2021 pepper grow update #6
2021 Grow Update #6
Back to the Roots Water Garden – Aquaponics beginner kit
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The Back to the Roots Water Garden is a small, beginners, aquaponics kit. It’s advertised as three gallons but effectively holds two gallons when set up. There is enough space for one Betta or similar fish. It has a small pump that pushes tank water up to the growing media and recirculates back into the tank. The theory is that the roots will help filter/clean the water, and the fish waste helps fertilize the plants.
The kit comes with two types of seeds and everything else you need, except the fish. It is recommended to add a small heater unless it is a strictly cold-water-loving fish.
My take away from using it is it’s a good learning/teaching system, but not effective on any large scale beyond growing microgreens. And microgreens could be grown with no fertilizer anyway. It’s a fun system though, and I’m still using it.
Here are similar products that I have not tried yet:
AquaSprouts Garden – https://amzn.to/3B3cZb9
ECO-Cycle Aquaponics Garden System – https://amzn.to/2UHlIia
Vivosun Aquaponic fish tank – https://amzn.to/3kaWVhs
2021 Grow Update #5
2021 pepper grow update #5.
2021 Pepper Grow – Update #4
Chupetinho Peach
Chupetinho Peach
Capsicum chinense
Background
This is a Capsicum chinense pepper from Brazil.
Notes
The review pod is one I grew.
The amount ate: Two pods
Heat: 3
Flavor: 7
Burn Profile: Mostly tongue.
Effects: none
Cap Cramps: none
Review
This is a nice looking, peach/flesh-colored pepper from Brazil. The traditional color on these is red. They are very similar to Biquinho peppers. The flavor is tangy with some chinense/hab overtones. Heat level on the ones I grew is between cayenne and thai.
Video
Aji Ayuyo
Aji Ayuyo
Capsicum baccatum
Background
This is a Peruvian heirloom Capsicum baccatum pepper.
Notes
The review pod is one I grew, the seeds were given to me by Jimmy Johnson.
The amount ate: Whole pod
Heat: 2
Flavor: 7
Burn Profile: Mostly tongue.
Effects: none
Cap Cramps: none
Review
This pepper has a fruity tangy, typical baccatum flavor, with low/medium heat. It grows kind of vine-like, might do well in a hanging pot, otherwise needs a lot of support to stay upright. It has good ornamental potential as the pods are very beautiful going through multiple color phases, from cream purple to sparkling red.
Video
Solid Gold Bhut x (Pink Tiger x Peach Bhut)
Solid Gold Bhut x (Pink Tiger x Peach Bhut)
Capsicum chinense
Background
This is a three-way pepper cross from Justin White of White Hot Peppers. The strain I grew was f2, so it is still pretty unstable. The plant has dark foliage, pods typically ripen to orange.
Notes
The review pod is one I grew, the seeds were from White Hot Peppers.
The amount ate: Sidewall slice
Heat: 6
Flavor: 6
Burn Profile: Tongue, back of the throat, ears.
Effects: none
Cap Cramps: none
Review
This plant has great ornamental value. The leaves are dark, and pods go through multiple ripening color phases. They typically ripen to orange/red, but I had one plant that ripened to gold. The heat varied between the two plants I grew. The one I tasted in the video had heat a little lower than a regular ghost, the flavor was not bad.
Video
California Reaper
California Reaper
Capsicum chinense
Background
This is a pepper cross of Carolina Reaper x Jays Peach Ghost Scorpion. It was originally created by Tyler Farms.
Notes
The review pod is one I grew.
The amount ate: Sidewall slice
Heat: 6
Flavor: 7
Burn Profile: Tongue, back of the throat, ears.
Effects: none
Cap Cramps: none
Review
This is a good pepper, in my opinion. The heat was manageable, not near super hot. The flavor was very good, sweet. The plant is super productive.
Video
Mango Habanero
Mango Habanero
Capsicum chinense
Background
This is habanero type pepper, originally called Big Mango Hab. Since the pods on my plant are regular sized, I just call it Mango Hab.
Notes
The review pod is one I grew, the seeds were from Jimmy Pickles.
The amount ate: Sidewall slice
Heat: 3
Flavor: 6
Burn Profile: Stingy heat on the tongue
Effects: none
Cap Cramps: none
Review
This is a a very productive plant. The pods are not super flavorful, but great for use in hot sauces, and probably powders. It doesn’t have a very pungent smell, and has a light citrusy taste.
Video
Pepper grow updates
The last two weeks pepper grow updates.
