Hey Horse!

Source: Esso
Published: Aug 2, 2025
Author: Esso/Pacman/Cap'n Brandon
Post Date: 2025-08-02 17:43:54 by Esso
Views: 25730

Can you tell me what's going on with my jalapeno plant out front?

For the second year, my plant in front of my house, with a southern exposure (Full sun) is producing small fruit and almost all of them are red.

The plant is healthy, probably three foot tall. I get my start from a gypsy joint in New Haven every year and I don't remember this problem before. I still use them to cook with, but can they be getting too much sun or something?

They're in a planter about a foot deep and may get pretty hot with the weather lately. I'm pretty good about watering them and fertilizing with Miracle-Gro and 12-12-12 when I transplant them.

My 'Big Boy' tomato plant on the north corner of my garage towards the east is doing great, but is in the ground. It's as tall as Kimmy now and has a ton of fruit on it. The first two 'maters were small (between a golf ball and tennis ball), but the start had two blossoms on it when I got it around Mother's Day.

I'm really curious as to what's going on. Give a brother a hand if you can.

I used to do a big garden when I was married before the accident, but I can't do that anymore, I'm too banged up, man.

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#1: ghostrider    To: Esso (#0)

The nitrogen you are using seems excessive, if you are using the same pot and soil year to year all your fertilizer levels are probably very high. Is the planter mobile? What color are the leaves?

Looks like one of the chickens that hatched in March is laying; a tiny 36-gram olive colored egg.

ghostrider posted on 2025-08-02 20:28:43   Reply   Private Reply

#2: Esso    To: ghostrider, 4um (#1)

The nitrogen you are using seems excessive...

Not likely, the farmer that taught me that was a swingin' dick. It might 10-10-10, but that's just from the git.

Is the planter mobile?

Negative. There's a 3 x 3 staircase on the front of my house. The planters start at the edges and end at the outer end of the stairs, a foot deep.

What color are the leaves?

Nominal green.

Looks like one of the chickens that hatched in March is laying...

I want wolves and sheep on my .375 acre. The city of Fort Wayne has something else to say about that.

Esso posted on 2025-08-02 20:41:41   Reply   Private Reply

#3: ghostrider    To: Esso (#2)

I think I would look at replacing the soil in the planter unless you can sweet talk one of the ag students at the college to test it with recommended corrections. I keep my birds at an airport that was an air taxi service, only one plane fling/hangered there now, though yesterday there was a plane I'd never seen before doing touch and goes while we were putting the chickens up for the night. The place is literally crawling with cayote, bob cat, fox (gray) racoons etc. Not as many hawks this year and there was no black buzzard migration last fall. One of the deer had a fawn, got a bunch of pictures of her when she was pregnant and her with the fawn.

ghostrider posted on 2025-08-02 21:15:28   Reply   Private Reply

#4: Horse    To: Esso (#0)

I have a theoretical knowledge of gardening which is why when I start a homesteading collective I will be recruiting experienced gardeners at least half my age.

Horse posted on 2025-08-02 21:52:29   Reply   Private Reply

#5: BTP Holdings    To: Horse, Esso (#4)

I have a theoretical knowledge of gardening which is why when I start a homesteading collective I will be recruiting experienced gardeners at least half my age.

How many 30- to 40-year-olds have any practical experience at growing a garden or even how to sprout seeds?

Those single line of green beans will barely produce enough for a few meals in most locations. I was using a Troy-Bilt tiller and recommended wide rows which would produce much more veggies.

It takes a lot of planning to grow a garden. I had tomato trellises that form a triangle and you would place it around the plant. The tendrils of the plant would grab onto the wires and grow up inside the trellis. This way the tomatoes would not lie on the ground and rot.

I offered soil testing back in the 70s when I was doing custom garden tilling. One customer when I told them they needed blood and bone meal for Nitrogen and Phosphorus, they refused to allow me to add those amenities because they were vegetarians.

I told them they were not eating the blood and bone and that it broke down to release Nitrogen and Phosphorus. But they would not listen. I had to make substitutions.

I used Sphagnum Peat for Nitrogen. I told them they needed to wait two weeks to plant seeds since the peat robs Nitrogen when it starts to decay and then releases it back later. No telling how that affected their seed bed if the rain shower matted down the seed bed before they got to plant seeds. ;)

BTP Holdings posted on 2025-08-03 19:44:40   Reply   Private Reply

#6: Dakmar    To: BTP Holdings (#5)

It takes a lot of planning to grow a garden. I had tomato trellises that form a triangle and you would place it around the plant. The tendrils of the plant would grab onto the wires and grow up inside the trellis. This way the tomatoes would not lie on the ground and rot.

I got some sort of vine that started drilling into the exterior brickwork of my house so I kicked at them until they fell away, then I kicked at them a little more until they were coiled safely away in the rocks.

I think it's some sort of Holly, but I am negative on anything that burrows, be it mortar or mud.

Dakmar posted on 2025-08-03 19:53:54   Reply   Private Reply

#7: BTP Holdings    To: Dakmar (#6)

some sort of Holly

According to Wiki, Holly can be an invasive species. ;)

Holly

BTP Holdings posted on 2025-08-03 20:12:56   Reply   Private Reply

#8: Dakmar    To: BTP Holdings (#7)

Damn, almost every shrub on the property has thorny leaves like that. The vine thingy has very distinctive five leaf per node, which made me think of like Christmas holly.

Dakmar posted on 2025-08-03 20:22:49   Reply   Private Reply

#9: ghostrider    To: Dakmar (#6)

Those vines are very common here, they get into any openings, mortar and windows and the associated screenage. Much holly in Virginia makes a natural blind from whence to waylay turkeys, they have thorns at the end of the leaf tips. Used as an ornamental in these parts but not very common I've only seen it on the south side of Corpus. Lot of chinaberry trees and live oaks, they have green leaves year-round and drop leaves year-round. Waste of time raking leaves until after the mast.

ghostrider posted on 2025-08-03 20:56:58   Reply   Private Reply

#10: BTP Holdings    To: Dakmar (#8)

five leaf per node

That sounds a lot like Virginia creeper. ;)

BTP Holdings posted on 2025-08-05 17:26:40   Reply   Private Reply

#11: ghostrider    To: BTP Holdings (#10)

I got a gander at Queen Anne's lace, she could use a shave.

ghostrider posted on 2025-08-05 18:59:41   Reply   Private Reply

#12: Dakmar    To: BTP Holdings, ghostrider, Esso (#10)

It is this, just no berries yet. I am sure they will appear soon. I am just going to cut/kill it, it grows really fast despite my token efforts, but mostly it sends little tendrils into masonry, I can't have that.

Dakmar posted on 2025-08-05 19:18:05   Reply   Private Reply

#13: ghostrider    To: Dakmar (#12)

Cutting won't kill it, compare the price of wood seal and concentrate weed killer. Spray on at full strength, a cheapy hand pump sprayer will work for either, throw the pump away when finished. Only other thing is dig down until you can pull out the root system be thankful it's not kudzu any root pieces left in the ground become new plants.

ghostrider posted on 2025-08-05 21:43:53   Reply   Private Reply

#14: Dakmar    To: ghostrider (#13)

Plan is to use big pruners to cut vines and slather Bonide Vine & Stump Killer on the freshly cut holly stemstumps still open amputations.

Dakmar posted on 2025-08-05 21:51:33   Reply   Private Reply

#15: Dakmar    To: ghostrider, Esso, BTP Holdings (#13)

Something similar to this has been flying around my back yard all afternoon. I think it's what was hanging out on the step yesterday, except the one out here had a fatter all white abdomen and the lifting surfaces of the wings were small squares, so overall the thing looked like a cross between a checkered flag and a box kite.

The one today is fascinating, it is in complete control of its movements but will sometimes just float on the air seemingly out of the pure joy of being able to do so.

Dakmar posted on 2025-08-06 17:54:18   Reply   Private Reply

#16: Esso    To: Dakmar, 4um (#15)

I used to call them dragon flies as a kid. I have some around once in awhile.

For the last couple years, not this year, I had a monarch butterfly that would keep me company when I was in the garage smoking.

I don't open the garage much anymore since the feds told me not to give Satan behind me any free shots.

Esso posted on 2025-08-06 18:30:18   Reply   Private Reply

#17: Dakmar    To: Esso (#16)

I got plenty of the smaller blue dragonflies, I'm telling you this thing is the size of a baby hummingbird, I can sight track it all the way out to the trees.

Dakmar posted on 2025-08-06 18:48:19   Reply   Private Reply

#18: Dakmar    To: Esso (#16)

I had a monarch butterfly that would keep me company when I was in the garage smoking.

Better than a bluejay battering you because that wasn't their brand.

Dakmar posted on 2025-08-06 18:50:57   Reply   Private Reply

#19: Esso    To: Dakmar (#18)

Better than a bluejay battering you because that wasn't their brand.

Me and Marla saw a bluejay on top of the fence chowing down a sparrow or something several years ago.

I didn't know they were carnivores.

Esso posted on 2025-08-06 18:59:20   Reply   Private Reply

#20: Dakmar    To: Esso (#19)

Bluejays are mean, I've seen them attack cats. Years ago there was a nest of them nearby, they would perch on the chain link fence and say awful things to me. :)

Dakmar posted on 2025-08-06 19:07:45   Reply   Private Reply

#21: ghostrider    To: Dakmar (#15)

They eat mosquitoes good bugs to have around.

ghostrider posted on 2025-08-06 19:11:52   Reply   Private Reply

#22: Dakmar    To: ghostrider (#21)

I had a bunch of baby birds about a month ago, tiny little things, I think they were either bluebirds or some sort of sparrow, but there were 2 to 3 dozen of them in view during their visit. It was like watching a WWI dogfight scene on acid, all of them learning to hunt. Then they were gone.

Dakmar posted on 2025-08-06 19:20:16   Reply   Private Reply

#23: ghostrider    To: Esso, Dakmar (#19)

I've seen hummingbirds take turns picking off gnats that are clustered, they would rotate in and out between five of them. Saw a sea gull make a cat do a midair 360 dive bombing it.

ghostrider posted on 2025-08-06 19:20:19   Reply   Private Reply

#24: Dakmar    To: ghostrider (#23)

They sit on the utility lines, will take off to a very small perimeter (a few feet, they do this several times a minute) and land right back where they were. Enough gnats alone back there for them to get fat on.

Dakmar posted on 2025-08-06 19:24:15   Reply   Private Reply

#25: Esso    To: Dakmar (#24)

This has my PTSD acting up.

Esso posted on 2025-08-06 19:50:18   Reply   Private Reply

#26: Esso    To: All (#25)

I'm in the middle of a deal about four metal roofs.

The guy thinks he's going to pressure me by showing up on Friday.

Esso posted on 2025-08-06 20:12:42   Reply   Private Reply

#27: ghostrider    To: Dakmar (#20)

The ones I was familiar with said awful things about me.

ghostrider posted on 2025-08-06 20:32:54   Reply   Private Reply

#28: Esso    To: Dakmar, 4um (#26)

I'm in the middle of a deal about four metal roofs.

Chris across the street may be about to get get the full lowdown about what I used to do between 1980-1995, other than working for an 'international engineering company'.

My wife, my mother and my step-dad and Chris and the late-Angie never knew the truth.

You want cash, check, bullion what? You got to carry weapons because you always cash.

Believe what you want about me, the less the better. I never did anything not sanctioned by The Company.

Esso posted on 2025-08-06 20:45:44   Reply   Private Reply

#29: Esso    To: All (#28)

Esso posted on 2025-08-06 20:55:12   Reply   Private Reply

#30: Esso    To: All (#26)

The guy thinks he's going to pressure me by showing up on Friday.

I'm gonna have so much fun Friday except the 0830 thing.

I hope it's a young punk, I'll have him shitting himself.

Esso posted on 2025-08-06 21:09:06   Reply   Private Reply

#31: Esso    To: All (#30)

Esso posted on 2025-08-06 21:15:38   Reply   Private Reply

#32: Esso    To: All (#31)

This reminds me of being in London with Punk. I'm the translucent guy in the background. That was a long time ago...

The east end of a west end girl.

Due to prostate problems, my new Smurf code-name is now "Blue Trickle."

I'm a grower, not a shower.

Esso posted on 2025-08-06 21:21:45   Reply   Private Reply

#33: BTP Holdings    To: Esso (#2)

wolves and sheep

The sheep herders in SW Missouri are having problems with Coyotes. Several gang up on a sheep and bring it down. I think they are we offering a bounty on Coyote pelts. ;)

BTP Holdings posted on 2025-08-06 21:36:00   Reply   Private Reply

#34: Esso    To: BTP Holdings, Horse (#33)

My older sister that worked at the US Steel Gary Works moving hot coils plant-to-plant told me about coyotes in the parking lot. That cracked me up I envisioned Wile E. Coyete.

She was an owner-operator at the start, OTR, with an old Autocar rig. I think she's 68 or 69 now with health problems that she wants Dr. Kimmy to fix long distance.

I told her to DM Horse, he knows more than any physician would know inc. Kimmy.

Esso posted on 2025-08-06 21:57:00   Reply   Private Reply

#35: Esso    To: All (#34)

Kimmy and me have a deal when we get together, she's in the killing zone with hospital group protocols, I'm retired.

We don't talk much.

It took us 47 years to get our shit squared away. We don't talk too much.

(Edit) We get to see each other for about 16 waking hours per week. Clot-shots and Vladimir Putin don't get much time in the mix. She loves me for my cooking. And Dakmar.

I can appreciate Kim liking Dak for his intellect, but race mixing is BS.

Dak's as black as my old S-10. j/k, I've never seen him, he's camera shy.

Esso posted on 2025-08-06 22:11:05   Reply   Private Reply

#36: Esso    To: Dakmar (#35)

Badmouth ping.

I'm kidding, Dak says he's white, I believe him.

Kimmy's the problem, she's actually Jasmine Crockett.

I only got mixed up with her because of her last name, like Sonny Crockett on "Miami Vice".

I hope I don't have to do that with Kim.

Dak, you pondered about me having enough friends to know 22 that clot- shotted out.

Angie had 260+ lines on her funeral (Celebration-of-Life) guest register. I thought Chris was overreacting when he said parking was gonna be a problem.

I'm glad my ex-wife came and got me and held my hand for that deal. Thar was the hardest "celebration of life" since my father's in 1976 on my 15th birthday.

I'm a pussy now, but a rich one.

Esso posted on 2025-08-06 23:18:48   Reply   Private Reply

#37: Esso    To: All (#36)

Air Supply - Making Love Out Of Nothing At All

Esso posted on 2025-08-07 00:23:11   Reply   Private Reply

#38: Esso    To: All (#37)

My girls...

Esso posted on 2025-08-07 04:56:42   Reply   Private Reply

#39: Esso    To: Kimmy, 4um (#38)

Poor sad little gal...

Esso posted on 2025-08-07 05:08:20   Reply   Private Reply

#40: Esso    To: Dakmar, 4um (#39)

$100 seemed excessive for a BJ at the flying J truckstop in NH.

Esso posted on 2025-08-07 05:27:37   Reply   Private Reply

#41: BTP Holdings    To: Esso (#35)

I had a chance to see Marty Robbins before he passed away and I didn't get to go. :-/

BTP Holdings posted on 2025-08-08 19:48:41   Reply   Private Reply

#42: BTP Holdings    To: Esso (#32)

a long time ago

You are very lucky to have those memories. ,)

BTP Holdings posted on 2025-08-14 21:12:42   Reply   Private Reply

#43: BTP Holdings    To: Dakmar (#15)

Dragonflies are good to have around since they eat mosquito larvae. ;)

BTP Holdings posted on 2025-08-26 16:34:42   Reply   Private Reply

#44: Dakmar    To: BTP Holdings (#43)

I am still trying to figure out which variety of dragonfly set me off in this quest. I've seen thousands upon dragonflies even in my life, but this thing had wings like a box kite with apparently clear membranes constituting the remaining lift required by laws of fluid dynamics to navigate without direct regard to Earth's gravity.

Dakmar posted on 2025-08-26 19:01:23   Reply   Private Reply

#45: BTP Holdings    To: Dakmar (#44)

dragonflies

You could say the same about hummingbirds. Their metabolism is so high they ne we d to feed every few minutes.

I was sitting on a bench out front by a neighbor. There was Cardinal flower blooming next to the bench.

A female Roufous hummingbird swooped in to sip nectar from the flower.

It sure was not afraid of me. ;)

BTP Holdings posted on 2025-08-27 20:49:07   Reply   Private Reply

#46: Esso    To: BTP Holdings, Dakmar, 4um (#45)

I was going to say something to you dorks, but I went out in the garage to have a smoke and forgot.

I had a Monarch butterfly that visited me for a couple summers, but the feds told me not to give the kook behind me that thinks he's Satan a free shot by keeping my garage door open. Guns & drugs, the FWPD is involved as a bad guys. My sister saw it a couple years ago, she couldn't believe it.

I only open the side door that's not in line-of-sight. There's a little wild bunny that sits between the house and the arborvitaes that keeps tabs on me now that Angie died. It might be her.

I should put out some lettuce or fruit or something.

Esso posted on 2025-08-27 21:47:54   Reply   Private Reply

#47: Dakmar    To: Esso (#46)

Dorks? Let's get one thing straight, Esso, I am not a dork, I am a geek!

Dakmar posted on 2025-08-28 18:32:01   Reply   Private Reply

#48: Dakmar    To: Esso, BTP Holdings (#47)

Actually, I am more of a dweeb, BTP seems to fill the geek genre better than I.

Just kidding BTP, trying to get another concert security story out of you. :)

Dakmar posted on 2025-08-28 20:10:46   Reply   Private Reply

#49: Esso    To: Dakmar (#47)

I just found out I'm having company tonight. I forgot about Labor Day. I hope she's up for a ride to Kroger in the Clown Car tomorrow morning. Wow, two whole days together.

Esso posted on 2025-08-29 16:31:23   Reply   Private Reply

#50: Dakmar    To: Esso (#49)

I did a roadtrip to Michigan this morning, for provisions you understand. Had a nice time conversing with store clerk about how smart Michigan is with laissez-faire attitude toward boutique agricultural fare. He confirmed my suspicion that even though said products are legal in Illinois, the latter charges so much in taxes that anyone from that horrid cesspool within 100 miles of Michigan votes with their dollar and kicks into the Wolverine collection plate.

Dakmar posted on 2025-08-30 16:43:19   Reply   Private Reply

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