It's been a bit on the nippy side in Nashville. My tomato plants have been growing strong, despite the cold, but this weekend's cold weather has given me quite a chore. I had to find a way to cover up all my plants to protect them from any chance of frost. Cam and I read that you could cover them up with bed linens, if you didn't have the fancy plant weather protectors. So far, the plants look safe and snug and green underneath the linens. We'll see how they hold up if or when the weather decides to warm up. Nashville weather is always a bit unpredictable.
Here's something I wasn't expecting--my bell peppers seem to be ALIVE! After staying dormant and fruit-less all summer, I had given up on them. But I guess they like the colder weather because they are really growing quite well.
Below: One of the bell peppers out back
I really don't think this is a green bell pepper. It looks like a huge mix between jalapeno and bell, but when we bought it, it said bell pepper. I read that peppers can cross-pollinate, but I don't think this is the case for this plant. It's nowhere near any other variety of peppers. It was planted next to a purple bell pepper and a red bell pepper. Anyway, maybe Lowe's labeled the seedling incorrectly...
We've picked this particular pepper, and the flavor was mild enough to eat in a salad. Pretty tasty!
Below: Bell Peppers from the Front
These peppers will hopefully ripen into beautiful red bell peppers.
I'm excited about the bell peppers actually doing great! I guess the cold weather hit the spot, and maybe they didn't grow well in the heat. Or my bell peppers are just special. Whatever the reason, I am pleased!
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16 comments:
Bell peppers seem to be a bit challenging, I always presumed they would be easy to grow after see the abundance of them at the grocery store. Funny how chili peppers and banana peppers produce fruit fast but the bell peppers seem to take forever.
Either way it is good to hear yours are taking a turn for the better.
I think I am going to ask around about these pesky bell peppers to see if I can get some advice.
Hi DP, welcome back and good wishes for the literary agent. I don't grow bell peppers either,but stick with chilis and bananas. Not all are hot. Hope yours fare well with the coverings. My son in Asheville goes to goodwill to get sheets for his plants, very cheap.
Frances
http://fairegarden.wordpress.com/
These look so good, I love bell peppers but no grow up here, too short a season.
Bell peppers have never grown for me, so I no longer have them in my garden. Yours look wonderful however.
My chocolate beauty bell pepper produced again but now is not looking so good. Watch your peppers though DP because mine developed these spots just as they were ripening.
Like Dan and Frances said, I think bell peppers can be difficult. I tried an heirloom purple bell last year and didn't get a single pepper before frost.
Marnie
dp, not to worry, I have the same strange looking pepper. I too bought it for a true bell. None of them did very good this summer but has started since the temps dropped.
The rain helped too as well as cooler weather. A tip for you with tomatoes, pick all the green ones before a big huge freeze comes, put in paper bag in an unheated area (like garage), and they will ripen slowly over the next few months. Check every few days for rotted ones though.
Hi DP, I can't believe your bell peppers are thriving in this cold weather. I always assumed peppers were heat lovers! They look great though, so obviously you have a little microclimate in your garden.
I'm glad to hear your peppers are doing better, and they look gorgeous. My bell pepper plants did alright this year, it didn't get too hot here in the Midwest, but they were still slow to move along. Peppers seem to be my gardening specialty but bells are a little harder than the others for some reason.
Welcome back! Sorry for your loss and hope in time all hearts heal...
Happy to hear about your literary agent prospects! That is exciting for sure...
Our pepers continue to produce as do the tomatoes! I will have something to report on the 20th of next month... lol
It's nice to see your peppers producing well. I hope you are able to protect your things from the frost.
I am not sure if we really got a frost last night! Aren't we lucky!
I covered all my plants in pots with sheets...okay today! Gail
Hi Dan- I know! My peppers have not been behaving all year! No idea why!
Hi Frances- Thank you for your well dishes. Our chili peppers grew very well, but the bell peppers just act strange. I did cover my plants, but I guess it wasn't enough, sadly. They've kind of withered away.
Hi Dawn- Maine's weather sounds challenging. Is there anything you can actually grow there? Is it mostly cooler weather crops?
Hi Daphne, I haven't had much luck with bell peppers either. *sighs*
Hi Susie- Thanks for the warning. I will definitely keep an eye out.
Hi Marnie- I think these are hybrids, but are still hard to grow. Oh well. Maybe next year then.
Hi Lola, So wonderful to hear that you are in the same boat. It means that I'm not doing anything wrong! :-)
Hi tina- Thanks for the suggestion. I will definitely do that. I hope it works! I'm going to miss those cherry tomatoes.
Hi raquel- I can't believe the bells are finally doing better, despite the cold. I wonder if my peppers are just weird, lol.
Hi DP, I can't believe your bell peppers are thriving in this cold weather. I always assumed peppers were heat lovers! They look great though, so obviously you have a little microclimate in your garden.
October 29, 2008 9:11 AM
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Blogger Jennifer (of Veg*n Cooking) said...
I'm glad to hear your peppers are doing better, and they look gorgeous. My bell pepper plants did alright this year, it didn't get too hot here in the Midwest, but they were still slow to move along. Peppers seem to be my gardening specialty but bells are a little harder than the others for some reason.
Hi Skeeter- Thanks for your well wishes! I can't wait to hear about the happenings in your garden. I hope the frost doesn't come and kill everything. That would not be good.
Hi Cindy- Unfortunately the frost did kill many plants, even though I did try to cover it up. I'm pretty bummed. But there is always next year.
Hi Gail- Hope your plants are okay! Halloween weather was so nice, don't you think so? So warm and perfect!
WOW!I envy how your bell pepper turned out perfect. I wish I have the same luck..perhaps, I will ask what is your secret.
I am a proud grower of lovely bell pepper plants!
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