Rita,
There are 4 Tabasco plants in the picture above. If they start cranking out again when the weather changes, I'll get a year's supply of dehydrated Tabasco powder. I'm just at the end of last year's batch, and, this harvest is coming in right on time!

Additionally, I have one Hot Chili pepper plant that put out more in the beginning of the season than all four of those Tabasco plants. But, I think they're late bloomers, cause they sure are catching up! Or else it was just too hot for their comfort.

Now, they're getting comfortable!

Gymgirl said:Rita,
There are 4 Tabasco plants in the picture above. If they start cranking out again when the weather changes, I'll get a year's supply of dehydrated Tabasco powder. I'm just at the end of last year's batch, and, this harvest is coming in right on time!

Additionally, I have one Hot Chili pepper plant that put out more in the beginning of the season than all four of those Tabasco plants. But, I think they're late bloomers, cause they sure are catching up! Or else it was just too hot for their comfort.

Now, they're getting comfortable!

You sure do get a lot out of your plants.

Uh oh, Rita -- is "planning lots of peppers for next year" going to be something like the tomatoes this year? Did you buy more property?

Weedwhacker said:Uh oh, Rita -- is "planning lots of peppers for next year" going to be something like the tomatoes this year? Did you buy more property?

No, I didn't add any property.

But this year I REALLY am overwhelmed with my tomatoes. Just too many. Too many plants. So am going to cut back to only 100 plants.

That means I have been planning already in my mind what I will not grow or grow less of. And where I will not put tomatoes. Mostly going to put peppers in the freed up spots.

"So am going to cut back to only 100 plants."

Weedwhacker said:"So am going to cut back to only 100 plants."

I got a kick out of that one too! If I had a 100 tomato plants I'd have no time to do anything else. The year I had 27 I couldn't keep up picking them all. That's like me telling people I'm down to 19 horses now.

I didn't realize you had that many horses, Tom -- have they been multiplying?

I have absolutely no idea what I would do with 100 tomato plants -- especially since it seems like the majority of people that I know don't even like tomatoes (unless they're in the form of ketchup or something)...

How many iris have you "cut back to" ?

Weedwhacker said:"So am going to cut back to only 100 plants."

Okay but for me it it really will be cutting back from this year.

tveguy3 said:

I got a kick out of that one too! If I had a 100 tomato plants I'd have no time to do anything else. The year I had 27 I couldn't keep up picking them all. That's like me telling people I'm down to 19 horses now.

Well, I end up having to pick every day. If I skip a day they seem to get ahead of me.

I had 44 horses at my highest count in 2003. I am "down" to about 600 irises, give or take 50. These are named cultivars. I have culled a few varieties this year, but added about 60 new ones. I have about 160 iris seedlings in the ground from previous years, and estimating about 150 new seedlings that need to be lined out this year. I have made about 25 crosses that took and am in the process of harvesting the seeds now. Some crosses produce over 60 seeds, and others as few as two. About one in 5 of the crosses I made produced seed pods. I have a friend in Iowa who takes my extra iris seeds.

Now back to peppers, I see I have a few bells that need to be picked. My pablano's are coming along nicely too. I should have chili Rellenos soon.

>> So am going to cut back to only 100 plants.

Awwwww! But you'll still be Queen of the Tomatoes!

I was thinking that you might go over to some kind of share-cropping arrangement, or CSA, or bring in hordes of neighbors to do picking and tieing-up!

RickCorey said:>> So am going to cut back to only 100 plants.

Awwwww! But you'll still be Queen of the Tomatoes!

I was thinking that you might go over to some kind of share-cropping arrangement, or CSA, or bring in hordes of neighbors to do picking and tieing-up!

Believe me no one anywhere around here is going to threaten my Tomato Queen title.

As to the share cropping I would not like that at all. My garden is my garden and that is the way I like it.

>> My garden is my garden and that is the way I like it.

I understand and agree. When someone offers to help, I find myself snarling about "MY garden!"

If someone else works in it, it is less "MY" garden.

RickCorey said:>> My garden is my garden and that is the way I like it.

I understand and agree. When someone offers to help, I find myself snarling about "MY garden!"

If someone else works in it, it is less "MY" garden.

Newyorkrita said:

Believe me no one anywhere around here is going to threaten my Tomato Queen title.

As to the share cropping I would not like that at all. My garden is my garden and that is the way I like it.

You sure don't have to worry about me threatening that title, Rita -- I'm hoping to go back to 12 plants next year (well, okay, maybe 14... or 16...)

and as far as not wanting other people trooping around in the garden -- me either! they can't tell a weed from a good plant, and break the branches when they pick, and, and... (laughing, but I really DO feel that way!)

http://www.growingproduce.com/... For those who are serious pepper growers, some of the new introductions.

I've given up on the California wonder. I may as well pull it up but it isn't hurting anything where it is now, I guess. Anyone want the remaining seeds I have? Lol.

I think I'll end up getting about 3 or 4 more bells off the orange king plant I have. Still not much, but better than the other. The cherry is producing well, though I suspect I'll be picking them all green before it gets cold. The little jalapeño is trying so hard, I'll probably get a few before frost.

All in all, a bit of a bust on the pepper front but there was a lot of learning. Start much earlier, use heating pads, grow lights, and don't wait for the little seedlings to get bigger before giving them a better growing medium. .. they were waiting for the move to get bigger and I was waiting for them to get bigger to move. Heh. Next year, I will have peppers!

Weedwhacker said:

You sure don't have to worry about me threatening that title, Rita -- I'm hoping to go back to 12 plants next year (well, okay, maybe 14... or 16...)

and as far as not wanting other people trooping around in the garden -- me either! they can't tell a weed from a good plant, and break the branches when they pick, and, and... (laughing, but I really DO feel that way!)

I know you try for the 12 tomato plants each year but then end up with more. Who can resist more tomato plants?

robynanne said:I've given up on the California wonder. I may as well pull it up but it isn't hurting anything where it is now, I guess. Anyone want the remaining seeds I have? Lol.

I think I'll end up getting about 3 or 4 more bells off the orange king plant I have. Still not much, but better than the other. The cherry is producing well, though I suspect I'll be picking them all green before it gets cold. The little jalapeño is trying so hard, I'll probably get a few before frost.

All in all, a bit of a bust on the pepper front but there was a lot of learning. Start much earlier, use heating pads, grow lights, and don't wait for the little seedlings to get bigger before giving them a better growing medium. .. they were waiting for the move to get bigger and I was waiting for them to get bigger to move. Heh. Next year, I will have peppers!

Try something more productive. Like Shistuto. Cranks out the peppers but of course they are not bells. For Bell peppers I like Lady Bell but that is just my favorite.

Really the Japaneses peppers like Shistuto are mess up proof!

Oh, I have read that bell peppers are the most difficult of the pepper plants. Well, not the plant but to get the fruit to pick.

farmerdill said:http://www.growingproduce.com/vegetables/17-of-the-latest-pepper-variety/?utm_source=knowledgemarketing&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=avgenews+08182016&omhide=true&eid=225307000&bid=1501398 For those who are serious pepper growers, some of the new introductions.

Wow some really lovely ones there. Makes one really want to plant peppers!!