Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself

Plants prosper when they are growing with their comrades, just as we do. From personal experience I want to share the joys of growing peppers (jalapeno, hot peppers and cayenne) with garlic. The pepper plants seen in these photos were sown January 2013, the garlic was sown October 2013. Growing garlic takes from 9-10 months to harvest one bulb from one clove, in the meantime the scapes are an enjoyable harvest to use in eggs, quesadillas, marinating and more.

February 17, 2014

 Garlic scape is the flowering part of the garlic plant. To assure an abundant harvest you want to cut the scapes back. By reducing the scape you are telling the plant to send all of it's energy into increasing the bulb size, rather than putting energy toward flowers and seed.

To cut your scape, concentrate on the thick center stalk, that will grow above the rest of the plant. Cut the stalk as far down as you can without cutting any leaves off. Scapes will regrow, so remember to check on the growth periodically.

February 17, 2014

February 17 ,2014

                                         
Not only are peppers and garlic astonishing companion plants but they also make great palatable companions to dishes. Bon appetit!

Good Companion Facts:

• Both plants like same soil type and watering schedule
• Companions deters pest problems
• Companions provide beneficial bacteria 
• Efficient use of space
• Attract pollinators
• Help each other grow!

Composting

Composting is the biological decomposition of organic waste such as certain foods or plant material. In the above pictures, green composting was used- the plants leaves are retained in the container on top of the existing soil.