

It isn't so easy for peppers and eggplant to grow in the conditions I provide for them before they are set out. Once in the garden, conditions are even worse but the plants have developed some strength.applestar wrote:....I AM disappointed that the eggplant seeds are yet again giving me trouble — ...
Peppers — especially pointy fruited hots and sweets — are easy to overwinter.
Well, that's an idea: try to separate the heat lovers from the cool season plants in the greenhouse.applestar wrote:Can you put something black under them? Maybe a black tote/storage box with black lid filled with water? Black stock tank with a cover ... if you are doing that, maybe even connect to a solar water heater (DIY or otherwise).
applestar wrote:I estimate 4 more weeks until tomato planting weather, 5-6 more weeks until pepper planting weather....
The seedlings are chugging alongThis should mean 3-4 more sets of true leaves on the tomatoes by then. Peppers are generally slower-growing.
...Tomatillo seedlings in the top-left photo — First time growing these ... I started them with first round of peppers and they are growing fast (one of them was touching the light bulb in the morning and got scorched before I noticed it). I probably could have waited to start them with tomatoes.
...I’ve started moving seedlings with true leaves out to the cooler Garage V8 Nursery. These will be Uppotted to individual and divided community containers soon.
Finally, FINALLY got the chance to plant the garlic —
Just had to copy the above here. The progress in these seedlings compared to photos earlier in on this page is just amazing!applestar wrote:TOMATOES in Garage V8 Nursery — I’m running out of room but the community pots are burgeoning... however, with overnight forecast in the 30’s with windchill of 33°F, 33°F, the 31°F for the next three nights, I’m forced to wait.
PEPPERS (and eggplant...odd tomatoes here and there) in the house on Winter Paradise (inside the covered shelves) and Winter Paradise Penthouse (outside the cover above the shelves):
applestar wrote:It's really bumming me out that the question of how-to hand pollinate those Pink and Purple Mexican corn is becoming moot. I have been looking and looking, but see no sign of silks emerging, while the tassels have been maturing and dropping pollen.![]()
HOWEVER, I did harvest some more fun corn for sorting and saving as seeds. The best part is that one of these Applestar's Medley #popcorn# and at least another one that's still green and will be harvested when ready have a small chance of having caught some of the Pink and Purple Mexican corn pollen.
applestar wrote:Here are some fun corn you can grow if you INTENTIONALLY cross/hand-pollinate your corn
I don't know what I'm doing, though. All I know is that the shrunken kernels are likely due to the the (sh) genes that make the sweet corn hybrid varieties sweet. I'd love it if you could comment on what you see. Any thoughts? Tips? Advice for what to do next?
Harvested today -- Kandy Korn x Glass Gem F2, self pollinated and/intentionally crossed with available pollen from Mirai350BC, Ashworth, Double Red Sweet, volunteer that might be Bloody Butcher.
I'm definitely going to save the seeds from that top one with ALL the different colors separately. That one is a beauty. DD jokingly asked if she could EAT that one– I told her she can eat what grows from them next year
Harvested a few days ago
MIrai350BC cobs -- .Lots of shrunken kernels? Some are shrunken but GG like?
In the next group, same top and bottom as above but the middle one is Ashworth for comparison
Here are more Ashworth
Mirai350BC x Double Red Sweet F1
Most of the watering so far this year has been with a basin and setting flats full of containers in there and leaving them ... quite some time! Tedious, yet againapplestar wrote:In addition to temperatures, direct sunlight, and wind, it’s very important to check and see if the seedlings need water before leaving them for the night and first thing in the morning for sure. I still find “hefting” to be the best indicator, and tedious as it may be, it IS best to heft-check each individual container. ...