Stickman's 2016 Gochu Glog- Transplanting is Finished

Hi All, I'm back again after quite a while and more than a few changes. Health issues got in the way of being active here after Christmas, but I've resolved those and am ready to plug in here again, albeit with less time than I had before. Anyway... on to the chiles!
 
My friends with a CISA farm have started 6 MoA Scotch Bonnets, what I hope are 2 King Nagas and a couple of Jalapenos. I have three 1020 trays worth of 3inch pots planted with 4 varieties of Gochu peppers. I sowed them a week ago and they're just now starting to sprout. I also have 12 pots of Texas Wild Pequins and 6 pots of Guwahati Bhuts planted that haven't started to sprout.
 
In addition to the solar food dryer, I picked up a stainless steel 10-quart pressure cooker at Christmas time, so I'm planning on experimenting with using it to process purees and sauces to hopefully make them more shelf-stable. Any input on that would be gratefully accepted.
 
Gochus starting...

 
Chinense varieties and Jalapenos

 
That's all for now... see ya all later!

 

[stickman]

All is well my friend.  I missed you

 

 

Chipper/shredder, and rain barrels, can't go wrong with either!
 
I think our rain event is done, until next time . We're on a 15 year cycle it seems. Remember the lake I had mentioned eons ago that was at 4%, it's been brimming over the spillway for a week.

 
Nice! To a place that's as dry as yours, it must feel good to get enough rain to recharge the land... just so long as there isn't damaging flooding...
 

Very good my friend. That barrel looks great.

That chipper is awesome. I wish, I had a portable one like that.

I hope the birds take care of the leaf hoppers. Every year, the whole area gets plagued by them. LoL. Last year I could walk in my back yard and hundreds would take flight. Everyone I've talked to has the same experience. Obviously, not enough natural predators. I might have to net the super's.

 
That's exactly the kind of thing you should talk to your extension agent about. (S)he can identify the species and make suggestions for how to deal with them. For myself, I'd probably do like you suggest and put up low row covers with the lightest agricultural fabric. Something like Agribon AG-15 should do it.  You have irrigation lines installed and peppers are self-pollinating so you wouldn't have to mess with them after installation until it was time to harvest. It would have the added benefit of keeping the seed true if you made a separate cover for each variety. Ladybugs, Lacewings, Predatory Mites, Minute Pirate Bugs, and a certain Predatory Wasp are all predators of the eggs and larvae of Leafhoppers, and Spiders feed off the adults. Leafhoppers are piercing and sucking insects, so the things that you could dust the leaves with aren't ingested by them when they feed, but the flour trick you mentioned dries them out. Diatomaceous Earth dusted on the leaves does the same thing quicker... it's the equivalent of spreading broken glass around in a nudist colony... it cuts them up and they bleed out. Adding a little rubbing alcohol to insecticidal soap helps it penetrate their outer shell, and maybe Neem will work. I don't know about the Neem though... I don't have any experience with it. As a last resort, you could use an organic contact poison like Pyrethrin. Spray it after dark to avoid killing pollinators, and by morning it will oxidize to non-lethal chemical compounds. The downside to that is it's a wide-spectrum insecticide and will kill everything it touches... don't get any on yourself or breathe it either.

 

[OCD Chilehead]

 

 
Nice! To a place that's as dry as yours, it must feel good to get enough rain to recharge the land... just so long as there isn't damaging flooding...
 

 
That's exactly the kind of thing you should talk to your extension agent about. (S)he can identify the species and make suggestions for how to deal with them. For myself, I'd probably do like you suggest and put up low row covers with the lightest agricultural fabric. Something like Agribon AG-15 should do it.  You have irrigation lines installed and peppers are self-pollinating so you wouldn't have to mess with them after installation until it was time to harvest. It would have the added benefit of keeping the seed true if you made a separate cover for each variety. Ladybugs, Lacewings, Predatory Mites, Minute Pirate Bugs, and a certain Predatory Wasp are all predators of the eggs and larvae of Leafhoppers, and Spiders feed off the adults. Leafhoppers are piercing and sucking insects, so the things that you could dust the leaves with aren't ingested by them when they feed, but the flour trick you mentioned dries them out. Diatomaceous Earth dusted on the leaves does the same thing quicker... it's the equivalent of spreading broken glass around in a nudist colony... it cuts them up and they bleed out. Adding a little rubbing alcohol to insecticidal soap helps it penetrate their outer shell, and maybe Neem will work. I don't know about the Neem though... I don't have any experience with it. As a last resort, you could use an organic contact poison like Pyrethrin. Spray it after dark to avoid killing pollinators, and by morning it will oxidize to non-lethal chemical compounds. The downside to that is it's a wide-spectrum insecticide and will kill everything it touches... don't get any on yourself or breathe it either.

Thanks Rick. I'll drive up there in the next couple of days and ask them. I've sent numerous emails and nothing. I would think it would be easier to control them while there young. Great suggestions though. That's the only pest I have.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[stickman]

It's been raining on and off all day, and the rain barrel was filled an hour before the heaviest rainfall came over... I think this is gonna work!   I'm planning on mixing up liquid nutes with the collected rainwater and a little molasses and giving all the chile babies a good feed tomorrow.

 

[OCD Chilehead]

It's been raining on and off all day, and the rain barrel was filled an hour before the heaviest rainfall came over... I think this is gonna work!   I'm planning on mixing up liquid nutes with the collected rainwater and a little molasses and giving all the chile babies a good feed tomorrow.

Thats fantastic Rick.

 

[stickman]

Boy, it looks like we're in for a few cool days and nights... guess summer's not here quite yet.

 
These are the nutes I'm mixing with the rainwater to feed the chiles.

 
At least we're getting a full day of sun today after the rains of yesterday and last night. Have a great week all!

 

[Trident chilli]

Rick ... Molasses tell me more ... am I missing something

 

[stickman]

Rick ... Molasses tell me more ... am I missing something

 
What I mostly add molasses for is that it's high in Potassium, trace elements and sugars in a form that can be readily taken up by the plants roots. In tandem with the humus and biochar it binds nutes at root level for the plants to use later, and together with the Humates it feeds beneficial soil microbes. Don't use too much though... in higher concentrations it's also used as an organic herbicide that upsets the osmotic gradient and steals moisture from the plants, killing them.  I only use about a tablespoon per gallon of water no more than once a week. 
  http://www.agriculturesolutions.ca/molasses

 

[dragonsfire]

Thats interesting, love molasses, will try on the garden . Thanks

 

[OCD Chilehead]

Boy, it looks like we're in for a few cool days and nights... guess summer's not here quite yet.

6-6 forecast.png
 
These are the nutes I'm mixing with the rainwater to feed the chiles.

SANY1305.JPG
 
At least we're getting a full day of sun today after the rains of yesterday and last night. Have a great week all!

Looks like a plan. I add the molasses to my aerated compost tea. Plants love it.

Yeah, I know about the cool nights.

This is my forecast. It will be like this the rest of the Summer. Rarely does it get 60+ at night.

 

[stickman]

I remember 90 degrees and 24% humidity on the Front Range felt like 80 degrees and 45% humidity here in New England.
 
Got all the chiles fed, which only used about 12 gallons of water.

 

[Trident chilli]

What I mostly add molasses for is that it's high in Potassium, trace elements and sugars in a form that can be readily taken up by the plants roots. In tandem with the humus and biochar it binds nutes at root level for the plants to use later, and together with the Humates it feeds beneficial soil microbes. Don't use too much though... in higher concentrations it's also used as an organic herbicide that upsets the osmotic gradient and steals moisture from the plants, killing them.  I only use about a tablespoon per gallon of water no more than once a week. 
  http://www.agriculturesolutions.ca/molasses

Thanks Rick very interesting read .... well worth a try

 

[stickman]

Thats interesting, love molasses, will try on the garden . Thanks

 
Cheers Neil, welcome to the zoo!
 

Thanks Rick very interesting read .... well worth a try

 

 
After a day of rain and a day of feeding, the Red Rocoto is looking much happier!

 
My first Chinense pod... remember that first MoA Bonnet flower?

 
A last "non" pic before signing off for the night... I have a white Rose bush that started as a cutting from my Great Grandmother's door yard. Family memory says she and my Grandmother used to make a pancake syrup by simmering the petals with water and sugar, and coloring it with a little black coffee.

 

[stickman]

The rainwater and the feed seem to have helped things really kick into higher gear. It's supposed to be fairly cool and windy here with overnight lows in the upper 40s the next few nights... hopefully things will start up again when it warms up on the other end.
 
Here's a better pic of the Red Rocoto... all green now.

 
Bhuts have forked and started budding up

 
Nice side branching on them too

 
One of the Pequins lost its primary growth when the wind caused the plastic mulch to ride up and down, snapping off the stem. I fastened the plastic down with a sod staple, and the axillary growth is kicking in.

 
The other eight all look pretty much like this

 
I dried a pint's worth of my Garlic Chives in the solar dehydrator last weekend. This morning I loaded it up with Greek Oregano.

 
Epazote is really starting to take off too. It's a Mexican herb that grows well pretty much anywhere, and volunteers readily. It's a must for Black Bean soup!

 
Have a great evening all!
 

 

[OCD Chilehead]

Plants look good Rick. Glad to see the Solar up an running. Never herd of Epazote. I read up on it. Said that to much is poisonous. I guess everything is bad if you take to much. What kind of flavor dies it have?

 

[stickman]

Plants look good Rick. Glad to see the Solar up an running. Never herd of Epazote. I read up on it. Said that to much is poisonous. I guess everything is bad if you take to much. What kind of flavor dies it have?

 
It's kinda hard to describe Chuck... Like Cilantro, the flavor it presents differs widely to individuals. Some folks compare it to Eucalyptus or Camphor. I think it's more like the Ajwain seed used in Indian cooking, and I use it as a substitute in curries. The idea is to use it for flavor enhancement... you wouldn't want to use it in a salad. I put a couple of 5 or 6-inch sprigs in the pot when I cook Black Beans, or sprinkle a bit chopped up on top of the cheese in quesadillas. It's supposed to be good with Mushrooms too... I'm gonna have to try that now that I have some growing.
 
http://www.rickbayless.com/ingredient/epazote/

 

[OCD Chilehead]

Love Bayless cooking. Great chef. I've never seen it in recipes. I suppose it depends on where the recipes come from. I like that Oaxacan Lamb Barbacoa.

Thanks for the info Rick.

 

[Devv]

Things are looking good Rick!
Not liking the 40's forecast though, although that will be short lived for a few hours. And then good weather
 
 
Keep it green!

 

[stickman]

Love Bayless cooking. Great chef. I've never seen it in recipes. I suppose it depends on where the recipes come from. I like that Oaxacan Lamb Barbacoa.

Thanks for the info Rick.

 
S'right brother... I may take a stab at the Sopa Azteca myself.
 

Things are looking good Rick!
Not liking the 40's forecast though, although that will be short lived for a few hours. And then good weather
 
 
Keep it green!

 
Cheers Scott! The weather this spring isn't all that unusual here... at least not compared to the what I remember as a kid in  the mid-60s, but whatever... we'll roll with it.
 
That shot of liquid nutes I gave the plants in the raised bed out back seemed to really do the trick for greening up the Rocoto... After about a week it's pushing out new growth at every node and the leaves are looking much bigger and healthier.

 
Poblanos are forking now

 
Saeng Cho Gochus are all in flower

 
The 4x4 foot herb bed outside the kitchen door with Greek Oregano, Summer Savory, Italian Parsley, Sage, Mint and lots of Thyme for making Jerk rub!

 
I always love it when this Rose Campion starts putting out blossoms. The pic doesn't quite do it justice... it has such deep and vivid purple flowers.

 
I'll be visiting with my Mom this weekend and will be away from the computer, so I hope you all have a great weekend!

 

[OCD Chilehead]

Enjoy the time with your mom.

The garden is definitely greening up. I love the herb bed. I made a little section of the bed for herbs. I also got out of hand and planted here and there.

That is a beautiful flower. I was looking at flower seeds today. Found a huge sweet pea selection. Never knew so many existed. I seen some growing wild last year. Beautiful flower as well. I think their perennial.

Have a great weekend my friend.

 

[FreeportBum]

Looking great Rick, nice to see the rocoto bouncing back well for you. Happy weekend

Cheers