The Garden 3-22-8

This is the garden.

The soybean plants climb the six strands of twine.
Tobacco plants line the perimeter.
An orange tree at the corner.
Random veggies and such.
Happiness.

The little garden has come a long way in a few months. What took a small amount of counter space now takes most of the floor.

A grander project is coming soon. Time for an upgrade.

Miscellaneous Plants 3-22-8

So, I'm not 100% on this but fairly confident that this little fella here is American Ginseng. I had no idea when to expect these to germinate and it appears that it has.

In theory, the American Ginseng plant will just have to be kept alive for a few years to provide a beneficial root.





The experimental Cucumber plant seems quite happy to grow. There has been a fairly significant expansion of the first set of leaves in the last week and imagine the same from the newly forming ones.

Luckily, spring is just around the corner as this one will have to be moved outside.





And, we have the leaning tower of Stevia. I think restarting more space, a bit less light, and dry medium it could be a great plant.

Lesson number, stopped counting, Stevia - light shade, low moisture

Pepper Plants 3-22-8

The pepper plants have responded the best so far to the hydroponics I believe. Within a very short time they acclimated and have just filled out great.

The Chocolate Habanero pepper continues to grow thick full leaves. The plant, unlike the Orange Habanero has not grown many leaf nodes, but has focused on denser growth.



The Orange Habanero pepper plant has grown much taller and a significant number of intermediate nodes. This far surpasses any pepper plants I have grown previously.







I am looking forward to the Tabasco pepper plants reaching a vegetative growth phase and catching up to the Habanero plants. I have little doubt that the Tabasco peppers will grow very well under these conditions.

Tobacco Plants 3-22-8

The Burley tobacco is beginning to catch up a bit and should prove to be a formidable plant. The next series of these, if applicable, should be allowed more room for growth.

Burley tobacco is, as I understand it, a very common commercial plant so I imagine that given the necessary conditions this plant could grow quite large.





Growing much fuller, the Kentucky Hybrid tobacco plant provides a yield expected from a commercial crop. There is still very little stalk growth.

The leaves of the Kentucky hybrid plant are quite large and yellow quickly.





At long last there are great big blossoms on the top of the Tennessee Redleaf tobacco plant. Cheers to a fun growth cycle.

I do look forward to trying the Tennessee Redleaf. I am impressed with the speed and size of this plant's growth.

The flowers are actually quite colorful at the tips. This is a plant that certainly wants to seed.




The Walkers Broadleaf tobacco has begun to yellow around the base and I expect any flower buds to begin forming shortly. This plant will not grow as tall as the Redleaf.

The next series of this plant will also be provided with larger accommodations.

Cucumber, Stevia, Soybeans 3-15-8

The soybean plants are acclimating to their new home and all seem to have survived the transition.

There has not been significant growth but there is an increase of activity at the leaf nodes.







This stevia plant is growing fairly well, but a bit unsteady. It's partner, however, does not look well at all. This one has been in less intense light longer than the other.

So, it seems that the light was just a bit unbearable for Stevia.







Leaves continue to open on the experimental cucumber plant growing yet another node.

Pepper Plant Pictures 3-15-8

The Chocolate Habanero pepper plant is gorgeous. The leaves are thick and wide. I have no idea what to expect from future growth, I can only say that I expect great things and hopefully, some fantastic chocolate habanero peppers.








The Orange Habanero pepper is also growing quite well, however there are significant differences in growth style. the leaves are much thinner and narrowed than the chocolates. Also, there are dense clusters of leaves forming along the stalk in much greater number than the chocolate habaneros.

The two habanero plant varieties will be very interesting to compare throughout the growth cycle.



Trailing behind the other two, but planted a bit later, is the Tabasco pepper plant. This plants seems healthy. Looking forward to some nice juicy peppers.

Tobacco Plant Pictures 3-15-8

The image to the right is Burley tobacco which has really just begun to thicken. It has lagged behind all other varieties that were planted at the same time.

Although, this variety does promise a strong yield and may prove to be a pleasant smoke so who knows.





The Kentucky Hybrid tobacco is growing fairly well and has begun to yellow at the lower leaves. As a note, Kentucky tobacco as well as the other tobacco varieties really need much more room for roots.

They will mature in small containers, but this is about as small as would be desirable.





Oh the Tennessee Redleaf tobacco has begun to flower nicely. These have not opened yet, however, a bit of color has begun to show at the tips.

The Tennessee Redleaf has been a great plant and hopefully proves to be an enjoyable smoke.




Finally, the Midewivan Sacred plant has flowered and begun filling a pod with seeds. This plant has been an excellent specimen to grow. There is rapid beginning growth followed by slower vertical growth enabling leaves and flowers to thicken and weight the stalk.

I thoroughly enjoy growing Midewivan Sacred tobacco and intend on growing it more in the future.





The Walkers Broadleaf tobacco plant is beginning to mature with a yellowing of the bottom leaves and denser clusters of leaves forming close to the stalk tip signaling preparation for flower growth.

Soybean Plants 3-8-8

The Soybean plants continue to grow around each other. Do we think they are strangling or supporting? I don't really know. But, it's fun to watch.

Stevia 3-8-8

The next couple of images are of Stevia. I moved one out of the flood table to try a drier and less lit environment. It does appear that this has been helpful.

Notice that this one has not grown much and appears sickly.







Now. this one that was moved about a week ago seems to have much healthier leaves. I'm hoping as it dries that the base will strengthen.

Kentucky and Burley Tobacco 3-8-8

The Kentucky Hybrid tobacco plant is starting to take over its container now and is growing quite quickly.










Burley Tobacco still seems to follow the pack but promises a strong yield so that's a nice trade-off. I wonder if anyone else has experienced these same growth differences.

Walkers Broadleaf Tobacco 3-8-8

The Walkers Broadleaf tobacco plant has stayed around the same height for a week or two and I believe is starting to prepare flower buds. Nothing is really visible yet though.

Tabasco Pepper Plant 3-8-8

Slowly, the Tabasco Pepper plant is growing. Notice how the leaves are longer and thinner than the Habaneros. I think that's cool. It seems that the leaf shape emulates the pepper to follow a bit.

Habanero Pepper Plants 3-8-8

The Chocolate Habanero Pepper plant is shorter with much broader leaves. Growth of this specimen has been significant over the last couple of weeks.







The Orange Habanero pepper plant is doing very well. This one continues to grow taller and has nice long leaves.

Midewivan Sacred Tobacco 3-8-8

The Midewivan Sacred tobacco plant continues to flower. There were only a couple open last week and many have followed. As the ones at the top open there are buds growing out of the leaf nodes.

Midewivan Sacred is such a beautiful plant.

Tennessee Redleaf Tobacco 3-8-8

These next couple of images are neat. The first is the side view of a Tennessee Redleaf Tobacco plant, the next is a top view shot of it. I like the flower buds at the top of the plant. I thought one or two would have opened by this week, but they are just beginning to open slightly now.







The top view shows the flower buds better. I believe that this plant will continue to grow a fair amount as it flowers. Commercially I think this would be the time to top the plant.

There will be none of that here.

Experimental Cucumber 3-8-8

I know that I neglected to add a picture of the experimental cucumber plant last post. Here is the plant currently. Not much has changed in the last week aside from the leaf getting slightly larger.

Additionally, I did not upload a picture of the banyan tree this week either and again, this is because there has not been much change in growth.

Plants 3-1-8

This image may be a bit difficult to see, but this is a Banyan Tree Seedling that has just germinated. Hopefully it lives for a bit as I have had these for months and this is the first I have seen.




This tobacco plant to the right is the Burley Tobacco which I recently mov justed to a larger container. It seems to be taking to its new home and is growing quite well so far.








My Chocolate Habanero pepper plants are continuing to do well and seem to have perked up a bit since the addition of the new light. They are actually gaining on the Orange Habaneros which have easily outpaced the Chocolates so far.





The Kentucky Hybrid tobacco continues to flourish. It appears that this plant just needs to get to a certain stage before real growth begins. So, expect a slow start but a rapid pace once the plant has passed the seedling stage.









This one is great. The Midewivan Sacred tobacco plant has done so well in the
flood table and the flowers are starting to peek out. This should seed shortly.









The Orange Habaneros are doing quite well, but these pepper plants seemed to have slowed down a bit while the Chocolate Habaneros and the Tabascos have begun to pick up the pace.









Finally, some solid growth is beginning for the Tabasco pepper plants. These will start to show real promise over the next month or two.









Walkers Broadleaf tobacco grows very well but I suppose that based on the name I could expect more significant growth from the leaves. Possibly part of the mix is missing like more root room or better lighting. Even so, this is a strong producer and is maturing very well.







The Tennessee Redleaf Tobacco is getting closer to flowering and the preflowers are much longer and narrower than that of the Midewivan Sacred Tobacco. I expect flowering from this one within a week or two.







The soybean plants seem a bit stunted. I think perhaps I should have allowed more room and planted less. Alternatively, it could be like the case of the Midewivan Sacred Tobacco where there was slowed growth prior to flowering.

Luckily, I have plenty of soybean seeds so more experimentation will continue.









The Stevia plant continues to grow despite the light and/or wetness issues. Though, the leaves are deformed and the plant does not appear entirely sturdy. Still waiting to see what happens. Hydroponics isn't for everything. This is probably one of those cases.

If anyone has any experience with Stevia please share.