Pinched Peppers and Tomato (Red Cherry)

The peppers and chilies seem to be doing well and are flowering. I counted 25 flowers on one of the plants. My pepper growing (so far) has improved from last year.... when I harvested maybe 2 or 3 peppers per plant!

Variety: Pepper California Wonder, Thompson & Morgan Seeds, £1.50. Sown 20 Feb 2011.

Variety: Pepper Hot Cayenne, Mr Forthergill's Seeds, £1.89. Sown 20 Feb 2011.

I read an article that said to 'pinch' your peppers. I wasn't really sure what I was doing but I went pinching back in April. Some of the plants seem happy enough from their grow tip 'pinch' and have branched, whereas two of the plants dwarfed - as per small plant in photo.

The plant (far left) is Pepper Hot Cayenne.

Mostly flowers at this stage on the pepper plants but a few little peppers can be seen forming.

My 'indeterminate' tomato plants are growing and one or two tiny clusters of flowers. I have 5 plants and I often look at them and wonder what to do with them. I've never really grown tomatoes before. I want to pinch off leaves so occasionally I do (a bit randomly)... not sure why I can't get the concept of tomato growing.

Variety: Tomato (Red Cherry), Mr Fothergill's, 50 seeds, £1.89. Sown 3 April 2011.

Left: Tomato flowers forming.

Winter Damaged Cordyline - care

The winter damaged Cordyline Palm has been cut and will hopefully rejuvenate itself. I took off the damp sections of the tree and left the dry stalks to recover. I heard a radio show that said recovery could take two years. In the meantime, I'll grow climbers up the trunks for some summer interest and colour.

Left: An everlasting sweetpea has been planted at the base of the palm... if it survives me moving it. I'll also be planting morning glory soon.

(The cat is once again supervising my efforts.)

Left: The Cordyline after Winter damage. Photo taken Feb 2011. 

Winter this year was one of our worse on record and thousands of people in the UK and Ireland ended up with burst pipes and dying Cordyline Palms. 

Right: I took direction from Belfast Botanic Gardens who cut their damaged palm in April 2011.

For further updates on the Cordyline:
http://kelliboylesgarden.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/frost-damaged-cordyline-update.html

Cabbage Challenge

Last year I grew a cabbage in a small pot and was quite proud of it as this was my first cabbage growing experience. (The plants I put directly in the ground were ravished by slugs and caterpillers.)

This year.... I've grown cabbage and broccoli from seed in my conservatory / sun room. They're gettting quite big in their little pots and need to go outside.

My challenge or dilemna for the week is ..... 'how do I get my plants hardened off outside without white butterflies laying their eggs on them?' I see lots of white butterfliies in the garden. I haven't got my brassica cage made yet, so plans for the weekend - make brassica cage with netting, harden off plants and plant out.

Last year's pot grown veg can be viewed at http://kelliboylesgarden.blogspot.com/2010/08/salad-container-gardening-cabbage-salad.html

Photo taken Sept 2010.
Variety: Cabbage Golden Acre, Homebase Seeds, 175 seeds, 39 pence per pack.