Stetto-grow 2018: Takin' another run at it.

It's going to be a sweeter, milder year for me this time around. I've got myself Rocoto happy, and thanks to my new friends enablers here at THP I have a plethora (you go El Guapo!!) there will be no shortage. I plan a repeat of some winners from last year, if you recognize your penmanship/packaging style, well, you just pat yourselves on the back.
 
My seed-to-medium day will be on or about this Thursday, March one, 6 weeks early for zone 3 but 3 months later than the Aji Amarillo and a few other choice seeds I planted last year.
 

 
This is the bulk of the peppers, but not likely all. I overwintered a couple of PaulG's Aji Amarillos and a nummy Aji Mango from Geonerd, and they're already living la vita loco in a south facing window. I plan a backup seedling to both of those. 
 
Thanks to the damned Moruga Welder there's a lot of pepper stuffing in my future, and a special thanks to the Greenchilimonster for all these wonderful black seeds! We may have the Darlin' Bride weaned off those nasty bell peppers yet!

 

[Genetikx]

You have weasels in your house?

 

[stettoman]

You have weasels in your house?

 
Hopefully had weasels. This variety is called ermine, as in the fur coats. They have no fear and are vicious. Our mouser is pretty good at catching and killing them outside, but he has to be able to sneak up on them. Weasels will kill a cat almost as easy as they kill chickens, and they kill for pleasure...

 

[Devv]

Starts are looking fine Eric!
 
 
Bhut the Weasel, glad none are around here. We have enough critters that need to go away...

 

[stettoman]

Haven't seen any weasels, bears, snakes nor Yeti since the last critter trapped.
 
In the meantime I somehow got all the kids in the cups. I still have about 8 that refuse to pop, still not doing too bad.
 
Mama's Bells and the Big Jims are all upstairs in a window. Some of these guys need to be up there too. Last week of May is a ways off....
 

 
Oh yeah, cookies, dammit....I got some sourdough chips at Costco yesterday, maybe with a little artichoke dip.....

 

[stickman]

Looking good Eric! Sounds like you've decided on a container garden until you get your soil situation straightened out? There's certainly worse remedies. Good luck with your grow this season, and count the days until your last daughter graduates and moves out to free up the bathroom once more...

 

[Trident chilli]

Kids in cups ... virmin trapped your flying now Eric

 

[stettoman]

Looking good Eric! Sounds like you've decided on a container garden until you get your soil situation straightened out? There's certainly worse remedies. Good luck with your grow this season, and count the days until your last daughter graduates and moves out to free up the bathroom once more...

 
Well, mostly container. The potted plants did better last year as far as ripened fruit goes, plants in the 8th acre got huge and some overfilled with pods, but they just wouldn't give me much ripe. Yeah, this is going to be a conditioning season for the 8th acre, and I think I'll put what container plants that will fit on a flat trailer I keep around, giving me opportunity to move into full sun, shade, out of gale force winds (too much of that here), etc. Also, when frost threatens I won't have to carry each plant into shelter, rather just back that trailer into the garage.
 
Thanks for the luck, and being as we're remodeling the master bath, sharing shower privileges with an 18 year old can be a true exercise in patience and acclimation to frigid waters!! 
 

Kids in cups ... virmin trapped your flying now Eric

 
Yep, feels good! Everything is so much more relaxed with the plantlettes this year, having latched on to the humongous tit of endless knowledge that is this website! No overwatering, no panic when leaves discolor or curl, knowing that a dropped blossom is NOT a sign of impending doom....and still no weasels!
 
Life is good.....'cept for the snow. It's still snowing here....  

 

[Chorizo857_62J]

squirrels, squirrels everywhere!!  Other than offensive driving and random target practice, they serve no purpose, other than to dig up my plants.
 

 

[Devv]

Looking good Eric
 
It's going to be a grand year!
 
I just came home from 4 days in snow country, back to my 86°.
 
So good to wake up in ones own bed and just be home

 

[stettoman]

squirrels, squirrels everywhere!!  Other than offensive driving and random target practice, they serve no purpose, other than to dig up my plants.
 

 
HAW!! Squirrels are the ONLY critter what gets a pass from me. They entertain the dogs, only eat sunflower seeds from what the birds tell me, and have this wonderful hobby of half-buryng corn cobs in my lawn from neighboring fields.
 
Now, git you some chipmonks, then we can talk sports!l
 

Looking good Eric
 
It's going to be a grand year!
 
I just came home from 4 days in snow country, back to my 86°.
 
So good to wake up in ones own bed and just be home

 
I just came in from shoveling 3 fresh inches, Scott! Heaviest snow of the year is March up here, 40s one day, 32 and snow the next, then back to piling up...
 
The bed & home thing? Damn skippy!!!

 

[stettoman]

3/27 photo update.
 
Nothing to report, 3 more seeds popped (27 days?  ), one of them a boutique "grape" pepper I planted for my dad.
 
All is well, all is growing, though a couple of hatchlings have some really gnarled and grotesque cotys displayed. I'm sure they'll grow out of it...
 

 

[stettoman]

There's too much going on around here, I'm amazed these plants aren't all dead by now. I'm remodeling all 3 of our bathrooms (ok, 2 & 1/2) and the mudroom for The Darlin' Bride, she's allowing me to actually hire just ONE contractor, so I'm doing everything but the plumbing. Gotta be done before June 9, my daughter's grad party.
 
Anyway, nobody wants to hear all that, we finally got over 50 degrees today! The plants in the window have been there from just about the beginning...Note the snow-filled ditch in the window's reflection...
 

 
 
 
And these guys, except for the overwinters, are seeing their first real sun. These are the same age as the plants in the window, yet a fraction of growth. I'll bet they catch up quick...
 

 
 
 
I still haven't had the time to repot my Aji Mango, I think it'll really take off with a couple more gallons of room to roam in...It has a dozen pods on it already, the Aji Amarillo is flowering like mad but has only 3 pods so far. 
 
I guess we'll see how long these guys survive only semi-attended.
 
Finally Spring....Gawd has this been a long winter.
 
 
 
 

 

[stickman]

 
Finally Spring....Gawd has this been a long winter.
 
 

Too right Eric! If I can get my hands on the guy who placed the weather order for spring this year it won't be pretty! [emoji1015][emoji879][emoji378]

Thanks for the O.B. report... all looking good so far. [emoji6]

Sent from my SM-S327VL using Tapatalk

 

[stettoman]

Too right Eric! If I can get my hands on the guy who placed the weather order for spring this year it won't be pretty! [emoji1015][emoji879][emoji378]

Thanks for the O.B. report... all looking good so far. [emoji6]

 

 
You and me, Rick! You knock 'im down, I'll take his shoes!!
 
I do have but one anomaly to report: Out of all these pepper plants, including a Big Jim that took over 6 weeks to show a true leaf, I have one butt-ugly anuum with an edema and leaf curl.
 
It's a jalapeno, it's sister is the same size and showing none of it. According to Rich the Pepper Guru in a post from 2012 (instead of panicking I thought to use the search function first), it'll grow out of it. At first, with the proximity of these young plants, I thought a plague was about to ensue. This is exactly the reason I come here....
 

 

[stickman]

 
You and me, Rick! You knock 'im down, I'll take his shoes!!
 
I do have but one anomaly to report: Out of all these pepper plants, including a Big Jim that took over 6 weeks to show a true leaf, I have one butt-ugly anuum with an edema and leaf curl.
 
It's a jalapeno, it's sister is the same size and showing none of it. According to Rich the Pepper Guru in a post from 2012 (instead of panicking I thought to use the search function first), it'll grow out of it. At first, with the proximity of these young plants, I thought a plague was about to ensue. This is exactly the reason I come here....
 

 
Haw! If you really want revenge, take his coat and long-johns too!
 
Yup, that's definitely edema due to over-watering. The underside of the leaf feels a bit sandy right? Like the sleep sand in the corners of your eyes in the morning?

 

 

[stettoman]

 
Haw! If you really want revenge, take his coat and long-johns too!
 
Yup, that's definitely edema due to over-watering. The underside of the leaf feels a bit sandy right? Like the sleep sand in the corners of your eyes in the morning?

 

Yessir, I go through a phase where I get nervous about water and the plants suffer for it. I usually go by weight of the cup, but sometimes, if I see a droopy leaf especially, I'll do a hydro-munchausen on them. I'm just surprised there's only one this year. I must be improving!

 

[stickman]

Yessir, I go through a phase where I get nervous about water and the plants suffer for it. I usually go by weight of the cup, but sometimes, if I see a droopy leaf especially, I'll do a hydro-munchausen on them. I'm just surprised there's only one this year. I must be improving!

 

Was that plant in one corner of the tray? It looks like it was in the lowest point.

 

[b3rnd]

 
Was that plant in one corner of the tray? It looks like it was in the lowest point.

 
I second this. I've had the same problem with a few plants. Watered the same, but only one plant in the tray got oedema.
 
Anyway, looking good Stettoman! Glad spring has finally started over there. We were even lucky enough to have some summery days over here. Very unusual for this time of year, but I'll take it!
 
Good luck!

 

[stettoman]

No update, due to the shittiest Spring in several years. My starts are in a holding pattern, some actually looking depressed. This will change, but I don't have to like it...

In the meantime, a farmer friend came over yesterday to discuss peppers. Last fall he got a jar of that Aji Oro/chokecherry jelly and a bottle of mango/pineapple/dreadie-mahala hotsauce, this year he wants to grow for the farmers markets. He has a number of high and low tunnels and a small greenhouse. He left here with a LOT of seed. New chilihead alert!

 

[Devv]

Sorry about the late start. Shit happens as we all know And I do know that story, had to chunk some shoes over that!
It will all come together buddy!