I don't know if this is business as usual for this tree, but I'm not complaining.
visit the Photo/History page for the complete Star Jasmine story
Dwarf Tomatoes
Observation: these plants are VERY sturdy..main stems are trunk-like..easy to see why these bush tomatoes need no staking.
I continue to prune the lower-most branches as it becomes obvious that they are superfluous .
NM Hatch Chilis
They are all budding & the older plant is actively flowering with little white blooms, that hang down..this is also where the fruit will form, I think.
All of these plants look healthy & happy, although it has been suggested that I put the tomatoes on a tomato fertilizer rather than stick with Miracle-Gro for plants that prefer lower pH soil conditions. (The particular formulation I've been using is for Azealea's, Hydrangeas, etc.)
Let's hope next week we have perhaps small fruit starting to form?
exerpt from Photo/History page for the Hibiscus ; to see the complete record, click on this link or use the Tree Inventory Menu, on the R-H side of every page
Today, after yet another root reduction (including the tap root) I was able to repot the Hibiscus into a training pot.
It's been a long road just to get to this stage, which is where most of our specimens begin. To illustrate this, I lined-up the progression of containers that he has occupied since Feb 4 (acquisition date).
Originally discovered on a windblown point of land along the southern coast of New South Wales, Banksia spinulosa 'Schnapper Point', commonly known as the Koala Blooms Banksia, is a compact, low-growing evergreen shrub/tree native to eastern Australia.
This plant grows with a dense, rounded, and slightly prostrate habit, typically maturing to 2–4 feet tall and 4–5 feet wide, has needle-like green leaves, but is not a conifer, although it resembles one. Happy in full-sun & semi-drought resistant, this plant should do well in so. california.
Since it blooms during what we call winter (Australian summer), producing large, cylindrical flower spikes (up to 40 cm long) in golden to bright yellow, often tipped with black, purple, or red styles, it will be appreciated even more.
As with all of our little trees, you can access his Photo/History page @ Koala Blooms or from the Tree Inventory menu on the r-hand side of the page.
personal note: no, I'm not dead or anywhere close to it (yet), but I do have a life away from the patio & this blog, so I do not apologize for not posting for a few days..all is well.
NM Hatch Chilis
The chilis are growing, though not as fast as the tomatoes. We continue to have cool, grey mornings(June Gloom here in so Cal), but sunny warm afternoons, which the plants love & they are thriving. I still have a full complement, but once they have fruit, I'm sure I'll have no problem finding homes for them.
Dwarf Tomatoes
The tomato plants have yellow blooms & there are small pods forming, which I presume will be fruit. I chose this particular cultivar specifically because it sounded like it was made for containers..the plants now are about 2-3 ft. tall & I don't think they will grow appreciably in height, but they are spreading out, to some degree.
They are living up to their designation as "dwarf", although the real test will be when they bear fruit. They are compact, well formed, not 'scraggly' or looking malnourished, without taking-over the whole patio. They too, like the chilis, seem to like the cool morning/warm afternoon weather & so far, have remained "pest free".
Nothing else to report..tune in next week..
