maxcaps 2014 grow: avoiding the freeze!

Hello All,
 
New here, but feeling right at home. I figured I'd go ahead and get my glog started, though I may wait a few weeks yet before starting anything.
 
I'm pretty new, not totally new. I had a small grow last year, mostly in containers, bringing up plants that I hoped would make cool overwinter bonsai's (bonchi's). I ordered a handful of different varieties from http://fataliiseeds.net, all  95% of which sprouted nicely, though something must have gone wrong because many never grew true leaves. I think my house was too cold... I've moved now and now have an excellent heating system. I also kept the seeds by a window that I think got too drafty. 
 
I did have a handful of chinenses survive, including a wonderful Red Habanero from fataliiseeds, and some chiero roxa plants that produced a handful of tasty purple pods. I purchased some local Scotch Bonnett starts from a small scale nursery, and grew jalapeños and serrano starts from a local nursery. It's safe to say I am now addicted, as all these fire worked its way into my family's weekly diet. I have a 12'X8' plot begging for plants, and I may do some extra in containers...
 
Enough background. Here's the plan. As jalapeños (salsa, roasted, and canned) are not a staple, I want to grow a handful of varieties. The chinenses have amazing flavors, so I'm going to branch out with two or three new varieties (though sadly I did not save any scotch bonnet seeds from the last season... what is wrong with me?). Last year I tried some super hot varieties... none lived. I am going to try again! I actually ordered most of these seeds before stumbling upon this wonderful community. In any event, here is the lineup:
 
Chinenses:
 
Red Habanero (seeds kept and OW bonchi (thanks fatalii)
Chiero Roxa (seeds kept, may use OW bonchi, haven't decided)
Scotch Bonnett (forgot to keep seeds, but I can replant OW bonchi)
White Habanero (seeds from Pepper Joe, should arrive soon...)
Chocolate Habanero (seeds from Pepper Joe, should also arrive soon)
Fatali (from pepperlover.com)
Big Sun Habernero (from pepperlover)
 
Superhot Chinenses:
 
Carolina Reaper (seeds from PuckerButt)
Naga Morich (seeds from PuckerButt)
Bhut Jolokia (seeds from PuckerButt)
Dorset Naga (seeds from PuckerButt)
7 pod (from pepperlover.com)
 
Other Superhot:
 
Tiepin (seeds from PuckerButt)
 
Annuums:
 
Poblanos (from Pepper Joe... growing to Acho's to use as powder base)
Giant Jalapeño (from Pepper Joe)
Early Jalapeño (from Pepper Joe)
Black Jalapeño (from Pepper Joe)
Purple Jalapeño (from Pepper Joe)
Fresno Pepper (from Pepper Joe)
 
Wish I had found you guys sooner, I'd have added some douglah's to the list. I am also on the fence about adding a couple more chinense varieties. 
 
Also growing some companions. Planning on putting in a couple tomato plants, garlic, cilantro, and carrots (had a lot of luck with tasty fat purple carrots... atomic purple I think they were called)
 
Will post some picks of my OW bonchi's tomorrow, and start going into techniques. On the fence about coffee-filter germination versus sowing in a tray.

 

[stc3248]

Can't wait until tomorrow!!! Heck its almost tomorrow there now! Break out the flash on the camera Adam! Haha...the torn leaves are due to either large rain or small hail, happened to me a couple years ago, aggravated by the wind I am sure. You can tell a sun leaf from an indoor leaf in a couple ways...thickness and gloss. Properly acclimated leaves are thick and shiny. The indoor leaves will slowly fade, then yellow the fall. They will be replaced by smaller tougher leaves soon enough.
 
Your rows look like mine! Haha...by the time they all fill in, it will look like you planned it that way! Your growdown baby looks very nice! What is the EXACT location of that community garden? 

 

[HillBilly Jeff]

In the dirt already.  I am jealous as all I must admit.  70 degrees here, but getting into the 20s come early next week for lows.  Looking good.

 

[maximumcapsicum]

In the dirt already.  I am jealous as all I must admit.  70 degrees here, but getting into the 20s come early next week for lows.  Looking good.

 
Felt like forever! I'm glad I got them out. I was worried about a couple of forecasted 41° nights but it never got below 46°.
 

Can't wait until tomorrow!!! Heck its almost tomorrow there now! Break out the flash on the camera Adam! Haha...the torn leaves are due to either large rain or small hail, happened to me a couple years ago, aggravated by the wind I am sure. You can tell a sun leaf from an indoor leaf in a couple ways...thickness and gloss. Properly acclimated leaves are thick and shiny. The indoor leaves will slowly fade, then yellow the fall. They will be replaced by smaller tougher leaves soon enough.
 
Your rows look like mine! Haha...by the time they all fill in, it will look like you planned it that way! Your growdown baby looks very nice! What is the EXACT location of that community garden? 

 
Didn't make it, but the soil is mixed. Gonna get them out tomorrow. They are looking good... made room for all but two plants. Gonna have to find them a home.
 
Community Plot is downtown in a neighborhood called the Old Fourth Ward. Near the King Center. It's a branch of an urban agriculture organization called Truly Living Well. Great guys, great market. They have a huge farm operation supplying many local farmer's markets.
 

By week two there should be new growth. Don't stress now!
I put all pubescens outside today. Worried but proud!

 
Luckily I have some new growth on a couple. White hab hasn't sprung to life yet. They were definitely looking greener today as well. I think things are coming together!
 

Looking good Adam!
 
That growdown plant has mine beat to heck, glad we have all summer
 
My plants are uh, getting there. So far I'm disappointed with how they're doing, been pushing them hard, trying not to burn them.
 
Wishing you continued success!

 
I wouldn't say that Scott! Gonna try to get him outside tomorrow. I think 3 good days of hardening should have inoculated him against the sun. Wind is a little bit of a concern. Had the luxury of being a little more careful hardening the last three plants.
 
I definitely have a couple that I wish were looking better. Maybe another half dose of fish emulsion will help.

 

[Devv]

 

[maximumcapsicum]

Last, or at least I thought, last round of plantouts today. Aji Chunchu, one of Jason's MoA's , and Indian Carbon all went into the beds today. Goat's Weed 2, Funky Reaper 2, a second Bubblegum, Yellow Bhut, and JA Hab all went into smart pots. Was gonna give the Funky Reaper spot to another Carolina Reaper, but the plant was looking so good I simply could not deny it a place in the garden.
 

 
Carbon from Jeff. Forgot to record the hook date! But I believe 49 days.
 

 
OP MoA from Jason. 77 days.
 

 
Growdown winner. Aji Chuncho. 43 days. Hardened off slowly so hopefully we'll keep a couple of those leaves.
 

 
Barrackpore X Chiletepin perking up a bit after nearly two weeks in the dirt.
 

 
White Bhut bouncing back from the transplant. Dropped alot of leaves but the canopy is now getting new growth and forming nicely.
 

 
Yellow Bhut doing the same.
 

 
Red Bhut. Not as big as its bro's but staying strong nonehteless. No leaf loss from the transplant.
 

 
Blondie putting on new leaves on the lower nodes. I was gonna let her grow naturally and see what happens, but I'm wondering, to stay true to the stripping experiment, should I remove growth below the node even when it fills back in, pushing growth to the top of the plant, or let these secondary branches come back. Rick has probably already answered this... need to go back and reread the glog.
 

 
Smart Pot Gals. From left to right... Beautiful stripped Funky Reaper, Goat's Weed, JA Hab, and Bubblegum. Yellow Bhut 2 is off camera.
 

 
Brown Egg has made the transition with flying colors as well. Tons of new growth, thick waxy leaves, and buds are forming.
 
Got a couple that still need stripping, and forgot my nutes when I put the new gals in the dirt. Going to bury a little tomato tone next to them (since they're already in the ground now, and mulch the beds today or tomorrow.

 

[Devv]

Looking very nice Adam!
 
Is this cooler weather coming your way in the next few days? Talking 40° Tuesday morning here.
 
Your plants are taking the move to dirt a lot better than mine did for sure!

 

[maximumcapsicum]

Looking very nice Adam!
 
Is this cooler weather coming your way in the next few days? Talking 40° Tuesday morning here.
 
Your plants are taking the move to dirt a lot better than mine did for sure!

 
There is definitely a scary day coming up. They're forecasting 35° Tuesday night. Luckily I think the asphalt has been keeping my guys warm, but if they're still calling for those kind of temps tomorrow I am going to go cover them up with plastic bags overnight. Yikes!

 

[Devv]

My fear is the wind, watch that dew point closely.
 
One thing is you have time to knock out a quick hoop solution.

 

[stickman]

+1 on #441, you'll lose the oversized leaves now that you've got your plants in the actual outdoors. The sunlight is what they really want, and when they get it they'll jettison them in favor of thicker, smaller leaves.
 
10 foot sections of schedule 40 PVC pipe spaced 2 feet apart and 4 mil sheet poly are all you need to make a low row cover to protect your plants during the approaching cold snap... cheap and easy...

 

[maximumcapsicum]

+1 on #441, you'll lose the oversized leaves now that you've got your plants in the actual outdoors. The sunlight is what they really want, and when they get it they'll jettison them in favor of thicker, smaller leaves.
 
10 foot sections of schedule 40 PVC pipe spaced 2 feet apart and 4 mil sheet poly are all you need to make a low row cover to protect your plants during the approaching cold snap... cheap and easy...

Looks like there's going to be a need for this. When do you recommend covering the plants? It's gonna be storming during the day. I can get out there around 3 pm at the earliest.

Yikes! They're predicting 33 now.

 

[Devv]

My fingers are crossed for you!
 
Yeah, they lowered our temps into the 30's too. But the wind! 25-30mph with higher gusts...Uggg!

 

[stickman]

Looks like there's going to be a need for this. When do you recommend covering the plants? It's gonna be storming during the day. I can get out there around 3 pm at the earliest.

Yikes! They're predicting 33 now.

 
I'd say you'd want it in place at least an hour before sundown on the day in question. You have raised beds, so you could lash down the edges of the sheet poly to the sides of the raised beds to keep the wind from getting underneath. It'll get hot in there during the day when the sun's up, so you'll want to open  the ends to vent the extra heat then... just remember to button them up again an hour before sundown so they can trap some heat before it starts to cool down.

 

[maximumcapsicum]

Any suggestions on fastening them to the beds? Some of the other community beds have metal loops connecting the PVC. Sadly I have no power tools, or power at the site. I could possible nail something to the bed. Also thinking about just driving the pipe into the corners of the bed.

 

[stickman]

Any suggestions on fastening them to the beds? Some of the other community beds have metal loops connecting the PVC. Sadly I have no power tools, or power at the site. I could possible nail something to the bed. Also thinking about just driving the pipe into the corners of the bed.

 
I don't bother fastening the ends of the PVC to the sides of the raised bed... I just push the ends a foot deep into the soil on either side. The sides of the raised bed will hold them in place. The really critical part is  tightly fastening down the edges of the sheet plastic so the wind can't get underneath it and blow everything away. On my low row covers I do this with 15 pound rocks at each end of all the hoops. The first year I did it with sandbags, but those break down quickly in sunlight since the material isn't UV stable.

 

[maximumcapsicum]

 
I don't bother fastening the ends of the PVC to the sides of the raised bed... I just push the ends a foot deep into the soil on either side. The sides of the raised bed will hold them in place. The really critical part is  tightly fastening down the edges of the sheet plastic so the wind can't get underneath it and blow everything away. On my low row covers I do this with 15 pound rocks at each end of all the hoops. The first year I did it with sandbags, but those break down quickly in sunlight since the material isn't UV stable.

Thanks Rick and Scott. This looks pretty cost effective rand necessary. Cutting out the time at the start of the work week is gonna be rough, but got to do whatcha got to do.

Flowers opening up!

Chilitepin x Barrackpore

Funky Reaper.

Little lady made some chickpea fajitas tonight. New fusiony recipe of hers. Turned out quite nice. I added a pinch of Jamison's 7pot primo to each to set em on fire.

Bracing for February part 10. Ugh...

 

[JJJessee]

Everything is looking fantastic.
 
I concur with the others on the hoops and wind is the challenge in this case.
 
If had some extra lumber, I'd lay it on the sides on top of the plastic and then lay the rocks on the lumbers to help distribute the weight and seal up spots the wind could get some leverage.

 

[GA Growhead]

Score the PVC that is gray, electrical conduit. Cheaper than white PVC and UV stable, so will last longer.
I will be bringing everyone back in the garage!

 

[Jamison]

Fajitas look really good!  Keeping my fingers crossed for ya on the weather.  I'm back up here in WI for the rest of the week and they are calling for snow tomorrow!  Unbelievable!  I remember why I moved to the mid-south.

 

[HillBilly Jeff]

Looking great.  So, how does it feel?  Month to go here, then the kids go off to college!!!

 

[Jeff H]

Looks like there's going to be a need for this. When do you recommend covering the plants? It's gonna be storming during the day. I can get out there around 3 pm at the earliest.

Yikes! They're predicting 33 now.

 
Yikes I think they are predicting 29 here on Tuesday, but we are 400 miles north of Atlanta. I wouldn't expect it to be that cold down there.
 
I wish your plants the best of luck through this (hopefully the last) cold snap, but I would recommend putting that low row cover on the day before. It will help heat up the soil a little more and the warm soil will keep it nice and warm in there.