First year at actually growing a garden!

Discussion in 'Garden Projects and DIY' started by MFJones, Jul 17, 2017.

  1. MFJones

    MFJones Gardener

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    Been looking for somewhere to get some tips on growing a few bits I've never had the pleasure of growing yet.

    This seems like a great place!

    I'm in the midlands, 28 years old, have a garden that is small but gets the sun most of the day.

    What I'm currently growing:
    1 Jalapeno chilli plant.
    1 Red pepper plant.
    Few herbs: coriander, basil, parsley & chives.
    Carrots
    1 Sunflower


    I have a plant/tree stump I cut back last year aswell and know it's bushing up I'd love to know what it is and transplant it into a large pot.
    I think it could be a Pieris Japonica plant.

    Cheers pics in a bit :)
     
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    • Verdun

      Verdun Passionate gardener

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      Hello MF Jones...welcome! :)
      Picture will help ID your shrub.
      You are growing food......good start :)
       
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      • MFJones

        MFJones Gardener

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        The bigger one is the Jalapeno Pepper and the smaller one is the Red Pepper



        20170717_102349.jpg 20170716_211847.jpg 20170715_174245.jpg
         
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        • MFJones

          MFJones Gardener

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          Here is the stump 20170716_202146.jpg

          20170716_202131.jpg
           
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          • Sheal

            Sheal Total Gardener

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            Your stump could possibly be a Pieris. :)
             
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            • MFJones

              MFJones Gardener

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              I need some wisdom !:old:
              :dunno: unsure what is wrong.
              I'm getting conflicting advise with my jalapeno chilli plant, the leaves seems to be drooping and im unsure of its under or over wateringany suggestions?

              20170718_203931.jpg
               
            • Sheal

              Sheal Total Gardener

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              I know absolutely nothing about chillies but @shiney comes to mind and hopefully he will be kind enough to advise you. :)
               
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              • CanadianLori

                CanadianLori Total Gardener

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                If you over watered you'd have yellow leaves. Much as they produce hot peppers, they don't care for too much heat. Stick it in an area where there is some part of the day it will get shade. They also really appreciate bottom watering.

                Been growing super hots for about 12 years now.
                 
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                • shiney

                  shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                  Some chillies have leaves that look as though they are drooping. Yours look quite healthy to me :blue thumb:. There appears to be no yellowing from overwatering. Chillies with bigger leaves tend to droop and those with smaller leaves don't.

                  These had just been taken out of the greenhouse to go to a new home but you can see some drooping of the leaves.
                  P1340534.JPG

                  These have small leaves and don't droop.
                  P1340536.JPG

                  They don't like to get too dry when in their main growing period so water them every day but don't waterlog them. If the pot has good drainage then you shouldn't have a problem. They do like heat but don't want to get burnt (although my chillies do well even in the greenhouse - but they're watered well). Watering from below, if practicable, is best but ours just get dowsed with a hose as we don't have time to do it any other way. If you can't water from below then water in the evening. Hot sun on wet leaves can burn them as the water drops act like a magnifying glass.

                  In general, chillies are tough plants and there's little you can do to harm them except by neglect.

                  Once your first flowers have set you should feed them, tomato food is good enough, once or twice a week - depending on how big the plant is and how many fruit on it.
                   
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                  • MFJones

                    MFJones Gardener

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                    @Sheal cheers for the link up

                    @CanadianLori it gets direct sun for about 6-8 hours a day. Give or take as it can be cloudy here in the Midlands uk
                    Good to have you drop in I hope you keep checking in with pointers ! Cheers.

                    @shiney good to know it's due to the leaves being heavy and bigger than the others, can't see any yellowing!
                    Mine are outside in that spot all the time atm 20170717_102349.jpg Screenshot_20170720-225309.png

                    (may get mini greenhouse when fence is sorted)

                    Like I said sun hits them between 8-10am until 6-8pm depending on could and rain . Summer is not too bad this year.

                    They are not waterlogged but drainage isn't brilliant . 4 little holes at bottom.
                    Been watering every two days.

                    Could I get a tray , make more holes in the bottom for sucking up water and do it that way rather than just soaking though with a watering can every two days ? More beneficial?

                    Cheers all for the advice
                     
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                    • shiney

                      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                      It's not generally a good idea to have it sitting in water except if you're going away and don't have anyone to water it for you.

                      Making more holes would be good and it would help if you stood the pot on some 'feet' (most garden centres sell them). Or you could simply use a couple of bricks placed just under the outer edges of the pot. Then water it daily (except when it rains).

                      Once the chillies have started going red it doesn't hurt to let it go a bit on the dry side occasionally. This is said to 'stress' the plant and make the chillies get hotter. I have no evidence for this but it's quite common in the chilli growing fraternity. :)
                       
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                      • MFJones

                        MFJones Gardener

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                        Ok so think I'm gonna try make a couple more holes underneath and raise it a touch.
                        Id rather not have it in a tray tbh.
                        Will keep on watering once every day or two and see how I go :)

                        When should I start to see fowers etc?
                         
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                        • shiney

                          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                          It would depend on how long ago you had sown the seed and what temperature it drops to at night. Hopefully it won't be too long.
                           
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                          • MFJones

                            MFJones Gardener

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                            @shiney unsure to be honest bought it already a baby rather than from seed.
                            Got a couple carrots and sunflowers popping the soil at the moment gonna check them out today but it's gonna be a cloudy one!

                            I reported it so I suppose it is just adjusting to the new pot and the stress of the move.

                            The pepper seems a bit stunted in growth... or maybe I'm being impatient haha
                            Cheers
                             
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                            • CanadianLori

                              CanadianLori Total Gardener

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                              I have all of my pepper plants potted and sitting in trays/bottom watered. The only exception is my ring of fire plants which are in hanging pots. These are some of my peppers today.

                              1500649589874-1371190970.jpg
                               
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