Hot peppers extinguished!

[thistlebloom]

This garden season was kind of a funny one for my peppers.

If you're into dark humor.

I started my peppers a bit later than usual, and finally got them out after our last frost date. All 100 of them. Yes, I was pretty excited about the bushels of peppers we were going to have!

June 6 we got a freeze here that took my peppers down. I then bought several from the nursery so I'd at least get something.

Then I discovered that about 25 of my frozen peppers were regrowing! Yay!

They grew, they bloomed, they had peppers growing and getting very promising looking.

Two weeks ago a mama moose with her adorable ( hungry ) twins came through for a drink at the bird bath and stayed for a snack of pepper plants. My husband had to restrain me from rushing out to kick some moose butt. Aaarrgh!!
Should have taken some pictures but I was flitting around worried about my garden. Moose don't ordinarily show up until November...

They pretty much just browsed off the tops of them. All of them.

But that was okay, I figured it allowed more sun onto the peppers, and maybe I'd get some red ones!

Then last night I knew it was colder than usual, but I was so dang tired I just oozed into bed and hoped for the best.
I got up this morning to white crunchy grass and frozen peppers and tomatoes and potatoes.

So this was the sum total of my pepper harvest. But I did get something!

 

[dickiebird]

So sorry for your loss.
I've been just the opposite, been giving away and pickling peppers 2 1/2 mos. And with the rain we finally had they are producing better than ever, most plants can't stand up with the weight of all the peppers.
The ones you have do look great!!!

THANX RICH

 

[897tgigvib]

Aw Thistle!

Those do look like great Peppers!

Your husband is right. Never approach a Moose. I sure woulda been throwing some rocks though, but not far from a door, and hollering. Do you have an air horn? Standard necessary thing up here to chase a black bear or mountain lion off with. Never more than a few steps from a door though.

 

[journey11]

They sure do look nice! What do you think you'll make with them?

I would probably have been throwing rocks...maybe shoes, or whatever I could get my hands on. That is a real bummer though.

 

[catjac1975]

I had a sad pepper story this year too. Not as dramatic as yours. Moose!!!!I bought a new organic liquid fertilizer and was guestimating the measurements. The next day my beautiful pepper and eggplant seedlings started to die. I saved a few and had to buy plants. I have had some nice peppers but not as many as I usually get. I can usually freeze enough for the winter. The fertilizer is actually great in the garden WHEN I MEASURE IT CORRECTLY. We need a picture next time for we in the moose zones.

 

[ninnymary]

wow, Thistle, considering everything, you got quite a bit of peppers. Good thing you planted 100 of them! Maybe next year you should plant 200? just kidding.

Mary

 

[digitS']

Wonderful bowls of peppers, Thistle'!

Lots of gardeners would & should be happy with them!

It is just that
Oh, you can't always get what you want.
But, if you try sometime, you just might find
You get what you need.

I saw some ripe peppers on the plants this year . . . There's not too much of a chance of me seeing any more. Some of them frost-burned but the plants are still alive . . . and pretty much "fruitless." The green ones are in the house.

I realize how tired I am today . . . So much "frost drama" the last 2 days along with regular activities. I find the first frost and all my efforts to stave it off, very stressful.

Steve

 

[NwMtGardener]

Oh crap! Like you said, at least there's some. I brought my green Thai Hot dragon peppers in and hung them upside down to dry, hoping they'd turn red in the drying process...I think that's possible, right? Picked them 2 nights ago with the garden exodus when I was so worried about the 28 degree temps, neither night got anywhere near that low, 32 one night and I think hubby said he saw 40 when he got up today.

It is exhausting, Steve, I don't even know what's making me think I need to protect my little garden either, that's the funny thing! I mean, I'll get some more cherry tomatoes, and maybe a few more cukes...green beans, but...the garden is almost done, not sure why I felt compelled to protect it! Oh well, it worked...it was a good learning experience...guess I just wasn't ready to give it all up for dead yet!

 

[catjac1975]

I would be crying if the killing frost hit my garden already!

 

[lesa]

I complained about a woodchuck!! I remember the pics of the moose in your yard, awhile back. Such magnificent animals, but wow, they could eat your whole garden in one afternoon! My peppers went crazy this year. I am already tucking huge bags of frozen ones away. You might guess, that I don't particularly like peppers! Oh well, Dh and D like them! I am with you Cat- our season is short enough!