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Spicy Chicken's MMXII Grow Log (The Hot Spot Pepper Shack)

Hello everyone!

Planting seeds is still a couple of weeks away yet but thought I would start out with an introduction and let you know a little bit about our place we call The Hot Spot or should I say what others call it, I call it a garden. ;)



Here is a little bit about our hobby farm and how we turned what once was an old abandon farm into our favorite place to be.

This is a family oriented hobby farm located in Northeastern Wisconsin. The farm is about elevan acres in size but we are utilizing only a small portion for the garden. Even though our growing time is short we use every day given to produce some of the best peppers in the state.

We have lived here since 2002 and our garden is just a smidge over 1/2 acre. As each year has passed the pepper garden has grown. Our garden for the year of 2010 had just over 1000 pepper seedlings planted, 2011 2000. Although no herbicides, pesticides, or chemical fertilizers are used, we are not organically certified and do not claim to be.

The compost that is integrated into the soil is procured from a large organic dairy farm a few miles from our home. The soil is sifted and mixed with the compost to create raised, plastic mulch covered beds, thus giving us the ability to control soil heat, moisture and weeds. As the plant grows, we denude the early buds, giving plants time to become strong and resilient.

After the first denuding, plants are then allowed to grow into a nice leafy foliage that produces great tasting peppers we are happy to be able to share with others.

From our family to yours, Thank you!




I am in the midst of building a grow room with a second story green house where this year I will be able to start the plants. Some of you may have seen the tread in Grow Tech category, might be interesting if you’re ever bored. http://www.thehotpepper.com/topic/23974-spicy-chickens-grow-room-and-greenhouse-makeover/f

Worked very hard at it last summer, my wife calls it The Pepper Shack.

A couple of before and after pics.


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As you can see I have a long way to go, but at least I will be able to start the seeds in there, really looking forward to that.

More to come. thanks for looking! SC
 
So sorry to hear this news! What a tremendous loss!!! All of us know how much time and energy it takes to get the plants to that point, and on the scale SC was doing it, just makes it that much worse.

Sure hope you were able to salvage some plants, SC!

You're in my thoughts and prayers,
Bonnie
 
Same Bonnie... Sorry to hear about your loss Jeff... If you need some seeds or something let me know and I can send some to help...
 
UGH Jeff. If there is anything I can do please don't hesitate to ask. At least you have the indoor rooms to blast off again. Supposed to be a very hot summer, so there is still time.
 
Thanks everyone!!!!!

I may have lost 5000 plus plants but I still have more than 3000 left, late starters and pathetic stragglers, but just a hand full of super hots.

Sorry it has been so long since an update but had to deal with a real bad family tragedy again.

Now just trying to balance work and trying to catch up all at the same time.

So I bought this tractor, Massey Ferguson, used on a gulf coarse for mowing fairways. Looks a little funny with the turf tires and all but did put some new Ag tires and rims on both front and back, looks better now.

Here we are getting one of the two main gardens tilled up and getting ready for hilling and forming.

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Here is my wife tilling the New second main garden, this was sod just a couple of days ago.

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Built this former and was a complete fail, one design flaw after another; now just its just a reminder that one can waste a whole day making junk.

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The second attempt, got it right; thank god!

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As you can see it works quite well and also leaves a nice grove in the center for T- tape ( drip tape)

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Last year after laying the plastic I used a 2 inch hot pipe to melt the hole and then used the same pipe to remove the dirt.
This year we are using larger 3.5 x 3.5 square pots so I made this dirt remover today. simple design with a plunger to remove the dirt.

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It works quite well and will be removing the dirt before the plastic mulch gets laid; then just cut a cross in the plastic and drop in the plant.

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Thanks for looking and now if someone will reply I can finish the pics. LOL
 
Thanks buddy.


What a mess to clean up after the fabrication circus, Geeesss

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temporary hoop house on a wagon for some stragglers; can be backed into the tractor shed on real nasty days.

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Some pics of the pathetic remains after disaster struck twice already this season, I have no backups this year so mother nature just may show me who's boss again.

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Planted out 2 raised beds. 7 Pot Douglah

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Fatalli Yellow.

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Thanks for looking, Jeff
 
I have about a half acre planted as well, but things like Melons take up a LOT of space. Right now, I'm at about 300 pepper plants, ~200 corn, ~20 melon mounds, few dozen tomatos, ~40 tomatillos (most just finished germinating), collards, spinach, sweet potatos(in trash cans because of the all the limestone ~2-3' down), radishes, lettuce, green beans, etc. the only things I would have liked to plant, and didn't this year are broccoli and carrots.

I figure I have the land, I might as well be meeting some of my needs with it.

I don't think I'd want to lay in a bathtub full of chillies just for the record. But if you want to adopt me, I'd be all in. Hard working, and wouldn't mind sleeping on the floor of the grow room. haha.

I should mention though my steak of choice is Prime Rib :D
 
Glad your back posting Jeff, like everyone i just love the ideas you come up with & that new tractor looks like a dirt hot rod. :party:

We have a similar size setup as yourself (17 acres) and an identical one owner from new John Deer (although yours is real tidy). I guess were at the stage when you started the farm ten or so years back, we have years of work ahead to get it up to your standards.

Im sorry to read of your bad luck & losses, glad you can pick yourself up & carry on growing.

All the best,

Mezo.
 
Welcome back Jeff! I knew you weren't down for the count. Sorry to hear about the family hardships ill keep yall in my prayers. But I am sure it feels great to get that plot set up and we all can't wait to see those babies get dropped in the dirt.
 
Just wanted to pop in and say I'm pulling for you too, and will keep you in prayer with what sounds like a lot of stuff you've been through.

Also - your inventiveness is amazing and the pepper shack looks even better with all those plants in it.
 
Update.
I was having trouble with the rototiller not getting deep enough do to the fact that the shoes or skids would ride in the tire tracks of the tractor so I made a little modification in front of the shoes, If the top link shortened tipping the front down the chisel tips will dig in, carving a troff for the shoes, now the tiller will dig 16 inches deep. Saaaaawweeeeetttt

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Here is a couple of row started and the fancy shmacy drip tape dispenser.

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These next 2 pics are deceiving, (zoom lens) it is more that a hundred feet to the hill and the plants have more than 2 foot spacing down the row and 18 inches side to side, because I know someone will ask.

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More in perspective.

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some one reply please. LOL then more pics
 
thanks buddy.

Just a few more to plant including one wagon not pictured. Total in the ground right now is just over 1,000 units so a third done. WooHoo.

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7 Pot Yellows and these where freeze outs, at one point nothing more than a pencil sticking out of the dirt. Be interesting to see if they produce.

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and lastly a circle of butch t,s that have taken a real beating for wind over the last week.

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Thanks for looking, - Jeff
 
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