Star musta had a lot of extra pepper seeds, as i got all of those too.
I dont eat them - but my boys do.
Cottage Garden Seed Swap & Chat #26
The habaneros will be HOT. Use with caution, and wear gloves while cutting them (I double-glove for habs).
I put a good Caribbean style hot sauce recipe (using habaneros) in my "Some Like it Hotter" article. (click on my name and scroll down my homepage, or search "articles" under the "guides & info" tab.)
I wrote a Seed Starting 101 article about heat mats & alternatives -- heat is definitely a good idea for starting peppers faster. I'm working on a pepper-specific seed starting article for next month. :-)
everybody got some of them. There still oodles of them left, going to groups that will grow them for food banks.
I grow the hot peppers , but Miek grows almost every kind there is. He know shis peppers inside and out. If there a pepper yet he hasn't growed or has info on it, it probably hasn't be invented yet, that how much he into peppers. LOL
he a great guy and has a fun personality.
Critter, when you write your article could you put a link in that refers to the Scoville scale? Referring to that always helps me decide what to plant and where....does that make sense? For example, I try to be sure that the really hot ones aren't near a path where someone may brush up against them. I also pick one really hot one each year to grow for the next year's homemade pepper spray that I put on plants I don't want nibbled to nubbins. Last year it was Thai Hot, this year it will be a Habanero!
The Scoville scale gives you a relative idea of where some peppers rank, heat wise, but there are so many factors that can affect the actual heat at harvest that I'm not sure it's all that useful. Basically, there are mild hot peppers, from Ancho up to the milder jalapenos, then there are medium hot peppers, from jalapenos to cayennes. And then there are the OMG very hot peppers, like habaneros, bird's eye, and bhut jholaka.
It can be fun to grow some less/not hot cultivars... you can add more of them to a dish for flavor without increasing the heat beyond your personal tolerance. Interestingly, there are even a couple of habanero type peppers with little or no heat -- Aji Dulce (offered as a bonus in the co-op; did you take it?) and Numex Orange Suave are 2 I know of.
No, I didn't jump fast enough to get the Aji Dulce :-(
Do you know where Banana peppers fall on the scale?
I'd class them as "medium," but they vary a lot. Um, you didn't have to jump to get the Aji Dulce... I didn't limit the bonus packs, just adjusted the number of seeds per pack. Do you want to try them?
oh yes, please and thank you!!
Busted!
The sun shine came out today, and I couldn't resist going out and soaking some up. I can't believe how quickly every thing is greening up! I direct sowed the purple poppy seed and mixed poppy seed, except for the seed that going into the paper cups. I weeded my raised planter in the B.fly/H.bird garden, fixed a broken irrigation line and replaced an emitter, played with the puppy, and now I finally turned on the computer.
While back east is getting more freezing temps., for the first time all week, I woke up not feeling any chest pain. I don't know how ya'll do it. I guess I'm just extremely sensitive to temp changes. It had been getting down into the mid 30's at night. Today, it was actually in the low 70's and the ground is wet enough to pull weeds easily. I'm champing at the bit to get things planted now! I am grateful I don't have as long or as cold a winter as many of you do, but it does make spring planting a hurry up rush thing for me.
Re: Opar jewels as a border. In my greenhouse, they don't get taller than perhaps 18". That was in the raised planter which has rich, wet soil and is in a partial shade area. In the place where they were in regular dirt, full, sun and getting watered regularly they didn't get but 8" to 12" tall. I live in a desert with average rainfall of 10" per year, and the last few have been below normal. This year is hard to tell, we are still behind where we should be right now for rain. We could have another March Miracle (rain), or be facing another year of drought. Pray for warm rain, and then I can go out and play in it! : )
I still have some light and warmth yet, and want to take care of some things in the greenhouse, working out of the wind. So happy to be able to garden today. : ) Even happier, y'all gave me take an excuse to take a break. I have to pace myself.
Almost forgot! I saw the Golden Eagle today! I've missed Her! Just had to share the good news with you!
WIB,
SW
lol OT here...
DH just got off the phone with one of his good buddies in KY... seems the whole state got rocked by ice storms/freezing rain.
his friend, in the louisville area... they got 6" of ice.
NOT good at all... something about 7-10 days before power comes back... and this guy is out in the sticks....
but that made me think of Neal... i think he's in the Lexington area.... Anyone heard from him? I see he hasn't posted in a while.
My T&P's are with all Kentuckians.... or any others rocked by this latest storm.
Wow, the severity and extent of this storm just amazes me. Our T&P's are definitely with all affected by the power outages, downed trees, and cold.
Dryad, I added that bonus pack to your order. I think I had the presence of mind to print up a couple extra labels for the bonus seeds, so we should be all set.
Thank you. Did you let Elliott help with my label?? I bet he wanted to.
I can't believe the weather we're having this winter, really incredible. I hope it doesn't carry over to hurricane/tornado season.
Gosh, now I'm feeling guilty for having warm temps while some of you have such cold weather. The weather this year is just plain strange. I'll be keeping all of you affected by this latest freeze in my prayers. I hope that you and all your seedlings stay safe and warm.
Didn't get as much done out in the greenhouse after all. Puppy wanted to play, so what can you do?
Now the kids want to eat! Arrggh!
You guys keep me sane. I think? : )
WIB,
SW
Puppies and kids generally always trump, I think. Besides, if properly trained kids can turn into gardeners!! That's what happened with me at least - LOL! Mom started me off as a weeder :)
I got enough of the drive and walkway shoveled out that the postman can make it through if he should decide to deliver the mail. Tomorrow's the rest of the drive, as I think they may plow our street tomorrow.... THEN I'm tramping to the north side of the house to scoop out some snow to WS some Columbines. I still have a fistful of them left from Weezie's seeds from last year's Piggy Swap, and have finally figured out how/where to WS them. I'm wary of starting any more inside until they get the electrical grid stabilized to the south of us and more things cleared out and cleaned up here - it would really hiss me off if I got all sorts of seeds started and then no lights or heat mats...I can't imagine what our co-piggies are doing who have lost power.
>>to scoop out some snow to WS some Columbines
Robin -- do you just toss the seeds out there? Why do you scoop snow?
I still have A LOT of columbine seeds.
OH -- do deer eat them too? I have a friend with a lot of shade... but the deer pretty much think it's a salad buffet.
LOL Eliot "helpfully" sorted some newly packaged tomato seeds for me this afternoon. Fortunately, all the little packets stayed shut!
There's a whole thread on columbine seeds -- germination forum, maybe? You can direct sow them now or winter sow them (in closed vented containers). If you don't get a lot of cold weather (hah!), put the seeds in the fridge for a few weeks before you "winter" sow.
dryad, I started out weeding for pocket money. A quarter for each full (tamped down full) grocery bag I pulled. I probably learned how to do it at home first.
We bought some fruit trees to plant in our neglected orchard. We started it several years ago. DH kept planting things that weren't right for our climate, then he let the drip irrigation go.
I found some bare root plum, apricot, pear, and an almond tree. I want to get some macadamia nut trees growing too. They are supposed to do well in our climate. We still have a couple of trees out there, but I need to check and see what they are. They all need trimming.
I am going to have my eldest work with me to bring it back to life. I figure if he is made responsible for it and he learns how to care for the trees, he'll become closer to land, and more respectful of it. It was ES's idea after all. Besides, most of the fruit and nuts will be harvested right in time for the Oct. - Dec. harvest time when we have people out here anyway. He can always sell what we don't eat. He doesn't know the difference between a weed and a prized flower, but he can use a shovel! : ) He can also set up and mend drip lines. I foresee a very busy spring for him. : )
Columbine can be sowed on top of the snow? I don't get much of that so I'll just see what sprouts in a container. I now wonder if I should be refrigerating them before planting? I guess I'd better look that one up. It's hard for me to know when to plant out here when my climate is so different from most of yours. Then again I don't have to deal with ice storms. I am most blessed.
Time to feed them varmints, dinner is done!
WIB,
SW
Cheles.... regarding the South African Foxglove...
I actually wintersowed them last year. I am in zone 6b and it was a mild winter last year. I think I got to sowing in the beginning of Feb because it doesn't usually get really cold here until then. If you want to start them indoors. I can check the information on the packet that I saved tomarrow (I'm staying warm in bed :-) brrrr). I just saw it the other day. I think I remember reading to sow 1/8th inch and keep between 65 to 70 degrees. I know germination was less than 2 weeks. I'll have to double check that for you. They were slow to come up and grow last year when I wintersowed them but then bang! they shot off when I transplanted them. Hope that helps.
Andrea
Thanks Andrea! I wasn't sure on WS them or not. Found germination info on tom clothier's site. I am just having a hard time figuring out "when" to start some of my seeds - which is why I LOVE the new spreadsheet!! Yes you helped. Thank you!
We have been under a winter blizzard the last couple days. This is coming on top of the frigid temps we had a week ago - so all the snow we've had has never thawed. I have not seen our side streets in over two weeks. We were hit with inches of freezing rain and then over a foot of snow on top of that. The power outages are mostly due to the poor trees falling under the weight of the ice. We have been blessed with no power outages.
I ventured out last week to one of my favorite spots and found a man ice climbing? This waterfall is about a mile from my house - a favorite summer secluded spot - in the middle of the city. I realized with our cold temps it would be an icicle and wanted to take some pictures. I was very surprised to find this athlete but he does give perspective to the picture. Enjoy!
~chele
Edited for typo.
This message was edited Jan 29, 2009 9:03 AM
Wow Chele, what a cool pic. He really does give perspective, I wouldn't have guessed it was that big. I lived in Elyria OH for a couple of years as a child. Can' tsay that I miss the cold, but it was very pretty year round.
Cool. I lived in Elyria too when I was a kid. We had moved from Mich to there. First live dout inthe middle of nowhere with onyl one farmer with plow horses for neighbor and then moved to new sub development that built in town.
Oh I happy , I seeign sprouts. Think I planted these mina lobatoas , Jungel queen from sumemrhill a bit too early. Oh well maybe they wil grow up and vine pretty.
Lea -- question on the Pink MW I got from you......
it is "Common" [as that has pink blooms] ? Asclepias syriaca
Swamp [as that had pink blooms] ? Asclepias incarnata
Prairie Milkweed [has pink blooms] ? Asclepias sullivante
I'm just trying to update my spreadsheet... and i dont know which one it is.
Thanks,
Terese
I read something in J.L. Hudson seed catalog about columbine seed that 1 year old seed germinates easier than new seed. I've been wanting to share that because I know some of us got some from the swap. It says 'Aged seed germinates in 2-4 weeks, fresh seed needs cold treatment or GA-3.' I know some of you got some from me, and they were fresh - so just thought I'd give a heads up. : )
Meredith, that info on older Columbine seeds germinating make me suspicious - mostly because the thread in the Seed Germ. forum has at least one person talking about the fresh seeds dropped from the plants sprouting very well. Here's the link to that thread - lots of great info on there:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/805548/
Terese - I plan to scoop the snow aside, sprinkle the seeds on the ground, and then scoop the snow back on top of them. That way they won't get eaten - with a foot of snow it will take some time for it to melt on the north side of our house, so they should be pretty well protected there.
And here's a link to a site that lists all sorts of deer resistant plants - it was done by a DGer from the Ohio River Valley Group, and has a bunch of great info on it.
http://www.gardeningindeercountry.com/
Robin --- that is what i thought, by what you wrote... maybe i'll try the same.
thanks for that link... i'll pass it on.
Great photo 'Chele. Who'd have thought the waterfall would freeze solid like that. : ) The ice climber does give perspective to the shot. Not to mention I admire his tenacity.
I was out this morning walkng the puppy, and the hills are greening up already. I feel guilty that you are buried under snow and ice, oh but the snow will turn into water and we aren't getting enough rain. : (
Here is a photo of a my wood henge and my time portal with a view of the hill behind it. Enjoy the green that will eventually come your way, while I envy all the precipitation you're getting.
Off to plant while it is warm.
WIB!
SW
Interesting that someone had fresh Columbine seeds germinate. The first time I planted my native red ones I planted five plants. They produced bountiful seeds and were ripe and fell on the ground by early summer but I never had one germinate until the following year. I wonder if it is due to a difference in species. I had read the same thing somewhere before myself, but thought it was misinformation due to the fact that someone could actually be seeing germination of seeds that had laid dormant through a winter already.
I bet you're right - that they're different kinds of Columbine. I've got a few different kinds, so I'll keep track of where I put them - they're all at least two years old. That will give me a good excuse to go around to the north side of the house throughout the year.
OK interesting note about the columbine seeds. Do you think that commercial seeds are fresh? I am wondering if I should expect them to germinate right away or not? I have 4 different varieties of columbines that I am sitting here looking at and trying to read all these threads to figure out. LOL.
I have large blue columbines, a European black columbine, Columbine "Magpie" and a Nora Barlow mixed. Hmmmmm...... we do have a good cold freeze cycle right now, thinking of just wintersowing some of them and see what happens.
Good idea! I got a pack from the swap, I am going to try them without cold and see what comes up! lol
LissaD - that may be a good question for the Columbine thread in the Seed Germ. forum as those folks have a lot of info. At least one of the people on the Piggy Swap who would know is part of the massive power outage (LeBug) so we may not hear from her for a while.
Thanks Dryad, I have been reading that one too, so I will go see what they have to say too.
That is scary about all the power outages. We don't have much of that here, very mild weather, but I am still thankful for my wood burning stove, I could get by without electricity for a few days. Although I have to admit I might die from "lack of internet".... has anyone ever died from that? JK.
I hope all who are affected will be safe, and that they will get things up and running quickly.
I have WS sprouts! Yay, I think?
My 'pineapples' and two types of poppies are up (though the poppies don't have leaves yet, and they're so dark I almost missed them). Should I be worried about freezes, or should they be tough enough to handle it.. sorry, first timer here and I know I'm gonna worry no matter what :)
We're having a pretty warm week, with the lows in the 30's and the highs in the high 50's... but it will get colder again before spring, I'm sure.
Oh, I should give credit to the wonderful DGers who sent them to me! The 'pineapples' are from JonnaSudenius in another swap, and the first poppies to pop are the Blue Breadseed poppies from Artemis, and some Giganteum poppies from DEMinPA... lots more sowed over the last few weeks!
New Thread..... http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/947535/
this one is getting sluggish....