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PaulG 2016

Okay, back in the saddle again.  I checked out of this forum last September,
when my wife and I went on an 8-week vacation.  We had a blast, then I came
home to two months of yard work to catch up on, and holiday season to
contend with   :doh:   
 
I just this week finished grinding up all the dry pods from last season.  Managed
to get my seeds in to soak on Jan. 15th, and into the Jiffy Pellets on Jan. 16th.
I'm going for fewer varieties this season, but 3 or 4 plants of most varieties that
I grow out.  No small pod peppers this year, just too labor intensive for the results,
although I have some awesome small pod powders laid away.   Speaking of which,
I have so much powder I'm considering packaging and selling some this summer.  
I'm going to try to sell my fresh pods this Fall, so maybe no more powder production
until I need some, and then, just my favorites.  
 
2016 grow list and germination record:
 
Pod name                                             Source                                               seeds sown            germinated  
 
Aji Amarillo ................................ Peruvian Market, 4th gen. ................................... 6 ......................... 6 ................  100%
Yellow Scorpion......................... SpankyColts 2012, 4th gen. ................................ 9 ......................... 7 ................    77%
Scotch bonnet, TFM ................. Trippa 2013, 4th gen. .......................................... 9 ......................... 6 ................    66%
Fatali ......................................... Peppermania, 2012, 2nd gen. ............................. 9 ......................... 9 ................   100%
7 Pot Burgundy ........................ Sawyer 2014, 2nd gen. ....................................... 12 ......................  11 ................   92%
Red Rocoto .............................. Peruvian Market 2015, 1st gen. ........................... 6 .......................  5 .................    84%
JA Red Habanero .................... Devv/WalkGood 2014, 3rd gen. .......................... 12 ...................... 12 ................  100%
Bhut Jolokia Red ..................... SpankyColts 2012, 3rd gen. ................................ 12 ...................... 12 ...............  100%
Primo ....................................... MGold 2012, 2nd gen ........................................... 6 ........................  6 ...............  100%
Mystery Cross ......................... Trippa, 2014, F4 .................................................... 9 ........................  9 ...............  100%
Scotch Bonnet, Chocolate ...... GaGrowhead 2015, 2nd gen. ............................... 9 ........................  7 ................   77%
Padron ..................................... Spain 2015, 1st gen. ........................................... 12 ...................... 10 ................   84%
Bhut Jolokia, Chocolate .......... GaGrowhead, 2nd gen. .......................,................ 6 .......................  5 ..................  84%
 
Total ........................................................................................................................ 117 .................. 105 ...............  89.7%
 
The first seeds began germinating on Jan. 22nd and continued until Feb. 5
 
1/29 - First watering of earliest germinating plants
 
2/2 - Begin light fertilizer routine on older seedlings:  Cal-Mag, 1 tsp / gal.
                                                                                          AK Fish Fertilizer, 1 tsp / gal. 
     - Start fan on taller seedlings
 
Click to expand...
+1 on #79... spreading the infected soil out in a thin layer and staking some clear poly sheeting over it to cook the Leaf Spot Bacteria may save your soil if you're determined to keep it for next year. The pics of your plants don't actually look too bad, so hopefully you'll still get a decent harvest. We're pullin' for ya Paul!
 
 Besides the bac infection plants still look great Paul . And old wise man turned me onto spraying the plants with a 1/2 milk 1/2 water solution . I have used this method many times in the past with great results . I would give it a go . I usually do two 2 or 3 sprays/applications  about once a week . 
 
Devv said:
Seems like this season is a challenge for some of us this year. I'm sure you'll do fine though!
If I remember correctly Shane used a tad of aspirin to treat his plants some time ago, although I forget what for. Also the soil can be solarized to kill pathogens as well.
 
Good luck with your grow!
Click to expand...
 
My problems are minor compared to yours, buddy!  
You are a master in your domain, Scott.
 
Looks like your grow has made the turn, my friend!
 
OCD Chilehead said:
The garden is looking great. Do you use a compost tea?
Click to expand...
 
No, Charles.  Sometimes I feel guilty for not doing so,
like I'm cheating my chilis or something!  I do spray with
little kelp foliar once in a while.
 
tsurrie said:
Your plants look good despite the trouble. Hope you wont get any further damage.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks, Uros.  the parts that are left look okay - it's been so hot there has
been lots of flower drop, so now that it's cooling off a little we'll see if they
will fight off this bac spot and start flowering and setting pods again.  The
bacteria is in the plant, so I don't know if they can ever really shake it off.
 
Hope you are having a good year with your own peppers.
 
stickman said:
+1 on #79... spreading the infected soil out in a thin layer and staking some clear poly sheeting over it to cook the Leaf Spot Bacteria may save your soil if you're determined to keep it for next year. The pics of your plants don't actually look too bad, so hopefully you'll still get a decent harvest. We're pullin' for ya Paul!
Click to expand...
 
Thanks, Rick.  I don't know how far down in the soil the bacteria live.  
I was thinking if it's only a few inches, I could just replace the top 6"
of soil in each container.  That wouldn't be so bad.  The soil would
still be good for every other plant and I could use it elsewhere in the garden.
There is no way I can solarize 550 gallons of soil!
 
Hope you haven't been too affected by the terrible weather back there.
It's been quite a ride for the eastern half of the country.
 
Found this article on bacterial spot disease:
 
http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/NewsArticles/PepperLeafSpot.htm
 
I have further found that the bacteria can only live in organic matter (above ground infected
pepper plant debris) on or in the soil,  or in the rhizosphere of a non-host plant, and dwindles in the
soil over time.  So, that gives me some hope for remediation.  I will pull the root balls
early rather than letting them overwinter and pulling in Spring if I can, and be good
about keeping debris picked up between now and then.  I have also determined that
some of the plants must have become infected at germination, as some of the early
leaves developed a sort of light mottled appearance, but I could never put my finger
on it.  Overcrowding and high humidity contributed to the spread of the bacteria.  
 
For next season: 
 
• limiting my grow to 20-25 plants next season to avoid the crowding issue,
• getting some new seed, and heat-treating my selected seed for a few
  varieties I just can't let go of before sowing this winter, 
• cleaning out the top 3" of soil in my containers and replacing with new soil,
• keeping main stems clear of leaves and lower branches
• being careful not to injure plant stems and branches and leaves,
• remove any injured parts, including bug chews, as these wounds are places
  the bacteria enter the plant.
• clean tools and hands more often
 
My thinking on this:
 
You know they recommend crop rotation in a garden, or on a farm. But reusing the soil for a container grow might just be the issue here. You're continuously planting in the same spot so to speak. I try and move things around in my garden, and do plant a double cover crop. But I too mainly reuse the same areas for nightshades. But not so much as the container grow would do. No answer is easy here, especially in a suburban environment. If you do have the room, perhaps a rotation where a portion of the soil is used for a different purpose for a year.
 
I started planting from seed about 5 years ago after I bought infected starter tomato plants and 30 plants went south. It was Southern wilt, rather deadly! The next year it was still in the soil, and got about 5-8 that were affected. I rotated onions there and the double fall-winter cover crop did the trick.
 
Just food for thought. ;)
 
Test post: View attachment 38214
The Aji Amarillo's have been setting pods right along
even through hot and chilly extremes. Almost every
mature node has a pod on it.
 

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Okay, just trying to use my direct upload feature on
my fine new Extreme membership. From my phone.

Woo-Hoo! A bit convuluted, but works. Now to edit the post.
 
Thanks, buddy - don't know why I dragged my feet
For so long. It will save time being to upload direct
from my phone.
 
Great looking plants, as always! That year i'll discover pubescens a bit too, i'm still to have a ripe one, can't wait!
 
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