Grower's Log:
2011 Growing Season
01- Jan 21 - Planted Parsley
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03- Jan 23 - Planted Rosemary
04- Jan 24 - Planted Spinach
- Planted Lettuce
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07- Jan 27 - Lettuce Sprout
08- Jan 28 - Parsley Sprout
- Spinach Sprout
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11- Jan 31 - Planted Oregano
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15- Feb 04 - Oregano Sprout
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17- Feb 06 - Planted Terragon
- Rosemary Sprout
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19- Feb 08 - Terragon Sprout
- Replaced 5000k CFL with 6500k CFL
20- Feb 09 - Added 2nd GE 6500k 26w CFL
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23- Feb 12 - Watered Plants with Chamomile / Clove / Aspirin Tea
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26- Feb 15 - Added 3rd GE 6500k 26w CFL
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28- Feb 17 - Cut the top off the Lettuce container
- Transplanted Rosemary
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33- Feb 22 - Transplanted Oregano into self-watering container
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37- Feb 26 - Moved Spinach to kitchen window
- Planted Celery
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40- Mar 01 - Spinach definitely bolted (long light cycles?). Harvested it.
41- Mar 02 - Planted Stevia
42- Mar 03 - Began using Section2. Moved Parsley into Section2
43- Mar 04 - Celery Sprout
- Planted Thyme
44- Mar 05 - Stevia Sprout
45- Mar 06 - Planted Lemon Balm
- Planted Flowers
46-
47- Mar 08 - Thyme Sprout
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49- Mar 10 - Lemon Balm Sprout
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51- Mar 12 - Planted Peppers
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56- Mar 17 - 1st Pepper is about to emerge.
- Saw signs of mold on surface of Pepper soil. Removed humidity dome.
57- Mar 18 - Nepalese Pepper Sprout.
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62- Mar 23 - Transplanted Stevia
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64- Mar 25 - Planted Kale
65- Mar 26 - Added 4th GE 6500k 26w CFL
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67- Mar 28 - Kale Sprout
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69- Mar 30 - Transplanted Oregano Transplant
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76- Apr 06 - Planted Romaine, Red Lettuce & Escarole + Sage (In unsprouted Cayenne pot)
- Saw white bumps on some peppers
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78- Apr 08 - Red Lettuce & Escarole Sprouts
- Saw small larvae (thrips?) in the Sage container. Trashed it.
79- Apr 09 - Set up Grow Box outside, mixed soil & mulched.
80- Apr 10 - Hardened off Peppers + Kale.
- Topped off Banana Pepper above 1st 2 leaves.
- Created final soil mix for Grow Bed.
81- Apr 11 - Diagnosed Peppers problems as Edema.
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83- Apr 13 - Transplanted Kale to Window Boxes.
- Transplanted Chives to Grow Box.
- Cleaned up Sage from last year.
- Transplanted Garlic Chives next to Sage.
- Planted seeds:
- 1st Radish: French Breakfast
- Carrots: Danvers
- Carrots: Cosmic Purple
- Carrots: Little Finger
84-
85- Apr 15 - Mulched Strawberry Multi-Hanging Pot.
86- Apr 16 - Transplanted Lemon Balm into White Square Pot. Placed outside.
87- Apr 17 - Kale shows wind or sun damage?
- A lot of rain. Had to drain Window Box drip trays.
- Put all Kale on Green Shelf & covered with plastic, leaving front open.
88- Apr 18 - Transplanted 6 Peppers into 32oz containers.
- Made custom potting mix:
- 1 x 1/3 cup Perlite
- 1 x 1/3 cup Vermiculite
- 8 x 1/3 cup MG Potting Mix
- 1 tsp Espoma Garden Lime
- 1 tsp Espoma Tomato-Tone
- 1 tsp Jobe mixed into top of soil
89- Apr 19 - Transplanted 3 more Peppers.
- 2 or 3 Peppers are getting yellow leaves (old leaves).
- Topped off Chocolate Pepper (a leaf had dropped off of it).
- Noticed little white bugs on Pepper soil.
90- Apr 20 - Transplanted 2 more Peppers.
- Sprayed 2 Peppers w/ Bayer Plant Soap.
- Trashed Celery (it was wilting).
- Prepared Round, Orange Herb Pot.
- Prepared bottom of 2 Tan Pots using hollow tube + old MG w/ Perlite added.
- 1st Radish Sprouts
- Transplanted Oregano into White Square Pot. Placed in garage.
- Used 80% MG Mix; 10% Vermiculite; 10% Perlite
- Kale is looking ok. Lemon Balm is lifting up.
91- Apr 21 - Transplanted 1 more Pepper.
- Sprayed 5 Peppers w/ Bayer Pesticide.
- Moved Oregano outside.
92- Apr 22 - Transplanted Rosemary into Brown Ceramic Pot. Placed in garage.
- Transplanted Thyme into White Square Pot. Placed outside.
- Transplanted 2 more Peppers.
- Harvested Parsley
93- Apr 23 - Transplanted 1 more Pepper.
- Prepared: Purple, Red Cal, Gold Cal & Nepalese to give to Merick M. & Jim B.
- Watered all Peppers w/ Neem Oil + Fish Emulsion.
94- Apr 24 - Transplanted 1 more Pepper.
- Gave Away: Purple, Red Cal, Gold Cal & Nepalese.
- Transplanted Stevia into White Square Pot. Placed in garage.
- Planted Seeds Outside:
- Garlic Chives
- Swiss Chard
- Spinach (3 kinds)
- Flat Leaf Parsley
- Shiso + Cilantro + Dill
- Sorrel
- Transplanted Terragon into Smart Balance Container.
95- Apr 25 - Transplanted 1 more Pepper.
- Gave Away: Nepalese, Pasilla Bajio.
- Carrot Sprouts (all 3 types)
- Fertilized Blueberries w/ Holly-tone.
96- Apr 26 - Transplanted Lavender into Orange Square Pot.
- Planted Seeds Outside:
- Carrots (Tonda di Parigi)
- 2nd Radishes
- Lettuce
- Basil (3 kinds)
97- Apr 27 - Transplanted 1 more Pepper.
- All of my Windows Box were trashed. Green Stand had been blown over.
- Had to repot Kales; Reseed Spinach + Parsley; Planted Escarole into Grow Box.
- Planted Seeds Outside:
- Parsley into Grow Box
98- Apr 28 - Transplanted 1 more Pepper.
99- Apr 29 - Started to build PVC Greenhouse Frame.
100-Apr 30 - Spinach Sprouts; Swiss Chard Sprouts; 2nd Radish Sprouts
- Watered Peppers & Herbs w/ Neem Oil & Fish Emulsion.
- Stevia leaves were very limp. Watered several times. Started to improve.
- Planted Lynn's Flowers.
101-May 01 - Stevia is improving.
102-May 02 - Transplanted Romaine, Replacement Escarole & Ruby Red Lettuce into Grow Box.
- Dill Sprouts; Cilantro Sprouts
103-May 03 - Stuck 3 Peppers into Garage Window
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106-May 05 - Finalized PVC Frame & attached it to Grow Box; Punched Grommets into Plastic.
107-May 06 - Reseeded 3 Radishes in Grow Box & Sorrel.
- Set up 5th Window Box (using Water Crystals + 3 tsp Lime):
- Transplanted 2 Romaine + 1 Ruby Red
- Seeded Lettuce Mesclun + Giant Spinach
108-May 07 - Attached Plastic to PVC Frame.
- Transplanted 4 Peppers into Grow Box (Chocolate, Red North Star, , ).
- Added 2 tsp Garden Lime to Bottom of hole & 1 tsp to Top.
109-May 08 - Mulched most of the Raised Bed.
- Lifted 2 sides of the plastic on the Grow Box.
- Shiso Sprouts
110-May 09 - Carrot Sprouts (Tonda di Parigi)
111-May 10 - Began to harden off 4 more Peppers (Nepalese, Banana, Mini Red, Cayenne).
- Planted 2 Ruby Red Lettuces into Raised Bed.
- Prepared 2 Tan Pots for Peppers.
- 3rd Radish Sprouts
112-May 11 - Reseeded Swiss Chard & Spinaches.
- Transplanted 1 Pepper (1st Banana that had been topped off).
- Added 1 tsp Water Crystals to the potting mix.
- Added 1 tsp Espoma Garden Lime into top of soil.
113-May 12 - Mesclun Lettuce Sprouts
- Parsley (Window Box) Sprouts
114-May 13 - 2nd Swiss Chard Sprouts
- Parsley (Grow Box) Sprouts
115-May 14 - Sorrel Sprouts
116-May 15 - ??? Transplanted 4 Peppers into Tan Pots (possibly sooner).
117-May 16 - Jeremiah came to get extra Chives from Tan Pots.
118-May 17 - Planted Seeds in Grow Box:
- Container Lettuce
- Holy Basil
- Italian Basil
119-May 18 - Repotted Hanging White Strawberry Pot into Green Sub-Irrigated Pot.
- Sprayed Soil w/ 1 Gallon of Nematode solution.
120-May 19 - Transplanted 1 Pepper (1st Mini Red that had been topped off).
- Added 1 tsp Espoma Garden Lime into top of soil.
121-May 20 -
122-May 21 - Nepalese Pepper is limping at top.
123-May 22 - Sprayed plants w/ 1/4 H2O2 + 1 Gallon Water.
- Harvested 1 Radish
124-May 23 - Basil Sprouts (Grow Box)
- Harvested some Kale.
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126-May 25 - Transplanted 2 Peppers into Tan Pots (Pasilla Bajio, ).
- Sprayed Strawberries & Peppers w/ 1/4 H2O2 + 1/2 Gallon Water.
127-May 26 - Sprayed Aphids off of Stevia.
- Planted Watercress seeds into White Hanging pot placed into tray of water.
- Strawberries in Large Hanging Pot show sign of fungal damage.
128-May 27 - Sprayed Soil w/ 1 Gallon of Nematode solution.
- Began to harden off 4 more Peppers (Red Cal Wonder, Orange Valencia (x2), Purple).
- 1 Strawberry in Window Box is getting red.
- Transplanted Rosemary into Square White Pot.
129-May 28 - Harvested 1st Strawberry.
130-May 29 - Harvested some Kales & Lettuces.
- Planted Royal Burgundy Bush Beans.
131-May 30 - One of the Peppers inside has a pepper forming.
- Prepared 4th Tan Pot & planted 2 Peppers.
132-May 31 - Planted the other 2 Peppers into Raised Bed (Orange Valencia, Purple).
- 1/2 Tbs Garden Lime at bottom of hole
- 1 Tbs Tomato Tone at bottom of hole
- 1/2 Tbs Jobe at top
- Began to harden off 3 Peppers (Red Cal Wonder, , ).
- Grow Stall Section 2 is shut down.
- ??? Watercress Sprouts
133-Jun 01 - Identified leaf miners on spinaches.
134-Jun 02 - Planted Red Cal Wonder into Raised Bed.
- 1/2 Tbs Garden Lime at bottom of hole
- 1 Tbs Tomato Tone at bottom of hole
- 1/2 Tbs Jobe at top
- 2 of the Spinach types look like they may be starting to bolt.
- Royal Burgundy Bush Bean Sprouts
- Removed plastic cover from Grow Box
135-Jun 03 - Planted 2 Peppers.
136-Jun 04 - Watered plants w/ Fish Emulsion + Seaweed (1/8 Cup : 1 Gallon Water).
137-Jun 05 - Began to harden off last Pepper (Purple).
138-Jun 06 - Peppers are growing well.
- 2 of the Red Winter Kales are turning very purple.
139-Jun 07 - Used foliar spray on Peppers (1 Tbs Epsom Salts + 1 Gallon Water).
- Planted last Pepper (Pepper).
- Placed Stakes into Grow Box for Peppers.
- Repotted indoor Pepper plant into Clorox Container.
- Mixed MG Mix w/ Vermiculite & Perlite
- Added 1 tsp Garden Lime + 1 tsp Tomato Tone
140-Jun 08 - 90+ Degrees today. All plants look ok.
141-Jun 09 - All Spinaches were bolting so I harvested them all.
142-Jun 10 - Cilantro has aphids. Sprayed w/ Insecticidal Soap.
143-Jun 11 - Harvested an entire Romaine head (enough for 2 people).
- Tried harvesting Cosmic Carrot. It was only 1 1/2 inches long.
144-Jun 12 - Moved 2 Blueberry Pots to the vacant patio.
- Planted Blue Lake 274 Bush Beans.
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147-Jun 15 - Watered plants w/ Fish Emulsion + Seaweed (1/8 Cup : 1 Gallon Water).
- Used foliar spray on Peppers (1 Tbs Epsom Salts + 1 Gallon Water).
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149-Jun 17 - Harvested an entire Romaine head plus extra lettuces.
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152-Jun 20 - Transplanted Celery outside into Brown Bucket.
- Harvested an entire Romaine head plus extra lettuces.
153-Jun 21 - Pillbugs are damaging the latest Bean seedlings.
154-Jun 22 - Harvested an entire Romaine head (it had begun to suffer insect damage).
- Turned off Grow Stall.
- Moved last 2 Peppers to garage.
- There has been an infestation of gnat flies.
155-Jun 23 - A storm broke off one of the Pepper stems.
- Lost 3 Peppers.
- Began to tie up Peppers with twine.
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156-Jun 26 - Re-planted Blue Lake 274 Bush Beans.
- Planted Roma II Bush Beans.
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159-Jun 29 - Ruby Red Lettuce has started to develop flower head (pinched it off).
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161-Jul 01 - Moved one of the Blueberries back away from patio. Leaves were yellowing & drying up.
- Watered plants w/ Fish Emulsion + Seaweed (1/8 Cup + 1/8 Cup : 1 Gallon Water).
- Used foliar spray on Peppers (1 Tbs Epsom Salts + 1 Gallon Water).
- Bean Sprouts
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165-Jul 05 - Harvested Ruby Red Lettuce -EXTREMELY bitter.
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169-Jul 09 - Identified caterpillars on Dill: Swallowtail Butterfly
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171-Jul 11 - Dill & Cilantro were blown over, had to stake them up.
- Royal Burgundy Bush Beans are making beans 1 to 2 inches.
- After storm blew through stink bugs were sluggish. I was able to catch them easily.
172-Jul 12 - NOTE: The Parsley planted between the Kale is not growing at all.
- Mixed 2 Tbs Tomato Tone around each Pepper in the raised bed.
- Mixed 1 1/2 Tbs Jobes around Italian Kale.
- Added 1 1/2 Tbs Jobes to the watering cups of the other Kales.
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175-Jul 15 - Some Peppers are starting to ripen.
- Began harvesting Royal Burgundy Bush Beans.
176-Jul 16 - Got "Rescue" Stink Bug trap.
177-Jul 17 - No bugs in "Rescue" trap yet.
178-Jul 18 - Stink Bugs are out of control.
179-Jul 19 - Escarole began to bolt. Harvested 2 large (tall) heads. They were bitter.
- Harvested 6 Mini Red Peppers.
- 1st Red Cayenne.
- 4 young bugs in "Rescue" trap.
180-Jul 20 - Tried spraying Stink Bugs w/ Rubbing Alcohol + Liquid Soap.
- Made them easier to catch.
- Some Bugs died instantly.
- Harvested & strung up 1st Cayenne.
- Set up fly trap to get rid of excess flies.
181-Jul 21 - Harvested Cosmic Carrot.
- Much thicker than the 1st.
- Tops had not yet crested above soil line.
182-Jul 22 - Bought Isopropyl Alcohol & Ethyl Alcohol.
- Made spray bottles for each.
- Added 20 drops of Dawn dish soap.
- Both types seemed equally effective at stunning or even killing Stink Bugs.
- Harvested 4 Mini Red Peppers.
183-Jul 23 - Removed around 10 Peppers that were totally decimated by Stink Bugs.
- Decided to create deterant spray:
- Completely chopped garlic bulb + handful of mint & blended into puree.
- Steeped mixture in 1 qt of boiling water for 3 hrs, then strained.
- Tomorrow I'll add soap & mix into spray bottle.
- Harvested Dill seed heads & hung upside-down.
184-Jul 24 - Harvested Coriander seed heads & hung upside-down.
- Harvested 1 Banana (mostly orange w/ mild Stink Bug damage) + 4 Mini Red Peppers.
- Applied spray to Peppers:
- 2 qt H2O + 1/8c Blue Dawn + 1/8c Lavender Castile Soap + 1/2 qt Garlic/Mint Solution
- Some Bugs died instantly.
185-Jul 25 - Harvested 2 Mini Red Peppers.
- Harvested 3 small Chocolate Peppers (1/2 ripe).
186-Jul 26 - Harvested 4 Mini Red Peppers.
- Harvested 4 Red Cayennes.
- Had to pull up Swiss Chard; water run-off from Round-Up killed it.
187-Jul 27 - All Pepper leaves show slight sight of damage.
- There are rust colored patches on them, esp the bottoms.
- Mini Red & Nepalese dropped a lot of leaves today.
- The spray must have been too strong.
- I seem to be catching around 25 Stink Bugs every day (caught 46 today).
- Harvested 2 Red, 1 Orange Valencia & 1 Golden Cal Wonder (all were 75% ripe).
- Harvested 2 Red Cayennes.
- Watered all plants w/ liquid fertilizer.
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191-Jul 31 - Harvested 14 Mini Red Peppers.
- Harvested 7 Red Cayennes.
- Harvested 5 small Chocolate Peppers (1/2 ripe).
- Harvested 2 Orange Valencia (partial damage on both).
192-Aug 01 - Harvested 3 Mini Red Peppers.
- Harvested 4 Red Cayennes.
- Harvested 2 small Chocolate Peppers (1/2 ripe).
- Harvested 2 small Purple Peppers (1/2 damaged).
- Harvested 1 Orange + 2 Golden + 3 Red Bells (partial damage and/or partial ripeness).
- Harvested 2 Cosmic Purple + 6 Orange Carrots.
- All Bell Peppers have been cut & discarded
(trying to purge Stink Bugs & get new batch of clean Peppers).
193-Aug 02 - Set up brackets for 36" Window Box (23qt or 5.75 gallon).
194-Aug 03 - Harvested 3 Mini Red Peppers.
- Harvested 6 Red Cayennes.
- Mixed 1st layer of soil for 30 Gallon Growtainer.
- 1 part Vermiculite + 1 part Perlite + 3 part Peat Moss
- 1 part = 1 large Smart Balance Container).
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196-Aug 05 - Mixed soil for 36" Window Box & 30 Gallon Growtainer:
- Formula: 8 Miracle Grow + 2 Peat Moss + 1 Perlite + 1 Vermiculite
- For each 2 cu ft MG, add 1.87 gal Perlite, 1.87 gal Vermiculite & 3.74 gal Peat Moss
- In 36" Window Box: add 3 Tbs Jobe's + 1 Tbs Water Crystals
- In 30 Gallon Growtainer: add 1 cup Jobe's + 1/3 cup Lime
197-Aug 06 - Harvested 1 Mini Red Pepper.
- Harvested 7 Red Cayennes.
198-Aug 07 - Planted seeds outside:
- All 3 types of Spinach in 36" Window Box.
- All 3 types of Spinach in 30 Gallon Growtainer.
199-Aug 08 - Harvested 1 Mini Red Pepper.
- Harvested 1 Red Cayenne.
- Harvested 2 Sweet Bananas.
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201-Aug 10 - Harvested 3 Mini Red Peppers.
- Harvested 1 Red Cayenne.
- Harvested 10 Sweet Bananas.
- Pasilla Bajio Peppers are finally starting to turn color.
- Watered all Kale Window Boxes w/ 4 Tbs Jobe's (2 Tbs in each Water Bottle).
- Also added Jobe's to Strawberry Window Box, Oregano, Stevia & Sorrel.
- Mixed new batch of Isopropyl Spray, using 40 drops of dawn.
202-Aug 11 - Spinach Sprouts
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205-Aug 14 - Thinned out Spinach
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208-Aug 17 - Harvested 1 Mini Red Pepper.
- Harvested 5 Sweet Bananas.
- Harvested various Green Beans.
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212-Aug 21 - Harvested 1 Nepalese Pepper.
- Harvested 3 Red Cayennes.
- Harvested 4 Sweet Bananas.
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214-Aug 23 - Received City Pickers container. Nice design, but NOT for Carrots, Tomatoes or Peppers.
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216-Aug 25 - Harvested 1 Sweet Banana.
- Harvested 9 Pasilla Bajio Peppers.
- Harvested various Green Beans.
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218-Aug 27 - Harvested 4 Nepalese Peppers.
219-Aug 28 - Transplanted Rosemary into Black, 1.5 cu ft pot.
- Began prep work for growing in the back patio area.
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221-Aug 30 - Received 3 more City Pickers. One was defective (warped) & will be returned.
- Harvested 1 Sweet Banana.
- Harvested 6 Nepalese Peppers.
- Harvested various Green Beans.
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225-Sep 03 - Spinaches are looking nice w/ low, dense growth & no signs of bolting.
226-Sep 04 - Harvested 11 Pasilla Bajio Peppers.
- Harvested 5 Sweet Banana.
- Harvested 3 Nepalese Peppers.
- Harvested various Green Beans.
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229-Sep 07 - It has been cool & cloudy for the 3rd day. Lots of rain. The plants are mad.
230-Sep 08 - Harvested 4 Nepalese Peppers.
- Harvested various Green Beans.
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232-Sep 10 - Harvested entire Stevia plant.
- Soaked Stevia leaves in Vodka to create extract along with a few Shiso leaves.
- Made candy from Shiso Perilla leaves.
233-Sep 11 - Set up all 4 City Pickers on back patio:
- Added landscaping fabric to prevent soil contamination into water reservoir
- Also used fabric to prevent roots from clogging aeration screen
- Filled wicking chambers w/ 1/3 peat moss + 1/3 perlite + 1/3 vermiculite
- Filled planters with MG Potting Mix + peat moss + perlite + vermiculite
- Mixed 1/3c Garden Lime + 1/3c Jobe's + 1/3c Holly-Tone + 1 Tbs Ironite into surface
- Transplanted Strawberries from Window Box & from Multi-Hanging Pot
234-Sep 12 - Transplanted 2 Strawberries from the ground into City Pickers.
- Began watering City Pickers & filling up reservoirs.
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236-Sep 15 - Harvested 12 Pasilla Bajio Peppers.
- Harvested 1 Red Cayenne.
- Harvested 6 Nepalese Peppers.
- Harvested 1 Chocolate (VERY small).
- Harvested 1 Red Bell.
237-Sep 16 - Purchased French Terragon, Marjoram & Dwarf Echinacea plants.
238-Sep 17 - Cut down & harvested last batch of Beans.
- Cut down & harvested last batch of Kale.
239-Sep 18 - Transplanted 2 Strawberries from the ground into City Pickers.
- Planted Echinacea in patio area.
240-Sep 20 - Harvested Spinach + a little Swiss Chard.
241-Sep 21 - Transplanted 1 Strawberry from the ground into City Picker.
241-Sep 22 - Transplanted 1 Strawberry from the ground into City Picker.
- Received 4 types of Garlic from Botanical Interests.
242-Sep 23 - Transplanted 2 Strawberries from the ground into City Pickers.
- Harvested 2 Sweet Banana (VERY small).
- Harvested 4 Nepalese Peppers.
- Harvested 2 Mini Red Peppers.
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245-Sep 26 - Transplanted Thyme, Lemon Thyme & Oregano into patio area.
246-Sep 27 - Harvested Spinach.
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249-Sep 30 - Harvested 1 Golden Bell Pepper (slight spotting had developed Sep 07).
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252-Oct 03 - Harvested 8 Green Bells that broke off stems from rain.
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255-Oct 06 - Harvested 5 Nepalese Peppers.
- Harvested 2 Red Cayennes.
- Harvested 1 Chocolate (small).