Karoo 2018/19 Glog African Adventure

Hi everybody.
Starting early this year . i just can't help myself, first frost hits and all i can think about is germinating a few seeds.
 
Germination:
In small pots with coco coir/compost 50/50.
In insulated container with heat mat .
Temp 28-30 C.
 
Seedlings:
Will stay in small pots , fits in trays , easy to move . For about 3 months.
I have a small , wooden grow box/cabinat with cfl lights.
 
Grow area:
two areas under 40% shadenet/birdproofing .
Biggest area, two one meter high raised beds , filled with 90% pure compost 
Second area , large containers partially buried in the ground to keep them cool.
 
Soil:
germination , 50/50 , cococoir/compost
after that 90% compost with added  ash , spent coffee grounds , fine eggshells etc.
Compost is my own , from garden cuttings , leaves and branches , just left in a hole in the ground for at least 2 years.
 
No added nutes . The year I am going to experiment with sheep droppings from my Brother-in-law'sfarm. Real 2-5 year old droppings from the shaving shed.
 
 
Stay tuned , pics will follow.
 
 

 

[karoo]

Yikes those are some ugly birds [emoji37]


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........and mean.
You should see one eating a Moruga scorpion pod all on its own.

 

[stettoman]

 
 
........and mean.
You should see one eating a Moruga scorpion pod all on its own.

 
Funny how some/most/all birds lack receptors for capsaicin in their tongues, isn't it? Then again, they don't have the pleasure of a good shit fire, now do they....?

 

[karoo]

 
Funny how some/most/all birds lack receptors for capsaicin in their tongues, isn't it? Then again, they don't have the pleasure of a good shit fire, now do they....?

We do have birds to thank for spreading pepper seeds so we humans could find them easier.
Sometimes it's better not to feel a sh!t.

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[karoo]

My garden is doing well , with Temps 30-35 Celcius .
Both grow areas showing fast growth ,lots of flowers and lots of green and ripening pods.
 

 

 
 
 

 

[internationalfish]

My garden is doing well , with Temps 30-35 Celcius.

I still have to look up conversions for most celsius values... that's pretty freaking toasty. Looking great though, they clearly like the heat more than I do!

 

[HydroPepper]

Looking great Jacques

Im sure your plants are thankful for the shade netting and will reward you handsomely over the next few months

 

[karoo]

Thanks , Jan and Feb are really hot and the real production months are march to May , but not to bad so far.
 
 

I still have to look up conversions for most celsius values... that's pretty freaking toasty. Looking great though, they clearly like the heat more than I do!

 
 

Looking great Jacques

Im sure your plants are thankful for the shade netting and will reward you handsomely over the next few months

 

 

[CDNmatt]

I still have to look up conversions for most celsius values... that's pretty freaking toasty. Looking great though, they clearly like the heat more than I do!

 

A good way to ballpark it is times it by 2 then add 32..it wont be exact and normally is a few less I think it is. Someone please coorrect  me if I have it wrong.
 
Things look great though Karoo Sir...do you keep shade cloth on all season or just when temps get abit to high if I may bother?

 

[karoo]

The shade cloth is only after the final plant out late September and then permanent till June. This past winter it also helped to protect a few plants from our light frost . I left them out to die and they survived without me doing anything else. 
 
Germination and then lights inside from July to August. Small pots outside in the Spring sun for September.
The shade nets are permanent fixtures over my raised beds and buried containers.
One other grow area has sun early morning until 12, then all shade.


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[PaulG]

You have a great system going, Jacques.
The results are the proof in the pudding!

 

[karoo]

You have a great system going, Jacques.
The results are the proof in the pudding!

 
Thanks , it took a lot of trial and error ( and dead plants) to get this far and work out what's best for my specific micro climate.

 

[PaulG]

 
Thanks , it took a lot of trial and error ( and dead plants) to get this far and work out what's best for my specific micro climate.

Been there, done that, my friend.
Still working on it 
 
Good on ya for perseverance!

 

[karoo]

I'm going away on my 3 week summer holiday and did a small lunchtime harvest .
Red and green Padrons ( and a few others).
 

 
 
 
Harvested my first ever Aji Amarillo ( Thanks KAOS ). Here with Aji Cito and Sugar Rush peach Round.
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

[HydroPepper]

Looks like a nice harvest Jacques

Enjoy your holiday

 

[skullbiker]

Peppers looking real good. I hope you enjoy your holiday. Do you have someone looking after your plants?

 

[karoo]

Looks like a nice harvest Jacques

Enjoy your holiday

 
Thanks,
time for sun , beach and sea.
 

Peppers looking real good. I hope you enjoy your holiday. Do you have someone looking after your plants?

 
Thanks,
yes, just for watering , should be interresting when I return.

 

[CaneDog]

I would think leaving for 3 weeks at this point of your season it should be amazing when you return.  Have a great holiday!

 

[karoo]

I would think leaving for 3 weeks at this point of your season it should be amazing when you return.  Have a great holiday!

Agreed.
I have 4 peach Bhut plants podding up at the moment. Watching plants every day is busy taking the fun out of it, 3 weeks away is just what I need.

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[PaulG]

Have a great holiday, Jacques  
 
Your plants will be loaded when you return.
You will probably need another few days off
just to harvest the pods  
 

 

[bob65]

Nice. Great colours in that lot.