Guru's Garden - Traveling the World in Search of Peppers

Just starting this glog now so it's one less thing to do in a few months when I'm knee deep in compost and getting things in the ground.
 
Not much to report at the moment. Strains yet to be determined, but I'll probably end up growing too many like always...lol
 
 
Only thing that's going on right now is a clean back patio and the chickens doing their part turning over my compost pile on the daily. Intersted in seeing how the soil microbes appreciate the added chicken poop!
 

 

 
Hope everyone has had a decent winter so far and here's to happy germination!
 

 
 
 
EDIT UPDATE: This glog has turned into an ongoing overwintering, greenhouse and soil building how-to!

 

[Devv]

I build the deadmans using three posts, you can notch them and use pipe or treated lumber.
 
here's a pic:
 

 
I use wire to tighten the pole together, using a piece of pipe twisting the wire.
 
More coming.
 
Once the concrete has set for three days or so depending on soil moisture, is when you can tie them down.
 
you can use a tractor or a come-along to tighten the fence, I use a 3/4" pipe or something similar woven through the mesh fence tightens it nicely. For uneven ground, tighten it up some and work the fence side to side and it will level for you. If the ground is rock hard, use water or do some digging
 
For my garden, the fence was to keep the dogs out. Then the rabbits. I wound up digging down 4"s and putting sacrete in there, and then wetting it down. Done deal no more rabbits.

 

[Pepper-Guru]

I see! 
 
I was going for the floating angle brace thing, like this: 
 
 
 

 
 
What say you? 

 

[Devv]

That will work just as well!
 
My fencing experience is usually for 450-900' runs, and I use the same techniques for the shorter runs.
 
The bottom line is two points of anchor, braced properly.

 

[Jeff H]

I see! 
 
I was going for the floating angle brace thing, like this: 
 
 
 

 
 
What say you? 

 
That would work, but only one direction. Devv's X bracing will work both directions.

 

[Pepper-Guru]

Yeah, I'll have one going off towards each post. Like this: 

 

[Devv]

Exactly, I usually fence for cattle. And use the same technique for everything
 
And your pic will work fine for a garden.

 

[Pepper-Guru]

Awesome. Thanks for the tips! Exactly what I was looking for. You da man!

 

[Devv]

Just watch the far end posts when stretching to make sure they don't give. AND the wire likes to "relax" after the initial stretch. But I'm sure with the distance you're doing you should be Ok.

 

[Pepper-Guru]

Ok, so far so good. Got one side done. Nice and straight, Each wire tuned to an A# lol! 
 

 
 
Some visual update on plants. 
 
 
MOA Scotch Bonnets
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Aji Chuncho
 

 
 
 
 
 
Yellow 7 Pod
 

 
 
 
 
 
Holy Mole flower and guardian
 

 

 
 
 
 
Thyme is gonna spread like crazy
 

 
 
 
 
 
Caging the tomato row very soon
 

 
 
 
 
 
Corn is coming up
 

 
 
 
I'll end with this shot of a group of volunteer pepper plants. These things are ALL OVER the garden and compost pile. My compost pile germinates seeds much better than I do apparently! hahah Thinking of never pulling any volunteer this year and just have a crazy mass of plant chaos going on in this mulch...
 
 

 

[GA Growhead]

Looking good.
Mostly rain today up this way. Poured like crazy for a bit.
Glad someone is getting something done outside.

 

[Devv]

When you build the deadman for the gate the "H" style I use will be important.
 
Fence and plants look good!

 

[Pepper-Guru]

Looking good.
Mostly rain today up this way. Poured like crazy for a bit.
Glad someone is getting something done outside.

Trying my best. Today sucked really. Everything was going wrong...and its hard to get help! 
 

When you build the deadman for the gate the "H" style I use will be important.
 
Fence and plants look good!

Cool. So I'll hang my gate on the H brace then right?

 

[Devv]

I would, the way you're bracing for the corners is fine, but the gate will pull a single pole towards the weight and soon the end of the gate is dragging.

 

[Pepper-Guru]

Makes sense! Thanks for all your help dude. 

 

[Devv]

No problem!
 
We're all here to share what we know   And you've done you're share!

 

[Pepper-Guru]

Ok so I'm feeling all 
"posty"....     
 
 
Whipping up some ANCIENT aged PVP Red Savina from 2006 today 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
Also, cracking open some "No Salt, Cold Mashed Jalapeno" 
 

 
 
 
Time to COOK something so I can cover it with this stuff tonight! 

 

[Jamison]

Looking good man!  Tomatoes look amazing for sure!

 

[OCD Chilehead]

Nice Pics. A work in progress for sure. That would be cool if you let the volunteers live. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

 

[Portuge]

Awesome progress on the fence Rich, most definitely will keep out the bunnies and local herbivores...

 

[Roguejim]

Yeah, that's what I usually go for in the past with in ground plots using mulch. I caught that video when he first uploaded it That guy has some good permaculture stuff going on that I like. I've never inoculated with mycelium before on my plots where I use mulch, because there's already so much of it! Once swipe of the hand in this pile and plot reveals massive white colonies of fungi! As for the rock dust, that's something I like to use in my containers whenever I can get my hands on it, but generally in my in ground plots, there is already so much of it as well that I've never seen myself adding any. 
 
I look at the RCW thing as most growers should; Trying to replicate what happens in a forest. Any and all types of wood chips in a nice mix is always best. We are trying to mimic branch tips and leaves falling to the forest floor and composting. Building SOIL!  
As I said, when ever you lower ph too much, you're going to have issues. I've seen people cook the pine mulch piles for a year and use them, but again I'm not big on the mono culture thing so a good MIX of wood types is where its at for this guy

Not only that, but conifers also act as an antifungal, so ya don't want too much of that!

Its all about the humus baby! Feed the SOIL

With the conifer wood being a poor source for RCW, it wasn't a matter of low pH, but rather it being a poor lignin source.