When I was building my raised bed back in April 2011, I didn’t have time to finish it through. The construction was done and most of it filled in with top soil. Thanks to a typo on Lowe’s web site, I didn’t get enough garden soil to give my plants nutrients to grow in. Even after add fertilizer (spikes and compost tea), my plants never had enough to take off and dawdled their way through the summer.
Now that the weather is starting to get cooler, my few remaining survivors (2 jalapenos and an eggplant) are actually starting to bear fruit. We have forecasted lows in the upper 30s (F), and our average first frost date has come and gone, so I fear there isn’t much time left.
Would it be beneficial (even if just barely) to try and transplant them into containers and give them a chance to finish in hopes of a (very) small harvest?
This entry is about
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Day 198
Capsicum annuum longum group |
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Day 217
Eggplant, Fairy Tale (2011-03-15) Solanum melongena |
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Previous Journals
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Rat Cage Greenhouse garden and Garage Greenhouse garden
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Pansies , Fuschia , Catnip , Carrots , Eggplant , Eggplant, Fairy Tale (2011-03-15) , Jalapeno , ...
Later Journals
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Hybrid Cherry Tomatoes - Sun Cherry F1 (2013-02-14) , Hybrid Cherry Tomatoes - Sun Gold F1 (2013-...
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2013-03-10 Tomato Photo Update
Hybrid Cherry Tomatoes - Sun Cherry F1 (2013-02-14) and Hybrid Cherry Tomatoes - Sun Gold F1 (20...
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Bee Balm - Panorama Mix (2013-02-14) , Butterfly Weed - Silky Formula Mix (2013-02-14) , Pepper, ...
Comments
kurt wrote:
It would make sense to pull out the plants and container them.Try to get as much rootball as you can and put them in the largest containers you can find.If you have a enclosed porch that is warm and gets direct sunlight would be good.A basement close to a heat source and a couple of grow bulbs will work also.Try to replicate the enviorment as much as possible.In the meantime till your existing bed with some straw enfused in the soil and a good layer of straw on top and cover over the winter leaving some air space between the soil and cover(dome).Till it a couple of times this winter if you can and come spring you will retill and you will be off to a great start for next years crop.Throw your mulchable kithchen peelings husks etc into the mix and till in when you can.Some manure tilled in will help start a good soil bed but diligent tilling is the key.Good Luck
Posted on 20 Oct 11 (over 1 year ago)
anelson wrote:
I agree with kurt—bring them inside to finish ripening. That’s what i did with my peppers. You might even be able to overwinter them and plant them out again—these are perennials in subtropical climates.
Posted on 20 Oct 11 (over 1 year ago)
Garrett wrote:
Thanks for the advice and tips! It’s good to know that there is hope for even a tiny harvest for my first year of growing edibles. I will transplant them into containers and move them to the make-shift greenhouses in my garage. I always like to try and over-winter the annuals that I invest extra time or care into. Some make it and some don’t, but it never hurts to try!
I plan on fortifying the soil in my raised bed after it is cleared of the existing plants. I have 2 compost bins that I rotate out each year in October. (I usually start a fresh bin every October around the time we have pumpkin carving parties. All those pumpkin remains make for a great start to a compost bin!) I’ll be tilling in compost and mulched leaves throughout the winter so that I won’t have a disappointing spring and summer of 2012.
Thanks again. Like I said, this is the first year I’ve tried growing edibles. I didn’t get to set up the raised bed how I wanted with enough gardening soil to keep plants happy. It’s somewhat due to impatience on my part, but mainly due to the lifestyle shock of becoming a new parent. I literally finished pouring in the topsoil and 1 bag of gardening soil the evening before my daughter was born. :-)
Posted on 20 Oct 11 (over 1 year ago)
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