2012 lessons learned

[The Future]

It may seem a bit early but it is never to early to note how to improve next year.

1. Make my own compost from kitchen scraps. Everything else I tried paled on comparison to germination and growth rate for seedlings.

2. Use a greenhouse. Got a nice little $99 pop up one and it has protected seedlings from weeks upon weeks on intermittent high winds. I use old blinds as a source of labels and even if seedlings survive the wind they end up getting cut by the label edge eventually.

3. Protect seedlings from slugs. 2012 was my biggest grow out yet. I planted one of every variety I own (274 and counting). With only one of each though, every loss is a it delay especially as we get past the point where fruits will have a chance to set before summer warm nights (June in Bermuda doesn't drop below 73F). On several occassion I lost almost entire 72 cell trays to slugs before I knew it. Elevating the trays on a bench helped. Looking under each tray and 9 pack did too. Inspecting any area they can hide (hole in my weed barrier) found the last of them. Lesson learned. Have not had to resort to beer bait, eggshells etc. but if that is what it takes, will do.

4. Don't plant too early (lost plants due to high winds) or too late (may 17 planting in 2011 did not fruit until November or later' some in 2012.). Ironically an mid summer planting is likely to survive winter winds better despite the longer wait from seed to fruit.

5. Bag large fruits. Snails are ruthless.

6. Pick small fruit at first blush. Tasted just as good and eliminates most of the snail damage.

7. Throw away fruit with the slightest damage. A spoiled fruit among many good ones justisn't worth it.

8. Plant more dwarfs. I am loving these things!

9. Save more seed from plants being stabalized. I have a great prospect (green fleshed yellow clear skinned child of a green zebra x OSU blue f2 created b Tom Wagner). Did not save enough seed and lost many f3s due to issues listed above. Did not realize fruit from the same plant have no variation in genetics and thus saving seed need not be from the largest (or other desirable trait) fruit.

[ContainerTed]

Have you tried using table salt to alleviate your snail/slug problem. I would think placing seedling trays one or two inches off the ground after sprinkling salt on the ground or other surface underneath would give some amazing results.

I have some of those critters here. But I took one standard container of table salt and literally threw it out over the garden and rarely saw one after that. Also, I did not see any difference in any of the plants - tomatoes, peppers, carrots, radishes, brussel sprouts, cabbage, turnips, cucumbers, etc.

I did an experiment up here at the house, and found that one grain of regular table salt put some severe pain on a two inch long slug, and a three percent solution of salt and water (roughly 1 tablespoon per quart) sprayed on them killed most of them.

[The Future]

Interesting idea Ted. Will try this.

[zabby17]

LABEL SEEDLING CELLS IN *INDELIBLE* INK.

I did most of them but for some reason when doing the peppers I picked up another pen, didn't think twice, until several days and many spritzes of water later when I realized half the labels were fading to unreadability. An especial problem when I'm growing red and orange varieties of both Habaneros *and* "New Mex Suave," which looks like a hab but has very little heat! I probably had better not give peppers away until I am sure which is which.... ;-)

Z

[gssgarden]

Putting up a wire fence around my raised bed to keep the HUNDREDS of rabbits that live in the field behind me out of my lettuce!!

Best lettuce and spinach I've had in years!!

Will take it down when the toms get big!

Greg