[CH] Growing chiles in pots in the desert

Andrea L. Paysinger (asenji@earthlink.net)
Sat, 30 Jan 1999 19:38:55 -0800

You wrote:
    "Kasprowicz, Ray" <RKasprow@microage.com>
      Subject: [CH] Fertilizer questions.

      Any suggestions on fertilization?
      I have been using Scott's Vegetable fertilizer which is a
broadcast type and
       the plants seem to be doing OK, that's it, just OK.
     All my plants are in pots and with heavy watering, the leaching of
the
      minerals has a definite impact. Being in Arizona, the summers get
very hot
     and I have to water heavy.

I have been gardening in the desert for many years and  I have found
the following works for me.

Using a lot of compost in the bottom of the  pot  topped up with  a good
potting mix  .
Some of my pots are buried in the ground  and where I  have  above
ground pots,   I have them "double-potted"
In a very large pot I put a layer of gravel which will allow an inner
pot  rim to be at the same level as the outside pot and the inner pot
small enough to allow at least  3 inches between the inner and outer
walls.
I place the inner pot and fill it part way with compost.
I then fill the space between the pots with sand and with shredded
newspaper packing it down well.  I then finish filling the inner pot and
transplant my seedling or plants into the pot.   I only need water a
couple of times a week except in extremly hot weather - 105 and above.
I also use shade cloth as a vertical  wind-screen  as the wind is as
drying as the heat.  I use epsom salt  early in the season to encourage
good root growth, then  use fish emulsion  as soon  as  the first buds
appear.

--
Andie Paysinger & the PENDRAGON Basenjis,Teafer,Cheesy,Singer & Player
asenji@earthlink.net    So. Calif. USA   "In the face of adversity, be
patient, in the face of a basenji, be prudent, be canny, be on your
guard!"
http://home.earthlink.net/~asenji/