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

 

[stickman]

I grew 5 different types of tomatoes in the same area and same conditions, and that was the only one that turned out badly for me. I've grown tomatoes longer than I'm been growing hot peppers so I usually have a pretty good handle on things, although there are always new things to learn. I am wondering whether they need something special that N American tomato varieties dont tend to need.

By badly I mean that they did produce, but too many of them ended up splitting on the vine and the amount I actually got to eat was relatively small compared to the other varieties I have grown. The colour was off, but that varies based on soil conditions so I dont sweat it too much.

I've found that feeding the nightshades bonemeal several times a year pays big dividends. You don't need much... about a tablespoon per plant with each feeding, but it makes a huge difference.

 

[DocNrock]

Sounds like the pendulum has swung on the seedling sales. Glad to hear it. Good luck on the job search. If I may ask, what kind of work are you in that could be both private sector or research? Sciences of some sort? In any event, good luck. And I agree about contracting. The root on that Green Zebra is insane.

 

[Stefan_W]

Wow, that plant's roots are insine - you are right! Lucky you didn't pull up your neighbours foundations with it lol

Thanks for the advice. We were growing some tomatoes out of a packet - I can say what... they where just horrible! Next year I would like to grow something that is just plump and juicy and tasty through and through... but any one of the one's you mentioned sounds like the ticket!

If you PM your address to me I can send you some seeds for the beefsteak rose and the green zebras, and possibly something else if I still have some.

That is a long tap root on that green zebra. I grew that variety 4 years ago, but it was not happy where I put it. Kids like cherry
tomatoes. No children in my household, but I like cherry tomatoes too. They are good if you want a little bit in your scrambled
egg or salad. Off the top of my head this is the variety I'm growing, for cherries, Tommy Toe, Sungold F1, Eggyolk, Pink Bumblebee,
Casino Chips. For beefsteaks, Indian Stripe, Italian Heirloom, Amazon Chocolate, Cherokee Purple PL, and German Red Strawberry.

I see peas in that photo. I'm going to plant mine on St. Patricks day. I better stop with this non-pepper talk. I may get in trouble.

Peppers are only a part of my garden, and I love the non-pepper talk too so I promise not to turn you in

It sound like a great list. The german red strawberry sounds interesting, and I've never heard of it before. What is it like?

I've found that feeding the nightshades bonemeal several times a year pays big dividends. You don't need much... about a tablespoon per plant with each feeding, but it makes a huge difference.

I always do a hit of blood and bone meal into the new pot or garden soil a week prior to transplanting the seedlings into it. I remember the first year gardening after I moved to Ottawa, and I did the same way as when I was back in Wpg, which was to add it the same time as transplanting. I woke up the next morning and racoons had dug out all of my paprikas as they went through the pot looking for the source of the smell. I had to pick them off of the interlock, stick them in the ground, and hope for the best. Nasty critters.

Sounds like the pendulum has swung on the seedling sales. Glad to hear it. Good luck on the job search. If I may ask, what kind of work are you in that could be both private sector or research? Sciences of some sort? In any event, good luck. And I agree about contracting. The root on that Green Zebra is insane.

Doooooocccccc! Nice to see you again Brent

I did sessional work at two universities teaching criminology and sociology before dropping that to take a job doing social science research for the government. My heart never really left academia. I still have my government job, and I am trying to find something in academia where I wont take too big a pay hit during the first couple of years after switching over. I really do miss lecturing, and I love the idea of having a more secure position as government continues to shed jobs. I am safe now, but that may change in the next year or two, and I really do need security because we are reduced to one income because of Sofia's needs after treatment.

 

[Sawyer]

I always do a hit of blood and bone meal into the new pot or garden soil a week prior to transplanting the seedlings into it. I remember the first year gardening after I moved to Ottawa, and I did the same way as when I was back in Wpg, which was to add it the same time as transplanting. I woke up the next morning and racoons had dug out all of my paprikas as they went through the pot looking for the source of the smell. I had to pick them off of the interlock, stick them in the ground, and hope for the best. Nasty critters.

That's one reason I moved away from organic fertilizers, raccoons, opossums, foxes, dogs, rats, all looking for the easy meal.

 

[Stefan_W]

I just finished dropping off the last batch of seedlings I sold off. This, of course, meant that I had time to put the tomato seedlings into their pots. I feel so relieved that this stage is almost done!

I figured it was time for a quick comprehensive look at where things are at.

The overwinters (bhut and tabasco) are doing all right. I made mistakes with them early on, but now they are flowering up a bit and replacing their leaves.

Tomato plants in their new home.

Tomatoes and sweet peppers out by the back window.

One of the peppers I'm looking forward to the most is the tobago treasure. It has almost no heat, but the flavour is apparently exceptionally good.

Giant jalapeno, tabascos, and aji lemondrops out by the back window.

I have too many plants. The last two trays of tomato seedlings ended up under the tables by the back door.

This is the view from the kitchen island. I wanted a shot of everything back there, which meant standing way back.

Directly to the left of it all is the stand, which is filled to the brim. I don't have a wide angle lens so I can't show the entire thing in one picture, but it is pretty impressive to look at.

I think I already mentioned that the only tomato that did not germ was the glowing orange. It hooked late last nght, and I'm waiting for more to pop. Even if I get only one I'm still fine, because it isn't as though I don't have enough tomatoes

A co-worker is coming by in the next fw days to pick up a flat or two, which will be nice. The next issue will be what to do when these plants start to grow and demand more room. Stay tuned, same bat time same bat channel.

Thanks for having a look!

 

[WalkGood]

Great shots Stefan, love the paintings Sofia did behind the OW's! They be worthy of a frame upon your next plant sale, you won’t regret it. We framed some of our kids art work back when they were younger and we love the way they look now more than ever. I should take a shot and pm you, so you can see the outcome … Everything else looks great and I love the group shot of everything!

PS also like the stickers on the pots, hmmm wonder who's idea that was

 

[Stefan_W]

That's one reason I moved away from organic fertilizers, raccoons, opossums, foxes, dogs, rats, all looking for the easy meal.

Yeah, it is always a catch-22. You use all the right things that your plants find tasty and then discover that everything else out there finds it tasty too.

Great shots Stefan, love the paintings Sofia did behind the OW's! They be worthy of a frame upon your next plant sale, you won’t regret it. We framed some of our kids art work back when they were younger and we love the way they look now more than ever. I should take a shot and pm you, so you can see the outcome … Everything else looks great and I love the group shot of everything!

PS also like the stickers on the pots, hmmm wonder who's idea that was

Please send the shot over, I'd love to see it!

When I was out a couple of days ago I came home to find the OW pots decorated. I had no vote, but then again even if I was home I wouldn't have had a vote on it so it's all good.

 

[Stefan_W]

I came home from work and found that my giant jalapeno put out its first two flowers. Woohoo!

 

[WalkGood]

Congrats! So whens the flower flowers coming out party

Edit: I'll take a pic and pm you, might not be till tomorrow as I'm off to work soon :/

 

[Stefan_W]

I am feeling a bit under the weather today, so I stayed home from work. This is more because I'm sure I'm contagious than anything else.

Everything is going great with the plants, and I decided to snap a few pics.

This is a madame jeanette in the right foreground (more on this type later), yellow 7 gigantic in the front left, aji lemondrop back right, and butch t back left. further back are sweet peppers, and to the far right but still in the picture is a tabasco. They are all cozy and warm in there.

In the natural sun with no heating pad are 3 tabascos and an aji lemondrop. I turn them daily so they grow reasonably straight.

Our friend the giant jalapeno.

Yellow 7 gigantic.

I took a pic of another madame jeanette to show off the bushy canopy, which I think is neat.

Madame jeanettes are named after a Brazilian prostitute. No word on whether she also had a bushy canopy, but being Brazilian my guess is that she did not.

Thanks for stopping in!

 

[WalkGood]

I am feeling a bit under the weather today, so I stayed home from work. This is more because I'm sure I'm contagious than anything else.

Sorry to read, I’m sick as well but worked yesterday and paying for it today :/

This is a madame jeanette in the right foreground (more on this type later), yellow 7 gigantic in the front left, aji lemondrop back right, and butch t back left. further back are sweet peppers, and to the far right but still in the picture is a tabasco. They are all cozy and warm in there.

Dem all looking eminent mon!

In the natural sun with no heating pad are 3 tabascos and an aji lemondrop. I turn them daily so they grow reasonably straight.

These look great too \o/ I keep saying I’m going to grow some Tabasco’s one of these days but have never started one, love dem peppers

Our friend the giant jalapeno.

I have a feeling that your Jalapeño is going to pass mine by before the end of your season. Guess I have to get on dem and put um in bigga pots or dem stay small for ever.

Jalapeño Yellow 7 gigantic.

She’s smexy!

I took a pic of another madame jeanette to show off the bushy canopy, which I think is neat.

Madame jeanettes are named after a Brazilian prostitute. No word on whether she also had a bushy canopy, but being Brazilian my guess is that she did not.

I’ll take two … Hmm does she make house calls on someone who’s sick (honey if you’re reading this please note the wink ~_^)

 

[Stefan_W]

Sorry to read, I’m sick as well but worked yesterday and paying for it today :/


Dem all looking eminent mon!


These look great too \o/ I keep saying I’m going to grow some Tabasco’s one of these days but have never started one, love dem peppers


I have a feeling that your Jalapeño is going to pass mine by before the end of your season. Guess I have to get on dem and put um in bigga pots or dem stay small for ever.


She’s smexy!


I’ll take two … Hmm does she make house calls on someone who’s sick (honey if you’re reading this please note the wink ~_^)

Sorry to hear you have been sick as well. I highly recommend growing tabascos. Aside from the 7 pods, tabascos are my favourite pepper so far for flavour, and they are at the top of my list for versatility. When I made up a batch of extra hot home made tabasco sauce last fall everyone who tasted it said it was the best sauce they ever had. And the people who tried it ranged from full on heat lovers to people who think Franks is too hot.

I hope your wife doesn't kill you

 

[Stefan_W]

I've been really busy lately so I haven't been around much. By way of a quick update, I have a few baby pictures! Two giant jalapeno pods have showed up on the plant, and the more flower are already blooming and waiting for the q-tip treatment.

For some weird reason when I post to this site the enter key does not work, which forces me to cut and paste from notepad just to do a simple post. Any ideas of what could be wrong?

 

[stickman]

Nice baby pics Stefan... How's it feel to be a Grandparent? Can't help ya with posting problems on the site, but you could post an inquiry to The Boss. He's pretty good about getting back to you quickly so you can resolve the issue. Cheers

 

[PeriPeri]

Hi Stefan. Man your set up is looking great and the plants are looking incredible! Really well done. I can't beleiev there is snow outside and you already have pods forming inside. I will have to brush up on how you guys do this in winter. Amazing!

 

[DocNrock]

Everything is looking prime, Stefan. Flowers/pods already? Nice. Those guys are going to be more than ready come springtime. Too funny about the Madame Jeanette!

Congrats on the Glowing Orange!

 

[Stefan_W]

[sup]Sadly, I have not been able to resolve issues with posting here. All the other boards I am on work, but I can't get the enter key to work here. Now I find the font is all messed up, and it took a while just to get this close to what the normal default font should be. I'm not sure exactly what to do about it, but the fact that this is a huge pain in the butt means at the very least I will not post as often. I tried talking to Boss, but he insists the issue is not with this site. (pretend I hit the enter key here and am starting a new paragraph). I decided that I still really do hate habaneros. I will sell of the ones I was saving for my garden. The turning point was finding a pack of orange habs at the local market, buying them excitedly, taking them home, and then tasting them. I just don't like hab flavor at all. I love anything moruga or 7 pod related, but habs leave a rotten taste in my mouth that takes many beers to clear away. [/sup]

 

[roper2008]

Nice, little baby jalapeno's....I'm not sure yet if I don't like orange habs. I made a pepper jelly out of some
in 2011, made a really pretty jelly, but I did not like it at all. Gave it away. Haven't grown orange habs since
then. Maybe you would like red habanero's.

 

[stickman]

It's true Habs have a pretty strong flavor... Sorry they don't work for you. Especially after you put so much time and effort into growing them. Maybe you could try some of the Baccatums. If I get enough pods together this summer I'll mail you some of the powder to try. The mail between the States and my wife's family in Canada seems to be pretty slow and I wouldn't want to take the chance on them rotting in transit.

 

[Stefan_W]

Nice, little baby jalapeno's....I'm not sure yet if I don't like orange habs. I made a pepper jelly out of some
in 2011, made a really pretty jelly, but I did not like it at all. Gave it away. Haven't grown orange habs since
then. Maybe you would like red habanero's.

I have red habs on the go, but I am pretty much decided about selling all of them off. There may be a bit of a difference in taste, but they will be similar enough that I doubt I would like them.

It's true Habs have a pretty strong flavor... Sorry they don't work for you. Especially after you put so much time and effort into growing them. Maybe you could try some of the Baccatums. If I get enough pods together this summer I'll mail you some of the powder to try. The mail between the States and my wife's family in Canada seems to be pretty slow and I wouldn't want to take the chance on them rotting in transit.

The mail is absolutely brutal. Seeds from the states can take two weeks to get here, sometimes even three. Thank you very much for the offer!