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How to Start Eggplant, Peppers, Tomatoes from Seed

Various seedlings

Starting vegetables by seed can be more rewarding and more economical for most people; however, the time investment (and sometimes emotional investment) is huge. These guidelines will work for starting most vegetable and flower seeds, although I wrote them with the nightshade family (except potatoes) in mind. See individual growing articles for more in-depth info […]

Symphylans

Symphylans are very small, white, many segmented organisms that you may see in your soil when you pull up a struggling plant. You will notice them darting and scurrying quickly about the root ball or seedling plug. They are also known as symphlans, or “symphys”, pseudocentipedes, or garden centipedes, even though they are not centipedes. They are […]

Fusarium Wilt

Fusarium is a soil-borne fungus that can survive for a decade or more in dormant stages. It enters the plant through roots and invades its water distribution network, where the fungi partially or completely block the vascular tissues, usually by gum-like formations, causing wilting and eventually death of the plant. General Description Widespread fungus that affects a wide […]

2011 Bell Pepper Results

Compared to my 2010 bell pepper harvest, I had more fewer peppers, and less overall weight. In 2010, each plant produced 3 peppers and the average pepper weighed 2 oz; this year, 2011, each plant only produced 1 or 2 and they weighed only 1.5 oz, on average. This reduction in overall production is probably […]

2011 Bell Pepper Garden Plans

Bell Pepper Varieties Chosen for 2011: RED BELL PEPPERS: Bell Boy Cal Wonder Fat & Sassy ORANGE BELL PEPPERS: Cal Wonder Orange YELLOW BELL PEPPERS: Super Heavyweight Quadrato Asti Giallo (New trial for this year!) PURPLE & BROWN BELL PEPPERS: Purple Beauty Sweet Chocolate (New trial for this year!) Growing Conditions: Since the last few […]

White Mold of Tomato & Pepper Plants

Quick Intro Physical Description Fungal wilt disease that starts as water-soaked spots on stems, then white moldy growth appears on the stems and then the branches wilt Species & Taxonomy Kingdom: Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Genus Species: Lifecycle   Plants Affected peppers tomatoes Plants Unaffected   Geographical Range   Signs & Symptoms Whole Plant water-soaked […]