Black Peppers

Tomato - Beefsteak Big Boy

The 1st Tomatoe

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FREE TIBET!

Glasshouses #2

This later variety of chili is a Habanero Paper Lantern.

info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habanero_chile

Of the 10+ cultivar we've attempted to grow this season these peppers have shown the best viability, health, and vigor so far. The Scoville Scale (at 100,000–350,000) indicates these will be the hottest chili we'll be growing.

This season we are both growing courgettes (and a gifted marrow) indoors and outdoors as part of the x3 sisters. Many of the indoor plants are already starting to set to flower. The rest were planted outdoor today (thanks for the help Ben).

Permaculture is a methodology and practise involving the management of agrarian resources alongside places of habitation. It's all about bringing the garden into the home and the home into the garden. Permaculture is the single most effective way in which people can help aid the ecology of the planet alongside the ecology of the social being.

Glasshouses

Luckily, we've both got glasshouses at home; allowing us to start tender plants off indoors, before planting out. Haylek's glasshouse sits 10c lower than mine, which is ideal for staging plants off slowly. These tomatoes outside under full shelter are already producing some nice trusses of fruit.

These chilies / peppers are indoors on the glasshouse floor.

Several plants make themselves naturally welcome in and around the home, so we are gradually become acquainted with a variety of plant species that we'd otherwise never have grown.

Plot19

From back to front the plot design seems to be working quite well. The main roots bed is a bit empty, but we still have some radishes and some tender herbs to plant.

The potato beds are the main feature at the moment. So far they are looking healthy with no signs of virus, pest, or disease. The garlic forefront started producing spears ready to flower and so have been removed.









From front to back this side of the plot still needs some work. The pond is drying out ready for lining so makes a great staging-off shelter for plants. The patio doors were already on-site, but make an ideal glasshouse roof.

Tom Bed #1

The Tomato bed has been active now for the past couple of weeks. This year we are experimenting by adding plants in stages to see how they react to outdoor temps. Conditions are now just about right for outdoor planting. But we still have lots of plants protected under glass, just in case.

x3 sisters #2

The x3 Sisters Bed is now planted and starting to take shape.

Temps mean that we cannot plant-out the Squashes/Pumpkins yet, but the Sweetcorn and the Peas (and beans) are finding semblance.

Update

Have been meaning to update the blog for some time now, but have been really busy making ready and potting on. The recent rains followed by 20+ temps have made everything burst into growth. Acquiring a 2nd key for the gates (10quid deposit) has allowed us to travel up at different times; maintaining watering and managing weeds.

Cuckoo-spit is a sure sign that Summer isn't far off. The local Robin is busy catching grubs and insects for the nestbox across the way. The Starlings have flown in from some distant place, squabbling in the Damsons. While the Pigeons are full of pre-planted peas.

The recent dry spell has allowed us to shift the old carpets from the plot to the local council tip (thanks for directions Dad). The shed has been fitted with little plastic hooks (to hang things on), and the tadpoles are now being fed on a diet of tropical fish food (don't ask) beneath the grape-vine which is now starting to shoot. we suspect there is thieving of trowels, someplace along the line, so plot19 is on Amber alert. lol

Marigolds

Some marigolds as companion plants

Garlic #4

The garlic is growing well. The best bulbs will be split and sown next season.

Chili Breeding Part 2

Chili Breeding Part 2

The structure, flowers, and fruit of plant #A and plant #B, as shown here, are very different indeed. Recording the differences between these parent plants now, is important and will be useful later on.

Plant #A - The 'Hungarian Black' chili comes from Kiskenfelegyhaza in Hungary. It can be sown early in February and produces large purple flowers by late April / early May. This plant has many side and lower branches.

Plant #A

Plant #B - The 'Jalapeno' comes from Zalapa in Mexico. It can be sown in Feb/March and produces medium sized white flowers by May. This plant has no lower side branches.

Plant #B

Chili Breeding Part 1

Chili Breeding Part 1

This year we plan on attempting to breed our own varieties of chili / peppers.

After selecting x2 healthy plants from x2 individual cultivar (plant #A and plant #B), we place both plants in isolation, and monitor patterns of growth.

At the stage when plant #A and plant #B are both producing flowers, we start introducing the pollen from plant #A onto the flowers of plant #B.

Plant #A (Hungarian Black)

Plant #B (Jalapeno)

The seed produced by the fruits from plant #B will contain some of the genetics from plant #A and some from plant #B.

Next season the collected seed will be sown out and then in-bred amongst themselves to form a new stabilized variety called... 'Black Jalapeno!'

Early tatties #2-3

The early potatoes are getting themselves ready for harvest. The ridges were mounded last weekend with some extra compost added to help retain some moisture.