Pulpiteer 2013 Grow Log

Sawyer · Mar 19, 2013

Pulpiteer said:
Let me know how that works Sawyer, I'm really interested. I really want these to grow, but am having a tough time with it. I've got some in the damp paper towel/baggie thing going now. Not sure how long I wait for those - do I wait until the cotys are out of the shell before putting them in dirt?
Just tasting the bit of the sap that splashes on top of the roaster and dries quicker is pretty sweet. Our garage is starting to smell pretty good too. Amazing thing to get something like this from trees...

I couldn't tell you on the cotys. From the old days, I would plant as soon as the radicle was showing, but those were others. I think for what I'm going to try, with the 24 hr cold tea soak, that won't be an issue. I'll just soak, then plant.

I have a very large sugar maple out by my driveway and I've often thought of tapping it, but have never acted on the thought. I had to trim it last spring so a semi could pull in and the wounds practically poured sap out for a few days. Made a real mess on a windshield.

WalkGood · Mar 19, 2013

Pulpiteer said:
... ... Last fall I dug, sprayed off, sprayed with organic insecticide, and potted into clean dirt some over winters. I thought I was thorough enough. Nope. Stinking aphids.
So, the lesson - I think it was Greg (Pic1) who had an assembly line of buckets that he systematically dunked his bare root plants under solutions for 30 seconds at a time. Seemed extreme. He has no aphids. I do. ... ...

Bar none one of the best tutorials here, hats off to Greg (Pic1) I read that last year, one of the first things I read joining THP and briefly thought the same as you ... how extreme, but it's not and it's effective. In December I did it to a plant that was getting killed with bug attacks and it came back just fine. One step I did not do but probably a good one up north is the seven spray as I regularly eat pods off all the plants and poison don't touch them yet. Instead I use different strengths of soapy water. That said if there was no other solution and it was going to be all winter, I might not have a problem with it.

Now back to every ting else I've read and seen ... Wow what can I say that hasn’t been said, loving the grow, pictures and ideas your pointing out. So I’ll just kick up my feet and enjoy this “Magic Bus” ride!

»» Foobar2k ::: The Who - Magic Bus The Who On Tour (1968) - 07 - Magic Bus ::: 0:39/3:21 (•••••••••&bull

::: 421 kbps «« ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪

RocketMan · Mar 19, 2013

Great start Andy, yeah sucks about the overwinters but the babies are looking great! Hum, maple, will we be seeing a Yellow Scorp, maple syrup something Hot Sauce this year? Would give a whole new meaning to burning the pancakes

PIC 1 · Mar 19, 2013

Andy, pretty cool with the maple drip. Can you reduce down for a more concentrated flavor.........dehydrate for powder/sugar.?
Great updates with photos. I'm trying to catch up on some reading today...I guess I missed some chapters here lately.

I couldn't tell you which P.Dreadies I sent you. I had seeds from Chris which were labeled the"select" and also had a pack from Cappy (PRF) that produced a slightly diffent shape pod. Both were very tsty with a notch up in heat compared to the FDA's and TFM's.
Heck, I don't remember what all I sent you but I hope the Michigan soil brings out the best of them.

Pulpiteer · Mar 19, 2013

Sawyer said:
I couldn't tell you on the cotys. From the old days, I would plant as soon as the radicle was showing, but those were others. I think for what I'm going to try, with the 24 hr cold tea soak, that won't be an issue. I'll just soak, then plant.

I have a very large sugar maple out by my driveway and I've often thought of tapping it, but have never acted on the thought. I had to trim it last spring so a semi could pull in and the wounds practically poured sap out for a few days. Made a real mess on a windshield.

I'll have to keep an eye on your cold tea soak. I wonder why that works... I soaked mine for about 24 hours in a chamomile tea at room temp. hmmmm.
As far as tapping a sugar maple - you want below freezing nights and warm days. That makes the sap run up into the branches in the day, and back into the roots at night. Apparently it picks up more sugar when it goes back into the ground.

WalkGood said:
Bar none one of the best tutorials here, hats off to Greg (Pic1) I read that last year, one of the first things I read joining THP and briefly thought the same as you ... how extreme, but it's not and it's effective. In December I did it to a plant that was getting killed with bug attacks and it came back just fine. One step I did not do but probably a good one up north is the seven spray as I regularly eat pods off all the plants and poison don't touch them yet. Instead I use different strengths of soapy water. That said if there was no other solution and it was going to be all winter, I might not have a problem with it.

Now back to every ting else I've read and seen ... Wow what can I say that hasn’t been said, loving the grow, pictures and ideas your pointing out. So I’ll just kick up my feet and enjoy this “Magic Bus” ride!

»» Foobar2k ::: The Who - Magic Bus The Who On Tour (1968) - 07 - Magic Bus ::: 0:39/3:21 (•••••••••&bull ::: 421 kbps «« ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪

Thanks WalkGood - while The Who is a cool band to listen to, perhaps it should've been an oldie - like "Sugar Shack" :surprised:

RocketMan said:
Great start Andy, yeah sucks about the overwinters but the babies are looking great! Hum, maple, will we be seeing a Yellow Scorp, maple syrup something Hot Sauce this year? Would give a whole new meaning to burning the pancakes

Thanks RM - a Yellow Scorp maple hot sauce does sound good....

PIC 1 said:
Andy, pretty cool with the maple drip. Can you reduce down for a more concentrated flavor.........dehydrate for powder/sugar.?
Great updates with photos. I'm trying to catch up on some reading today...I guess I missed some chapters here lately.

I couldn't tell you which P.Dreadies I sent you. I had seeds from Chris which were labeled the"select" and also had a pack from Cappy (PRF) that produced a slightly diffent shape pod. Both were very tsty with a notch up in heat compared to the FDA's and TFM's.
Heck, I don't remember what all I sent you but I hope the Michigan soil brings out the best of them.

The ones you sent me were the ones you had from Chris, so they may be the "select" which is cool. I'll have to go back and read P Dreddie's stuff, but I know I read through it once as to how that came to be. I love the stories behind the strains. Reminds me of one time at a Mennonite bed and breakfast when the couple showed my wife and I jar full of "goose beans." They were an heirloom bean that her grandpa's family started when the killed a goose and found that bean, freshly eaten and unidentified in its stomach. They grew it out and kept the strain alive. They had kept it for generations. Neat stuff.

You can make maple sugar, and I have half a mind to try something like that, but I am not going to have a ton of syrup. You can also make maple candy of all sorts. I actually made a maple flavored pudding from scratch last week (from syrup we already had). I'd have to learn how to do it - and that is really the draw for me, to be honest. It would be cool to figure out how to make maple sugar.... but we'll see. One step at a time.

WalkGood · Mar 19, 2013

So you say I should kick up my feet in the "Sugar Shack," I gotta keep moving, thus the bus ... honestly I was looking for "Riding That Train..." but I don't like the implications it brings with it

stc3248 · Mar 20, 2013

The Manzanos are never a problem for me??? I know a bunch of folks having all kinds of problems getting them running. Try just planting a bunch in a couple small pots and placing them under your grow lights. They will take a while that way, but I get almost 100% germ with them. I have one more plant I could send you, but its already got some big boy pants on...so it would be tricky.

Pulpiteer · Mar 20, 2013

stc3248 said:
The Manzanos are never a problem for me??? I know a bunch of folks having all kinds of problems getting them running. Try just planting a bunch in a couple small pots and placing them under your grow lights. They will take a while that way, but I get almost 100% germ with them. I have one more plant I could send you, but its already got some big boy pants on...so it would be tricky.

I don't know what the deal is. I've got some yellow manzanos that I'm getting ok germ rates from, but nothing from the orange manzanos and giant mexican rocotos. I'm starting to take it personally. Not sure what the deal is. I've got some orange manzano seeds in a baggie and damp paper towel, not sure if I take them out when the root pokes out, or if I wait for the coty's to emerge. Have you done this method?

stc3248 · Mar 20, 2013

Yeah...I have used that method but had better luck in plain soil. If using the paper towel method, when the root shows put it in dirt.

Devv · Mar 20, 2013

Another great grow with yet more great information!

I'm continually learning here, I really need to start to take notes!

Good luck on your grow!

Scott

Sawyer · Mar 21, 2013

stc3248 said:
when the root shows put it in dirt.

I agree with Shane. The more developed a seedling becomes before going into the dirt, the greater the chance for damage.

Pulpiteer · Mar 21, 2013

stc3248 said:
Yeah...I have used that method but had better luck in plain soil. If using the paper towel method, when the root shows put it in dirt.

Sawyer said:
I agree with Shane. The more developed a seedling becomes before going into the dirt, the greater the chance for damage.

Thanks guys - I just threw some seeds in the soil that had roots poking out, although only one was the manzano. We'll see.

Devv said:
Another great grow with yet more great information!

I'm continually learning here, I really need to start to take notes!

Good luck on your grow!

Scott

Thanks Scott - this forum is a great place to learn a bunch of stuff! Glad you stopped by!

Ok, a quick update on the syrup. Today I decided to finish off a batch that had 12-13 gallons of sap boiled down.

Here it is in the pot right after I put it on the stove.

And as I was cooking it down, Rocket Man's idea kept running through my head. So I pulled out a couple of frozen peach bhuts...

And put them in one smaller jar to infuse the syrup. I'm hoping for just a little kick along with the sweetness. I've gotta tell you, sure it's a lot of boiling it down, but wow does this taste good! Tomorrow I'll get a little taste with the chili syrup. Yummm....

DesertChris · Mar 21, 2013

Wow!
What an awesome idea

Peach Bhut Maple Syrup sounds downright delicious!!!

Did you cut the pods at all, or use them whole?

Bigoledude · Mar 21, 2013

Watcha say Pastor Andy?

Your grow is looking good. When do you start sticking plants in he ground?

Pulpiteer · Mar 21, 2013

DesertChris said:
Wow!
What an awesome idea
Peach Bhut Maple Syrup sounds downright delicious!!!

Did you cut the pods at all, or use them whole?

Thank you! Again, it was RocketMan's comment that got me thinking - to give credit where it's due, you know... I just sliced the peppers so the syrup could get in there and work around a bit. I'll take them out in awhile, when it's got some zing.

Bigoledude said:
Watcha say Pastor Andy?

Your grow is looking good. When do you start sticking plants in he ground?

Thank you! Plants don't go into the ground here until sometime at the end of May. Many people wait until Memorial Day weekend. I watch the forecast and try to get them in sooner if I can.

**edit**
Ok, I just taste tested some of the pepper syrup. Wow. If I had enough trees to tap and the equipment, I'd have to sell it. Wonderfulness!

If you wanted to make some all you'd have to do is buy some real maple syrup, heat it up to almost a boil. then slice up whatever pepper(s) you want and set it in a glass jar with the peppers over night and remove in the morning. Highly recommended.

RocketMan · Mar 21, 2013

WOOHOO!

Gald it came out good Andy. How much heat was transfered over after just and overnight soak, now you have my thinking

Pulpiteer · Mar 21, 2013

RocketMan said:
WOOHOO!

Gald it came out good Andy. How much heat was transfered over after just and overnight soak, now you have my thinking

It had a good kick to it. Of course I had two peach ghosts in less than a pint of syrup. Also, when I strained it out, I strained it through cheese cloth, the peppers sat on top of the cheese cloth - they almost looked candied - and I squeezed the syrup out of them and through the strainer, so I'm sure that quite a bit of the heat came from that. You'll have to try it and get a sense for it, then adjust for heat accordingly. This syrup would be a good one for people who like spicy food, but it's too hot for most folks. Easy to tweak though. And the flavor is great. You'll have to try it.

DesertChris · Mar 21, 2013

Pulpiteer said:
It had a good kick to it. Of course I had two peach ghosts in less than a pint of syrup. Also, when I strained it out, I strained it through cheese cloth, the peppers sat on top of the cheese cloth - they almost looked candied - and I squeezed the syrup out of them and through the strainer, so I'm sure that quite a bit of the heat came from that. You'll have to try it and get a sense for it, then adjust for heat accordingly. This syrup would be a good one for people who like spicy food, but it's too hot for most folks. Easy to tweak though. And the flavor is great. You'll have to try it.

I was thinking it would probably candy the peppers!
If left in there long enough, I bet those would be pretty awesome too!

allaKAZAAM · Mar 21, 2013

DesertChris said:
I was thinking it would probably candy the peppers!
If left in there long enough, I bet those would be pretty awesome too!

...what he said!
Maple Syrup Candied Hot Peppers...you sure you all aren't from Canada...EH!? :party:

DesertChris · Mar 21, 2013

allaKAZAAM said:
...what he said!
Maple Syrup Candied Hot Peppers...you sure you all aren't from Canada...EH!?

LOL, Yep.....I was born and raised in San Diego California pretty far away from Canada....But I do like maple syrup, and hot peppers

On a side note, I was thinking maybe it would be a good idea to do this with some fresh Honey

Make the honey spicy, and candy the peppers.