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002-01 INTRO

Posted 6/26/24 - Q3'24

i like to grow things sometimes.

i recently came to the realization that my little growing hobby is actually a bit more important to me than i thought.
it's makes getting out of bed less of a slog. i get to see their progress and just sit there taking them in.
ive had one really solid patio garden a couple years ago. it's so rewarding - even when disaster strikes.

ive made all sorts of bug enemies, seen plenty of little reptiles hanging around, spent plenty of rainy days taking in the excellent vibe. between the bugs and most plants just being annuals (live for only a growing season), i didnt end up with many survivors.

when i moved after that, it was a rough year and i didnt really get a chance to start it up again. but, im in a much better place now and am ready to start getting things back into gear.

this time im working on a good mix of annual plants, perennials(long lasting), and a few experiments.

>> click here to open gallery <<

annuals:

- nasturtiums, and a lot of them. varieties include vesuvius, milkmaid, black velvet, alaska variegated, apricot trifle, and a strawberries-and-cream that has yet to sprout
- black magic sunflowers, a black sunflower
- dragon's den strawflower, black strawflowers
- roselles, a type of hibiscus
all flower oriented! i was never much of a flower person until i grew nasturtiums for the first time. they are probably my favorite thing to grow.

perennials:

- pippins golden honey*, a sweet pepper variety
- peperone giallo*, also a sweet pepper variety
- fruit trees, about 5 or 6 varieties from white nectarine to lychee

okay so, technically peppers aren't perennials - but they can be. if their roots reach freezing temps, it kills the plants. if youre in a warm area, or bring them inside during the winter, then they can grow fruit again. i've started the seeds for both of these.

as for the fruit trees, they are still a wip. they are going to a cold stratification right now, they're sitting in my fridge. in nature, when the fruit drops to the ground, the seeds get buried. to make sure they get a full growing season, they sit around until they go through a cold period. when it warms up again in the spring, they get triggered to actually start growing. i speed up that process by using the fridge.

now both of these are going to be experiments. i want to turn the trees into

bonsai

, and turn the peppers into

bonchi

(pepper bonsai). i live in a one bedroom apartment, and will most likely be moving around for the next couple years. the last thing i want is to be hauling around 3-4 foot tall tree saplings. but i also want a few plants that i can keep for years. this is the best of both worlds.

the trees in of themselves are an experiment because im starting them completely out of season with an intent to get them to grow inside. more seasoned arborists and gardeners have sworn up and down that both of those are the worst idea, but im hardheaded.

i do have what could be considered run-of-the-mill "houseplants". i have some aroids, and a couple cacti. the only notable being a couple monstera thai cons and an monstera aurea im trying to get grow from a cutting. they are still small, so i wont bring them up much.