Updated Pepper garden pics!
This will be the first time growing peepers. I have quit a bit of space to work with and have ordered about 10 plants that are 5-6" and already have 2 Bhut Jolokia and a few other varieties that are around 5-6". I do have some seeds that I'm going to try and harvest, but wanted to order some live plants just in case I don't get the seeds to grow. All the plants are still in pots under lights so I can start working on getting them outside when I have the garden area ready. I have successfully grown a few herbs, but I dug out about half of the dirt in the small area and replaced it with miracle soil first.
The planters I have to work with are only about 3' tall and are lined with plastic over cement. The dirt used is just plan dirt that was brought in and is very hard. As a result some of the plants I've tried to grow in the past didn't work out so that's why I thought of growing peppers as one side of the planter gets full sun for most of the day and the other side gets only a small amount of direct sun daily. Toward the back are 2 trees that provide a good amount of shade, but are not too bushy so the sun still has a chance to get through. On each side there is an eve with the hope of getting some vines to grow, but haven't had much luck so I was thinking about maybe hanging some plants in a topsy turvy??
Not sure what the best placement is for the peppers or if I can do 2 rows or if it's best just to do a single row. The only advantage is the entire garden area has built in sprinklers so I usually just turn them on whenever I need to water.
A few questions. Because the dirt is so hard will I have to dig it out or is it possible to just put some good soil on top of it? I have about 3-4" of space to add soil on top of the dirt as needed.
Should all the peppers be planted on the right side and the back where it gets full sun for most of the day or should some be setup on the left where it gets only a few hours of direct sun? Do certain types prefer light-medium sun or should I only use the space that gets full sun.
Since I live in Orange County California (a few miles from the beach) I was thinking about just cutting back the peppers each year for the winter since it never really gets too cold. Would this be possible or do I need to replant each year. I currently grow mint and usually just cut the plant back quit a bit around Oct-Nov and it sprouts right back up around Feb-Mar each just in time for the summer mojitos!
I've attached some pictures to show what I have to work work.
Here is a picture of the right side of the garden area that gets full sun. I've already dug out most of the old plants and will be removing the white flowering plant also shortly.
full length view of the right side.
close up of the dirt on the right side.
full view of both side and the back area.
Any and all suggestions on where to plant and how to get this area going is greatly appreciated!
This will be the first time growing peepers. I have quit a bit of space to work with and have ordered about 10 plants that are 5-6" and already have 2 Bhut Jolokia and a few other varieties that are around 5-6". I do have some seeds that I'm going to try and harvest, but wanted to order some live plants just in case I don't get the seeds to grow. All the plants are still in pots under lights so I can start working on getting them outside when I have the garden area ready. I have successfully grown a few herbs, but I dug out about half of the dirt in the small area and replaced it with miracle soil first.
The planters I have to work with are only about 3' tall and are lined with plastic over cement. The dirt used is just plan dirt that was brought in and is very hard. As a result some of the plants I've tried to grow in the past didn't work out so that's why I thought of growing peppers as one side of the planter gets full sun for most of the day and the other side gets only a small amount of direct sun daily. Toward the back are 2 trees that provide a good amount of shade, but are not too bushy so the sun still has a chance to get through. On each side there is an eve with the hope of getting some vines to grow, but haven't had much luck so I was thinking about maybe hanging some plants in a topsy turvy??
Not sure what the best placement is for the peppers or if I can do 2 rows or if it's best just to do a single row. The only advantage is the entire garden area has built in sprinklers so I usually just turn them on whenever I need to water.
A few questions. Because the dirt is so hard will I have to dig it out or is it possible to just put some good soil on top of it? I have about 3-4" of space to add soil on top of the dirt as needed.
Should all the peppers be planted on the right side and the back where it gets full sun for most of the day or should some be setup on the left where it gets only a few hours of direct sun? Do certain types prefer light-medium sun or should I only use the space that gets full sun.
Since I live in Orange County California (a few miles from the beach) I was thinking about just cutting back the peppers each year for the winter since it never really gets too cold. Would this be possible or do I need to replant each year. I currently grow mint and usually just cut the plant back quit a bit around Oct-Nov and it sprouts right back up around Feb-Mar each just in time for the summer mojitos!
I've attached some pictures to show what I have to work work.
Here is a picture of the right side of the garden area that gets full sun. I've already dug out most of the old plants and will be removing the white flowering plant also shortly.
full length view of the right side.
close up of the dirt on the right side.
full view of both side and the back area.
Any and all suggestions on where to plant and how to get this area going is greatly appreciated!
