stc3248, 2013 Grow log, Season's Greetings and Season's End

Well here we go again! Those that saw my grow last year know that I was plagued by virus issues and many other problems, but I was still able to pull off the most amazing grow of my life. By season's end every plant was infected. Some keeled over, but others just kept right on trucking. I learned a ton, and hope to use it to pull off a season without that virus making a repeat appearance. It will be tough. I had huge numbers of pods, and many hit the ground and rotted, so there are sure to be some infected volunteers that show up. My grow this year will be MUCH smaller and focused on the varieties I liked best along with a couple new ones I really wanna try out.


First a couple of my money shots from last year...

I plan to use a similar grow setup to start with...here are a couple pics of how it looked...

My setup evolved as the season began. I started with a single t8 shoplight...the two shoplights and ended up with a single row of CFL's down the center hooked into a 4' power strip the the two shoplights angled in from the sides. The light from the sides really seemed to promote growth at the lower nodes...so for this year...

I bought some more CFL's Mix of 100w and 75w equivalents. The 100w eq were around $10 for 4 at HD and the 75w were $3 for 6 at COSTCO!!! Also bought some splitters for the sockets and here's what the power strip looks like now...

This thing feels like its giving you a sunburn from 6' away...I alternated 100/75 on each side all the way down...Instead of the mylar I am going with foil sided foam sheathing...

My "plan" with this stuff is to make the Shelf unit more of a grow tent type setup. Hoping I can use the lights and a small space heater to maintain a constant temp in the mid 80s. I am also going to "try" to use magnetic tape to attach this stuff so access will be easy. We shall see. May get too warm...but easy enough to vent if need be. I am going to try to keep them indoors much longer this year. I put them out to early last year, and some of the late starts that stayed inside until the night time temps were higher passed many of my early starts that were already in the ground.

My final dilemma is the wife says 20 plants...and I have all these awesome seeds! So I am going to see if the wife's # is sort of like the over the counter dosage...the full prescription strength is double, so I am aiming for 40. I will start almost twice that # though so if you're near SD be watching this glog around plant out, I will be getting rid of some plants...

Well here is the list for now...If something you sent didn't make it I still have them, and will get to them some day. Momma is already pissed!

Wilds
Tepin 15 (seed train 2012)
Pequin Chiapas (Griff87)
Bird Aji (Seed Train 2012)
Cumari (Romy6)
PI 438638 (Romy6)

Annuum
Jamaican Hot Yellow (My Seed)
Goat's Weed (My seed)
Explosive Ember (My seed)
Tri-color Variagata (Seed Train 2012)
Numex Centennial (the next seed train)

Pubescens
Ultra Pube PI 585266 (SocalChilehead)
Manzano (farmer's market)

Baccatum
Yellow Aji from Peru (Paul G)

Chinense
Giant Twisted Chocolate Hab (CMPMAN 1974 Via Pr0digal_son)
St Marteen Marigot Mkt Yellow Scotch Bonnet (Pic1)
Jamaica Scotch Bonnet (Pic1)
Belize City Scotch Bonnet (Pic1)
Fatalii (Pulpiteer)

The Supers
Yellow Billy Boy Douglah (SilverSurfer via Coheed via Romy6)
Yellow Cardi Scorpion (Romy6)
Yellow 7 Pot Brain Strain (Unknown Source probably the next seed train???)
Yellow 7 Pot (Pr0digal_son)
7 Pot Brain Strain (Romy6 Had some from Jamie and got some more from PaulG)
7 Pot Congo SR (CMPMAN 1974 via Pr0digal_son)
7 Pot White (SocalChilehead)
7 Pot Monster Infinity (gnslngr)
7 Pot Primo (MGold via PaulG)
Douglah (Pr0digal_son)
Trinidad Scorpion Moruga (Bakers Peppers)
Bhut Jolokia Indian Carbon (Pr0digal_son)

7 Pot Barrackpore (soon to arrive from DocNrock )
HP22B aka Carolina Reaper (soon to arrive from DocNrock )

Ummm...I count 32ish varieties. May scrub a couple off, but may not!!! Thinking I can get by with the Ornamentals and Wilds as long as I keep them small and Bonchi them to look perdy for Momma???

I think I will skip most all of the grocery store available varieties this year so I can grow more of the good stuff...That's if for now everybody! Hope you all have a great season!!!

Shane

 

[stc3248]

I totally missed the throwdown I guess. Nor do I even know how to vote for you. Call me a THP newb!
I was wondering why you mentioned Texas and even had the armadillo tray lol. It all makes sense now though. Looking good.

One question: Do you pinch buds off when plants are that small? I've always read and heard you should but would like other opinions.

Depends on the plant...
When they're still young if they get rootbound they'll start budding out, time to pot up and pinch for the most part. I only really pinch chinenses, Annuums I just let do their thing. Regardless of how many I pinch trying to get the plant to grow...my annuums always turn out about the same size. If you're really trying to get a plant big and strong pinching is good for a bit. Once my chinenses fork...then fork again I let them do their thing. Last year my plants got hit with mites, aphids and hail and I topped most of them. They turned into the craziest pepper hedgelike shrubs I've ever grown. So to not answer your question yes and no. How old are your plants, what type and how big will help me recommend...

 

[Sanarda]

Great work Shane. I am convinced it was my vote that counted. Just kidding You had it by a landslide my friend

 

[stc3248]

Thanks miss Pia! How your plants doing? Hope you're getting them straightened out! As for me just got done ordering some more nons...Boothby's Blonde cukes and red robin, red zebra and spoon tomatoes...and pac choi which I am worried will be an aphid farm, but its mama's fav so I'll just have to plant it...(in the front yard).

 

[GA Growhead]

Congratulations Shane!

 

[3/5King]

Your shit's lookin' good Shane. Plants all look healthy and happy. This is gonna be another crazy year isn't it.....lol

Can't wait!

(oh.....and nice CFL's..... )

 

[stc3248]

First off, thanks so much for all the support in the throwdown!!!

Congratulations Shane!

Thanks Man!

Your shit's lookin' good Shane. Plants all look healthy and happy. This is gonna be another crazy year isn't it.....lol

Can't wait!

(oh.....and nice CFL's..... )

Dave, always good to have you stop by brotha! They're doing me proud...but in spite of the nice big grow room I built for these dudes, I'm still running out of room! Nice problem to have with your biggest issue is pot pinch due to overcrowded plants with nice lush growth!

Speaking of...I came home to plants so big I had to move my shelf down and pot up is in my near future! I also came home to a few new sprouts...Charapita Yellow, ANOTHER Explosive Ember, another Manzano, another Fatalii...AND A PRIMO!!!
Here is the pic progress...

A new Manzano sprouting nest to big brother putting on first true leaves...

Update on the almost Cotyless Brain Strain, a nice set of true leaves have emerged...looks like Doc was right! Color is much better than the floros make it look...

Here are the ornamentals...light shining through the lower left from the bottom grow station...all nice and perdy getting freaking HUGEish...

Numex Centennial...first year growing, but probably not the last. Beautiful fast growing plants. Can't wait till those purple flowers open up!

A pair of Explosive Embers...another great one. Will be taking a few of these to work Monday as gifters (to keep from having to pot them up!!!

Rootball on one of the Explosive Embers, just about done. Will have to pot them up regardless due to overcrowding of the leaves.

Here's the undercarriage...

Here's the bad boys...

Yellow Billy Boy Douglah (Silver Surfer via Romy6) Notice the torn leaf near my hand...grrrr. So crowded I tore it trying to pull it out of the tray.

Yellow CARDI Scorpion (Romy6)

I mentioned having to move the second shelf down, I also pulled the germ trays off the shelves and got rid of some of mama's perdys out of there. Will be moving more out this weekend. I am pretty sure the Snapdragons and Lily's will be alright outside... I'm gonna bite the bullet and buy some square pots to go up to next. Was going to use the 6" rounds, but the square pots will let me put 2 more per tray in there. Here is the updated list of what is up and running...

Wilds
Tepin 15 (seed train) 0
Pequin Chiapas (Griff87) 0
Bird Aji (Seed Train 2012) 0
Cumari (Romy6) 0
PI 438638 (Romy6) 3
Charapita Yellow 1
Pequin x Tepin (sawdust) 1
Mystery Annuum (Romy6) 3 dunno if its a wild...but I'm putting it up here!

Annuum
Goat's Weed (My seed) 2
Explosive Ember (My seed) 7
Tri-color Variagata (Seed Train) 0
Numex Centennial (Seed Train) 6
Mystery Black 0 Black Pearl I suspect (may turn out to not be ornamental, won't know till they pop) Seed Train

Pubescens
Ultra Pube PI 585266 (SocalChilehead)
Manzano (farmer's market) 4

Baccatum

Yellow Aji from Peru (Paul G) 3
Birgit Locoto (Wayright) to be sown on 2/14 for growdown...

Chinense
Giant Twisted Chocolate Hab (CMPMAN 1974 Via Pr0digal_son) 1
St Marteen Marigot Mkt Yellow Scotch Bonnet (Pic1) 0
Jamaica Scotch Bonnet (Pic1) 2
Belize City Scotch Bonnet (Pic1) 1
Fatalii (Pulpiteer) 4
Bahamian Goat (Pic1)

The Supers
Yellow Billy Boy Douglah (Silver Surfer via Romy6) 2
Yellow Cardi Scorpion (Romy6) 2
Yellow 7 Pot Brain Strain (Unknown Source probably the next seed train???) 3
Yellow 7 Pot (Pr0digal_son) 2
7 Pot Brain Strain (Romy6 Had some from Jamie and got some more from PaulG) 1
7 Pot Congo SR (CMPMAN 1974 via Pr0digal_son) 3
7 Pot White (SocalChilehead) 1
7 Pot Monster Infinity (gnslngr) 2
7 Pot Primo (MGold via PaulG) 1
7 Pot Rennie (Armac via DKiNG) 1
Douglah (Pr0digal_son)
Trinidad Scorpion Moruga (Bakers Peppers) 3
Bhut Jolokia Indian Carbon (Pr0digal_son) 2
7 Pot Barrackpore (DocNrock ) 1
HP22B aka Carolina Reaper (DocNrock) 1

That's it fo now folks!!! Thanks for stopping by! Please leave a comment so my page count can keep up with Paul's!!!

Shane

 

[Sanarda]

Plants are freaking huge and beautifully green. Nice update. Plants are stalled I think from the transplant. I am letting them do their thing They look so dry on top but they are not wilting so I am not watering. I will probably do a light fish fert the next time I water. See if that will boost them up some.

 

[KiNGDeNNiZ]

Wow. Hella bigger than mine and I started a month before you!! Nice that u got my seeds. Key me know how it grows.

I had red zebra tomato also the blonde cukes... Check my veggie grow on the growing others. I planted the OSU blue tomatoes the other day. Where'd u get your spoon mater?! I been looking

 

[stc3248]

Wow. Hella bigger than mine and I started a month before you!! Nice that u got my seeds. Key me know how it grows.

I had red zebra tomato also the blonde cukes... Check my veggie grow on the growing others. I planted the OSU blue tomatoes the other day. Where'd u get your spoon mater?! I been looking

Yeah didn't post the seeds earlier, sorry I wanted to be sure what they were! Bubble Gum's from Denniz errybody! Don't know if I should start them or not...hmmm. I am certain one will hit the dirt! I bought them all from Reimer...I'll hit you with a few once they arrive. Didn't wanna pay almost $6 shipping for one pack of seeds, so went on there looking for spoons and checked out with all that stuff.

 

[stickman]

Hi Shane
Nice pics as usual... Those ornamentals are wicked bushy with all that side-branching and your yellow Chinenses are green and healthy. Are you getting those results with just light and water, or are you adding nutes as well?

 

[WalkGood]

Excellent update Shane, every time I see the new pics it’s amazing how quickly they grow indoors, bushy, lush green … lov dat look, great job, give us your cloak-and-dagger secret ^_^

 

[DocNrock]

Great update, Shane. Woo Hoo on the Primo. Glad you got one! As far as the rest go, can't even call them seedlings anymore. Getting big and great rootballs!

 

[stc3248]

Hi Shane
Nice pics as usual... Those ornamentals are wicked bushy with all that side-branching and your yellow Chinenses are green and healthy. Are you getting those results with just light and water, or are you adding nutes as well?

Thanks Rick! Light, water and soil!!! I will start giving them some tea when they hit their 5-10 gallon homes to boost root development.

Excellent update Shane, every time I see the new pics it’s amazing how quickly they grow indoors, bushy, lush green … lov dat look, great job, give us your cloak-and-dagger secret ^_^

Woot Ramon's in da house!!! Thanks bruddah, like I said above, no secrets just a big electric bill!

Great update, Shane. Woo Hoo on the Primo. Glad you got one! As far as the rest go, can't even call them seedlings anymore. Getting big and great rootballs!

Thanks man, off to buy some new shoes for them this morning...don't wanna hold them back! If they react like last year, the new shoes are gonna make them go NUTS!

 

[DocNrock]

Oh, and almost forgot... on the cotyless Brain!

 

[ThePepperManiac]

seems to be coming along well keep up the good work and post more pictures we all love pictures!

 

[stc3248]

Oh, and almost forgot... on the cotyless Brain!

Thanks Doc! Not out of the woods yet, but looking good so far! It'll be a slow starter, but it can take its time!

seems to be coming along well keep up the good work and post more pictures we all love pictures!

Yeah buddy...they're moving along! Pics you say???

Started the day with some powders...

Jamaican Scotch Bonnets in front and Tepins behind...

Pure Tepin Powder left...gonna make some salts from some. Tell you what, it ain't a super...but these little pods got some sting to them! Some of the most delicious powder I have made. Jamaican Scotch Bonnet powder on the right...no smoke, seeded, stemmed and dried on low heat. Pic doesn't do the color justice.

Wonder how many Tepins are in this pile???

Due to recent overcrowding issues...

I bought them some new shoes!!!

Hope they like them! Had to move the lights up 5 links to get the trays in there...root balls were full up on most, but not all. I used round pots last year for my first pot up, they were much smaller by volume, and only 6 fit per tray. These fit 8 and will should get me through to plant out. One more month!!!

Here are a couple in their final homes as far as I am concerned. I am gifting these two. Explosive Ember in front and Numex Centennial in back. A flat full of younguns to their right.

Here are the smaller ones...and a few columbine sprouts in the 6 pack. The larger plants in the back are more ornamentals that got moved to the same diameter pots only taller.

Did some site prep for my "tallest plant growdown" contest plant. Along with that I fired up the ol' aquarium pump again...

This tea has been in this bucket since the beginning of October. Smelled...WONDERFUL! : Nice to see that after only a couple minutes its already starting to show some signs of frothing up!

Here are some nons for all you non lovers! Gladiolus, Lilies, Nasturtiums...even a couple dwarf sunflowers and one...wal mart bag!

Hope everyone's weekend is going well...off to round up some more ingredients for my contest plant's site tomorrow...Should be an interesting contest, hope I put up a good fight! Can't start germ until the 14th which is a Thursday...and since I won't be home until FRIDAY I suppose I will get a late start. Oh well, I doubt I will lose due to one days growth. Keep them green errybody! Gonna try to surf a few more glogs before mama gets home.
Shane

 

[3/5King]

The powders look beautiful Shane. Those little tepins are some tasty bastards, as well as wild brazil's, they are close in flavor and heat (to me) Plants are looking glorious and proud in there new shoes.

Can't believe it's that time of year again! Before we know it, we'll be taking their training wheels off and puttin' them outside to fend for themselves.

BTW- Insanity murdered my calves...and hammies...no sammies.

What did you mean by a lot of impact?

Feel free to answer in my Glog, I don't want to hijack yours brother!

 

[ThePepperManiac]

Wonder how many Tepins are in this pile???

I dont know probably around 8 lol hahahahahah

 

[Trippa]

Wow those are some great update pics Shane!! Explosive embers are great plants .... just watch them if you plant them outside though they self seed everywhere if you let the pods dry on the plant and drop. Would make good decorative garden plants for that very reason!!
Those piles of powder look the goods as well ... must make some one of these days!!

 

[stickman]

Wow, nice update on all fronts... If you're brewing tea for the babies, are you ready to plant outside?