2015 Steve's Garden 5
East Bethesda, Maryland, February 21, 2015. It's been a pretty mild winter until last week when temperatures fell to the single digits. Today we got over 7 inches of snow. No tractors on South Chelsea Lane until Spring. Not much happening outside that you can see but plenty of action under lights in my basement. On February 1 I started a tray of pepper plants. It took only three days for most of the seeds to germinate. Conditions? Jiffy Organic Seed Starting Mix, plastic trays with rigid clear plastic lids, 70-80 degree ambient temperature, shop lights with both cold and warm color temperature tubes 10" above the trays with height adjusting chains, moderate but constant applications of water as needed. After the seeds sprout and look like sturdy little plants I take the trays upstairs in the evening to a cooler and darker location. People, it's easy. If you're still buying plants you should try to grow your own. On May 1 I'll plant Corno Di Toro Rosso Peppers, Etudia Orange Sweet Peppers, Szentes Hungarian Yellow Peppers, California Orange Bell Peppers, Red Cheese Peppers (the sweetest I've ever grown...), Red Thai Peppers, Chesapeake Fish Peppers and Baby Bell Sweet Peppers. In July we'll have plenty of fresh sweet and hot peppers for the table and for our neighbors.
2015 Steve's Garden 5
East Bethesda, Maryland, February 21, 2015. It's been a pretty mild winter until last week when temperatures fell to the single digits. Today we got over 7 inches of snow. No tractors on South Chelsea Lane until Spring. Not much happening outside that you can see but plenty of action under lights in my basement. On February 1 I started a tray of pepper plants. It took only three days for most of the seeds to germinate. Conditions? Jiffy Organic Seed Starting Mix, plastic trays with rigid clear plastic lids, 70-80 degree ambient temperature, shop lights with both cold and warm color temperature tubes 10" above the trays with height adjusting chains, moderate but constant applications of water as needed. After the seeds sprout and look like sturdy little plants I take the trays upstairs in the evening to a cooler and darker location. People, it's easy. If you're still buying plants you should try to grow your own. On May 1 I'll plant Corno Di Toro Rosso Peppers, Etudia Orange Sweet Peppers, Szentes Hungarian Yellow Peppers, California Orange Bell Peppers, Red Cheese Peppers (the sweetest I've ever grown...), Red Thai Peppers, Chesapeake Fish Peppers and Baby Bell Sweet Peppers. In July we'll have plenty of fresh sweet and hot peppers for the table and for our neighbors.