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Re: Checkin' in...

Hi Cheryl,

> Hi... I'm one of the lurkers; I read and read and read, and now just HAVE
> to post....

Good for you Cheryl! ;-)

> When Mel said 12" for broccoli, he musta been kidding!  Mine is huge and am
> now having to cut back a few of the leaves to let the light in... In the
> fall -- 18" for shur!

I agree, 18" is what we use and they are jammed at that!

> I started my 20 tomato plants in my basement last February, and they
> (having given away almost 100 others) are doing terrific ln their
> Wall-O-Waters.  Blossoms and even a few baby 'maters so far!  My Viva
> Italias and Pricipe Borghese are the earliest fruits so far, though it will
> be several weeks before I can enjoy these.   The WOW's are still in place
> as Honey hasn't had time to build my trellises yet but I'm so excited!
> We're eating a bit of salad (found out too much organic compost in the soil
> may NOT be a good thing for water retention!!!), and broccoli and now the
> sugar peas are finishing up.  Can't wait for salsa season, and have just
> planted my cilantro seed so hopefully all will ripen about the same time.

When do you set your plants out?  Seems like you're starting your tomatoes
really early.  The disadvantage to this is that their growth gets held back if
they stay in containers too long - tomatoes are almost weeds and will grow
incredibly fast if given the resources to do so.  For example, we start our very
earliest tomatoes by the beginning of march and they end up in 1.5 gallon
containers a couple of weeks before they go into the garden the last week of May
(mind you we have a greenhouse).  Most of our tomatoes get started by mid march
or even a week or two later ... the mid march starts end up in 3 litre
containers and the later starts seem okay in deep 4.5" pots.  Anyway, just
rambling ... you seem to be doing just fine with your plants so keep it up! :-)

> Others have mentioned slow growing peppers... well mine are no
> exception.... Almost appear stunted in growth due to the mid 40's temps at
> night around here.  They have their little milk cartons on them most nights
> but it just isn't enough.  Next year, I will start them much earlier in the
> basement!

About the beginning of march is good for most peppers here (we can set plants
out by May 24 - June 1) and mid feb or earlier for the very slow growing chiles
like habanero, etc.  The tricks I've found with starting and growing peppers are
good, rich soil, starting in small containers so the soil doesn't stay too wet
too long, potting up to good size containers as the plants grow, adequate
spacing (don't jam them together or they'll grow up spindly), light & heat, and
cloching them once they're in the garden.

> Zone 7 and 3500' level does have it's drawbacks, but then I don't have to
> deal with 100+ temps very often and can in  fact grow lettuce/salad stuff
> all summer long!

> Thanks for this list and hope you don't mind the fact I just read mostly!

> BTW... Hi Cuzin Ricky!

> Huck (Cheryl Cowan) (California zone 7ish)

   ____________________
  |                    |
  |     Bob Carter     | Kootenay Bay, BC, Canada
  |  bcarter@awinc.com | Zone 6b
  |____________________|


Breeding rabbits is a hare raising experience.

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