Garden 2025

[pepperhead212]

Today I went out and uncovered the rosemary, which I had covered for the second time, when it was even colder, for longer than the first time, and there is little damage to the plant, except what some that was touching the tarp. This should be the last time temperatures get too low for the rosemary, but I left the tarp and the weights there, just in case, and I'll put them away later in February.
Rosemary, uncovered on 1-30, with only a little damage to the needles touching the tarp during those very cold nights. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

 

[larry_stewart]

Looks nice and healthy! I have a few rosemary cuttings in my hydroponics that seem to have taken root. the mother plant didnt fare so well, so Im glad I took the cuttings

 

[pepperhead212]

The dill was the only thing I harvested from those hydroponics today, but I had to cut that back, as it was up in the bulbs again. And I had to replace one of those 47" LED fixtures - don't believe that 30,000 life hours they give for things like this. Still, I got them from Harbor Freight cheap - $9.99 - when they were getting rid of the old kind, to make room for the "linkable" type. So it didn't owe me anything. And they grow great hydro and seedlings, as well.

Here is that stuff in the hydroponics, none harvested now, but the basils, lettuce, and mizuna I've been snipping as needed. The cilantro lasted longer than I thought it would, and I got quite a bit from. The parsley is starting to grow well now that the boc choy isn't shading it anymore.
Russian red kale, next to some of the leaf lettuce, and the Mizuna behind it. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Leaf lettuce, with the dill already harvested behind it. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

A lot of basil, with some za'atar behind it, and some leaf lettuce on the far right. Removed the flowering from some of them, though there wasn't much. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

About the third flush of epazote, trimmed almost flat twice, so far. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

The parsley growing well now that the one boc choy is removed. Epazote behind it growing like crazy by pepperhead212, on Flickr

That one head o Koquie boc choy, 2-1 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Lebanese za'atar, scented somewhat like thyme. 2-1. Basil growing behind it. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

Wu Choy, surrounded by basil, za'atar, and Mizuna. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

 

[pepperhead212]

And here's one more, since 8 is the maximum number of photos here. This is that wideleaf Landrace mizuna, and the old variety, with finer leaves. Neither has flowered yet, which is a long time for this.
The larger leafed Mizuna, with the regular on the left. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

 

[larry_stewart]

Do you do anything to boost the humidity during the winter ?

 

[pepperhead212]

Nothing other than the hydroponics tubs, and the plants themselves. Humidity is never a problem.

 

[larry_stewart]

I usually grow a Japanese variety eggplant ( the long thin ones).. They seem to be the most predictable for me. This year I want to grow another variety that is similar in shape but smaller in size than the typical large eggplant. Maybe about 6 or 7 inches in length, and about 2 - 2 1/2 inches at its widest part. I included a pic of the one im interested next to the typical larger eggplants and also in my hand to get a general idea of what Im talking about. Has anyone grown these smaller ones before? if so, what variety are they ( or something similar).

 

[pepperhead212]

I grow mostly Asian type eggplants, too, but last year I grew Motrosik - a larger, fatter variety, but not as spongy as the usual larger ones, and not as large as the usual Black Beauty, and others you see in stores. They were 20-24 oz on average, and definitely heat resistant - I got the seeds from a lady that grows them in central Florida! They would get a few at a time, then those would fill out, and when I picked them, they'd get a few more flowers, and those would grow again - IOW, they don't get too many at a time, so they can grow to full size quickly. I'll definitely be growing these from now on. Here's a photo showing the size, next to Asian varieties, the Matrosik about 7" and 6" long.
More eggplants - 2 Ichiban, 5 Asian Delight, and 2 Matrosik, 8-21. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

 

[dragnlaw]

Do either of you prepare the Globe eggplants in dishes different that you do the Asian eggplants?

 

[pepperhead212]

Do either of you prepare the Globe eggplants in dishes different that you do the Asian eggplants?

Occasionally, I might want some larger, broader slices of EP for some recipes, though for most things I make with them, I use chunks, or thin slices from the Asian varieties. Or ground up, when it doesn't really matter what I start with!

 

[pepperhead212]

Today I got my trays out of the shed, along with some of the small pots, for starting some of the brassicas in, and those types of things. Very windy, and the same tomorrow, though warmer. I pulled that large tarp, that I protected the rosemary with twice, out flat on the lawn to dry, weighting it down, and tomorrow I'll fold it up. Once it started getting dark, I came in, and ate some leftovers, then went to my workshop, and cut up 2 more sub-irrigated planters. I had one that I made last year, but hadn't used yet, and I had 2 more of the same tubs, so I used the one from last year as a template. I'll finish them tomorrow, though it will be about 2 months before I use them.
Made 2 more Sub-irrigated planters today, or at least I cut the pieces up and drilled them. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

 

[caseydog]

March is here. When I get back from Denver on the 17th, I will plant this year's "crop." It is a small garden, and my rosemary, thyme and oregano survived the winter. I need to plant some new basil, and I think I will do a few pepper plants this year.

Cayenne peppers for sure, because I can't buy them in the local grocery stores. I'm not sure about jalapeños, even though they are easy to grow, because I can find them in every grocery store, all year long. I'm toying with some Anaheims. They are harder to find here.

I'd like to find some shade tolerant foods to plant, since most of my yard is shaded by a HUGE live oak tree. Any suggestions?

CD

 

[larry_stewart]

Do either of you prepare the Globe eggplants in dishes different that you do the Asian eggplants?

I use the larger eggplants when making an eggplant parm type of dish and need the larger pieces . if im cutting it up into smaller pieces I'll use either. A lot of the Asian dishes I make usually use the long , thinner eggplants with the skin on. I'vehad better luck with the Asian varieties in the garden than the larger ones when it comes to productivity. I get more bang for my buck, which is why I grow more of them in the garden. Once grew amuch smaller variety where the eggplants were literally the size of eggs. I used them a lot Indian foods. They did so well the first year, but never had a repeat season, so I stopped growing them. Another year I got a free packet of seeds for an eggplant that was long and. thin, almost like a hot pepper shape, but 6 - 8 inches ( or longer, and much thinner than the typical Asian varieties I grow. They did well, but havent grown them since. As Farr as taste goes, I dont really notice a big difference between the varieties I've had, so its more the size, shape and what I plant on doing with them that dictates which one I will use .

 

[pepperhead212]

Yesterday I cleaned up outside, weighting things down, since this heavy storm was heading here. I also folded up that large tarp I had covered my rosemary and sage with, during the extreme cold, twice. I had it spread out in the yard, to dry out for a week, and yesterday, folded it up, tied it up, and put it away, until next year.

The garlic is coming up well, though the varieties varied considerably, with some barely showing yet. The shallots are just starting to show. After the photos, I put another generous layer of ground leaves on the garlic and shallots.
Some of the better looking garlic, coming back after dieing back, with the cold winter. 3-3 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

A close-up of the shallots coming up, for the first time this season. 3-3 by pepperhead212, on Flickr
A couple of days ago I finished the 2 SIPs, by cutting out the screen covers for the trays, and the liners for the wicking columns. I stacked them behind a chair, in my living room, so they won't get in my way, until time to use them!
The screen covering the tray on one of the SIPs, and the two wicking chimneys, showing one of the liners used for this. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

 

[dragnlaw]

I stacked them behind a chair, in my living room, so they won't get in my way, until time to use them!

So handy those chairs. If I can't find anything - that's where I head to.

 

[taxlady]

I also folded up that large tarp I had covered my rosemary and sage with, during the extreme cold, twice. I had it spread out in the yard, to dry out for a week, and yesterday, folded it up, tied it up, and put it away, until next year.

So, what are you doing instead to protect the rosemary and sage?

 

[pepperhead212]

So, what are you doing instead to protect the rosemary and sage?

I only had to protect them those two times when I had some very cold weather. The first time, in January, it got to the single digits, and low teens for 10 days, then in the low teens in February, for just a few days. I pulled it off to the back, after that first cold spell, and just pulled it back, when the second one came through. But now, those cold snaps are gone. Maybe down briefly in the 20s, but that's is. Rosemary is resistant down to 20°, the one I have (Hill Hardy) a little lower, but I don't take a chance when it's supposed to get really low. ARP is a cold resistant variety that can go even lower, but doesn't taste as good, and I had that die on me many years ago, uncovered, in the high single digits. Sage is more resistant, and comes back every year, but I covered it, since they are right next to each other.

 

[pepperhead212]

The only onions I have out there are scallions, the ones that died back in late fall, and a bunch of seeds of 3 varieties I planted in mid fall, none of which have come up yet. Here are the ones coming back now:
Scallions, coming up just a little later than the garlic. 3-7 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

 

[taxlady]

Question about your scallions. I have had scallions come back, but all I ever got was long hollow stems/leaves. I'm trying to remember if the returning scallions grew flowers. I think they may have. @pepperhead212 do you get more than hollow scallion tubes?

 

[larry_stewart]

I plant the root tips of store bought scallions ( that accumulate in my fridge during the winter. The center stalk is usually a hollow, more rigid flower stalk ( which I'll collect the seeds from), but there are a number of side shoots that are goof if you need scallion greens. I also plant my shallots solely to use their greens. My shallots are pathetically small, but their green shoots aer somewhere in between a chive and a scallion in thickness. The bulbs are the size of a garlic bulb ( at best). Not worth the effort to try and peal.