lek 2018 - reaper - outdoor organic grow log - recipe #1

hello my friends,
 
this is my 1st grow log.  i will grow reaper outdoor without using synthetic chemical fertilizer, pesticide, fungicide, growing media ...  also i don't use potting mix.  no perlite, no vermiculite... no no no  
 
recipe#1
 
reaper seeds
seeds are from WhiteHotPeppers.com,  one of the best pepper vendor.
 

 
growing media
it's lowest quality of my vermicompost.   
worm specie: african night crawler, primary food: aged dairy cow manure. this recipe i didn't feed worm with insect's exoskeleton so chitinase level will not be high.
 

 
 
fertilizer
photosynthetic bacteria, created from egg + fish sauce + water from river + sunlight (20 days).  
 

 
i'm brewing worm tea right now.  460ppm 
 

 
outdoor climate  
it's hot alternate with heavy rain.  a lot of pest and diseases are here.  i think i have to prepare to cultivate trichoderma fungi to prevent disease.
 

 
 
container
i will use small clay pot to do seed germination outdoor.  sow reaper seed directly into vermicompost and then wait. no fancy method.  

 
i will update again when i have time 
 
 
 

 

[The_NorthEast_ChileMan]

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For those of us that follow your unique grow methods Lek, good luck!
 
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[lek]

while waiting for the seed to germinate, i will make water soluble calcium phosphate from something in my kitchen (organic rice vinegar, cow bones / eggshell)
break the bone into small pieces, put them over fire, when they're brown. let it cool and use vinegar to dissolve. it will be ready to use when there are no more bubbles (about 10 days)
 
1st application when reaper has 6 true leaves. then 30 days later, and during fruit filling. 

 

[lek]

day 8th
 
the root is coming out.  too bad there is rain every night all night long. hope reaper's root will not rot.
 

 

 

[Chilidude]

This might turn out to be pretty interesting grow log to watch.

 

[karoo]

Already interesting!
Thank you Lek and good luck , I will be following.

 

[lek]

day 10th
 
reputable vendor really does matter.  all reaper seeds germinate easily in vermicompost within 10 days.   thanks WhiteHotPeppers.
 

 
rain all night long. the weather condition is great for fungi growth.  here is my trichoderma harzianum fungi.  
yesterday vs today.
 

 

 
 
 

This might turn out to be pretty interesting grow log to watch.

i try to work along with the nature. hope it will be fun.
 

Already interesting!
Thank you Lek and good luck , I will be following.

thanks my friend. i hope birds won't destroy my seedling.
 

 

[lek]

day 13
 
cotyledon grows larger, first true leaf starts to emerge.  

 
some growers said don't bury the stem deeper. they are too susceptible to damping off.
 
what do you think?
 
ok let’s prove it.  there is rain every night. i will bury the stem deeper and we will see what will happen.
 

 
 
my trichoderma fungi is ready now.  time to make liquid solution.  
 

 

 

[lek]

day 18
 
first true leaves grow larger.
 
it's too wet.  there is too much rain. overwatering every night... but who care?
there is no sign of damping off after burying the stem deeper.  just a bit yellow leaves from overwatering so let the nature take its course.
 
 

 

[lek]

day 21
 
normally, once you see the second sets of true leaves. you can begin to fertilizer your plant. 
in my case it's time for troubleshooting. what is causing leaves to wrinkle like this? I don't see insects on the leaves with nake eyes.
 

 
 
cheap microscope for iphone to the rescue!   oh now i can see them... a cute one and an ugly one.
normally you would get rid of them immediately but in this recipe i don't care i will leave them alone.
 

 

 

[lek]

day 30
 
baby reapers were attacked heavily by pest.  leaves deform. slow growth rate but it's OK. there are 3 sets of true leaves now.
root is coming out of the bottom of the tiny pot.  
 

 

 
 
it's time to transplant into a much bigger pot.   let check the roots first.
the roots are very healthy.  did you see compaction of growing media?   nope!
 
these baby reapers are very strong. they can resist both pest and rain.
 
 

 

 
 
i have 2 styles of organic pot.
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 

[chelicerae]

Really interesting glog to follow. Primary reason being the unusual growing method. It's a stark contrast to my two tents and perlite and vermiculite and woooo-ing inline fans..  it's interesting to read about your more natural methods. The secondary reason being that you don't have a whole field with a hundred different species, I find those grows a bit hard to relate to : )

 

[lek]

Really interesting glog to follow. Primary reason being the unusual growing method. It's a stark contrast to my two tents and perlite and vermiculite and woooo-ing inline fans..  it's interesting to read about your more natural methods. The secondary reason being that you don't have a whole field with a hundred different species, I find those grows a bit hard to relate to : )

my goal is to have natural tasting of reaper fruit.     it's much easier to grow pepper plant using synthetic chemical compounds but i'm afraid to eat them. 

 

[Caranx]

Looking good Lek! Hope you have less rain than here in the south, my plants have been struggling so even if they are several weeks older than yours they are just a tiny bit bigger!

 

[Jase4224]

I really like those clay pots. Im assuming the plants didnt damp off and die due to the open bottom allowing aeration.

And you please explain the purpose of the fungi you are growing? Looks interesting

 

[lek]

I really like those clay pots. Im assuming the plants didnt damp off and die due to the open bottom allowing aeration.

And you please explain the purpose of the fungi you are growing? Looks interesting

disease control.  in short Trichoderma eat organic matter cellulose and chitin from fungi.   
Trichoderma strains solubilize phosphates and micronutrients.

 

[lek]

day 56
 
i didn't update for a long time coz there was flooding in my area.  pepper seedlings sat in water for a long time. anyway they're still alive. 
 
 

 

 

 

[chelicerae]

Hey Lek, how are the reapers doing? : )

 

[lek]

day 229
 

Hey Lek, how are the reapers doing? : )

me and the reapers are not dead yet.
 

 
 
reaper on the left begins to set flowers.
 

 
 
 

 

[Bicycle808]

This GLOG is rad. I love your methodology and "voice," Lek. I always enjoy your posts