What did you do in the garden today?

[gtaus]

We moved all the peppers into the house in anticipation for 31 degree temperatures (almost unheard of in Florida this early). I covered what I could but our garden is probably toast.

Over the years, I have learned that I cannot put out my pepper plants early in the year. Cold weather can stunt their growth for the entire year. Better to wait until a couple weeks after the last frost date to put them out in the ground. Where I live in zone 3b, that means mid-June for transplanting the pepper plants outside.

Hope you did not lose everything. Good luck.

 

[TaylorGlade]

Over the years, I have learned that I cannot put out my pepper plants early in the year. Cold weather can stunt their growth for the entire year. Better to wait until a couple weeks after the last frost date to put them out in the ground. Where I live in zone 3b, that means mid-June for transplanting the pepper plants outside.

Hope you did not lose everything. Good luck.

These are ones we planted in March. They survived the heat and will overwinter in the house.

 

[gtaus]

Super cold here. They even had snow if the forecast for Halloween but took it out before evening. Lots of neighborhoods reported very few trick or treaters as it was in the mid 20’s.

We had snow on the ground a week before Halloween this year.

Winter coming too early this year. However, I managed to get all my winter preps done in time for the snowfall. So, I felt good about my efforts. Nice not to have to worry about garden hoses freezing outside in the garden, etc...

 

[gtaus]

These are ones we planted in March. They survived the heat and will overwinter in the house.

March is the time of year that I start to gather my seed starting and potting supplies to start plants in the house early in April - giving me about 8 weeks inside growth before transplanting outside on Memorial weekend the end of May.

Do your pepper plants grow better the second year? I have never tried to overwinter my pepper plants inside the house. I have read mixed reviews about the process. Some say they get stronger plants the second year, and other say they don't produce as many peppers. What is your experience?

 

[jerryse]

That's what I do, except I dump the leaves in the chicken run. The chickens break down and compost the leaves faster than just sitting in a compost bin. And the chickens love playing in a pile of leaves. Cheap entertainment for me.

I sometimes till them into the garden since I no longer have chickens.

 

[CNJ]

Thanks for posting your DIY 2 bin Earthbox again. I really think that is a great system.

For those interested, there is another method of cutting the top lid of the bin to make the bottom barrier between the water reservoir and the growing medium. That way you only have to use 1 bin per DIY Earthbox. Check out the YouTube videos for ideas.

Here is one that I liked....

The cover picture of the video looks different than the actual build in the video. That looks like an improvement.

 

[FrannyNZooey]

March is the time of year that I start to gather my seed starting and potting supplies to start plants in the house early in April - giving me about 8 weeks inside growth before transplanting outside on Memorial weekend the end of May.

Do your pepper plants grow better the second year? I have never tried to overwinter my pepper plants inside the house. I have read mixed reviews about the process. Some say they get stronger plants the second year, and other say they don't produce as many peppers. What is your experience?

I’m trying some overwintering this year. I’ve currently got eggplant, bells, and banana peppers potted up in the garage. We’ll see how it goes. I will probably start some seedinglings in Feb as backups, along with some new varieties.

Yeah, this year I transplanted my peppers the first week of May.

 

[TaylorGlade]

March is the time of year that I start to gather my seed starting and potting supplies to start plants in the house early in April - giving me about 8 weeks inside growth before transplanting outside on Memorial weekend the end of May.

Do your pepper plants grow better the second year? I have never tried to overwinter my pepper plants inside the house. I have read mixed reviews about the process. Some say they get stronger plants the second year, and other say they don't produce as many peppers. What is your experience?

Ours sometimes last a few years. We live in Florida, so our planting season is a little earlier. I frequently start seedlings in January to plan outside in March. For me I've noticed it depends on the type of pepper. Bell peppers don't generally do as well with it as hot peppers.

 

[Sammster]

I hear mothballs work great to deter skunks taking up residence under houses and sheds. Maybe so. But then you have to put up with the mothball smell.

Lesser of two evils I guess.

Good luck, in any case.

Something to consider

 

[jerryse]

I got seeds in the mail - yellow hollyhock single flowered. Fall sowed them in a mineral tub. Now the long wait until spring. Taking a break from leaf mowing.