Growing some tasty stuff

I really miss having these colorful babies in my kitchen. That, together with a very persistent gardening itch that has been bothering me since early December, made me give in.

Here's to my first Glog and starting seeds just a tad bit early.

My set up is not as neat or organized as what I've been seeing here, as I've collected quite some different shaped seed trays over the years and have plenty of mismatching pots to go with that. Everything is set up for this growing season in the garage windowsill, making the garage my current happy place now that it's out.

Experience has thought me it's best if I start closer to the end of January, beginning of February, but hey, there's no fun in doing everything by the book, right? I've organized my seeds, reorganized them again and now there's nothing left to do.

So I've started the germination of a few seeds (one of each kind, I'm trying to restrain myself...) with the help of the Deno method and I planted a few in soil. Put them on a heating mat to make sure they're comfortable.

Deno method, to see if these seeds are still viable: Brandleka, Turkish kill - unknown variety, Corbaci and a Mistery pepper. As well as some Cocona fruit and Leonotis leonurus.

In soil:

Now what do I do with the coming days?

 

[Ratatouille]

I will be trimming the roots. Mr. Tink is adamant that I have enough room for seedlings with the two heated tunnels, a second windowsill in the garage and a new grow tent in the attic.

Seemingly I am not to use any other spaces near a window in the house.

(Where is that eye roll smiley when you need it?)

Also can someone remind me January 2024 that I can't start sowing any Annuums before January 30th? Thanks.

 

[Tinkerbelle]

you have a Mr Tink as well?
Is he a total pain in the arse when it comes to more space for peppers?

 

[Ratatouille]

Hahahahaha. This was a huge Freudian slip. I wonder what my subconscious was trying to tell me. Maybe that the two yokefellows should never ever meet or they would form some sort of action group against more space for peppers?

 

[Nulle]

I'm a firm believer in the fact that it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission, so place your peppers anywhere you think prudent and start practicing your eyelash batting

 

[Ratatouille]

Right, of to YouTube, searching for an eyelash batting tutorial.

 

[Ratatouille]

We have a guest coming Thursday who might be staying the night.

So, let me ask you, my dear pepperheads, how to approach the following situation.

My grow tent with fan and some very bright light peaking through the zipper seam is right next to our guest bed. Do I just let the tent and the timer wake my guest at 6? (It will wake him for sure.) Or do I turn of the lighting and fan for the early morning? Or, third option, do I ward off all guests till somewhere in May?

 

[ahayastani]

You offer your room to the guest and you go sleep in the guest room.

 

[Tinkerbelle]

what ahayastani said

 

[Downriver]

You offer your room to the guest and you go sleep in the guest room.

...not sure what Mr. Ratat might say about that, hahaha.

 

[ahayastani]

...not sure what Mr. Ratat might say about that, hahaha.

If she fills him up with booze, probably nothing... even won't recall it later, hehe.

 

[thoroughburro]

I’d delay the lights. The plants won’t mind at all — just a cloudy morning, as far as they know.

 

[Ratatouille]

The visitons went home yesterday, so no cloudy day for the peppers.

The plants that I trimmed last Sunday don't really look perky still. They'll get some more time and I will see what happens. It's a good thing I only started a few seeds and it's just four plants. However, I still have a month and a half to go before the last frost day...

The other ppants are looking spiffy. Only the rocoto (of course) has some bubbly (?) leaves. I've not grown a rocoto before. Are they supposed to look like this? He'll be the first to go out if he keeps complaining about the tent.

 

[Ratatouille]

Sown on March 24th, here's one of @CaneDog 's possy.

 

[Ratatouille]

Looking at the leaves again. Is it a pepper? Or am I sowing mystery clover again?

(It appears that the accidental clover event earlier this year scarred me. Doubting every seedling cotyledon that doesn't look totally pointy.)

 

[CaneDog]

Nice! Hopefully it's not a volunteer clover!

 

[Tinkerbelle]

another capsicum impersonatoricum?

 

[Ratatouille]

another capsicum impersonatoricum?

They sure do germinate fast, these C. Impersonatoricum.

 

[Ratatouille]

The C. Impersonatoricum is making progress. It's to early to tell, but I think it's being joined by C. Annuum.

In the rocoto corner, there seems to be some sprouting going on as well. I planted two seeds, each in their own corner, so I am assuming a stowaway is present here as well.

 

[Tinkerbelle]

those darned rocotos brought along a friend

 

[Ratatouille]

The Zébrange in my grow tent did not look good. Upon closer inspection I discovered little visitors. Look how cute they are, they even brought their babies.

Zébrange got a thorough rinse and is now in quarantaine in the living room. But I think the rest of the grow tent will have visitors as well the next few days.