Just for Fun - Retrospect/EOL

 If we were counting, this would have been about 15 weeks into our 'Just for Fun' series of articles about an experiment to show 'proof of concept' for the contention that one can successfully grow tomatoes in a container, in limited space (like a patio), without trellises or staking.. & we threw-in a chili pepper plant, just for fun.

Since we wanted to grow full-size tomatoes, not cherry tomatoes, we chose a dwarf tomato named Snakebite. In order to make it more interesting, we decided to grow this demonstration crop in 1 gal. containers. This photo shows the tomatoes, easily taking-up no more than 12" in front of a shelving unit & still allowing for easy access for a person to pass by.

By limiting container size, I hoped to restrict overall height & width, yet provide adequate water/nutrients for the plants. Another consideration was that these plants need to be able to take care of themselves most of the time, allowing for folks that need to go to an office job or away from home, so 1 watering/day except during exceptionally severe (hot)weather.

And, as this photo shows, we did grow tomatoes..but not enough of them. The seed company says that the unseasonable hot spell shut-down the plants, but that they will resume production as soon as the weather cools..we'll see.

The Hatch chili peppers have also produced limited quantities, but what they have produced is good quality, just not as large as commercially grown Hatch's. Is this due to the container sizes or did the "hot spell" slow down the chili's? My opinion is neither of those factors was the contributor, but that they were simply started later that they probably ought to be started..I will propagate chili's heretofore in Jan, rather than March. 

I will continue experimenting with tomato/chili cultivars to find those that fit our criteria for growth in small containers, moderate water requirements & produce good taste & size fruit, but this will be the last installment of our series. I will report on this small diversion from my tree collection, but not on a weekly or regular basis. Happy Gardening!

Hibiscus (Rosa sinensis) 'Brilliant' - UPDATE

 excerpt from Hibiscus (Rosa sinensis) Photo/History where you can access the full history of this plant.

Potted the Hibiscus today,in what I hope will be his semi-permanent home, going forward. This marks the 6th repot this year, including root pruning for this specimen. I am very pleased with how root reduction has progressed, for this plant; the gnarly, woody, tangled mass of old root structure is 80% gone, replaced with new, white, feeder-roots, well distributed around the perimeter.

Now it's time to grow a new canopy & time for me to see what I can do with it. The Hibiscus has taken everything I've thrown at it & come back, seemingly, unfazed & ready for more. He readily started back-budding, as you can see from the photos, after the "chop"..I have been pruning the new growth until I see where he's going & to encourage more back-budding & foliage over letting shoots become too long & leggy.

I've chosen 3 shoots which could become the major lower branches & seem to follow the contours of the older branches that have been removed. It will tax my beginner skills to choose what stays & what goes, but part of the learning curve, I guess.

But for right now, this specimen deserves some time to acclimate to his new home & resume his long, strange trip.

Desert Rose (Adenium Obesum) - UPDATE

 excerpt from latest entry to the Desert Rose Photo/History or access the full history of this plant from the menu on every page. 

July 30, 2026

1st bloom opened today..he has multiple buds, so I expect we will see more over the next few days.

I've never seen one in bloom before & I understand more now why people talk about this plant & regard it so highly. I posted one of the photos (above) to a bulletin board (do they still call them that?) that I frequent & an individual from New Zealand commented that he still remembered seeing his first Desert Rose 35 years ago & never forgot it.

I will post more photos as the blooms progress, over the next few days, I expect. I'm not sure I've ever seen such a vibrant red...

     

2nd bloom: Aug 5, 2026

                      

Fremont Cottonwood (Populis Fremontii) - UPDATE

 this excerpt taken from most recent entry on the Fremont Cottonwood Photo/History page.

Sometimes it's the most basic things that matter..I've had 'the Fremont' for almost 18 months & his development has not been particularly noteworthy. About the time of the last update,in June, looking for a place to get him out of the wind, I found a spot that seems to agree with him.

This photo was taken today after I pruned the 'leggy' shoots & evened-out the two sides, as best I could. In his new spot, he gets morning-sun instead of afternoon & has protection from the hot, dry W winds we get every afternoon, this time of year.

I'm feeling really positive about this little tree, right now & if he starts showing us growth similar to the past month, all the better. 

Dwarf Pomegranate (Punica Granatum 'Nana') - UPDATE

 excerpt from Photo/History page for Dwarf Pomegranate Click-0n to see full history of this tree.

July 2026

Repotted him into a full-size tray (6.5" X 8.5") as he was outgrowing the smaller container. He was not completely root-bound, but root ball/potting mix lifted out in 1-piece..I did no root pruning, but transferred directly to the new tray, backfill & done.

I have been pruning his foliage every couple of days, or at least the "leggy" shoots that rise above the perimeter of the main canopy or extend beyond the edge of the container. The backside of the canopy is now 'rounding' as it fills out, as the goal is to compensate for the majority of the foliage being situated on the front-side of the tree.   

I have been feeding him on liquid seaweed & a high-nitrogen fertilizer, specifically for acid-loving plants like azealea, Flowering Dogwood & the Pomengranate..it seems to agree with him.