Well, I admit, I slacked off this week on the reviews, sorry folks. Now I didn’t slack of on sampling sauces, just writing. Another thing I didn’t slack off on though was prepping this years crop!

I’ve been gardening for the past 4 years and have got it down to a science and an art form. But this year provides me with a new challenge, growing in a climate totally different than the one I’m used to. The Cleveland growing season is quite short with the final frost coming in at around the last week of May. If that wasn’t bad enough, I’ve got Cleveland weather to deal with. We have a saying here, “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes”. One day you’ll be at the park and say, “My, what a nice, bight day. It feels like its 85 degrees out. Oh look! A dark cloud…what’s this? It’s hail!” (true story, it was June and hailing).

With that in mind and the space restriction’s I’ll be dealing with, I’ve formulated a plan. I’ve started all my plants under grow lights which my mom still had in the house from her indoor growing days back in the 70’s. The seeds were planted back on March 7th and now are getting to the “second gear” phase where they start growing in leaps and bounds. I also had to purchase a heat pad for under the seed try which warmed the soil up to the required temp for them to hatch. I’m keeping the plants about 4-6 inches away from the lights so they don’t become leggy.

Another tip for you home growers is to have a fan on the plants from 1 hour to 24 hours. Not only does this cause the plant’s stems to strengthen it also removes that stagnant air. Also, be sure to surround your plants with reflective mylar to boost the amount of light. I was lucky enough to have a friend in Texas send me the excess he had. Thanks AJ! Pictured below is the set up at night.

Since I’m limited on both the space, grow conditions, and growing season length I’ve had to condense my list of pepper plants from 25 varieties to just 5. I really wanted to get as many peppers as I could so I chose the varieties that will produce the most. Why waste time with a plant that’ll only give me about 5 or 6 peppers…. Bell Peppers, I’m looking at you! So here’s my list for this year along with the plants I am growing for my mom’s garden as well.

My list: Havana Tobacco, Goji Berries, Super Sweet 100 Tomato, Onion, Bhut Jolokia, Piquin, Top Secret Pepper Grow Project, Fatalii, “Monster” Asain Birdseye.

Mom’s Plants: Lisianthus, Aster Sea Star, Lambs Ear, Basil, Pansy, Dahlia, Snap Dragon, Celosia, Chives, Cilantro, Pole Beans, Sage, Zucchini, Cucumber

I’ve actually had some problems with the Bhut’s producing peppers. But what I understand is they do quite well in humid climates, which Cleveland definitely is, so I’m giving it a try. I’ll also be growing all the peppers in pots which will allow me to control things a bit more. Cleveland tends to really be on the rainy side and peppers don’t like that, so I’ll be able to move the plants into the garage when that happens.

So far things have been doing out great. I’ve been working the kinks out of the system here and there, replacing bulbs occasionally, and looking for top grade soil at low prices (I have to prep the outside beds when it warms up). But one complication has arisen that I didn’t even think of. A problem that’s 12 pounds, walks on all fours, and has a pension for hiding in what he thinks are “caves”.

That’s right folks, one of my mom’s dogs (she has two). Tanner loves things that resemble caves. We find him under the table, under the couch, between the bed sheets, he just loves dark places. Yesterday I found his step brother, Taylor, sitting right next to the large light unit and I ask him, “Where’s Taylor?”. He looks at me funny as if to say, “Stupid human. Don’t you know I can’t vocalize the answer to your question? If I could, I would have told you to clean all that dirt underwear in your closet. I mean, really, how long have they been in there?”

I looked around and on a hunch I removed the cardboard panel that is attached to the mylar in front of the large light rig. There he was, hiding in an area that was dark, warm, and crowded. How cute…but potentially hazardous for my babies.

So stay tuned folks as I will continue to update you on the process of growing just as Joe and Linda kept you informed of their plants last year.

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