What Was I Thinking?

A few warm days, hinting at spring, can make some gardeners lose their minds, and their good judgment.

Last week I started some seeds on the heat mat in the house. I wanted to get a head start on some of the plants that take a longish time to germinate, or things I might have trouble with, so I would have time for a second try.

So I started some Shiso, which I couldn't get to germinate AT ALL last year, and some Celery, which is difficult and takes a long time to wake up. I started some Basil, which I had problems with last year. I think I put it outside too soon and I lost a lot of plants to damping off. I also started some Cilantro and Dill, just to give them a head start.

And I started 12 of the Red Rocoto Peppers that were my obsession last summer. I think they still might be this year too. You can read more here, if you wish, Rocoto. I planted 12 in the hopes that I will have some to share at the 2nd Annual Spring Garden Exchange. I anticipate that it will be a good chance to do some proselytizing.

Anyway, the problem is that somehow, along with these sensible choices, I planted cucumber and pumpkin seeds. 2 kinds of cucumber! egad. As evidence that the heat mat is great way to wake seeds up and get 'em going, the Basil has poked it's tiny heads above the surface of the soil. And the cukes and pumpkin sprouts are ALL up and pressing against the plastic lid of this seed starting contraption, which is matter-of-factly named Germination Station. And it's been less than a week!

I knew I'd have to transplants all of these seeds eventually. The germination station is just a compact place to get lots of seeds started. But now I've got to do something about these over achievers, and soon. I'll transplant them into small pots, but they'll have to stay indoors for a few weeks at least, since it's still too cold outside.

I should have waited. These are fast growing, heat loving plants, and it's just too early. But that's what spring does to those of us with "the affliction".

Currently On The Menu

So what is actually available to eat from the Backyard Farm at the moment? Well lots and lots of lovely salad. This is a salad mix planted by William and Kaitlyn, 2 of my neighborhood Jr. Farmers. Yes, I am not ashamed to exploit child labor. Plenty of arugula too, even though it is quickly going to seed.

Swiss Chard and Mixed salad greens


Strawberry and Rainier Raspberry (unknown variety)

Bull's Blood Beet and Nantais Carrot (tiny, yet mighty)


Genovese Basil Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan)


Coming Attractions

and the Manzano pepper is just about to blossom.

Peas, Pepper Update and the Tale of the Little Apple

The gorgeous weather over the last few days has caused writing about gardening to be rather sparse. Please accept my apologies. But I hope you are out in your own gardens and not in front of the computer.

Lovely Peonies, one of the many splendors of spring.







PEAS! The first ones of the season.
I'm pretty sure these were not here yesterday. But I noticed them today while watering. That's one reason I like to water by hand, it really forces me to take, long, close up looks at the plants. I know it is easier and more efficient to set up watering systems and maybe someday I will, but for now I love discovering new developments while watering.









And here are the Manzano Peppers, related to the Rocoto. They seem to be thriving despite getting a little sunburned in the mini greenhouse. The Rocoto seeds are stewing on the seed starting heat mat and I hope to see them poke their little heads up soon. Updates to follow.





And yes, the little apple seems to be growing into a teenager. The brothers of this tree did not blossom this year, so there will be no fruit. I can only attribute this to the fact that they different varieties, Cox's Orange Pippin and Hudson's Golden Gem. Both trees are bigger that the Northern Spy and they look healthy.



It won't be long now until we'll be enjoying juicy, fragrant strawberries.

Rocoto Zombie and The Bean Queen

Okay, now that I got my Rocoto pepper plants I can relax a little. But while I was deep in the throes of hunting them I'm sure I was asked by more than one person, "What's with you and these peppers?"

And I would answer in a robotic monotone. Don't. Know. Must. Have. My arms extend straight out in front of me, eyes glaze over and focus on middle distance. I push past the inquisitor and walk stiff legged, muttering Ro-co-to. Ro-co-to.

Perhaps I exaggerate, am I not allowed to crack myself up?

Anyway, it's not like I'm one of those chili pepper nuts.
I DO NOT have a hot sauce collection.
I DO NOT have a cap or t-shirt or any apparel posing the question, "Got Habanero?"
I DO NOT order all food "3 Alarm" hot.

I'm just a gal who stumbled across an interesting plant that I'd like to add to my garden. Besides, it's not like I'm growing 7 different kinds of beans, or somthing equally eccentric. Yes, I do know someone with just such a fetish, but discretion prevents me from revealing her identity. She might not go to the Spring Garden Fair with me next year.

So she is growing 7 kinds of beans, but I'm the one with the problem. That's the beauty of gardening. Oh sure, all the noble, uplifting stuff about communing with nature. But more importantly, it provides a way to direct the crazy in us all and cloak in normalcy, kinda.

Score!

So today was the big field trip to Jerry's to see about the Manzano peppers. I didn't know quite what to expect, it might be a total bust. It turned out to be just the opposite. He was much less nervous in his own element, very generous with his time and knowledge.

At the end of a long driveway sat 2 huge greenhouses. Inside sat hundreds of plants, tomatoes, peppers, asparagus, greens, flowers, etc.

The shrub pictured below is 8 or 10 Manzano pepper plants started last year. They are about 6 feet high, after only 1 year! That's a vigorous plant. These are planted in the ground and stay indoors all year. He also has large 4-5 foot plants in pots that spend the summer outside and come in for the winter.









I was stunned to put it mildly.






I didn't expect to see any fruit on these plants, let alone ripe fruit. And he generously gave me this one to take home.













Of course I cut it open as soon as I got home. Sure enough the seeds were black. And although Jerry warned me that it might not be hot, it had plenty of heat, not so much as to blow your head off, just right. So I bought 3 plants in gallon pots.










They had lots of other exotic plants, like this blooming cactus.















But the super big bonus was a full shopping bag full of oyster mushrooms. Yes, he grows these too, and forced a big bag on me. And wouldn't let me pay him for them.












Mel helped me inspect them. And she did a quality control taste test.
















It was a great day of botanical aquisition. I am very excited about growing these peppers.
Oh, I also brought home 2 more tomatoes, a Valencia, and a Cherokee Purple. And 2 more peppers an Aji Angelo and a Fish pepper. Of course I don't need them, but Jerry's low-key enthusiasm caused me to lose my mind.

And he charged me...$15 for the lot.

In addition I got a tip on a great Volkswagon mechanic in Portland. What more could you ask for? Nice people.

Rocoto Underground

It came as no surprise to me that there were no Rocotos to be found at the Master Gardeners Spring Garden Fair last weekend. That's okay, I enjoy the quest.

There was a guy selling a huge variety of unusual peppers, but they were are really, really small. I looked through all the trays of peppers and I started to get excited, seeing things that none of the other vendors had. But I didn't see any Capsicum Pubescens varieties. So I asked the guy running the stall if he had any. He said no, but wagged his thumb in the direction of another man standing in the corner who turned out to be Jerry. Jerry and his wife grow Manzano peppers, related to the elusive Rocoto and frequently grown in Mexico.

It was kind of hard to get information out of Jerry, he was acting kind of secretive, glancing furtively from side to side, as if he might be apprehended. He gave ambiguous, impenetrable answers to what I thought were very ordinary questions form me. He shrouded himself in an unnecessary air of mystery and intrigue about the secret society of Capsicum Pubesens. This just piqued my interest. I half expected him to open his trench coat, to reveal a display rack of pepper plants.

I think he was just trying to show a little professional courtesy to the guy whose canopy he was standing under. Trying to make sure he would not be seen stealing customers. I don't think the pepper guy cared at all, he was too busy selling the peppers he had.

Jerry gave me his wife's phone number and I spoke to her today. She was very generous with her knowledge and experience with growing the Manzano peppers, not mysterious at all. I'll be visiting her tomorrow to get a few plants and look at the plants they grow, some of which she described as 5 feet tall in pots. Can't wait.