tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post5854799954158380411..comments2024-03-24T11:10:13.186-04:00Comments on The Gardening Me: Plenty o' PeppersMargarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-66922230275462951632016-04-18T16:51:48.029-04:002016-04-18T16:51:48.029-04:00You said it - nothing says spring is near quite li...You said it - nothing says spring is near quite like a tray full of babies (seedlings that is!) under the grow lights.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-17466246526843674662016-04-17T11:07:32.035-04:002016-04-17T11:07:32.035-04:00I enjoy knowing someone else grows from seeds indo...I enjoy knowing someone else grows from seeds indoors. It's so rare. Sure is a nice way to get through the end of the winter blues.Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07834331771109216377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-8237570555371230702016-04-02T21:15:16.986-04:002016-04-02T21:15:16.986-04:00Thanks Patsi! Nothing beats starting from seed, b...Thanks Patsi! Nothing beats starting from seed, both in terms of knowing exactly HOW the plants were grown but also when it comes to the incredible selection of varieties.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-38607957264913829392016-04-02T12:39:39.032-04:002016-04-02T12:39:39.032-04:00You go girl, nice to see someone who starts from s...You go girl, nice to see someone who starts from seed. You're one of a few who start up plants like my husband and I do. Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07834331771109216377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-2221956695551729282016-03-29T20:25:06.369-04:002016-03-29T20:25:06.369-04:00Thanks Dave! I would love to try some peppers in ...Thanks Dave! I would love to try some peppers in pots, but I am so notoriously bad at keeping containers watered. I do have a couple of extra pepper seedlings - maybe I'll plonk one of those in a container and see how it goes. I have gotten much better with indoor plants over the past year, so maybe that will rub off on outdoor potted plants too :)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-15141950792738052012016-03-29T20:23:15.247-04:002016-03-29T20:23:15.247-04:00Oh, thank you Chris! And yuck is right! It seems...Oh, thank you Chris! And yuck is right! It seems I'm outside for a day, trying to get caught up on cleaning the ornamental beds and then I'm stuck inside for 3 or 4 days afterwards as the temps dip and we get rain/snow. Where's the consistency?<br /><br />Growing from seed is rewarding, but can also be a challenge. I didn't do anything from seed in the first couple of years except for veg that you seed directly outside like beans & peas. Gardening is so much more enjoyable when you take small(ish) steps rather than giant leaps which can so easily lead to frustration.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-18126816614856040382016-03-29T13:45:45.624-04:002016-03-29T13:45:45.624-04:00Your peppers are looking good. I'm a little be...Your peppers are looking good. I'm a little behind and just put the pepper seeds into baggies to pre-sprout. I think I learned that technique from you. I decided to try Lemon Drop again but like Mark and Dave, will grow it in a pot to bring inside when it gets cold. They take a long time to fruit and ripen, just about the time of first frost here.David Veltenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07710293718143454000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-70596746079914474492016-03-29T11:39:19.155-04:002016-03-29T11:39:19.155-04:00Again such a super informative post! I love eating...Again such a super informative post! I love eating and cooking with peppers- I grew some last year and they were great! Maybe as I get more experienced and confident and organized I'll start raising plants form seed.we have family in Southern Ontario and I heard about the icky weather. Your winter is late to the party but I see you could get another cold blast :( yuck!! Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00207070175643675951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-69408790475272297122016-03-28T20:26:03.400-04:002016-03-28T20:26:03.400-04:00It wasn't good, but nowhere near as bad as the...It wasn't good, but nowhere near as bad as the one a couple of years ago. Yes, keeping track when you have so many different varieties can be tricky. What I've learned is that you have to slow down and take your time, taking care of one seedling at a time - when you rush, that's when the labels get mixed up or forgotten altogether & then you are wondering what you planted until you get your first harvest (or even afterwards, sometimes!)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-66882967378991523952016-03-28T18:02:17.874-04:002016-03-28T18:02:17.874-04:00Heard about your ice storm, pretty bad according t...Heard about your ice storm, pretty bad according to my sister in Ontario. How do you manage to keep track of all those peppers? You must be a very methodical and organized person.norma changhttp://gardentowok.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-8928529016481306432016-03-28T11:13:57.890-04:002016-03-28T11:13:57.890-04:00It sounds like you are doing great with your peppe...It sounds like you are doing great with your pepper plants! Isn't it wonderful when you "tweak" a method and it works out so well. I was going to transplant mine into larger containers yesterday, but then realized that I didn't have any potting soil, so I'm off today to get some. I'm hoping to get them settled into their new bigger homes by tonight. Looks like this is shaping up to be a great pepper year for us!...and now I'm hoping this doesn't jinx things :)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-68642484597048033662016-03-28T11:10:58.481-04:002016-03-28T11:10:58.481-04:00Oh, thanks Tammy :) How disappointing that you di...Oh, thanks Tammy :) How disappointing that you didn't end up getting what you thought you would - seed mix ups are not that uncommon. The same thing happened to me with some kale a couple of years ago. Maybe you'll give peppers another go at some point. Chillies are so rewarding - even one plant can give you a mound of little chillies that you can then plonk into the freezer to use whenever you need that bit of spice in a dish.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-88577395070452600032016-03-28T09:08:06.933-04:002016-03-28T09:08:06.933-04:00Those seedlings are looking very good! I always ha...Those seedlings are looking very good! I always have started my tomato/pepper seedlings on a heat mat (in peat pellets) but I have one new step this year. They stay on the heat mat all night then I have been moving them under the fluorescent light for 17 or so hours (as opposed to just staying on the heat mat with only natural lighting the entire time). Seems to have worked well as most have already reached the stage for transplanting.<br /><br />I wish us both luck with the sweet peppers this year!!Susiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10354350096358468967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-8733407780570676872016-03-27T22:48:48.793-04:002016-03-27T22:48:48.793-04:00The last time I grew peppers I mixed them in with ...The last time I grew peppers I mixed them in with flowers, thinking they would be beautiful as well as ornamental. But the flowers shaded them and the peppers ended up being small and red instead of large and purple. The company said several types of seeds ended up in the wrong packages. It was a fun surprise but I just buy them at the farmer's market now. But I so wish I could shop your blog and eat what you grow! Casa Mariposahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16647089868277238456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-60822302937649997752016-03-27T14:00:18.067-04:002016-03-27T14:00:18.067-04:00It was not only it's good looks but your descr...It was not only it's good looks but your description of Aji Limon's flavour that had me placing it at the top of the list this year. So many times an herb or veg is named in an enticing way (suggestive of a given flavour) but then I'm disappointed when it doesn't taste at all as it "should".Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-9769952337100055952016-03-27T13:32:40.881-04:002016-03-27T13:32:40.881-04:00Sounds like you are now hooked on growing peppers ...Sounds like you are now hooked on growing peppers / chillis! It's a very addictive pastime, I can tell you. The Lemon Drop / Aji Limon chillis are amongst the last to ripen in my garden, but very worthwhile. Their taste is amazing - very citrussy.Mark Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04558305122821209520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-2992048809029086342016-03-27T11:04:01.271-04:002016-03-27T11:04:01.271-04:00I'm crossing my fingers that I'll be able ...I'm crossing my fingers that I'll be able to at least get a few chillis from the Lemon Drop. I suppose a lot of that depends on our summer weather. Hopefully we have a repeat of last year and I'll be able to fully take advantage of it this time round. It will be fun to see how our Lemon Drop peppers compare!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-76761941070876284902016-03-27T11:02:34.676-04:002016-03-27T11:02:34.676-04:00The solanaceaes are such an incredible family, are...The solanaceaes are such an incredible family, aren't they? And chillis are so pretty - it's one of the few veg that is at home both in the edible and ornamental section of the garden centre.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-53395823257954466752016-03-27T10:59:34.582-04:002016-03-27T10:59:34.582-04:00It's only been a few years, but I'm finall...It's only been a few years, but I'm finally beginning to understand the differences in our seasons :) You may not have sown any pepper yet, but you'll also be harvesting peppers from gigantic plants while the snow flies here!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-87675856251182506822016-03-26T14:19:06.748-04:002016-03-26T14:19:06.748-04:00Those pepper plants are looking good! I have trans...Those pepper plants are looking good! I have transplanted mine but they are nowhere near as big as yours. I have the same problem with things drying out on the heating mat, and I mostly get them off it as soon as I can. But then I have a greenhouse to grow the plants on, so that helps get them to size up. I'm trying Lemon Drop here too, but I will likely keep it in a container. I have a long enough season to get the baccatum peppers to ripen, but not enough garden space to grow all I want to grow!Dave @ HappyAcreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03441364543023807886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-85425885365246531812016-03-26T11:22:54.690-04:002016-03-26T11:22:54.690-04:00Goodness, eight hours without power, your photos a...Goodness, eight hours without power, your photos are beautiful though, the ice does make things look very pretty. I think peppers are like tomatoes, you can really go made choosing and growing lots of different varieties, there's so many out there. I've only grown them a couple of times myself, and then only for their ornamental value as we're not lovers of chillis.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17436932004631816039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-56154325086080365842016-03-26T11:17:49.077-04:002016-03-26T11:17:49.077-04:00Wow, your seedlings are huge already! I haven'...Wow, your seedlings are huge already! I haven't sown a single pepper seed yet, but I'll be starting this coming week. This year I'm going to do a lot more pre-germinating. I tried it with a few varieties last year after seeing your success with it. I'm like you, lots more sweet peppers than hot ones.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07812702328134261533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-59422927411855292422016-03-26T10:54:52.404-04:002016-03-26T10:54:52.404-04:00I'm sure they appreciate the toasty environmen...I'm sure they appreciate the toasty environment!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-38840337676240356882016-03-26T10:54:30.529-04:002016-03-26T10:54:30.529-04:00Hi Jan - I'm glad you popped over! Peppers ar...Hi Jan - I'm glad you popped over! Peppers are a favourite around here too and when you grow your own, there is certainly no lack of varieties to try!<br /><br />Out of all the "normal" weather phenomenon, I would say that I get the most worried about high winds - they can do such damage! Fingers crossed that they don't wreak too much havoc on your end. I hope you have a great weekend too!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-5821542549321771692016-03-26T10:51:59.590-04:002016-03-26T10:51:59.590-04:00Thanks Nancy - I took full advantage of the techno...Thanks Nancy - I took full advantage of the technological down time to relax, sit in front of the fire and knit. I would never think to do that in the middle of the day normally, but you know, I really should! Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.com