Stickman's 2013 Glog - Time To Pull The Plug on 2013

I'm pulling things together to get ready for my next growing season. I bought NuMex variety seeds from Sandia Seed company in New Mexico, Hot Paper Lantern Habaneros and Antohi Romanians from Johnny's Select Seeds in Maine and Korean varieties from Evergreen Seeds in California. Due to the unbelievable generosity of a number of THP members I've also gotten seeds to a wide variety of chiles from around the world. Special thanks to BootsieB, stc3248, romy6, PaulG, SoCalChilehead, joynershotpeppers, highalt, cmpman1974, smokemaster, mygrassisblue, Mister No, chewi, KingDenniz, orrozconleche and most recently and spectacularly, Habanerohead with a great selection of superhots and peppers from Hungary!

There are eleven varieties of Hungarian peppers in here, mostly the early, thick-fleshed, sweet ones that range from white through yellow to purple and red.., plus Aji Lemon Drop, BJ Indian Carbon, Naga Morich, Bishop's Crown and TS CARDI Yellow! Now I just have to go through my seed bank and match the space available to what I want to grow. Thanks Balázs!

 

[stickman]

A pod on a super in a solo cup. Seriously? That is some serious green-thumbing, my friend! A couple of my supers are still dropping flowers, lol!

Don't think me too virtuous Doc... mine are still indoors while you've managed to get yours outside full time!

Wow, can't believe you already have podage!!!

Your forecast looks very similar to mine. Woke up to a dusting of snow, but it has switched over to rain now.

I still refer to my Fatalii plant as Shane's Fatalii too! I think I'll keep calling it that. Makes me feel connect to my THP bro's!

I'm as surprised as you are Bonnie! This is my first year growing supers and I'm still feeling my way through the process with the help of others grow logs and answers to my questions. I also had a freebie bottle of GH Rapidstart nutes given to me by a new hydroponics store in our area and it made a huge difference in initial growth rates. I don't know about you, but I think I got spoiled by the weather we had last spring... it was very windy, but enough warmer that we got a 2 week jump on the season.

 

[stc3248]

Nah...its in a good home! It will do good things in your hands brotha! I liked that post for the Manzano comment...not the forecast!

 

[Jamison]

Wow Stick, things are taking off here. That Rocoto looks really nice along with everything else. Glad to see signs of spring over there. We had snow the other day and rain the whole week before with near freezing temps. Everything is flooded.

 

[stickman]

I hear ya brother... flooding isn't good, but at least it's a sign that things are starting to thaw!

Nah...its in a good home! It will do good things in your hands brotha! I liked that post for the Manzano comment...not the forecast!

 

[Devv]

They gotta be happy if they're podding in cups! I can see they are way ready for outside.

Hopefully that will be real soon.

Nice update!

 

[stickman]

I made a big mistake not reading the specs on the bale of Promix BX I got to fill my airpots with... if I had, I'd have found out that it was already buffered with lime, and I didn't need to add any. I got a pH test kit so I can find out where they are, and I'll make adjustments from there. I got a #4 bag of Happy Frog Tomato and Vegetable fertilizer, and together with the Promix, that should be enough for the plants in pots for the rest of this season.

 

[DocNrock]

Don't think me too virtuous Doc... mine are still indoors while you've managed to get yours outside full time!

That has nothing to do with me, my friend. It's all in the climate.

I made a big mistake not reading the specs on the bale of Promix BX I got to fill my airpots with... if I had, I'd have found out that it was already buffered with lime, and I didn't need to add any. I got a pH test kit so I can find out where they are, and I'll make adjustments from there.

Probably good to check, but that is the good thing about buffers. They don't change pH per se, just hold it in a certain range. Adding more should just strengthen the ability to hold the soil in the desired range.

 

[MisterNo]

Hey Rick.

Having pods on chinensis indoor in April, it's just pure awesomeness
Plants still look very healthy and vibrant.

You'll do wonders when you finally get your plants outdoor, hope it will be soon for you.

 

[stickman]

Probably good to check, but that is the good thing about buffers. They don't change pH per se, just hold it in a certain range. Adding more should just strengthen the ability to hold the soil in the desired range.

True, but only to a point. There's only so much tannic and humic acid in peat moss. Once it's neutralized the pH is going to climb quickly. What I didn't know was that the manufacturer had already calculated how much and done the mixing. Live and learn... If nothing else, I've learned which of the varieties I'm growing are sensitive to alkaline pH values in the soil.

Hey Rick.

Having pods on chinensis indoor in April, it's just pure awesomeness
Plants still look very healthy and vibrant.

You'll do wonders when you finally get your plants outdoor, hope it will be soon for you.

Thanks Robert! Your grow is looking stellar as well. Love the homemade grow bag experiment, and your babies are looking great too.

 

[WalkGood]

Love this last set of pics, that yellow 7s color looks like pure lushness ^_^ Have you noticed any difference from clipping the lower leaves? Those in the flats look like they’re stretching for the light and growing tall. I do this occasionally when leaves are touching the soil but I don’t really notice any difference between the one’s I clip and the ones I don’t. I haven’t done this to the MoAs yet but it seems they are pruning themselves so far. Regardless I’ll be helping them in that respect when the rain lets up here.

Red Rocoto, Manzano and others look very good coloration and I’m sure the Vesena Piperke will color up nicely when she gets outside. Great job!

Post some of you PH findings and corrections if you get a chance. In the mean time you have a great week mon!

 

[SeanW]

Looking good, Rick!

Our tulips have buds on them, no blooms, yet. I've been showering them with garlic, pepper, and assorted other anti-critter things, last year bambi came through and ate the buds off of them before I even got to learn what color they were. Jerks.

I looked up the vesena piperka, that is an awesome looking pepper. The corking on it is nuts.

 

[stickman]

Well Ramon, I finally got a Hydroponic Essentials wide spectrum pH test kit and checked the soil in the peppers that are still yellow or becoming so. I watered well and collected the water that drained out the bottom of the pot to test. It's not as bad as I suspected because the rock phosphate partially countered the lime, but my soil pH is still at 7.5 Not high enough to kill the plants, but they'd prefer something about 6.0 to 6.5 Now I just have to figure out what to do about it... probably washing out the roots and repotting with fresh promix.

Looking good, Rick!

Our tulips have buds on them, no blooms, yet. I've been showering them with garlic, pepper, and assorted other anti-critter things, last year bambi came through and ate the buds off of them before I even got to learn what color they were. Jerks.

I looked up the vesena piperka, that is an awesome looking pepper. The corking on it is nuts.

Hey Sean
It must be the variety you're growing. The pics I posted were of our Tulips on the North side of the house. My wife planted 4 different varieties, and the pic is of the first variety to bloom. The rest will follow soon.

I know, the Vesena is a crazy-looking pepper... I can't wait to find out what they taste like.

 

[WalkGood]

Thanks for info Rick, I guess re-potting is the fastest and safest way to go. I’ve read the most aggressive way is with sulfur but not a good idea with your baby in there. Also the organic methods would probably take to long, so its a good call on your part.

 

[DocNrock]

True, but only to a point. There's only so much tannic and humic acid in peat moss. Once it's neutralized the pH is going to climb quickly. What I didn't know was that the manufacturer had already calculated how much and done the mixing. Live and learn... If nothing else, I've learned which of the varieties I'm growing are sensitive to alkaline pH values in the soil.

Well, I tried.

 

[Stefan_W]

Everything is looking great! It does not appear that my envy of your rocoto will ever cease.

Looks like we are both heading toward spring, and getting ready to go full tilt.

Out of curiosity, are you one of the people who snips the pods when you transplant, or do you keep them going?

 

[stickman]

Everything is looking great! It does not appear that my envy of your rocoto will ever cease.

Looks like we are both heading toward spring, and getting ready to go full tilt.

Out of curiosity, are you one of the people who snips the pods when you transplant, or do you keep them going?

You bring up a good point... it's never come up before this, but I'll have to do some reading to figure out what to do. My first inclination is to leave them if the plant's at least a foot tall, but I'll be looking to see what other "Nortenos" do and check out the pics that show the results. Thanks for the Heads-up!

 

[WalkGood]

Probably not what you want to hear and I'm certainly not from up north but if I can't pick them, I'll cut mine before up-potting or delay if not root bound. I would think the same holds true to plant out into the ground, Rick let us know what you do and how it works out. Seems to me its the perfect opportunity to do some testing if you have two similar varieties, one on and one off ...

 

[stickman]

We had a beautiful day today... temps close to 70 degrees and not a cloud in the sky! Friday night's forecast is for 30 degrees at its lowest, but warming up at night after that. I believe I'm gonna plant out this weekend for sure. The other plants can't be wrong can they? The yard is greening up nicely, and my wife's flower garden is filling in quite a bit. Here are some pictures of some nons...

Tulips...

Jonquils...

Hyacinths...

And this one for you Bonnie... Rhubarb

 

[Trippa]

Looks like Spring has well and truly sprung Rick. Best you get those plants in the ground in the Next week and save on your power bills. Best of luck with the weather gods in the coming month ahead.

 

[georgej]

I also had a freebie bottle of GH Rapidstart nutes given to me by a new hydroponics store in our area and it made a huge difference in initial growth rates. I don't know about you, but I think I got spoiled by the weather we had last spring... it was very windy, but enough warmer that we got a 2 week jump on the season.

How much of it did you use?? and at what stage?

im gonna import loads of ferts etc next year for my early on needs. theyre at the stage now where i think the 5-5-5 fert i used last year is treatin them well +)