Growing Peppers

 

Peppers have been grown and cultivated in the American continents for thousands of years. It wasn’t until Christopher Columbus traveled back to Europe that peppers were introduced overseas just a few hundred years ago. It was the Europeans who gave peppers the name we know it by now. Now, tons of peppers are grown and sold every year all over the world.

 

It’s hard to imagine a garden without peppers. The glossy green leaves and colorful fruits brighten up even the drabbest areas. People have come up with creative and delicious ways to enjoy them. From stuffed sweet bell peppers to jalapeno jelly to pickled peppers, the vegetable spices up our lives and meals.

 

When growing peppers, there are a few things to do to help you have a successful harvest.

 

• If you haven’t planted peppers yet, it’s not too late. The warm air will have finally heated up the ground temperature so peppers will be especially happy and healthy. Growing from seed will not work now, because of how much time the plant needs to put out fruit. Greenhouses and garden centers will still have a large selection of plants for a good price.
• Peppers prefer daytime temps of 70 degrees F and nighttime temps of 55 degrees or higher. Also, the soil temperature needs to be at least 55 degrees so the pepper won’t be stunted.
• Peat pots should be torn in a couple of places before planting to give the roots room to stretch out.
• Plant peppers in nutrient rich soil and fertilize after the plant starts blooming.
• Plant peppers level with the ground. This is where tomatoes and peppers differ. Tomatoes will form roots if the stalk is planted deeper making the tomato hardier to extreme weather. Peppers have a woody stalk so planting them deeper than level with the ground could damage the stalk.
• Pepper plants grow well in large pots if you are limited in space.
• Peppers like to be watered regularly but make sure they are in a well-drained area or pot to prevent diseases.
• Peppers need at least 6 hours of sunshine a day. However, in the summer months, intense heat can cause the blooms to fall off and prevent fruiting. Move the pepper to a shadier area if in a pot, or use something to shade the plant during the hottest part of the day.

 

 

 

Growing Fruits and Vegetables in Containers

 

If you live in a condo, apartment, or a place with little garden space, it doesn’t mean you can’t grow your own fresh veggies at home. Many Americans are downsizing to smaller homes without a large yard to maintain. Container gardening is the answer and a rapidly growing trend.

 

Growing in a container is as easy as, and sometimes better than, planting in the ground. You have control of the amount of sunlight, soil, and fertilizer. Also, you can choose a location that is convenient, and keep plants safely away from

hungry wildlife. Arranged attractively, some planted containers make gorgeous decorations for decks, patios, and porches.

 

There are only a few things that are a requirement when growing edibles in a pot. Otherwise, don’t be afraid to have fun experimenting with your favorite plants.

 

• The most important thing when planting in a container is to make sure there is at least one hole in the pot to let excess water drain.
• Pot size is also important. Most plants will do well in a pot that fits their full grown size. However, some – like heirloom and beefsteak tomatoes – have a deep root system that helps to anchor the plant. With these, up to a 20 gallon container may be necessary. If after planting, it begins to look stunted or stops blooming, move up to a bigger size container.
• Hanging baskets, buckets, grow bags, or any decorative pot you like can be used. There are also commercially designed planters made especially for container gardening.
• Potting soil mixed with mushroom compost, composted cow manure, or your own homemade compost will help grow a healthy plant.
• Slow release fertilizer mixed in with the dirt will help feed the plants over the growing season. After the plants begin to bear fruit, fertilize with a liquid fertilizer at least every two weeks.
• Container plants require a lot more water maintenance. During scorching summer months you may have to water as often as every day if the plant does not get rain. Drip irrigation is very inexpensive, easy to set up, and saves a lot of time.
• Compact and dwarf plants are best for smaller containers. Vining plants like cucumbers and zucchini can be trained to grow up a trellis to keep out of foot traffic, or can be placed in a hanging basket to grow down. There are also bush varieties available. Plan to stake or cage large tomatoes.

 

 

Celebrating Earth Day

 

The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970. It was planned as a way for concerned Americans to show their support for clean air and water. Millions of people came together that day across the United States, from all walks of life in their communities. By the end of that year, the Environmental Protection Agency had been formed and laws protecting water, air, and wildlife were put into place. Earth Day is now remembered every year on April 22 with events in countries all around the world.

 

This year, Earth Day falls on a Sunday so more people will be off from work and school to enjoy the day. If the weather is nice in the area, it would be lovely to just sit outside for a few minutes and notice nature. Smell the air, look at the sky, and listen to the birds. Spending time outdoors has been shown in studies to help reduce stress hormones.

 

 Below are a few ideas to help you make plans for your Earth Day.

 

• Watch your local news and newspaper for community events in your town. Metropolitan areas usually have bigger    gatherings, but small local communities have get-togethers too.
• Plant or pot a tree, bush, or flower for your home or yard. Pick trees that fit the size of your yard when fully grown. Don’t plant too close to powerlines. Before digging deep holes, call your service provider to mark underground utilities.
• Start a vegetable garden. In zone 7 there is still a small chance of frost but you can buy plants and plan with your family and friends where and what you want to grow.
• Start a recycling plan. Pick one item such as plastic, newspapers, glass, etc. that you want to recycle. Buy a container to hold the items. Find out where a recycling center is in your area.
• Plan an outdoor event such as a picnic or nature walk. Talk to your boss, pastor, or family about helping to organize the fun.
• Tell others about Earth Day such as children, family, friends, or co-workers, and post on social media. Hand out tiny packs of wildflowers to help spread the word.
• Start a compost bin to recycle vegetable scraps, coffee grinds, grass clippings, leaves, and shredded newspapers.
• For your next major purchase, think about choosing a more energy efficient automobile, appliance, or home heating unit.

 

Shamrocks

By April Hensley

 

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17 every year around the world. St. Patrick was an evangelist who introduced Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century. Holiday makers wear the color green, watch parades, and attend great parties.

Shamrocks are a symbol of St. Patrick’s Day. The plant is a member of the clover family, native to Ireland. It is also Ireland’s national flower. Four-leaf clovers are reported to be a sign of good luck if you find one. Potted shamrocks are sold in garden centers and floral departments to decorate for the holiday.

 

 Shamrocks are an easy plant to care for and grow in your home. Here are a few things to consider and remember:

 

 • Shamrocks are a member of the Oxalis family and grow from tubers. Tubers are thick and fleshy. The leaves, flowers, and roots grow from the tubers growing in soil. Other plants that grow from tubers are begonias, dahlias, and caladiums.

 • Shamrocks are famous for their green color but there are purple ones too. Plants will bloom a couple of times a year with small delicate flowers.

 • Ensure the pot has drain holes in the bottom. A lot of plants come with decorative plastic wrap for gift giving. Remove it when watering and after the holiday. Standing water will rot the tubers and kill the plant.

 • Unless you live in zone 8 or warmer, most shamrocks will need to be a houseplant during the winter months. They can be displayed outside during the warm months in filtered sun to partial shade.

 • When the plant is indoors, place in a sunny window but out of direct hot sunlight.

 • If the plant begins to wilt, water it thoroughly. The plant should perk back up in a few hours.

 • Water weekly during the growing season. If the plant leaves start to turn brown, let the dirt dry out and allow the plant to go dormant for a few weeks. This helps the plant renew itself and have healthy fresh growth. When green shoots emerge from the soil, start watering again.

 • After a couple of years, the plant stems will begin to get leggy and thin. This is a sign that the plant needs to be re-potted because the tubers have outgrown their space. Remove to a bigger pot or divide the tubers up and put some in another pot to keep, or give away to a friend.

 

 

 

Succulents

By April Hensley

 

Succulents are amazing, ornamental plants that withstand dry conditions by storing water in their stems, roots, stalks, and leaves. Here in zone 7, most succulents must be houseplants because of our harsh winters. This means the plants don’t need to be watered as much. They are perfect plants for indoor gardeners that love the beauty without a lot of maintenance. They come in many attractive sizes, shapes, and colors. Popular indoor succulents are jade, aloe, and burro’s tale. Some hardy succulents for outdoors in zone 7 are hens and chicks, agave, and yucca.

 

My first succulent was given to me as a gift by a future in-law. It was a beautiful jade tree, about 6 inches tall, in a decorative pot with no drainage holes. I’d never owned a succulent, so had no idea what I was doing. The dirt felt very dry so I watered it heavily. In a couple of days the leaves began to turn soft and yellow. So I soaked it again. It was only a few days before the plant fell over dead. It had rotted from too much attention.

 

The most important point of care for succulents is water. They need it like all plants but prefer to be dry and not doused often. Since succulents store the fluid, they are drought tolerant. They prefer the ground to dry out between watering. Start out moistening the plant once to twice per month depending on your temperature and humidity. You can always add more if the plant needs it.

 

Though succulents are a drought tolerant plant, they cannot withstand direct very hot sunlight. Six to eight hours a day of early morning sunlight from an east facing window is ideal, but any indirect sunshine will work fine too. If the plant is not getting enough sunlight or it has to pull towards light, it will become stringy and leggy.

 

Another important thing is to make sure the pots you use have holes in the bottom for drainage. Standing water can rot the roots of any plant and succulents are especially susceptible to this problem. Usually the liquid will flow straight through the pot, so watering over a sink will be helpful. The type of dirt used for potting succulents is essential for the health of the plant. Well drained soil is a must. Most people opt for a prepackaged bag of succulent and cactus soil.

 

Fall Garden Chores

By April Hensley

 

The growing season has come to an end once again. Almost everything in the garden has been harvested. The grass has stopped growing and some lawns are turning brown. Most of the leaves have dropped from the trees and bushes. We only have colder weather to look forward to. Nature is finally ready for its long winter sleep.

 

I’ve always thought with the holiday rush, it was good there wasn’t much to do in the garden in autumn. However, it’s a great time to prepare your lawn, garden, and tools to be their best for next spring. In just a few short months we will be getting back in the dirt. With just a few hours on a sunny weekend, you can be miles ahead when warm weather rolls around again.

 

Start with bringing in potted plants you want to keep. Ferns, begonias, tropical plants and those that won’t tolerate cold weather need to be moved indoors or to a frost- free area like a garage or basement. Check for bugs under saucers and in the bottom of the pot. Submerge the potted plant in water with a few drops of dish detergent for 30 minutes. Wash off the top and underside of leaves. Scrub the outside of the pot. There are organic insecticidal soaps that you can use to protect against fungus gnats. Check for safety with pets and children.

 

Pull weeds in your garden and beds so seeds do not drop on the ground. Those tiny nuggets become big problems in the spring. Dispose of any garden plants that had bugs or disease, like fungus or squash beetles. Do not place them in your compost pile. If you have compost ready, go ahead and spread it on your cleaned out beds.

Leaf cleanup is a big job in the fall. Leaves are a perfect addition to a compost pile. A bagger on the lawn mower sucks them up easily and chops them into smaller pieces. You can also use them for mulch or save for later if your composter is full.

 

Some other simple things to do:

Clean up garden tools and get them out of the weather.

Follow the directions to add a gasoline stabilizer additive to any of your gas powered equipment.

Apply fertilizer to lawns, trees, shrubs, and flower beds.

Place mulch around bushes, trees, roses, and other plants that need protecting.

 

Planting Perennials in the Fall

 

Late last summer I bought some clearance plants at a big-box greenhouse. The price was too good to pass up. They were perennials, so I planted them hoping they would make it through the winter. The weatherman called for frost soon after, so I covered them with leaves for extra protection. The wind soon blew the leaves away. I really didn’t think the plants

would make it. Some were a little slower popping up this spring, but they all came back strong!

 

The fall months are the ideal time to plant perennials. A perennial is planted once and it comes back more than one year from the roots. An annual is a plant that only lives one growing season from the roots but can come back from seeds that drop on the ground.

 

Potted perennials, herb perennials, and some annual flower seeds do best when planted around six weeks before the ground freezes. This gives potted perennials time to establish roots to survive the harsh winter months. Mums would be one of the exceptions to this. Mums are a perennial but they need more time to get their roots established before winter, so save them in a freeze proof area to plant in the spring.

 

When planting potted perennials, remove the plant from the container. Place level with the ground. Fill the hole with water before covering. When the water soaks in, fill the hole with dirt. Keep the plant moist until the ground freezes. There is no need to fertilize until spring. Some people prefer growing their plants from seed. Try planting in the fall. Some seeds, especially several herbs, need those months of cold so when warmer weather arrives it signals the seed

the right time to start growing. This helps grow bigger, healthier plants and earlier blooms. The only downfall would be if something dug in the beds over winter or you forgot where you planted.

 

Don’t forget to label or make a chart.

 

Starting a Fall Garden

 

August holds the record for the hottest day in Tennessee. It’s almost unbearable to be in the garden except in the early morning and late evening. Besides a little weeding, watering, and fertilizing, the garden is busy doing all the work for us

now, producing a heavy harvest. Summer blooming flowers are still putting on a colorful show.

 

As hot as it is, now is the time to be starting a fall garden. A fall garden usually consists of plants that prefer cooler weather or improve flavor after a light frost and a shorter growing season.

 

Many people plant a spring garden and a fall garden. Others are so busy during the spring months that they prefer to only plant a fall garden. Summer growing crops have been harvested or the plants are dying back.

 

There are many advantages to planting a fall garden. The heat and sunshine of August help the plants get established and the seeds to germinate. Fall gardens avoid common diseases caused by heavy spring rains and chances of late May frost. Also, they avoid the damaging storms of early summer. Most plants and seeds are reduced in price or clearance priced in late summer.

 

Several disadvantages exist also. Your area may get an early hard freeze so you would have to cover your plants temporarily to protect them. Also, there could be hungry birds, animals and bugs late in the season looking for a luscious meal.

 

There’s not much difference in how the two gardens are planted. Keep plants and seeds watered until they are well established especially in the summer heat. It may be easier, due to the heat, to start seeds inside until they are ready to harden off for planting. Add some good rich organic compost or soil conditioner to perk up the soil if you think it’s needed. Most fall crops are 60 to 80 days to maturity. Check the back of the seed packet for days to harvest. Find the average first frost date for your area. Our area of Zone 7 is October 15. Count backwards to make sure you have enough growing time before you plant.

 

If your plant needs 60 days, if you plant by August 15 you will harvest on October 15.

 

Here is a list of common fall garden plants:

• Brussel Sprouts (plants)

• Lettuce

• Cabbage

• Broccoli (plants)

• Collards

• Beets

• Carrots

• Kale

• Cucumbers

• Onions (sets)

• Turnips

 

Blooming Spring Bulbs Indoors

 

Now that all the bright uplifting seasonal decorations have been .  packed away until next year, our indoors can look a little colorless and depressing. Add to that, everything outside is brown, dreary and frozen. Our moods can take a deep dive after the quick-paced adrenaline rush of the holidays.

 

Looking forward to gardening can help brighten our spirits. Spring is only a little over three months away, but it can feel like an eternity on subzero mornings. You can add a refreshing touch of spring early by forcing bulbs to bloom indoors. You don’t have to like gardening to try your hand at it. It’s one of the simplest, most beautiful forms of indoor gardening.

Spring blooming bulbs need a period of dormancy to be able to bloom when the weather warms up. Planting bulbs indoors mimics spring temperatures and tricks the bulb into blooming. You will need to manually expose the bulbs to cold—not freezing—temperatures for at least a few weeks before planting. This is called stratification. Do this by putting the bulbs in the refrigerator in a bag in a back corner.

 

Label them clearly so no one mistakes them for food. Also, there are ready-to-plant indoor bulb kits that have been stratified.

 

• Bulbs often used are daffodils, paper whites, crocuses, amaryllis or any bulb that is spring blooming.

• Choose a decorative container to root the bulbs. Bulbs can be grown in water or dirt.

• If placing in water, use any container without a drain hole such as a vase where only the roots touch the water. Or

fill a container with gravel or clear marbles and plant with the root end half covered. Keep water level below gravel.

• If planting in dirt, use a pot with a saucer to prevent overwatering. Bury the bulb two-thirds deep pointed side up in indoor potting soil. Keep moist.

• Place the container in a sunny room. In a short time you should see green start to emerge from the top of the bulbs.

• Depending on the type, it may take several weeks for it to bloom. Keeping out of direct sunlight helps blooms last    longer.

• After the bloom fades, let bulb die back naturally. The leaves absorb nutrients from the sun to feed the bulb for next year’s blooms.

• When warm weather arrives, bulbs can be planted outdoors except amaryllis. It cannot withstand cold weather.