Beginner Gardening: Tomato and Bell Pepper Plants in Containers, 0 by Gymgirl

Gymgirl wrote:
Peggy,
Arcadia is now at the top of my list. Grew it for the first time last season and would grow it just for those gorgeous blue-green leaves. Here are a few observations:

It does seem to be a slow grower in the beginning, but when it takes off it keeps on producing until YOU take it down. I harvested almost 4 huge popcorn bowls of side shoots for months after the head.

Keep it moderately moist, and don't let it dry out. It is a water HOG! Give it a fast-draining, well-aerated soil, and it'll reward you.

Keep it fed. Most of the brassicas like a nice organic soil, so I add a good dose of composted Black Kow Manure to my planting medium. Afterward, I water with MG water soluble plant food for veggies (24-8-16). I've found that when the plant stalls and I've been diligent with watering needs, it means the baby is HUNGRY! Maybe side dress with something with a balanced fert.

They can take direct sun, but they truly love a cooler/colder area with BRIGHT light. When it started getting warm here I had a line of buckets along a cool, breezy fence line that was mostly shady until the afternoon. Those Arcadias cranked out HUGE side shoots until I just got tired and ran out of freezer room!

Hope this helps.

Linda

This message was edited Feb 9, 2016 11:43 AM