BYC gardening thread!!

[hippiestink]

We got an early cold front, so I pulled in some of my more tender container crops like the tomato cuttings and thai chili. Corn is putting out ears and silk now, beans are nearly done, and tomatoes are finally ripening on the vine.

 

[hennible]

Weirdest thing, our jalapeno plant produces green jalapenos. Then out of the blue, there is a red one. What?

They ripen red. My Purple jalapeños are ripening orange.

 

[lizardandchicks]

They ripen red. My Purple jalapeños are ripening orange.

The other ripened jalapenos weren't red. And this one had always been red.

 

[hennible]

That's wild, huh.

 

[hennible]

This has some info
http://jalapenomadness.com/harvesting_jalapeno_peppers.html#.VdUfoopHbCQ
What colour were the other ripe peppers?

 

[lazy gardener]

So, my pumpkin plant has been producing flowers for a while. It had produced 3 female flowers so far. 2 had both started growing, but then died only days before they should have opened. Can anyone help me? I want to Try to prevent that with my third flower which just started developing.

Has it been real hot where you are? My guess is that it's too hot for successful pollination. You might try hand pollinating with a soft brush, or pick a male blossom, and remove all the un-necessary parts, wipe the pollen from the stamen of the male flower onto the pistil of the female flower.

 

[lizardandchicks]

This has some info
http://jalapenomadness.com/harvesting_jalapeno_peppers.html#.VdUfoopHbCQ
What colour were the other ripe peppers?

green. Thanks, I will have to look at that.

 

[lizardandchicks]

Has it been real hot where you are?  My guess is that it's too hot for successful pollination.  You might try hand pollinating with a soft brush, or pick a male blossom, and remove all the un-necessary parts, wipe the pollen from the stamen of the male flower onto the pistil of the female flower.  

It hasn't been hot, and they die before they bloom. I hand pollinate all my squash, as we don't have many bees.

 

[bcAddy]

It hasn't been hot, and they die before they bloom. I hand pollinate all my squash, as we don't have many bees.

Sounds like it is time to start a backyard hive then.

 

[trailrider330]

I am hoping to plant a container/rock garden just outside my new chicken coop. So, I am looking for some suggestions for good things to plant that the chickens will not tear up/eat. I have been to a few sites looking for suggestions, but thought I would seek out information and suggestions from my fellow BYCers based on their personal successes with various plants and chickens.

Here's my inspiration:

Some things to keep in mind:
I am planning to do a container/rock garden to limit chicken damage from scratching.
We live in hardiness zone 6a.
The front of the coop faces south, so the area gets part sun to sun.
I would like to plant mostly perennials and have a variety of plant heights and colors.
I am going for a country/cottage garden look.

Some plants I was considering are:
perennials - hollyhocks, campanula, candytufts, phlox, sedum, coneflower, peonies, black eyed susan, coreopsis, butterfly bush, delphinium, aster, day/tiger lilies, ornamental grasses
herbs - thyme, chives, lavender, lemon balm, mint, rosemary (as some are good for pest control)
bulbs - Daffodils, tulips, hyacinth, iris,

Are there any plants you suggest I avoid?
Is there anything you suggest I plant?