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Post by mogarden on Oct 19, 2011 13:59:21 GMT -6
I have only planted 2 containers outside this fall and started a few piquin pepper seeds inside. On the peppers my plan was to see how many sprouted and select the best one to keep over winter, then set it out in the spring. I couldn't see which one is better so I kept these last two in the picture. They don't get very big in a pot anyway. Cilantro I planted first, then another succession a few weeks later, hope one of them will do good. The second tote has my Kale that finally got planted. Once it gets growing it laughs at frost. Wish me luck.
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Post by jerseycub on Oct 19, 2011 16:04:37 GMT -6
That's some nice looking media you are planting in. Do you make it yourself? We have some boxes that Ruth bought that look like window boxes, they are great for small plants, and easily brought inside for winter. I used finished compost as media. It worked very well this season.
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Post by Compost Pharmer on Oct 19, 2011 16:54:58 GMT -6
Let me know how your piquin peppers do. The last two years I have tried with no luck. Suspect I may have had bad seeds since none of them germinated. If you have good good luck with harvest. I may ask if I may borrow a few seeds, knowing that he had good luck.
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Post by Christy on Oct 19, 2011 17:04:54 GMT -6
Good luck Mo ;D
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Post by mogarden on Oct 20, 2011 3:58:25 GMT -6
The mix is nothing special, MG potting soil with a thin layer of ground-up peat moss on top for seed starting. I grew tomatoes and cukes in it this summer, then stirred it up and removed a few roots. Thanks for the well wishes
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Post by Pharmer Phil on Oct 20, 2011 6:58:00 GMT -6
looks good Mo, compact and good color too... I've seen some pics of some mighty big peppers in a 8 inch pot...provided a good mix like yer speakin of CP, we have some great pequin seeds...ya mite ask Laura real nice
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Post by mogarden on Oct 21, 2011 13:39:20 GMT -6
CP: This year was the first in the last 10 I didn't have a piquin plant or 2. I just didn't get them started in time, so for 2012, I started reeel early and if I get too puny by gardening-outside time, somebody will have a good plant anyway I predict my biggest problem inside will be spider mites. They look fine now, I just have to remember to break out some Neem in a few weeks.
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Post by jerseycub on Nov 7, 2011 16:50:24 GMT -6
MG potting soil with a thin layer of ground-up peat moss on top for seed starting.
Mo I'm not sure I know what you mean MG potting soil, and I was wondering if you use any other form of nutrient during the growing cycle.
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Post by mogarden on Nov 8, 2011 5:11:38 GMT -6
MG is Miracle grow. It's what was available to me at the time. It's not organic but it allowed me to have a small container garden close to the house. It has time-release chem ferts. By now it's worn out, nutrient-wise, so I have to supplement. You do what you have to do when you're disabled to the point of no lifting, etc.
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Post by jerseycub on Nov 11, 2011 16:01:56 GMT -6
MG is Miracle grow. It's what was available to me at the time. It's not organic but it allowed me to have a small container garden close to the house. It has time-release chem ferts. By now it's worn out, nutrient-wise, so I have to supplement. You do what you have to do when you're disabled to the point of no lifting, etc. I totally understand about the disability Mo I have the same difficulty, ya just have to find other ways to do things that's for sure. I'm looking for ways to grow potted plants just for Ruth and I's use. Right now I'm using a 60%-40% compost to potting soil mix with a 4-4-7 Organic fertilizer. This summer was my first attempt and it worked out pretty well. I want to try growing some greens this coming season.
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Post by mogarden on Nov 11, 2011 22:15:17 GMT -6
I haven't taken a picture lately but my kale is needing to be thinned. I sowed thick on purpose, so the first pot will be just the thinings. 25 degrees last night, no problem for the kale or the cilantro.
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Post by mogarden on Nov 12, 2011 10:23:54 GMT -6
Something I didn't expect to get this soon- a blossom on my piquin pepper plant. In cutting away a couple leaves to get a good pic, I found other buds! Maybe i'll get a pepper for Christmas, LOL.
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Post by jerseycub on Nov 13, 2011 7:46:24 GMT -6
Way to go mogarden that pequin is lookin good! Sure is fun growing things in the winter I will post some pics of our containers as soon as I get the chance.
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Post by mogarden on Nov 14, 2011 11:03:26 GMT -6
Here's what my one small container of kale looks like "before". Before I pull out a bunch of them and boil 'em up. Greens cook down so much it might only be enough for me this time. I'll leave a few plants to grow on and get to their real size.
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Post by jerseycub on Nov 14, 2011 14:47:37 GMT -6
The Kale is really flourishing in that container, it should really do well once you thin it out. I think that growing greens in elongated pots is a good way to have greens all winter for a few people. even some small root crop like radish should do well. I need to get the time to start planting these things in my pots.
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Post by Pharmer Phil on Nov 15, 2011 4:31:50 GMT -6
that Pequin is sure looking healthy Mo, as is the Kale...makes me wants ta take a nibble... now, can't ya cut kale off a couple inches from the base and it will come back?? dang it can't remember, ain't grown any in a spell, Kale, love it...but so does them damn cabbage worms...and they be extremely difficult to hand pick fin a big stand of kale.. and here...we get bumper crops of cabbage worms
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Post by jerseycub on Nov 15, 2011 12:38:12 GMT -6
we get bumper crops of cabbage worms [image] Pick,pick,pick.....chomp,chomp,chomp I can hear them critters now. Just kiddin bro. Cabbage worms I hat them things, and they love it here too, we had some cabbage this season that Ralph had given us and I had to keep a close eye on them before the little Bas%$#@$ took over. Lucky thing there were only a few of heads.
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Post by mogarden on Nov 15, 2011 17:18:47 GMT -6
Of course if I even smell a cabbage worm or see any damage I will break out the BT, but that's why I waited til late to plant, hoping it would be too late for the little white butterflies. Phil, you're right, maybe I will do "cut-and-come-again" on the kale. I could cut everything down to a couple inches, then thin. Sure would make the thinning easier.
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Post by Pharmer Phil on Nov 17, 2011 4:18:38 GMT -6
Of course if I even smell a cabbage worm or see any damage I will break out the BT, but that's why I waited til late to plant, hoping it would be too late for the little white butterflies. Phil, you're right, maybe I will do "cut-and-come-again" on the kale. I could cut everything down to a couple inches, then thin. Sure would make the thinning easier. would be a bunch more green to eat too...ifin ya have good windows or artifibail light...we don't have good sunny windows...well 2...already hard to see out of them due to overwintering greenery
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Post by mogarden on Nov 17, 2011 4:57:05 GMT -6
I don't expect the kale will make it past New Year's or thereabouts. That's when we get our real winter weather here, Jan and Feb. I have had plants last all year in the ground tho. I get whatever I get and glad to have it. Wish I'd held back a little on the cilantro tho, I'll never eat all I got now, much less keep up with the growth. I mostly wanted to drag out the gardening season....
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Post by jerseycub on Nov 17, 2011 6:56:38 GMT -6
I don't expect the kale will make it past New Year's or thereabouts. That's when we get our real winter weather here, Jan and Feb. I have had plants last all year in the ground tho. I get whatever I get and glad to have it. Wish I'd held back a little on the cilantro tho, I'll never eat all I got now, much less keep up with the growth. I mostly wanted to drag out the gardening season.... mogarden: I thought we could bring our pots inside when the weather got to harsh, but for me I have grow lights I can use. Have you tried that?
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Post by mogarden on Dec 2, 2011 16:13:08 GMT -6
No place inside for a tote but thanks for the idea. If it was left up to me it would be all plants in here, lol. Took a pic today after I cropped off the second half of the kale. I thinned them pretty good but it was after the pic.
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Post by mogarden on Dec 18, 2011 5:20:27 GMT -6
Todays picture of the pepper plants, blooming like it was 2012!
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Post by Rita on Dec 18, 2011 7:47:26 GMT -6
Looks Great Mo!! Lots of blossoms too
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Dec 18, 2011 11:14:38 GMT -6
Peppers soon, Mo! Good Growing!
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Post by mogarden on Feb 22, 2012 6:30:19 GMT -6
Somebody might remember this thread from last fall. I planted an 18-gallon tote with Siberian kale, just broadcast the seed thick. I thinned quite a few of them to cook and then topped the rest hoping for a "cut-and-come-again" situation. Wrong thing to do with kale. It should have been harvested in the regular way for brassicas, that is pull the lower leaves and leave the growing point alone. NOW I know. Time for me to re-do the containers soon and get started on spring 2012! I hope everyone here has a great gardening year ;D
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Post by Rita on Feb 22, 2012 7:37:26 GMT -6
I have never tried Kale .. what exactly does it taste like ? no matter how long we garden we are always learning something
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Post by njm740 on Feb 22, 2012 8:25:00 GMT -6
I have been growing kale here in pennsylvania for some years now, Russian and Curly kale. It is rich in vitamins A,C,K and phyto nutrients,rich in eye health promoting nutrients,lowers colesterol and reduces chances of heart desease when cooked .The young tender leaves make a great addition to organic salads,and great when lightly steamed or wilted with olive oil, your favorite vinagar and a tad of sea salt with some fresh or dried tyme !!!
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Post by mogarden on Feb 22, 2012 19:19:31 GMT -6
Rita~ I only eat kale as boiled greens, usually with a little hot vinegar added. Sometimes I throw in some pork while they're cooking. To me they're a little milder than turnip greens. Main thing here is they will grow if planted late, or like this year, all winter.
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Post by njm740 on Feb 22, 2012 19:24:32 GMT -6
SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT WAY TO DO UP SOME COLLARDS AS WELL.
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