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

Devv · Mar 3, 2017

My tomatoes went in the dirt last weekend, and based upon my schedule here, had I grown rye this season, I would have turned my rye in 4-6 weeks ago. For two reasons: I want it to break down and be available to supply the new plants with all the nutes, and it's really hard to kill. Usually turn under, a week later turn under again, as it's coming back, then the third try to kill the remnants. Or it becomes a weed

Pepper-Guru · Mar 21, 2017

Devv said:
My tomatoes went in the dirt last weekend, and based upon my schedule here, had I grown rye this season, I would have turned my rye in 4-6 weeks ago. For two reasons: I want it to break down and be available to supply the new plants with all the nutes, and it's really hard to kill. Usually turn under, a week later turn under again, as it's coming back, then the third try to kill the remnants. Or it becomes a weed

Think I turned it in enough?! haha

I figured while I was at it to go ahead and break some new ground.

The largest plot is for corn, sunflower, wildflower etc We are getting into bee keeping and want to grow a large area for them to forage for pollen.

The smaller plot near the truck will be for tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, okra, melons, etc

Seedlings are doing very well. Almost time for them to move outdoors and harden off a bit!

Here's the first to flower indoors. The "Banana" looking pepper I found in Sri Lanka.

Happy Spring Everyone!

Devv · Mar 21, 2017

Yeah, I think you got it

Here it has a nice habit of raining right after I till the cover crop in and some comes back.

Plants look great. Good luck this season!

Pepper-Guru · Mar 24, 2017

Seedlings are looking really nice this year. The Coyote Zan White is one of the most beautiful plants ever.

Decided to take a few shots with my new octabox!

Pulpiteer · Mar 29, 2017

Beautiful shots. I had no idea what an octabox was. I had in mind an aquatic storage unit with 8 arms. What it really is made more sense, but my mental image was awesome.

Pepper-Guru · Mar 30, 2017

Pulpiteer said:
Beautiful shots. I had no idea what an octabox was. I had in mind an aquatic storage unit with 8 arms. What it really is made more sense, but my mental image was awesome.

Haha, that's awesome. Yeah, just a special reflector that softens light. Been getting into flash stuff recently. Started a website with a small portfolio with some of my work. http://www.richblood.photo

Up until now, I've just used available ambient light to take photos. Learning light and controlling it is a whole new ballgame. Fun stuff!

Well, the two large plots have been planted and seeded. I already have sunflowers germinating in the three sisters field (rare corns, beans, sunflowers/squash) Planted tomatoes, okra, cucumbers, watermelon, cantaloupe, and squash in the other plot.

Overwinters are ready to go into the pepper plot tomorrow!

2017 Seedlings saw the outdoors for the first time today. Leaned a shade rack over them against the south side of the house and gave them a drink. They loved the extra light! Snapped these just after dark:

Here is the variety from Sri Lanka that looked like a banana:

Going to shop around for that shade cloth for the pepper plot and get it hung. These things want to be in the ground!

Grow on!

Pepper-Guru · Apr 2, 2017

Got the shade cloth installed above the pepper plot and planted 8 overwinters as well as 21 of the best seedlings. The rest I'll re-home with lesser prepared friends and family.

Off camping early in the am with the family. Will report back in a week!

Pepper-Guru · Apr 16, 2017

Easter Update:

Last year around this time, things looked like this:

Today, plants have been in the ground for 2 weeks.

The pepper plot is on a slight, south facing slope. So the shade cloth's main 24x20ft 30% shadow, wipes over the garden from west to east each and every day. Only during the early morning and late evening hours, letting direct sunlight into the sides, albeit very low angle sun light. Haven't noticed a bit of lag so I think the seedlings are liking the soil. I imagine the roots are going nuts under the surface. I'm just now beginning to see bright green growth coming from every node, so its just about time for them to explode.

One of the Sri Lankan varieties I brought back already podding up!

Coyote Zan White

Sri Lankan "Cobra" - the pod I obtained from a hostel kitchen, looked shockingly similar to Hoyt Saxton's Red Pumpkin Habanero. Fingers crossed its some type of ancestor, hopefully more direct than not. It is already displaying the signature leaf structure! HUGE heart shaped and lobe-y.

Fed the container plants some of the stankiest, compost sludge out of the dank tank this evening. Here is a Rooster Spur "SlothNail" in a 15gallon smarty. Already showing lots of growth at every node and basal branching to boot.

Lastly a quick shot of a Mini Rocoto flower.

Happy Easter!

Trippa · Apr 17, 2017

Awesome Rich! Do you still make the fish hydrolysate ? And only feed them once as in previous years?

Portuge · Apr 17, 2017

Sweet looking plant out Rich, keep on feeding the soil...

Pepper-Guru · Apr 18, 2017

Trippa said:
Awesome Rich! Do you still make the fish hydrolysate ? And only feed them once as in previous years?

Yes! Still make it! I actually got word from the manager at a local fish market, he's going to fill up my brute yard can with fish scraps!

Portuge said:
Sweet looking plant out Rich, keep on feeding the soil...

You know it! This year I raked all of the remaining wood chips off the surface and tilled all the organic matter, and grown cover crop down into the Ga red clay bed. The barrel stave theory really spoke volumes to me when I read the last installment of "Teaming with Nutrients" the sequel to Teaming with Microbes. Nutrient content is only as good to your plants as the weakest link (nutrient) and all others and the way they are absorbed by the plant are governed by that weak link. So, without doing a proper soil test, I guessed what my weak links were and went for it. I may do a soil test soon just to see but not before I monitor what the plants do this season!

dragonsfire · Apr 18, 2017

Great looking Plants

Pepper-Guru · May 3, 2017

dragonsfire said:
Great looking Plants

Thanks! I've had some seriously crazy growth during the past two weeks! I'll post an update today.

For now, here is the first harvest off the mystery Sri Lankan banana looking pepper.

Usually I'm planting out around this time, not harvesting! Haha

JoynersHotPeppers · May 3, 2017

Nice Rich, I hope to someday soon have the land to really take my growing to a different level and live more off my land!

RPM55 · May 7, 2017

The garden is looking great Rich! Fresh pods in May, that's awesome!

Maligator · May 9, 2017

Holy cow!!! That's a super sized garden area...pretty envious of that!!! Can't wait to watch the progress. Plants are looking very healthy and a nice deep green.

Pepper-Guru · May 18, 2017

Update time :party:

Wide Shot of the 30% shaded pepper plot.

Tighter shot

CGN 21566

Aribibi Gusano in the ground

Patio Aribibi Gusano

7 Pot Bubble Gum Flowers

Some Fennel for the absinthe :shh:

Coyote Zan White ( possible cross) will see...

Sri Lanka "Chili Red"

bump for more

Pepper-Guru · May 18, 2017

Update continued:

Fatalii

Sri Lanka "Cobra"

Sri Lanka "Banana"

Bug

Rooster Spur in ground

Rooster Spur patio

Mini Rocoto

Iquitos, Peru - "Giant Rocoto"

Aji Lemon Drop - patio plant for 2017 Growdown!

Hoping this one keeps pumpin the pods! Gonna keep it drenched in fish hydrolysate and compost slurry.

Datil · May 19, 2017

Very nice update Rich, plants look lush!

OCD Chilehead · May 19, 2017

Plants look fantastic Rich. I like the photos added to the portfolio. I'm still trying to squeeze time for the Nikon. I've got a whole greenhouse to practice on. Oh, and the humming birds are back. They are my favorite bird.

Anyways, I'm sure those plants will be rewarding you soon, for the kindness you've given them.

Chuck