Just for Fun - Wk 12

note: no report on wk's 10-11; sometimes life gets in the way..

Dwarf Tomatoes

When I started this project, the criteria were to grow & demonstrate that an apartment dweller with minimal space could keep a tomato plant that would bear full-size fruit throughout the growing season or a Chili Pepper plant or possibly, both. I am particularly impressed with the tomato cultivar chosen..seed to fruit production in 8-9 weeks..free-standing (no staking) & can be grown in small containers. (the tomatoes shown here in cut-down 1/2 gal. plastic nursery pots). All of those criteria are currently being met..the only questions being "how long will the plants produce?" & "how do they taste?".

The older of 2 plants, has 4 nice looking tomatoes ripening on the vine, while the slightly younger bush has smaller fruits, but is flowering  & is catching-up with plant #1.

How do they taste? Don't know yet, as they are still green & I want them to ripen to a nice red, which a couple of the larger tomatoes are starting to show.

Can't wait for that 1st bite into a fresh, red-ripe, juicy tomato, grown on my patio!

NM Hatch Chili Peppers

The Chili's, likewise, have long, dark green peppers appearing almost daily & many, many buds. The photo shows 2 plants, one planted in a 4" square, the other is  in a 1/2 gal. cut-down pot, like the tomato plants.

The interesting thing is that the chili in the larger pot has only 1 pepper, however the 4" container has 2..it will be interesting to see if the larger potted plant will produce more or less, over the long run.

The peppers on all 3 plants measure prox. 6" so far. I have harvested 1 pepper from the older plant & they are ok to eat..I seared the skin, skinned & split open, cleaned out the seeds & diced the chili..they have not developed any real "heat"yet, but you can taste a little hint of what is to come.

Both the tomatoes & chilis have been fed a generic, all-purpose(low nitrogen) fertilizer on a daily basis. I happen to be one of those that prefers micro-feeding to a once-a-week application. I simply divide the recommended weekly dosage by 7 (days in 1 wk) & add it to their daily water.

I still have 1 extra tomato & 2 pepper plants that I'd like to give away.

Manzanita - UPDATE

The Manzanita has adjusted well to its new container and continues to develop, including the signature peeling red bark on the trunk and branches. It is shaping up to be a visually striking specimen.

However, I am currently navigating conflicting guidance regarding summer care. The Arctostaphylos species is reported to go semi-dormant in the summer as a survival mechanism for its native arid, desert-like habitats. Conventional advice cautions against feeding or watering during these months, though it remains unclear if this strict protocol is intended for established, in-ground trees or if it also applies to young specimens in container culture.

I am currently soliciting feedback from other growers regarding their experiences with this species in captivity and will update my methodology accordingly once I have more information.

For the complete photo history, technical background, and tracking of this tree’s development, please visit the full entry here: Howard McMinn Manzanita (Arctostaphylos Densiflora)

Star Jasmine - UPDATE

June is almost over, but 'the Star' is still in full-bloom, although, I can see some of the blossoms are getting tired & droopy. I don't anticipate a 3rd bloom, but I am more than a little surprised at the vitality this little tree has shown..especially after being nearly dormant for almost a year.

Everyone talks about "the heat" out here in the Inland Empire, but the heat & low-humidity are not really a problem for this guy..the main "plant killer", for me, is the wind..a very predictable West & SW wind that blows like stink, every afternoon.

I have watched as the wind whips & gusts hit the Star Jasmine & he bends nearly in half & then springs right back afterwards, without so much as a hair out of place.

To anyone, wanting a low-maitenance, hardy, tough little tree, bush or hedge, I can recommend the Star Jasmine.

Just for Fun - Wk 9

 NM Hatch Chilis

Up until now, the chilis have been growing in 4" pots, except for the single plant that was started a couple of weeks ahead of the set of 4, propagated at the same time. Concerned that perhaps their production was being retarded by the smaller pots, I transplanted one of the plants, as a test..so far, that plant has done nothing.

So I was pleasantly surprised when I saw this pepper growing on one of the plants still in 4" containers.

Then I checked the older plants & saw this one..my conclusion? If I want to maximize production, the larger pots will allow for more fruit, but if I didn't want to transplant, but keep the chilis in the smaller pots, they will still produce. Now I've got 2 plants in larger pots, while 2 remain in 4"..I want to watch how they do for a couple of weeks before a final decision &/or before I give the younger plants away.

Dwarf Tomatoes

Nothing to report for this week..no significant change from last week. Hopefully the barren plant will have small fruit by next week..flowering now.

Fremont Cottonwood - UPDATE

'the Fremont' was a little slow coming into spring/summer, but has perked-up, after a short hot-weather preview we had a few days ago.

I think this little tree is going to "take-off" this summer & show some growth. It seems like he has started to figure out foliage, but I am more concerned with the trunk & branches..and I thought he would be developing the nebari (base of the tree) by this time.

While slow-growing, he appears healthy & relatively happy in his current surroundings, although he has been in this training tray since last fall. It may be time to repot with fresh  potting mix & take a look a root development.

This excerpt from the Fremont Cottonwood Photos/History page where you can access the full history  of this tree