Research and also Ask Chile and Burpee why peppers are so leggy. New problem to me after 20 years of growing this type. (Italian)
Tomatoes-last year only container hybrids did well. All other hybrids died. This makes, Celebrity, Big Beef and the Mountains poor choices for this point in time.
Order For Plants 2020-
Ordering from Chileplants 2020
Tomatoes
Container Choice hybrid and Patio F1.[Outstanding performance last year] [In City Pickers box]
[5 Earthbox tomato boxes to fill] One per box.
3 coming from other company)(ArkTrav, Legend, Juliet, last two for EB resistance.
So Need 2 more Tomatoes from Chileplants so trying:
Costoluto Genovese Tomato-heat resistant,
Eva Purple Ball Tomato-heat resistant-did acceptably last year in heat.
Alternate Tomato Plant
Prudens Purple (Prudens did well the year before last. Not so well last year, but can't remember problem. Maybe late season so missed watering when I was away? Try to remember how it looked)
4 so far from chili - need to make up multiples of 6
MARCONI GIANT HYBRID (Live Chile/Pepper Plant)l
NARDELLO (Live Chile/Pepper Plant
LUNCHBOX RED (Live Chile/Pepper Plant)
THE GODFATHER- performed acceptably for me since started buying from Burpee long ago. However has same leggy issues recently.
MARCONI PURPLE
ACONCAGUA
DIABLO SWEET
The Following Are Two Contenders: winner added to above makes another 6 from Chileplants:
SUGARCHILE HYBRID mild; Cayenne; 5 to 6 inches long by 1 to 1.5 inches wide; medium thick flesh; matures from green to red; pendant pods; green leaves; 24 to 30 inches tall; Mid Season (70-80 days); Uses: Prolific, Roasting, Fried/Stir-Fried; C.annum
Or
PETIT MARSEILLAIS mild; Blocky; 3 to 4 inches long by 1 to 1.25 inches wide; medium thin flesh; matures from green to golden yellow; pendant pods; green leaves; 24 to 30 inches tall; Mid Season (70-80 days); Uses: Prolific; from France; very sweet with only a trace of heat; C.annuum.
Alternates
The loser from the 'two contenders' above becomes first alternate
SPANISH SPICE HYBRID (becomes second alternate)
The end of 2020 container plant orders.
Previous:
ASAP, Ask Earthbox if old cages can infect soil in EBs with Fusarium wilt! If so earth in EBs needs dumped! And replacement soil needs purchased over winter.
2 tomatoes per box not enough water for the giants. 2019 order 1 plant per box.
Exception: container sized plants from Chileplants did great the smaller ones were super sweet. So can use two of these to one box.
Peppers did not do well in front bed behind tomato plants.
Peppers in previous years and 2019 got to tall and not bushy enough.
Ask Burpee, ask Chileplants, Ask Territorial, ask Jungs. Price plants from Territorial bearing in mind necessity to chose arrival dates.
Not much yield in any squash I chose last year whose purchase was based on resistance to bugs. Next year order according to yield, heartiness and vine length.plan on dealing with squash bug. Aluminum foil around squash plants performed ok.dont use to much impedes watering.
Sunflowers next year definitely need to be thinned and tied up. Not impressed with 2019 varieties. Got some kind of leaf discoloring. Zinnia varieties ok, but marigolds chosen did fantastic! Check if listed here.
Loved themin the boxes outside backdrop.
Basil varieties good except for variegated leaf. Do not use that next year.
Phenomenal variety Lavendar, and Rosemary plants arrived small, but doing super.
Found some wonderful potting mix, Jiffy seed starting mix, for $4.95 at Home Depot. I believe it was a 12 qt bag. Found an equal amount of Miracle Grow mix in shed leftover from last year.
Scooped out about 2/3 of last years home made mix from back two EBs, then topped them up with the Miracle Grow mix and the Jiffy seed starting mix, stirring up well everything in the boxes.
EB PEOPLE SAY MY PLANTS DIED LAST YEAR BECAUSE THE HOLES IN THE MULCH COVER LET IN RAIN WHICH DISSOLVED THE FERTILIZER STRIP CAUSING IT TO WASH ONTO THE ROOTS BURNING THEM. Consider duck taping the transplanting slits shut around the tomato stems.
Have on hand when adding dolomite (Espoma garden lime) and the fertilizer strip more Jiffy mix to make a nice mound.
Still need to prepare the two front boxes.
If I remember the names of the tomatoes I noticed recently consider buying another EB.
