24,795 Garden Web Discussions | Vegetable Gardening

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HotHabaneroLady(7a Central MD)

I slightly disagree with Dave here. You certainly CAN let the pepper plant go ahead and do its thing. But the total harvest will likely be greater if you continue pinching off buds from a very small plant until it reaches a larger, more mature size. That is because the plant will then devote more energy to getting bigger and the bigger plant can bear more fruit.

So you can do exactly what Dave says. But whether you should depends on what you are trying to achieve. For earlier fruit, do it. For greater harvest, keep pinching a little longer.

Angie

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digdirt2(6b-7a No.Cent. AR HZ8 Sun-35)

Angie - Is there any research that supports the claim of "greater harvest"? How long do you recommend pinching after planting?

Since the plant grows in approximately 2 week cycles of foliage growth and then blooming, if all blooms are removed prior to transplanting then new blooms shouldn't appear for another 10-14 days.

Pinching those blooms it ends up being almost a month after planting (assuming proper planting time and proper transplant size). That would seem to greatly reduce production since it would put many growers into the high heat periods where blossom-drop and dormancy become the main issue.

Dave

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Ohiofem(6a Ohio)

A few years back I left a large uncarved Halloween pumpkin outside where it fell on the ground near our front porch. In the spring long before the last frost, I saw that dozens of seeds had sprouted. Many survived the freezes and even snow, so when the weather warmed up, I culled all but the two largest seedlings and mulched them with several inches of compost. It was in dappled shade with only a few hours of morning sun. I tried to train it to climb up a tomato cage, but after climbing to the top and back down again it began wandering into the lawn, chasing the sun. The vine grew another 15 feet and it began blooming profusely. The flowers were the size of dinner plates and quite beautiful. Toward the end of summer, it produced a couple pumpkins. They were the size of basketballs and still green when we had our first hard freeze. It was a great conversation piece. Since then I've tried purposefully growing pumpkins in whiskey barrels with good sun and fertilization, but never was able to produce another fruit.

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TonioKroger

Thanks for the responses. I had to pull it out as it was going to kill the nasturtium underneath.

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glib(5.5)

1) keep the chard. It will stay mild.

2) it does not affect the flavor IME but it affects the texture.

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kathyb912_in (5a/5b, Central IN)

I grow my chard all summer long, and it does great with our typical 80's and 90's highs. In fact, I'm usually harvesting into November until it's killed by serious frosts.

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planatus(6)

Virginia's own 7 Spring Farm Supply will sell you whatever row cover you want by the foot. I use tulle a lot in summer, but keep two weights of row cover on hand for use at other times of year. Wouldn't be without it.

Here is a link that might be useful: 7 springs farm supply row cover

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bart1(6/7 Northern VA)

Thanks all!

Dave - yep, insect protection on eggplants and peppers.

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catherinet(5 IN)

And they know exactly when it's ready! :(

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mckenziek(9CA)

Some dogs will chase racoons away, if they are allowed to be out at night. And if it is safe for the dogs to be out. (Where I live, it is not really safe to leave a single dog out at night).

McKenzie

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digdirt2(6b-7a No.Cent. AR HZ8 Sun-35)

No "suitable for container" does not mean it can't do well in the ground. It will likely do better in ground. Yes, there is a greater yield from the green than the red IME. As farmerdill said above, the red is a low-yield variety primarily grown for its appearance.

Dave

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annew21(7b NC)

In my experience, red burgundy is high yielding (lots of side branches on the plant if you give it enough room) but I live in the South and maybe all okra does really well here. The nice thing about red burgundy is that the pods remain tender even when you pick them when they are quite long. I'm a big fan of this variety.

- Anne

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jimmy56_gw (zone 6 PA)

Too crowded,I plant mine about 3 feet apart.

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digdirt2(6b-7a No.Cent. AR HZ8 Sun-35)

Agree thin it down to three plants max and 2 would be better IMO. You can tell the difference between the 2 varieties by the leaves and assuming you aren't saving seeds you can cross pollinate them by hand with each other if needed.

Dave

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writersblock(9b/10a)

Well, unfortunately once you have it it's just about impossible to get rid of it. Most people rely on prevention and plan to be done with cucurbits about this time. Some people leave infested summer squash as a kind of sacrificial crop in the hopes that the worms will stick to that and leave melons and such alone. (They seem to prefer summer squash over any other plant, given a choice.)

You can try spraying with spinosad or dusting with BT, but both of these are more effective as preventives than cures since the worms go into the fruit where nothing can reach them, and the moth hides except late at night, so she's not there to be poisoned.

Next season plant early, use row covers, and either hand pollinate or plant parthenocarpic varieties that don't need pollination. (Bees can't get under the row cover to pollinate for you.)

I'm afraid there's no simple solution once you've got them.
Some people do harvest the infested fruits and soak them so that the worms come out, but personally I'd rather throw the squash away than eat it after that. If you have chickens you can make them very, very happy by giving the wormy squash to them. They love pickleworms.

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CourtneyB123

I do believe this worm to be pickleworm..I have picked off as many as I can see and daily I go out and scour the leaves searching for them then I smush them. I have little squash forming and I have hopes that I'll kill off enough of their population before they eat through my squash!!

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ccabal(7)

Yeah I've planted before. The entire flower along with the tiny bean pod dies off. I probably have hundreds of these that have died off, and only a handful of pods that are forming.

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digdirt2(6b-7a No.Cent. AR HZ8 Sun-35)

Any signs of pests at all? Thrips can do that. The condition known as Blossom Drop is another possibility tho you usually can't see the bean yet when that is the cause.

Then there is what is called fruit abortion that can be caused by excess nitrogen, which is common if you over fertilize beans as they don't tolerate N much, or weather stresses.

If you are growing them as always and have had success in the past with your methods then I tend to guess it is unusal weather stress of some sort.

Dave

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powerofpi(5A)

Here you are floral_uk. You're absolutely right, the larger leaf in the top right of the first picture is a rhubarb leaf.

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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

I really do think that the little plant is a Rhubarb. Look at the vein pattern - just the same as on your big plant, I bet. Pull a stem from the large plant and compare smell, texture, and how it is attached at the base. Is it possible your large plant set seed? Seed grown plants can be very variable.

I can tell you for certain it isn't sorrel or chard.

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Newbie-gardener

I have attached some close-up pictures! The cucumbers are "bush champions" fyi.

gosalsk - thanks for your words. I suppose the best way to avoid fungus is avoiding excess moisture?

Here is a link that might be useful: Close up pictures of the leaves

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seysonn(8a WA/HZ 1)

The yellowing on the edges are just some drying out in the sun. Probably they were not used to so much sun when you planted them. I wouldn't be concerned.

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princessgrace79(8 PNW)

I would do a tomato in one, and bush beans in the other. You could always sneak some argula or the like around the tomato - they takes some shade and doesn't get very big.

Another that I enjoy is Kale - we get hotter than you and I grow it all summer. Its traditionally a cooler season veg but it hasn't been my experience with it.

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mav72(10b)

I'd grow bush type zucchini in one and grow bell peppers and bush beans in the other... You could also sneak in some bunch onions in with the zucchini.

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wlynnp_tn(7a)

i use basil and mint too.

hyssop grows about 24 inches tall, has purple spike like flowers that smell like licorice.

good luck to you too!

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loribee2(CA 9)

Gorgeous! Love the mix of edibles and flowers. It all looks to good to eat ;-D

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prairiemoon2 z6 MA

Farmerdill, what a bright red lettuce and it's looking very healthy too. I would rather have a dense, crunchy lettuce too, but, I read a book called 'Eating on the Wild Side' last year that reviewed all the research being done on the nutritional content of vegetables and fruits and the author suggests that nutritionally speaking, a red loose leaf lettuce is about as good as you can get as far as lettuce goes. So I've been eating more of that mixed in with the other lettuces I prefer.

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zeuspaul(9b SoCal)

One of the lettuces I am trying is Sierra. It is only about four inches in diameter now so it will be a few weeks before it ends up in a salad.

Here is some of what Specialty Produce has to say about Sierra health benefits.

Red Batavia lettuces include Pasquier, Polonaise, Rouge Grenobloise, Rustica and Sierra. Sierra lettuce benefits from both its Batavian heritage and its anthocyanin content. The level of anthocyanins in any food plant increase its red coloring, its nutritional value and its perceived value as studies prove that persons respond more favorably to red colored fruits and vegetables.

...................Because of Sierra lettuce's substantial levels of anthocyanins, it contains health boosting antioxidants. Anthocyanins have some of the strongest physiological effects of any plant compounds. Anthocyanins' health benefits include anti-flammatory and anti cancer properties as well as diabetes preventative qualities.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sierra Lettuce description at Specialty Produce

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wantboost

How can I kill these worms?

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woohooman San Diego CA zone 10a

Find them and squish them. Bt K variant may kill them but probably not before they nip the plant. Diatomaceous Earth supposedly controls them but is ineffective when wet and will kill beneficial insects, and you'll probably still lose the seedlings. Beneficial nematodes will work, but they're expensive and take time.

I gave you a 100% cure(since I started using them)to prevent them from nipping your seedlings. No toothpicks? Use twigs. Use nails.

Kevin

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