm living vicariously through other people's glogs until next weekend!

I will say that when stashing the plants away on Thursday, I did notice that my Peach Hab gets the honor of being the first chinense to flower. Many, but not all of the chinense are starting to bud up.

Hope you fared well last night...Looks like a frosty morning in your neck of the woods. Calling for 33 here Monday night, so my place will see temps at or below 30...its gotta be nice to have that greenhouse to shelter them babies in!

Talk about wavelengths, Shane! I had just posted my reply to Ramon above when yours popped up. We must have been typing at the same time! The little g-house has been a lifesaver...literally.

 

[stc3248]

Paul G got the zen vibes flowing...and I think its pulling all us west-coasters in. Played your game last year. Built a little makeshift greenhouse with a small space heater and some Christmas lights for cold protection. Worked well, but moving them in/out and opening and closing the plastic to manage the heat was tough...and got missed a few times. Never froze any, but sure fried a couple. Mama wasn't working then, so she would open and close it for me while I was up working (when she remembered). Now that I only come home maybe once a week and on weekends, and she's working full time, its just easier to keep them inside. Last year I already had horrible aphid troubles by this time...inside and out due to the daily field trips for sun on nice days. NOPE, not anymore!!! They'll go out when the weather is good, the drip system is ready and I can just let them do their thang!!!

 

[stickman]

Hi Doc
Anything new happening in the GH?

 

[DocNrock]

Paul G got the zen vibes flowing...and I think its pulling all us west-coasters in. Played your game last year. Built a little makeshift greenhouse with a small space heater and some Christmas lights for cold protection. Worked well, but moving them in/out and opening and closing the plastic to manage the heat was tough...and got missed a few times. Never froze any, but sure fried a couple. Mama wasn't working then, so she would open and close it for me while I was up working (when she remembered). Now that I only come home maybe once a week and on weekends, and she's working full time, its just easier to keep them inside. Last year I already had horrible aphid troubles by this time...inside and out due to the daily field trips for sun on nice days. NOPE, not anymore!!! They'll go out when the weather is good, the drip system is ready and I can just let them do their thang!!!

Sounds like the voice of experience. This year is my first "real" grow. Last year, starting in July and all, I just consider in retrospect to be a learning exercise. Although I am enjoying a few pods off of a few of the "experiments" that made it despite me.

Fortunately, I am home most evenings and I keep an eye on the weather forecasts. I wanted pods in the springtime. The only way really to do that was to start the plants in October. I knew I didn't have space for all those plants indoors, so a small greenhouse was my only option. Location has turned out to be key. Where it is located, it only gets three to four hours of morning sun. When we had a few 80 degree days, the hottest it ever got in there was 96, and the plants didn't seem to mind, at all. And like you said, so far it has been relatively easy to keep them protected from frost.

The bugs are a different story. I indeed did get an aphid outbreak, but the plants had not been outdoors for any time to speak of. I tried the Safer EndAll which worked, but was quite toxic to the growing tips of the plants (pyrethrin and potassium fatty acid phytotoxicity, probably). I found something else that seems to work for the time being and the plants don't seem to mind it. What I am dreading is if I get a mite infestation. I am ready the next time around to get some ladybugs and californicus predatory mites.

Hi Doc
Anything new happening in the GH?

Thanks for stopping in, Rick. Nothing new, really. Had to stash the plants in the g-house because of a few days of night-time frost. They're toasty in there and I should be able to move them back outside towards the end of the week. I feel funny worried about a few temps hovering around 32 for the low when you guys just got slammed with snow!

 

[Stefan_W]

We all seem to have our own challenges. You have a great long growing season, but bugs can be a huge issue. I have less problems with bugs that people from more southern areas, but my growing season is so compact it is always a struggle to time the grow so I have pods at the end. At the end of the day we all have to develop our own skills and learn as a go..or is that grow! (Or groan )

 

[GA Growhead]

So true stefan. Gotta work with what your handed.

Glad the g-house is keeping everyone safe.
It's going to be a nice spring with all those early season pods! Look foward to seeing picts already!

 

[Jamison]

Just checkin in bud!

 

[RocketMan]

Hey Doc,
That's pretty interesting, whose Wally World Bags. Never knew they had 2 sizes though. Plants are looking good and won't be much longer till the days are getting warmer and Mr Sun is making everything happy.

Have a great week,
Bill

 

[Jamison]

Yo Doc! Any luck with them DTW's? Hope everything is goin good out west!

 

[DocNrock]

Crazy week! Lot's of work to do on the chile plants this weekend. And a lot of catching up to do with everyone's glogs!

 

[stc3248]

Crazy week! Lot's of work to do on the chile plants this weekend. And a lot of catching up to do with everyone's glogs!

I heard that! My end too...let the plants fix you right up brother! Works for me!

 

[GA Growhead]

Crazy week! Lot's of work to do on the chile plants this weekend. And a lot of catching up to do with everyone's glogs!

I'll second that. Crazy week here too! Hope all is well.
Give us an update when you get some time!

 

[KiNGDeNNiZ]

Betcha docs pods are changing colors already. Dble bump with updates.

Betcha docs pods are changing colors already. Dble bump with updates.

 

[WalkGood]

… … The bugs are a different story. I indeed did get an aphid outbreak, but the plants had not been outdoors for any time to speak of. I tried the Safer EndAll which worked, but was quite toxic to the growing tips of the plants (pyrethrin and potassium fatty acid phytotoxicity, probably). I found something else that seems to work for the time being and the plants don't seem to mind it. What I am dreading is if I get a mite infestation. I am ready the next time around to get some ladybugs and californicus predatory mites.

Brent, I was recommended “Bonide All Seasons Horticultural Spray Oil” by Jamison because its organic claim. While at HD I checked it out and it was only available in a self mixing bottle that connects to your garden hose for around $14.00. I prefer to mix and use in my sprayer, so I checked out the active ingredients and found another product with the same ingredients at half the cost called “Volck oil spray.” Between my DE dusting and this product I have yet to find a live mite, egg or aphid anywhere in site and I’m using a magnifying glass. *side note someone posted at me “you can’t see mites,” so now every time I post about dem things I mention the magnifying glass, lol some anal members ...* BTW plants looking great now!

Crazy week! Lot's of work to do on the chile plants this weekend. And a lot of catching up to do with everyone's glogs!

I find listening to my favorite tunes ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ helps me thru those ruff and crazy weeks, hope you have a killer weekend to make up for dat, respect mon!

 

[DocNrock]

Hey Doc,
That's pretty interesting, whose Wally World Bags. Never knew they had 2 sizes though. Plants are looking good and won't be much longer till the days are getting warmer and Mr Sun is making everything happy.

Have a great week,
Bill

Thanks, Bill. I didn't know they had two sizes, either, until I went to buy some.

Yo Doc! Any luck with them DTW's? Hope everything is goin good out west!

I just dropped them in the rooters yesterday!

I heard that! My end too...let the plants fix you right up brother! Works for me!

Feels good to see their growth, that is for sure!

I'll second that. Crazy week here too! Hope all is well.
Give us an update when you get some time!

Thanks for stopping in Jason! Finally, update below!

Betcha docs pods are changing colors already. Dble bump with updates.

Betcha docs pods are changing colors already. Dble bump with updates.

Double trouble! No color change yet, but maybe soon!

Brent, I was recommended “Bonide All Seasons Horticultural Spray Oil” by Jamison because its organic claim. While at HD I checked it out and it was only available in a self mixing bottle that connects to your garden hose for around $14.00. I prefer to mix and use in my sprayer, so I checked out the active ingredients and found another product with the same ingredients at half the cost called “Volck oil spray.” Between my DE dusting and this product I have yet to find a live mite, egg or aphid anywhere in site and I’m using a magnifying glass. *side note someone posted at me “you can’t see mites,” so now every time I post about dem things I mention the magnifying glass, lol some anal members ...* BTW plants looking great now!


I find listening to my favorite tunes ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ helps me thru those ruff and crazy weeks, hope you have a killer weekend to make up for dat, respect mon!

Thanks Ramon! Picked up a 30x loupe yesterday and something that I hope will keep things in check.

OK, time for an update!

Got home from work a bit early on Friday and had time to give my established plants a haircut in anticipation of spring. Took off leaves that didn't look so hot and trimmed little branches down by the soil line. Got a few pods, too!

Our weather was awesome this weekend, with temps in the high 70's, so I took a little advice from Bill and let Mr. Sun do some work. Saturday morning everything came out of the g-house for a few days.

Chinenses:

Annuumms, baccatums, and everything else:

I did quite a bit of up-potting yesterday, but I'll have to take some pics later today. For now, here are a few.

Had to make a run to Discount Hydro yesterday to get more two-gallon grow bags. While there, I founds these guys:

Some of my clones are flowering (TSMB and Brain):

And some of them are podding! (Chinese 5-color and Chenzo):

I decided to do a little experiment, also. I have two "Cracked" Jalapeno plants, both about the same size. I put one in a 2 gallon grow bag and the other in a 5 gallon one. I wonder if one will grow faster than the other?





I've got a few more. Bump?