Peppers

Kirstie and I grew two flats of peppers from seed. We grew Sweet Banana Peppers, Jalapeno Peppers, and California Wonder Peppers.

So pepper plants in general take about 70-90 days to mature. The ideal temperature to keep them is at 80 degrees F, especially when the seeds have just been planted. It is wise to keep the flats of newly planted, sprouted, or planted pepper plants, on the top shelf where the flats will stay the most warm. During the seedling stage, it is best to water the seeds/plants whenever the soil starts to become dry. To check this, stick your finger about an inch into the soil, and if your fingertip is moist, there is no need to water your seeds/plants. When you over water them, the leaves will begin to turn yellow. If they do this, it is best not to water them until the soil has completely dried out. When you plant the pepper seeds, sow them 1/4th of an inch deep.

Next year, I suggest the people in charge of growing peppers acquire bell pepper seeds because we had quite a few people request for that kind of pepper plant. Possibly have bell peppers instead of California Wonder, because that plant wasn't as popular. We ended up selling our beautiful plants for $2 each.

Composting!

Grace, Chloe and I have been extremely successful with our compost pile, due to the support of our school. We made two large posters and placed one in the hall, and one in the cafeteria above two compost buckets to show what may be put into the buckets, which we would carry out to the compost pile at the end of the day. We also placed a bucket in the teacher's lounge, so that the teachers may participate in composting as well. One thing we had to do every day was empty these into the pile, wash them out, and dry them, to prevent fruit flies from invading the cafeteria. It started out as a small pile of organic matter, and grew and grew...we even had to remove the barrier around it because it was breaking the net around it. Once we did this, we went on Easter break for a week, but when we returned, we immediately saw amazing results. The pile had finally started decomposing to form amazing, nutrient rich soil. In this picture though, you can see the newly added organic matter from the lunches of many grammar school and upper school students who were very eager to contribute. Thank you so much to all who contributed!!! To the people continuing the compost pile, make sure you smash all the fruit with a shovel...that is a lot of fun to do. We actually found ourselves enjoying this! Also, the CiCi's pizza boxes and lunchable box cardboard does not decompose very well, so I suggest not using those in the compost pile. We acquired grass clippings from a handy pile near the river on the side of the soccer field in the woods, and the leaves from the same area. This greatly improved our compost. One thing we should have done, was to start the pile more out in the open because when we started it in the Fall, we started it in a seemingly sunny area, but once Spring came, the area was shaded by overhanging branches of trees.

Irises

So...the irises Grace, Chloe, and I planted are doing very well, but have yet to boom. They have really turned around from their condition when we first received and potted them. They used to be brown, but since then have regrown and are nice, beautiful, green plants. To transplant the rhizome irises, like we did, you must first separate the new growth on the large rhizome root. To do this, use a sharp knife and cut the new growth off with some of the root, but be careful to expose as little root as possible so the root will be able to heal quickly. Following the separation, fill a pot 3/4 full with soil and plant the root barely underneath the soil. Water the iris plant every other day.

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Broccoli Growing Guide

Broccoli is a delicious and beautiful plant to add to any garden. When taken care of, it will yield a large head of broccoli surrounded by deep green leaves. Weather you like broccoli or not, this beautiful plant will turn any ordinary garden to a professional, expert garden.

1.Take however many pots that you wish to grow broccoli in, and fill them with soil with a few inches off of the top.
2. Saturate the soil completely and stick your pinky finger in the middle to make a small hole up to your first knuckle.
3. Drop two broccoli seeds into the holes and gently cover them with the soil. DO NOT pack it down.
4. Once the seedlings sprout, keep the soil moist until there are two more leaves than the cotyledons.
5. If both seeds sprout, take the tip of a pencil, and use it to carefully separate the roots of one plant from the other, replant the separate plant in another pot.
6. After the leaves are well established water the soil every 3-5 days.
7. When you notice your plants have stopped growing, grab one by the base of the stem and turn the pot upside down. If the roots are rapped around the bottom, it is ready for transplant. If you need to wait for transplant, cut the bottom inch of the soil and roots, and put another inch of soil in the bottom of the pot.
8. To transplant into the garden, repeat the first part of step seven, and place in a pre-dug hole.

Warning:
Broccoli plants have very thick leaves, and are prone to be eaten when the inch worms come out, and later with other insects. Be sure to check for harmful bugs on your broccoli. The most common broccoli issue is the presence of downy mildew. Check the under the leaves for fuzzy white growth with yellow spots on top. If downy mildew is present, use a nitrogen rich fertilizer to remedy the situation. Be sure not to over water.

This is Nate Holmes signing off for the last time ever, Mr. Hardin thank you, its been great. Love you all, Goodbye.

Grace and Chloe's Petunia's: All Grown Up!!! :D

Grace's and my wave petunias have grown so beautifully!!! There are two complete flowers, one on the way, but one wilted :( the other flowers are still in the progress of blooming!! They last few might be a week or so before they bloom; which is longer than the usual blooming period, but their soils good and they're good 'n' green!!

How To Grow Tomatoes

Well, I actually had a hard time growing tomatoes at first. I think my main problem was that I kept over-watering. When you first start growing your tomato plants you have to make sure that the soil is completely dry before you water them. Even if that means that you only water them once a week. Also, never ever put fertilizer in the soil to grow your tomato plants, because that's what killed my tomato plants. I lost about a whole flat of tomatoes by putting fertilizer in the soil. If you just water the tomato plants about once a week, then they will grow to be healthy. When the tomato plant is ready to be grown outside, then you water it about everyday. And this is how I grew my now really healthy tomato plants.

Well this is my last week of Horticulture and yesterday we fed lettuce to the whole school which w as great. It came straight out of the garden. Also I have found 2 tomatoes on my plants so that is a a great improvement. Yeah, someone will take over my plants for me for next week and will also sell my tomatoes plants next week.

Pesticide and Salad Bars!!

Tuesday in Horticulture I mixed up some pesticide to put on the Zinnias. They had aphids on them.Otherwise they look really good. The pesticide smelled really bad and made Mr. Hardin's, the hall, and the class rooms close by smell terrible! Yesterday in Horticulture I checked on the Zinnias, all the aphids are gone, I checked on my pepper plants and took one of each time and planted them in one of the flower boxes. Today at lunch the entire Horticulture class pulled up the lettuce, spinach, and radishes and treated the school to an amazing salad! What a great way to finish up Horticulture class!!

Yearbook Signing + Senior Year = Graduation

WOW!!! I can't believe this is my last week of high school. EVER. Since all the seniors, as well as Mr. Hardin, will be gone next week, we have been working extra hard (when we're not signing yearbooks) to get everything squared away before summer break. Mine and Michelle's plants are looking fabulous (aside from the somewhat dry cilantro), and I am sorry that I won't be able to see them reach full maturity before school ends. Other than that, I really don't have much to blog about...but I will say that this semester in Horticulture has truly been great! I never thought that I, Lindsey Jones, would be able to grow plants--let alone from seed! Everything that this class has been able to accomplish on such a tight budget is amazing. I hope that next semester's class will be able to have even greater success than we had.

The girls, all dressed up and playing with compost.

Hey! its almost the end

Hey! its almost the end for the seniors! this class has been great!

Taters a growing at an impressive rate. cant wait for the crop to come in!

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