Stefan_W's 2013 Pods A-Ripenin'! Glog

I am going to start the new glog for my upcoming growing season on a bit of a personal note. One year ago tomorrow (January 3rd) is the one year anniversary of the day that my daughter was diagnosed with a tumour that is lodged in the middle of her brain. The past year has involved treatments and hospital stays, and there were at least three different points when we were pretty sure she was not going to make it. But she is a fighter, and nothing could keep her down for long.

Sofia has personally planted every pepper and tomato seed that I have started in the past three growing seasons. She beat the odds last year to help me, and once again she is defying what medicine has to say to help me out this year.

We started a jalapeno plant about a week ago just for the sake of watching it grow, because we both love it so much. One of the jalapenos grew to the point that it had its firt couple of leaves, so we transplanted him into a bigger pot. While we were at it I decided to put in some aji lemondrops, partly because they take a long time to fruit up and I wanted to give them a huge head start.

This is the jalapeno plant. I pulled the second one out because we did not need it, and discovered that the roots had grown all of the way down to the bottom of the cell.

My daughter personally doing the transplant.

Her aim is better than mine, and so it turned out perfectly.

Next up was taking out the lemondrop seeds from peppermania.

I need a few extras of this type, so I asked Sofia to plant two seeds in each of the four cells. Two plants will be for us, and whatever else grows will be given away to good friends.

Two of the three tiers in my lighting stand are currently being used as toy shelves, which is cool for now. The lights are adjustable, and moved down to get close to the seedling.

The heating pad works extremely well, and once the cells are covered the top clouds up in no time.

A happy early jalapeno seedling in his new home. I thought I heard "feeeeeed meeeeee" coming from that direction, but I'm not sure.

That's it for today, folks! Welcome to my new glog

 

[KiNGDeNNiZ]

Very nice updates. Didn't know people planted in stages. I just toss all of them in the jiffy dome. Well I do hope your grow continues to do well. That pixie dust looks like its helping. I might need some as my reapers took 30+ days using two methods and was 2/7. Keep us updated. And btw. Love them foodie updates.

 

[Stefan_W]

Very nice updates. Didn't know people planted in stages. I just toss all of them in the jiffy dome. Well I do hope your grow continues to do well. That pixie dust looks like its helping. I might need some as my reapers took 30+ days using two methods and was 2/7. Keep us updated. And btw. Love them foodie updates.

You kind of need to plant in stages when you live in a Northern area. The growing season is short, so everything ends up going outside at the exact same time regardless of how long it takes to pod up. The only way to adjust for long season growing varieties is to plants the seeds earlier and cross your fingers.

Just so you know, the Biker Billies you sent to me are going in the ground tomorrow when I do my hab/jalapeno plant. I can't wait to try those beauties out, thanks again for sending me the seeds!

 

[Stefan_W]

I decided to do a quick update of how things are moving along. The seedlings have been coming up like weeds, and I have over 60 plants right now. This is not particularly wonderful new for me because I am starting to run out of room on my growing stand. Luckily a local grower contacted me yesterday and he is planning on buying 34 of the superhot seedlings from me, which will free up some room to get more of the habs and jalapenos going.

This is the entire light stand. It has three levels and is four feet across. I had to open up the last tier earlier this week, so this is the first update where I have all of the lights going.

The middle shlf has no heat matt, and is for more established seedlings. The early jalapeno is on the left side, along with the aji lemondrops and one tabasco plant. Butch Ts up front.

The right side of the middle has the other tabasco plants and some 7 pod gigantic Congo SRs. The one "tabasco" plant at the front right hand side of this picture does not look like it is growing true, so I plan to pull it the next time I am up-potting seedlings.

Reapers, primos, etc in back. These are mostly for sale, because I do not plan on putting any of them in my garden. Of course things can change on the fly. Peach bhuts are up front.

Yellow moruga scorpions, which were grown on the suggestion of so many good folks here. I plan to put one of each in the ground when the time comes.

The last two pictures were of the bottom tier of the light stand, which meant I had to lay down on the ground to snap the pictures. Being on the ground is an open invitation for my pug to come over and try to snuffle me. This is him pulling away, knowing that I am about to give him heck.

The right hand side of the top tier of the light stand has the most recent transplants. Yesterday I potted 7 white habs, a bunch more 7 pod gigantics, and a few yellow brains.

The left hand side of the top level of the light stand has the domed area I use for germination and seedlings recently pulled from the dome but not potted yet. Show here are some madame jeanettes, and a bunch of mako akokasrandes. The only seeds still under the dome are pessago brasileros (no germination after 7 days) and peach scotch bonnets (also day 7, the first seedling popped yesterday). There is room for start on 8 new varieties, which will be assorted habs plus goat peppers and jalapenos. I will have to delay if the guy buying the seedlings can't pick them up today, because there is no room for anything that pops at this stage.

Thanks for having a look!

 

[DocNrock]

Nice looking grow stand! I think that is the first time I have seen it. Awesome news about the seedling buyer. I've always loved pugs. Nice dog!

 

[stickman]

Nice looking grow so far Stefan. I'll be planting my Annuums and early greens next weekend as well. Nice score with finding a way to scare up a little cash with the overage. Cheers

 

[Stefan_W]

Nice looking grow stand! I think that is the first time I have seen it. Awesome news about the seedling buyer. I've always loved pugs. Nice dog!

Yeah, this is the first time this year I have taken a picture of the full stand in operation. I got it second hand for a great price, and I just replaced the light bulbs.

Pugs are great, so long as you are amused by the constant noises and smells they are constantly making.

Nice looking grow so far Stefan. I'll be planting my Annuums and early greens next weekend as well. Nice score with finding a way to scare up a little cash with the overage. Cheers

The guy showed up this afternoon and took the 34 starts, and I ended up making enough to cover the entire cost of my seeds including the tomatoes. I'm just happy the plants found a great home, because I only have room for one each of the supers and I hate to see any go to waste. The guy who bought them lives well outside of the big city and has a huge garden area. I'm hoping he picks up some of the hab and tomato extras in a few weeks as well.

 

[Stefan_W]

Here is a pic of the 34 seedlings I just sold off. I got $110 for the lot of them, which I believe makes it an awesome deal for both of us. He also gave me a bottle of the sauce he sells, and it is outstanding!

My hired gun with the magic pixie dust got her cut. I'm going to take her to Chapters and she can use it to buy some new books.

 

[stickman]

My hired gun with the magic pixie dust got her cut. I'm going to take her to Chapters and she can use it to buy some new books.

Good Job Stefan... So that's what quiet pride looks like, eh?

 

[WalkGood]

Great update Stefan, while I read every word and enjoyed your detailed updates. I especially liked the full explanation of your whole grow station. While I’ve seen a shelf here or there, I believe this is the first full pic & details for it. Also the pic of your pug, great shot … I’m not too keen on dem noises but heck my lab makes a few of his own, lol. Finally the best was your money shot of Sofia, looking great mon! Congrats on the extra income and hats off brethren \o_

 

[Stefan_W]

Good Job Stefan... So that's what quiet pride looks like, eh?

Yeah, she was quite happy to know that the plants she grew from seed went to a farm. Maybe we'll get a chance to go and visit them later on in the summer.

Great update Stefan, while I read every word and enjoyed your detailed updates. I especially liked the full explanation of your whole grow station. While I’ve seen a shelf here or there, I believe this is the first full pic & details for it. Also the pic of your pug, great shot … I’m not too keen on dem noises but heck my lab makes a few of his own, lol. Finally the best was your money shot of Sofia, looking great mon! Congrats on the extra income and hats off brethren \o_

Yeah, the lightstand doubles as shelving during the off season so there was no way of really taking a picture of it up until now. Unless, of course, you wanted a shot of colouring books and games.

The cash paid for all of my seed purchases for everything going into the garden this year, so I'm pretty happy. Sofia is pretty happy to be getting to buy new books with her share. Now if the habs, halapenos and sweet peppers end up paying for the extra electrical costs for the lighting and heat pads I'll be happy heading into spring. Of course nothing will cover all of the gardening costs, but it doesn't have to because by the summer time I'll be pulling stuff out of the garden instead of buying it at the supermarket.

 

[romy6]

Great updates Stefan. But I may have to turn you on to the child labor services for under paying . Your daughter does all the work and only gets 10 percent of the profit. You live in Canada not the US brother

 

[Stefan_W]

Great updates Stefan. But I may have to turn you on to the child labor services for under paying . Your daughter does all the work and only gets 10 percent of the profit. You live in Canada not the US brother

10 cents on the dollar is how capitalism works regardless of where you are

Thanks for the kind words and for having a look! I'll tell Sofia that you are suggesting she gets paid more the next time around.

 

[Stefan_W]

My Pêssego Brasileiro are not popping. Has anyone grown these before? Are they long germinators? Inquiring minds want to know

 

[Sanarda]

Wonderful update. Tell Sofia that she needs to negotiate her terms of salary. Tell her you know a paralegal that is all about Girl Power/fair wages. . That face of hers demands at least 75%. Adorable......Good score on the seedling sale on a serious note. That was a great score and I am sure it helps a lot.

 

[megamoo]

Like the shelf. Very neat design.

Love your pug How old is he, he's got that old fella white chin?

 

[GA Growhead]

with your germ rates im thinking there are a few of that will pay 20 to 30%!

 

[Stefan_W]

Wonderful update. Tell Sofia that she needs to negotiate her terms of salary. Tell her you know a paralegal that is all about Girl Power/fair wages. . That face of hers demands at least 75%. Adorable......Good score on the seedling sale on a serious note. That was a great score and I am sure it helps a lot.

I always aim to try to make back my seed costs by selling off extras. I figure if my seeds are free I'm ahead of the game, and it also helps offset the cost of all of the plants I give away to friends.

Thanks for the kind words, and thank you for stopping in

Like the shelf. Very neat design.

Love your pug How old is he, he's got that old fella white chin?

Thank you. My light stand can hold 102 seedlings in four inch pots, which has become my standard size. It works for me, because once they are big enough to crowd each other they are big enough to get off of heat mats and out by the window.

Ramsay the pug is 5 years old now. He seems to be aging a lot lately for some reason. I guess he is reacting to middle age the same way I did

with your germ rates im thinking there are a few of that will pay 20 to 30%!

The germ rates have been insane good. This year 6/8 seeds of a given type germinating would be average. I'm going to have to rent her out, because she definitely has the magic touch!

I share comments from people here about her, and Sofia thinks the pixie dust comments are really funny!

 

[Stefan_W]

There isn't too much going on at the moment, so I'll keep this update to two pictures.

Sofia and I planted the habs, jalapenos, and paprikas on Monday and a few have started to pop up. The Biker Billys that King Denniz kindly sent to me were the first out of the gate, followed a few hours later by the giant jalapenos. Both of these types are moving along well.

The rest are taking their time, although I shouldn't complain too much because this is only day five. There are a couple of small hooks amongst the red habs (back row second from left, blurry in this shot), and the first paprika hook also showed up (front right) about an hour or so ago.

I gave away 6 plants to a co-worker yesterday to make room for the new arrivals when they start popping. I can fit 102 seedlings on the stand, but that has to include tomato plants as well. Plus, of course, as they grow the number I can fit is reduced. It works out pretty well though, because by the time they get bigger I want to start weaning them off of heat mats first. After a while they end up in front of the widow and out from under artificial lights.

 

[stickman]

Alright Stefan... you made the pitstop, now it's time to roll back out to the track! Continued success guy. I hope to be pulling up behind you in a few days. Say hi to your pit crew for me...

 

[Stefan_W]

Alright Stefan... you made the pitstop, now it's time to roll back out to the track! Continued success guy. I hope to be pulling up behind you in a few days. Say hi to your pit crew for me...

Thanks for stopping in, I passed along the hello and she said to say hi back