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Windchicken 2013

Finally got me some lights and a heat mat...

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The trays are the self-watering Burpee 32-cell type..Hopefully they will maintain more consistent moisture levels.

This is what I sowed:

C. chinense
MoA Scotch Bonnet (STEVE954), 6
Madame Jeanette (Meatfreak), 6
Bahamian Goat (FadeToBlack), 6
NagaBrain (romy6), 8
Trinidad Scorpion, 4
7 Pot Yellow, 8
Cumari do Para (capsidadburn), 8
Bonda ma Jacques x 7 Pot Yellow (Spicegeist), 4
Chupetinha, 4

C. annuum
Doux Tres Long des Landes (Meatfreak), 6
Poblano, 8
Zapotec Jalapeño, 12
Chiltepin, 8
California Wonder, 4
Chilhuacle Rojo, 8
Thai Garden Birdseed, 4
Ashe County Pimento (kentishman), 4
Kitchen Pepper (Datil), 4

C. baccatum
Aji Amarillo, 8

There are a few spots still open. Probably will sow NuMex 6-4 and some Morouga, because people are asking for it....
 
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Thanks! The beds are built from the native ground, which at that location is dark brown alluvial clay with a little silt and fine-grained sand, mixed with one-third to one-half hardwood chips. For the initial build-out (first year) I add some Osmocote 14-14-14 to accommodate the nitrogen tie-up which takes place in the first few months of decay. After the plants are in the ground I add a 3-or-4-inch mulch layer of hardwood chips. The second year the soil will be super fertile, requiring no amendments. I do, however, like to "dress" with a fresh mulch layer every year at plant-out time, as you can see in the Jalapeño bed. (The bed in the background of the Jalapeño shot, next to the fence, is my mature, 4th-season bed. Last year it grew my Bonda Ma Jacques plants).

Thanks for asking, and I hope it interests you. It's a method that has worked real well for me for 3 years, and which I feel strongly about, because it mimics the natural way forest soils are created. If you dig science here's the paper that turned me onto rebuilding exhausted soils with chipped hardwood:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/61900856/Original_Lemieux_Paper.pdf
 
millworkman said:
I drool over those beds. Great stuff!
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Thanks Mill! I like to hear that especially.

Spicegeist said:
All your plants look great, you really know what you're doing. I'd like to find a good Jalapeno... what made you pick the Zapotec?
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Wow, thanks so much Charles! I was looking for an authentic Mexican landrace, and then Beth brought the Zapotec back from Oaxaca—The decision was real easy. After the first season I was real happy with the heavy corking and the nice thick flesh, but I think my favorite attribute of the variety is how sturdy and robust the plant is—The stout main trunk almost obviates the need for staking.

If it's not too late for you to plant, I've got OP seeds...
 
windchicken said:
Thanks! The beds are built from the native ground, which at that location is dark brown alluvial clay with a little silt and fine-grained sand, mixed with one-third to one-half hardwood chips. For the initial build-out (first year) I add some Osmocote 14-14-14 to accommodate the nitrogen tie-up which takes place in the first few months of decay. After the plants are in the ground I add a 3-or-4-inch mulch layer of hardwood chips. The second year the soil will be super fertile, requiring no amendments. I do, however, like to "dress" with a fresh mulch layer every year at plant-out time, as you can see in the Jalapeño bed. (The bed in the background of the Jalapeño shot, next to the fence, is my mature, 4th-season bed. Last year it grew my Bonda Ma Jacques plants).

Thanks for asking, and I hope it interests you. It's a method that has worked real well for me for 3 years, and which I feel strongly about, because it mimics the natural way forest soils are created. If you dig science here's the paper that turned me onto rebuilding exhausted soils with chipped hardwood:

https://dl.dropboxus...mieux_Paper.pdf
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Thats awesome Gary! That explains why those yellow 7s you sent me were so dang tasty! Your soil/location is superior! Great mini update. Your plants are some lucky sonsa! Keep dem updates a comin!
 
Gary I read that same paper and others many times just never really wanted to buy that much wood chips. After tearing into my brush pile from a few years ago and seeing the amazing dirt that formed in and under it I was sold. Found some locally sourced fresh chippings and even made a bunch myself. Hopefully it works out like yours.
 
STEVE954 said:
Thats awesome Gary! That explains why those yellow 7s you sent me were so dang tasty! Your soil/location is superior! Great mini update. Your plants are some lucky sonsa! Keep dem updates a comin!
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Lol, thanks so much Steve...It's true, this valley is known for its wonderful soil, but I'm convinced just about any dirt can be dramatically transformed with hardwood chips....

WalkGood said:
Beautiful beds for your plants to make awesome music pods in ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪
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Haha!!! Thanks Ramon!

millworkman said:
Gary I read that same paper and others many times just never really wanted to buy that much wood chips. After tearing into my brush pile from a few years ago and seeing the amazing dirt that formed in and under it I was sold. Found some locally sourced fresh chippings and even made a bunch myself. Hopefully it works out like yours.
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Wow, Noah, thanks so much for taking the time to check that out...Your way is really better than buying the bagged chips...I'm just lazy enough that I take the easy way out...Been eyeing some wood chippers down at Home Depot, though...There are 7 or 8 acres of abandoned pecan orchard behind my house just waiting to share the love...

I'm anxious to watch the progress of your grow! :party:
 
After the ice storm in '09, I got 10 pickup loads of mulch/chips from the county. They were begging people to haul it off. (In a regular year, they charge $10/load.) It's just been sitting in a pile in the side yard since, but I need to start using it this year.
 
KiNGDeNNiZ said:
Madame. Bahamian. And nagabrains. 2/3 I've tasted with enjoyment. Can't wait to try them madames. Gary. Te leaves are so huge. Those little sun can't surely affect te podage the plants will soon have!!
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Thanks, KD! Hopefully we'll have another temperate July, and get a nice chinense crop before the bad heat sets in. I'm excited about the Jeanettes, too...As for the NagaBrains, I intend to stress these plants the same way I stressed the Bondas late last season...Mother Naga tells me she wants a re-match with Denniz!

Sawyer said:
After the ice storm in '09, I got 10 pickup loads of mulch/chips from the county. They were begging people to haul it off. (In a regular year, they charge $10/load.) It's just been sitting in a pile in the side yard since, but I need to start using it this year.
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Whoa, that stuff should be ready to go! Jealous....
 
Looking great! I'm going back to the mulch this year. Thinking about simply mowing between mulched rows. Haven't decided yet. Do you till between or what?

Been thinking more and more about permaculture lately and, how much better my past gardens have been when allowing mulch to create the soil throughout the year. I have the county and local contractors dump their chips on top the hill. That's what I'm digging into for the year. :)
 
Thanks Rich! The first year I just mowed between the rows, but it was impossible to keep the Bermuda grass runners out of the beds... Since then I've always used a regular old hoe between the rows, but that tough clay and gravel makes it a cruel chore, and the Bermuda grass is still really hard to keep out of the beds. This year I'm seriously considering getting a rototiller...

Man, I'm jealous of your pile of wood chips! Your soil must be pure gold!
 
Thanks Pierre! I'm glad you like that plant...It's my first year growing it, but so far it's done very well...

Thanks MN! The Jeanettes are quite vigorous...I'm excited to see how they taste...

I snapped a couple of quick pix of the annuum rows last Friday afternoon, right after the second of our late spring gnarly cold fronts passed through...The wind was honking, so it was hard to get a non-blurry shot...That's my excuse, anyway.... :cool:

Chilhuacle Rojo (Peppermania):

chilhuacle1.jpg


Doux Tres Long des Landes (meatfreak):

douxtreslong1.jpg


Ashe County Pimento (kentishman):

pimento1.jpg
 
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