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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:

cupsandseeds.jpg


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!:

soaking.jpg


Rapid Rooters:

rapidrooters.jpg


Soil:

soilcells.jpg


Let the waiting game begin!:

germination.jpg


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!
 
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Devv said:
That Sepia Serpent is way bad!
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It scares me.  :D  I am going to save all the Sepia Serpents in the freezer.  When I get a large number, they will go on the smoker then dried into powder.  I might use that powder one granule at a time, hahaha!
 
Speaking of pests, I now have a real foe.  Unfortunately, I don't know what it is.  One of my Aji Pancas (the most mature one) was toppled yesterday.  The stalk, which was woody and a bit larger than the diameter of my thumb, was chewed through right at the soil line.  In fact, just about a half a centimeter below the soil line.  It looks like what a cutworm would do to a younger, more tender plant, but this would have to be the Paul Bunyon of cutworms!  The roots are still in the soil, and there was no damage to the plant or leaves, per se, except for the fact that when I found the plant, it obviously was now dead.  I'll post pics in a bit. 
 
Devv said:
No way this could be wind damage? Do the puzzle pieces match or missing material?
 
Really strange..and sorry for your loss!
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Definitely not wind damage.  Looking closely you can see it was chewed through.  It may not be apparent in the picture.  Fortunately, I have two other plants of this variety.  I just hope I can find out what it was before it strikes again. 
 
The good thing about your painful episode is you said "ONE of my Aji Pancas" which means you have more. Maybe a pack rat that decided it likes the taste of the stem? Weird for sure. The Pancas I grew last year were good...but since I don't make the paste and the Numex style green chiles and Poblanos are better to cook with I didn't grow them again. Bottom line...thank goodness it was just a PANCA!!!
Yup see now you have two more...
 
stc3248 said:
The good thing about your painful episode is you said "ONE of my Aji Pancas" which means you have more. Maybe a pack rat that decided it likes the taste of the stem? Weird for sure. The Pancas I grew last year were good...but since I don't make the paste and the Numex style green chiles and Poblanos are better to cook with I didn't grow them again. Bottom line...thank goodness it was just a PANCA!!!

Yup see now you have two more...
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In some ways you are correct, Shane.  I was on a mission with the Aji Panca.  It is the one plant I grew last year that survived my learning curve but never flowered, let alone set a pod.  The one that was chewed off was a cutting I had taken from that plant and had finally set pods that were starting to ripen.  I still have one more cutting setting pods and one from seed that also has pods.  You are right though, at least it wasn't a plant for which there are no duplicates. 
 
KiNGDeNNiZ said:
Brent. The one changing color I believe is the one desired pheno for the sepia serpent

Sucks about the plant that Died
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That is what I thought, King.  Thanks for the clarification.
 
Whoa... Plant chewed in half, that sucks! You live close enough to Shane that I wonder if the Pack Rats had anything to do with it. He had a massacre among his plants last year until he trapped them out. Courage brother!
 
Devv said:
That Sepia Serpent is way bad!
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Time to quote you again, Scott.  I took a little walk through the back yard.  This 110 degree heat has caused a wave of ripening.  One of the Sepia Serpents was 90+% ripe.  I couldn't help myself.  I had to pick it and see if it was hot as the parent pod. 
 

 

 
It has some oil.  :)  I tried a small bit.  :hot:  If not as hot as the parent pod, it's pretty close.  It lit me up pretty good. 
 
While I was out there, I found a couple more pods to sample.  Bahamian Goat (Junglerain.com).  Very hot, very flavorful.
 

 
7 Pot White sporting a little stinger: 
 

 
No viable-looking seeds.  A bit sweet.  The heat surprised me.  I had heard the 7 Pot White wasn't that hot. 
 

 
My wife didn't believe me about the phenotype of the Peter Pepper.  Even though it wasn't completely ripe, I had to pick it to show her.  :rofl:
 

 
Hope everyone is having a great week!  :dance:

stickman said:
Whoa... Plant chewed in half, that sucks! You live close enough to Shane that I wonder if the Pack Rats had anything to do with it. He had a massacre among his plants last year until he trapped them out. Courage brother!
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Interesting.  In the same general area of the yard I saw a few rats running across the fence in the evenings.  I had set out the rat traps and got three of them about a week ago, but they had never touched my plants.  Anyway, maybe there are more and one of them was responsible.  Odd that it would be just below the level of the soil, but anything is possible.  Makes more sense than a Paul Bunyon cutworm!  Anyway, rat traps deployed again! 
 
Silver_Surfer said:
Hope ya catch the stem muncher.
 
Nice Serpent, let the next ones ripen. :)
 
BTW, some of mine have tails as well. You'll enjoy the powder.
devilsmokin.gif
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Thanks.  He deserves to die.
 
Hahaha!  Thanks, and the rest I will.  I just couldn't resist the first one of the proper phenotype.
 
Cool to hear.  Really looking forward to it!
 
DocNrock said:
My wife didn't believe me about the phenotype of the Peter Pepper.  Even though it wasn't completely ripe, I had to pick it to show her.  :rofl:
 
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Doc, I could really run with this....but this is a "G" rated glog...LOL
 
Pods look awesome!
 
Nice pods! Sorry to hear that something dug up one of your plants. The only time that happened to me was a couple of years ago when skunks went through my pots and dug out my paprikas. I learned to put the blood and bone meal in about a week before planting, because critters like that sniff it out and start rummaging for dinner. Raccoons also dig out my lawn once in a while looking for grubs. So my guesses are skunk or raccoon looking for something else and causing collateral damage to your plant.
 
romy6 said:
 Man Brent those serpents look mean in a good way. Lots of placenta and oils. I sure hope mine produce pods like that. 
 
I haven't seen damage like your aji in weeks. I just happen to know who my varmint is  ;)
 
He looks very innocent right now  :shh:
 
 
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FIFY.  :D  
 
Tebow looks like a good doggie!  He could never do anything like that.....
 
Trippa said:
Great work doc on the sepia serpent.....by the way I think its Rat hunting season... Keep on growing!!
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Definitely rat hunting season.  Crafty bastage has stolen the cheese out of two traps.  Time to reload. 
Devv said:
 
Doc, I could really run with this....but this is a "G" rated glog...LOL
 
Pods look awesome!
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Hahaha, thanks Scott.
 
Stefan_W said:
Nice pods! Sorry to hear that something dug up one of your plants. The only time that happened to me was a couple of years ago when skunks went through my pots and dug out my paprikas. I learned to put the blood and bone meal in about a week before planting, because critters like that sniff it out and start rummaging for dinner. Raccoons also dig out my lawn once in a while looking for grubs. So my guesses are skunk or raccoon looking for something else and causing collateral damage to your plant.
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Thanks Stefan.  Not really dug up...chewed off right at the soil line!  I suppose it is possible the plant was in its way, but there were no holes in the potting mix.  Weird. 
 
 
 
Happy July 4th, everyone!
 
DocNrock said:
Definitely rat hunting season.  Crafty bastage has stolen the cheese out of two traps.  Time to reload.
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Cheese isn't the best bait for Rats Doc... try peanut butter. They'll literally slab themselves to get the last little bit on the trigger.
 
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