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!

 

[WalkGood]

Sorry to read about your ant farmers over in my glog but I know you'll zap dem ^_^

Waiting to read how your taking action, hopefully I can learn some new Doc tricks \o/

 

[smileyguy697]

Nice looking pods and a ton of them!

 

[DocNrock]

Sorry for the delay in getting to these comments.  Crazy busy, period.  Hopefully this week will wind down a wee bit. 

Very impressive Doc, great pull mon \o/
 
After my last pull I think little out of town jaunts are worthy ... just think of the pull you'll have when you get back ^_^

Thanks Ramon.  Just harvested again yesterday.  Crazy number of pods, and I'm only half done.
 

Doc,
Great harvests shots,
I see your time......well lets say your time has been limited in the garden but....I bet you have it all happening and under control.
I like that one "plants in beast mode"....looking forward to the future plant photos....
Hope the aftermath from the oral surgery is an easy ride !............I been there.

Thanks Greg.  The recovery wasn't bad, at all.  I'm really glad pepper plants like a hands-off approach, because that is all the time I have for them! 
 

Recover well my friend. Plants can't harvest them self! I gotta work on Saturday myself this weekend. Oh the joy!
Saw my first ripe white 7 today. Gonna let her sit for a day or two and sweeten up! Make sure the seeds are mature anyway.
That mystery annuum you sent was pretty yummy. What's that plant look like? Grab me a pict when you can.

Thanks, Jason.  Enjoy that White 7.  I like the taste of them.  One thing I found out (the hard way) about white pods:  they don't freeze well.  The few that I had harvested previously I put in the freezer.  When they thawed, they got a brownish oxidation color to them.  Didn't affect the flavor or heat, just the color.  OK for cooking with them, but not good for a white powder.  I thought you would like that mystery annuum.  I'll get you a pic of them plant when I can.  Actually, right now it is not very photogenic.  I rearranged some plants yesterday and that was one of them.  It had a lot of yellow leaves and leaf drop from not enough air circulation and consequent overwatering.  Once it perks back up I'll snap a pic.  It is a big plant, a little over 4 feet tall, and very productive. 
 

Wow Doc.  That is a crazy harvest.  You have your plants on steroids?????  I am outta town, but I'm sure I don't have one ripe pepper yet.  Good Growing my good man

 
Thanks, Pia.  It is amazing the difference between this year and last.  Yours will be coming along.  Just remember, I started my seeds in October '12, so I have a 3 month head start on most here.

Sorry to read about your ant farmers over in my glog but I know you'll zap dem ^_^

Waiting to read how your taking action, hopefully I can learn some new Doc tricks \o/

No new tricks, really.  It seems the ants have made residence inside the grow bags!  I noticed them travelling up and down the main stalk right down into the potting mix.  I don't like insecticides on my pods, nor on the flowers. but I have no problem using them on the non-bearing part of the plants.  So I sprayed bifenthrin around the surface of the potting mix and around the stalk up to the first couple of forks.  This seems to have take care of the ants.  Now as I harvest, I've been cutting away the aphid-infested tips. 
 

Nice looking pods and a ton of them!

Thanks Smileyguy, and thanks for stopping in! 
 
I think I've seen the peak harvest, at least from the first go-around.  I spent about seven hours harvesting yesterday, and only got about half of the plants.  Significantly, however, this was the first time when I harvested over half of the pods on each plant.  I stopped harvesting when I ran out of room for the pods.  When I get home from work today I need to make room for more and harvest a bit each evening this week.  Sorry, there was no time for pics.  I was going to have a pod sale and had put up a "feeler" post in the marketplace to gauge interest, but admittedly I was not organized enough to follow through, at least for the time being. 
 
I'm thinking no more than ten or twenty plants next year.  I had no idea a single plant could make so many pods!  Multiply that by 135.  On some plants I harvested over 50 pods each.  Others were in the 10 to 20 pod range.
 
Pics will come at some point, lol.  Have a great week, everyone!   

 

[PeriPeri]

Doc, what antacid do you prescribe? I'd like to see the size of that pill!

 

[DocNrock]

Doc, what antacid do you prescribe? I'd like to see the size of that pill!

It's a big pill to swallow. 

 

[Portuge]

We learn something new with every plant we grow... Some plants do better than other overall and some do better in full sun or partial shade...

 

[DocNrock]

To all my THP friends:
 
I haven't been around in a while.  Things have been crazy here, but all is OK.  Overwhelmed with pods, and many plants sick but no time to do anything about it.  It's all good, though.  When things settle down I will catch up on everyone's glogs, and maybe post an update of my own. 
 
I hope everyone is having a prosperous season.
 
Brent 

 

[stc3248]

Prosperous with sick ones...hmmm, no need to read mine! You just wrote it! Good to hear all is good, see ya when we see ya!

 

[Trippa]

You come back when you can doc... THP door is always open to the generous folk such as yourself.... We will all be right here

 

[stickman]

OK Doc, take the time you need... but y'all come back now, hear?

 

[WalkGood]

I'm in the same boat so don't feel bad Doc Brent, I squeeze in a little time here or there to post but I'm slammed busy now. I hope your plants do well, at least you are still pulling large hauls and come back when you can mon ^_^
 
Today I'm making a little time off and on all day, hope to catch up .... Have a great weekend mon

 

[Devv]

Sometimes life takes more important turns than peppers, time is precious spend it wisely!
 
I think most of us struggle with time, I know I do...

 

[Stefan_W]

I can definitely relate to life getting busy. Take care, sort things out, and I'm sure we'll all be waiting here for ya when you have the time to snap a few pics again.

 

[GA Growhead]

Hope all is well Brent! Or as well as it can be! I too have been beyond busy. Trying to play catch up, here and in real life. Luckily the garden is on autopilot, i have barely seen it lately.

 

[KiNGDeNNiZ]

You do your thing man. Sick plants. Guessing by your demographics. Broad or spider mites. . Hope all is well my friend.

 

[DocNrock]

Thanks for the kind words, guys.  I think the plants have been dealt a double whammy.  Aphid farming ants and I've also seen mites, just not sure which variety yet.  Slowly getting caught up around here.  I had carpal tunnel surgery this past Thursday and am off work for two weeks.  I have desperately needed this time off to get caught up!  Still haven't had any time to speak of to work on the pepper plants, or the peppers, for that matter.  Hopefully by the end of the week.  My casted braces come off my wrists on Friday, so hopefully then I can start doing some things in the yard.  For now, all I have are my finger tips.  Typing is fun....not! 
 
Anyway, hope all is well with everyone and I hope to be back around some time next week.  Cheers!

 

[stickman]

Oi! Not fun at all Doc... feel better soon!

 

[romy6]

 Get better fast Doc. Your plants need you  And we need some more harvest shots 

 

[Devv]

Carpal tunnel is no fun! I have it, but not ready for surgery yet.
 
I hope you heal and have no further pain. I know your hands are your life!
 
You did both hands?
 
Take care and get well soon Brent!

 

[MGOLD86]

That sucks man! Sendin fast recovery vibes your way!
 
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