The gardening thread. What are you growing in your garden this year?

[BoomerD]

Bah...we're going to be gone for about a week...(hopefully less, I do NOT like my BiL...haven't for over 50 years) but, he's in ill health, as is my wife, so for our 50th wedding anniversary, we're heading down to his place in Oregon.(near Coos Bay)
I don't know anyone I'd trust to water my greenhouse while we're gone, so I've been cobbling in a make-shift drip system. (Should have actually installed it years ago 😛. Got all the tubing run...and re-done to correct a couple of mistakes...a couple of brand new pressure compensating drippers aren't dripping. Minor annoyance, just time consuming.

 

[Muse]

Just behind my back fence is a state wildlife wetland. No matter how much I try to control the skeeters...they're an invading force.

My invading force this time of year (started a couple weeks ago) is little brown moths. I don't know if they are coming in doors/windows or feeding inside on something and hatching. I used to clap my hands to kill them sometimes. Still try but my hands are sore and I do it half heartedly and haven't killed any lately. I keep spray bottles with rubbing alcohol. It doesn't seem to kill them but it does make them drop to the floor and I can kill them then.

Then there's fruit flies. I have pretty much controlled them the last couple years.

I bought a can of permethrin spray recently to spray my pants for hikes to ward off ticks. I think that works for skeeters too, and there's other chemical means of dealing with them.

Permethrin is an insecticide in the pyrethroid family. Pyrethroids are synthetic chemicals that act like natural extracts from the chrysanthemum flower. Permethrin is used in a number of ways to control insects. Products containing permethrin may be used in public health mosquito control programs.

 

[bbhaag]

Harvested over 16 pounds(7.25 kilos)of cherries today. Now the mundane part starts of pitting them and grading them. The best ones will be used for food prep and the not so good ones will be juiced.

I'm also thinking about trying my hand at making ice cream. I'm thinking a cherry and chocolate combination would be really good. IDK if I'll get around to it but it sounds good.

 

[bbhaag]

Look at this dingus trying to stuff their face into the cuphea bloom.

 

[iRONic]

Heh heh… the same thing happens around these Rose of Sharon blooms! The birds sit on that fence and pick them off for delicious snacks as the bees gather the pollen! No way I'm fast enough to get a pic of that though…

 

[BoomerD]

I have a bunch of ceanothus sp, AKA "California Lilacs." Very fragrant...and LOADED with small bumblebees of some species.


(stock photo stolen from teh intarwebs)

Photo of mine...


The nurseryman fucked me though...I told him I wanted low growing shrubs...these are 4-5' tall...and growing. I had a "privacy fence" built of lattice framed and attached to 4x4 uprights with the ceanothus planted underneath it. The stuff pushed the lattice out of the framework. So...I'm gonna hack them down and rebuild the privacy fence.

 

[WelshBloke]

I've been experimenting with different chillis. I let my daughter order some plants.

Turns out that the variety "wraith" is pretty fucking hot!

Looked it up and it tops out at a million scoville units!

Wraith Chilli Plants

Grow your own Wraith – one of the hottest chillies in the world. Available now as plug plants for UK delivery.

worldofchillies.com

 

[BoomerD]

My sad little jalapenos...producing nicely, but not growing. (and the foilage is a bit yellowish)



My Ancho/poblano peppers have grown a bit better:




I have 3 tomato plants...a cherokee purple heirloom, one roma, and one early girl. The first two are growing nicely with appropriate sized maters...the early girl...


Those are supposed to be about 3" tomatoes...

 

[bbhaag]

My sad little jalapenos...producing nicely, but not growing. (and the foilage is a bit yellowish)

View attachment 126405

My Ancho/poblano peppers have grown a bit better:

View attachment 126406


I have 3 tomato plants...a cherokee purple heirloom, one roma, and one early girl. The first two are growing nicely with appropriate sized maters...the early girl...

View attachment 126413
Those are supposed to be about 3" tomatoes...

Your jalapenos are looking a little chlorotic. Try giving them a dose of calcium nitrate. I do this at least twice a year and it really helps snap them out of their chlorotic state. It helps with blossom end rot too. You should dose your all peppers and tomato's with it as well. It makes a huge difference.

This is the product I use but there are many different brands of the same thing. I've just been using this for so long it is my go to and it is easy to use. I have to buy it locally though as it is very hard to find online. If you do decide to use this or a similar product follow the instructions TO THE LETTER or it will harm your plants.

Amazon.com : Hi-Yield (32128) Ammonium Calcium Nitrate 15-0-0, Helps Precent Blossom End Rot in Tomatoes (3.25 lbs.) : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Hi-Yield (32128) Ammonium Calcium Nitrate 15-0-0, Helps Precent Blossom End Rot in Tomatoes (3.25 lbs.) : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

Anyway, there was a nice pink glow in the sunset tonight and it was hitting my lantana hanging basket just right. It looks so pretty.

 

[bbhaag]

I've been experimenting with different chillis. I let my daughter order some plants.

Turns out that the variety "wraith" is pretty fucking hot!

Looked it up and it tops out at a million scoville units!

Wraith Chilli Plants

Grow your own Wraith – one of the hottest chillies in the world. Available now as plug plants for UK delivery.

worldofchillies.com

View attachment 126403

Are you gonna eat one raw? I grew a ghost pepper once and it blew my top off when I ate it fresh off the plant.

 

[WelshBloke]

Are you gonna eat one raw? I grew a ghost pepper once and it blew my top off when I ate it fresh off the plant.

I tried an unripe one yesterday and it was pretty hot! Had that distinctive smell and taste that makes your nose wrinkle!
I have some fatalii chillis that are my favourite and are a bit more manageable! About the heat of a habanero.
I have some Madre Viega chillis growing that I'm fairly excited about. They are pretty mild (about 20k units) so should be good in a salad in largish quantities and they are supposed to have a good flavour!

 

[BoomerD]

Your jalapenos are looking a little chlorotic. Try giving them a dose of calcium nitrate. I do this at least twice a year and it really helps snap them out of their chlorotic state. It helps with blossom end rot too. You should dose your all peppers and tomato's with it as well. It makes a huge difference.

This is the product I use but there are many different brands of the same thing. I've just been using this for so long it is my go to and it is easy to use. I have to buy it locally though as it is very hard to find online. If you do decide to use this or a similar product follow the instructions TO THE LETTER or it will harm your plants.

Amazon.com : Hi-Yield (32128) Ammonium Calcium Nitrate 15-0-0, Helps Precent Blossom End Rot in Tomatoes (3.25 lbs.) : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Hi-Yield (32128) Ammonium Calcium Nitrate 15-0-0, Helps Precent Blossom End Rot in Tomatoes (3.25 lbs.) : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

Anyway, there was a nice pink glow in the sunset tonight and it was hitting my lantana hanging basket just right. It looks so pretty.

View attachment 126445

Thanks. I’ll look into that. Doesn’t seem to be available locally. I use Vigoro tomato and vegetable fertilizer plus calcium for all my veggie plants, along with a heathy fist full of bone meal mixed into the soil below the plant.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Vigoro-3-5-lb-All-Season-Tomato-and-Vegetable-Garden-Plant-Food-Plus-Calcium-12-10-5-124346/203106474

 

[bbhaag]

Thanks. I’ll look into that. Doesn’t seem to be available locally. I use Vigoro tomato and vegetable fertilizer plus calcium for all my veggie plants, along with a heathy fist full of bone meal mixed into the soil below the plant.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Vigoro-3-5-lb-All-Season-Tomato-and-Vegetable-Garden-Plant-Food-Plus-Calcium-12-10-5-124346/203106474

So I have a couple thoughts that I would like to share with you about the product you are using.

The first one is the amount of calcium in the product. According to the label it is only 3% which IMO is just not enough to help with blossom end rot especially on tomatoes and bell peppers. If it works though and you don't have issues with blossom end rot that's cool to.

The second thing I want to talk about is the nitrogen in the product you are using. The % is fine but the type of nitrogen it contains it what made me go "Hmm, I wonder if this why BoomerD is having issues with his peppers.".

According to the label over half of the nitrogen in the product you're using contains a urea based nitrogen. So why is this maybe not so good? Urea based nitrogen while cheap is also known to cause PH problems within the soil because it releases so fast. It can initially raise the PH then cause a big swing down to a lower PH. This will reek havoc on your plants ability to uptake vital nutrients. Big PH swings like this essentially "lock out" the plants roots to uptake vital nutrients. In your case leading to chlorotic peppers.

Anyway, this is just my thoughts on why your jalapenos are not looking the best. If you're an Amazon Prime member the product I linked to above is back in stock for only $10. It might be worth the $10 to try something different. If you do try it I recommend harvesting the peppers first even if they aren't ripe then dose the calcium nitrate and water in thoroughly after. Wait two weeks and then do it again.

 

[WelshBloke]

It's nice to have an expert at hand!

 

[bbhaag]

Here are a couple of pictures I just took of a few of my jalapeno plants. I grow 5-8 different varieties of jalapenos and many other varieties of peppers as well. Peppers are my favorite plant. I love them.

These have been dosed twice with the Hy-Yield product I use. They make a quality product that my family has not only been using for years but we also sell it to. I want our customers to be successful because if they are successful I'm successful.

These are an AAS winner called Pot-a-peno. Its a fun new jalapeno with a compact habit perfect for containers or raised beds.


This one is planted in the garden and is a jumbo variety called Mucho Nacho. 5-6" fruit with a nice heat that is consistent.

 

[BoomerD]

So I have a couple thoughts that I would like to share with you about the product you are using.

The first one is the amount of calcium in the product. According to the label it is only 3% which IMO is just not enough to help with blossom end rot especially on tomatoes and bell peppers. If it works though and you don't have issues with blossom end rot that's cool to.

The second thing I want to talk about is the nitrogen in the product you are using. The % is fine but the type of nitrogen it contains it what made me go "Hmm, I wonder if this why BoomerD is having issues with his peppers.".

According to the label over half of the nitrogen in the product you're using contains a urea based nitrogen. So why is this maybe not so good? Urea based nitrogen while cheap is also known to cause PH problems within the soil because it releases so fast. It can initially raise the PH then cause a big swing down to a lower PH. This will reek havoc on your plants ability to uptake vital nutrients. Big PH swings like this essentially "lock out" the plants roots to uptake vital nutrients. In your case leading to chlorotic peppers.

Anyway, this is just my thoughts on why your jalapenos are not looking the best. If you're an Amazon Prime member the product I linked to above is back in stock for only $10. It might be worth the $10 to try something different. If you do try it I recommend harvesting the peppers first even if they aren't ripe then dose the calcium nitrate and water in thoroughly after. Wait two weeks and then do it again.

Good to know. I’ve used that product for years…and fought blossom end rot in my roma tomatoes…even adding egg shells and epsom salts didn’t help.
I’ll look at the label for the bone meal I use.

 

[bbhaag]

I tried an unripe one yesterday and it was pretty hot! Had that distinctive smell and taste that makes your nose wrinkle!
I have some fatalii chillis that are my favourite and are a bit more manageable! About the heat of a habanero.
I have some Madre Viega chillis growing that I'm fairly excited about. They are pretty mild (about 20k units) so should be good in a salad in largish quantities and they are supposed to have a good flavour!

So I'm the type of person that goes back through threads and posts to read them again and this caught my eye. I did a little googling on this pepper and it seems kind of interesting. The heat and flavor profile it right in line with my tastes. I also love making my own chile powder and this pepper might add a different flavor profile that could give a unique taste to some of the food I cook

Did you start these from seed or did you buy starts? I know you reside in the UK so starts are out of the question but if you started them from seed would you be willing to share your source? As crazy as it sounds I'm already starting to think about next year and I think I would like to give these a try.

 

[bbhaag]

So I know this isn't directly related to what I'm growing in my garden this year but my wife and I are vacationing along the western coast of Michigan and our final stop is in Grand Rapids before heading home.

It was on our itinerary to visit the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. If you like art and gardening then this is the place for you. The gardens and art are AMAZING!!

Anyway, by sheer coincidence the Grand Valley Daylily Society was holding an event show piecing hundreds of blooms from local breeders who have a passion for daylilies and I just had to share it with everyone.

I know a lot of you prefer pics over video but every pic I took just could not capture how many blooms were on display. If you have 1:45 to spare and love the natural beauty of daylilies this vid is worth a watch. No commentary or other YT BS it's just me walking around the tables recording the blooms.

 

[bbhaag]

The new cucumber trellises I built seem to be working out great. Usually by now the vines are starting to wither but not this year. This is one of the best harvests we've had in years!

 

[BoomerD]

Got the Hi-Yield stuff last week. Applied it exactly per the label. Killed everything.


Oh wait...no it didn't...in fact, things have greened up and are looking great!
Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[bbhaag]

Got the Hi-Yield stuff last week. Applied it exactly per the label. Killed everything.


Oh wait...no it didn't...in fact, things have greened up and are looking great!
Thanks for the suggestion!

Holy crap bro I read your first sentence before I finished reading the rest of your post and I swear to god my heart skipped a beat. lol I thought " No way, I've been using this and recommending this stuff for years. WTH happened???".

Then I read the rest and I'm glad you took my recommendation. From this point forward your tomatoes and peppers will never be the same! With just one caveat.....follow the instructions on the label.🙂

Regular watering in conjunction with using this product is my secret sauce to growing stunning peppers. This is an older pic but every year our peppers are consistent in their quality.

 

[bbhaag]

The tithonia in the garden is in full bloom and the pollinators are loving it! As we get older we are realizing that while a vegetable garden is nice it's a lot of work so we are transitioning to more and more flowerers especially ones that benefit pollinators. They need all the help they can get especially in more urban environments.

If you have never grown this before it is worth trying but you won't be able to buy starts in stores. It has to be started from seed.

 

[BoomerD]

Holy crap bro I read your first sentence before I finished reading the rest of your post and I swear to god my heart skipped a beat. lol I thought " No way, I've been using this and recommending this stuff for years. WTH happened???".

Then I read the rest and I'm glad you took my recommendation. From this point forward your tomatoes and peppers will never be the same! With just one caveat.....follow the instructions on the label.🙂

Regular watering in conjunction with using this product is my secret sauce to growing stunning peppers. This is an older pic but every year our peppers are consistent in their quality.
View attachment 127455

You have a much more welcoming climate than I do. I'm in coastal Washington state. We rarely get temps above 75F. (I don't think we've hit 75 yet this year) Thus, my sad attempt at a greenhouse.

Took a couple of pics today.
(Jalapenos both ends, shishito in the middle)





Maters are looking good...not producing much though.
(L-R--Cherokee Purple, some kind of Roma, Early Girl)

(there are actually a couple of tomatoes on each of the end plants, you just can't see them in the pic)
Poblanos are doing fairly well.

Everything is on a make-shift drip system. Each dripper is 1gph, run for about 45 minutes every other morning. They're starting to get big enough to change them to a longer run time.

 

[BoomerD]

For "shits and giggles," I picked a couple of the small jalapenos that had turned red. They were growing on the plants before I got them put in the ground. I wasn't really expecting much from them...but WOW! Hottest jalapeno I've had in years.



(keyfob for scale) 😛

Also picked a couple of quarts of blueberries this afternoon. Yields this year are pretty disappointing considering the huge crop I got last year.


Not sure what I did or didn't do last fall/winter that caused the low yield this year. (or what I need to do this fall/winter to fix the problem) When I planted them, I dug a hole about 3' in diameter, about 18" deep. Used a mix of nursery-bought bulk garden soil, peat moss, used coffee grounds, and some bagged planting soil. Every year since I planted them in 2020, the plants have grown and the yields have gotten bigger and bigger.

 

[bbhaag]

Wow your greenhouse looks amazing @BoomerD! I know you are in a cooler climate compared to me so growing peppers can be a challenge but I'd say you are doing a great job. Your tomatoes look amazing to!

I'm so happy to hear your jalapenos have some heat. I know in an earlier post you had mentioned that you were really disappointed in the heat output of your peppers over the past couple of seasons so it is encouraging to read that you are getting some with that nice heat that they are know for.

So about those blueberries. When is the last time you measured the PH of your soil? I know they do best in a more acidic soil. Are you supplementing them with a soil acidifier?