u/chi_eats

Never fermented anything before and want to make hot sauce from everything I grew in my garden (lowkey mad nothing I grew ended up having tons of heat smh) - got some spicy spicy peppers as a gift from a fellow redditor! Volume is the top three peppers here and I froze them as they ripened. I put fresh peppers in there of course - just snipped the callax off.
- Serrano (ended up not so hot)
- Korean gochu (decently spicy)
- Zebrange (grassy, supposed to be jalapeño level but they’re not even a little spicy)
- 3 plum sized chocolate bell pepper for more volume

- 1 Italian plum
- 3 slices of carrot
- 2 sun gold cherry tomato and 1 black cherry tomato (I’m a tomato grower!!! Not really a pepper girl)
- 1 onion
- garlic
- tiny sliver of ginger
Gift pepper additions:
- TINY TINY sliver of Pockmark Peach pepper (pic 3 lol)
- handful of ají ayuyo
- 1 chocolate scotch bonnet

I have an ok (meh) tolerance for heat so I was scared of the super hot lol lol but now maybe should’ve added more. My chef friend is a heat chaser and said one sliver made a chili inedible from another super hot he got.

I added a cabbage leaf bc the ají ayuyos, seeds and smaller bits kept floating up and that’s apparently a no no. …and topped cabbage with ceramic weights I got like 5 mins ago

Is this enough headspace? I did about 3-3.5% brine based on the weight of the water (not everything combined 🫪) I cracked some salt on top of the cabbage jic bc im paranoid.

Also filled that airlock thing like 3/4 of the way? I DONT GET HOW THIS WORKS just trusting the process.

I hope it’s not too “sweet” or fruity - this is for topping on my eggs and gifting.

Am I good? Do I just let this sit for 3 weeks?

https://preview.redd.it/9cx9ciyirjlh1.png?width=469&format=png&auto=webp&s=d3aeeeb7cdda352e43139606a61dd7092d2300e2

I WANNA SEE YOUR EXPERIMENTS / VOLUNTEERS!!! (sorry bad formatting)

Found this antho-ish cocktail tomato in my work's cafeteria's salad bar... and I think I might try to grow the seeds next year bc why not? I know many are hybrids out there so might not grow true but I like to experiment from year to year - and she's pretty. Maybe she'll taste better if I grow the seeds since all grocery store tomatoes taste like water and mush to me.

This year's experiments, I grew seeds from the biggest, sweetest, juiciest, yellow farmers market tomato and it has been my heaviest producing, most disease resistant plant. Like it just cannot be killed. I suspect it is a Kellogg's Breakfast or something similar - anyways... they're going to be my root stock for my grafting experiment next year. Mostly because I dont want to buy rootstock tomato seeds and my Black Krim died after giving me the most delicious tomatoes ever.

HEFFA

I also grew a stripey one from the farmers market that is producing MORE than the yellow and is still going even after being hit by fungus/blight and earlier, by a single massive hornworm. The fruit is prone to splitting and becomes mushy quickly so shelf life isn't the best... but is juicy and delicious nonetheless just not my favorite this year.

https://preview.redd.it/prd55xhosjlh1.png?width=788&format=png&auto=webp&s=df2423be7e4b780e8d126d28faa305f4e48c8256

mystery stripey sandwich

I just flew back from Oaxaca and dined at Levadura de Olla. I though you all would appreciate their dedication in serving the native tomatoes from the Sierra Sur/Oaxacan region. I know we all grow heirloom tomatoes here for the best, juiciest, sweetest flavor and many tomatoes in this dish were VERY interesting, to say the least. They were yummy but I probably wouldnt go out of my way to actually grow them. For us tomato nerds, it was so interesting being able to try some of the native, traditional, indigenous tomatoes before selective breeding.

Served with a vinaigrette and on top of a beet sauce.

Standouts that I've been trying to find out more on - tried to take notes but he named them pretty quickly.

- jitomate tileso - the tiny blueberry sized tomato that is a husk tomato. It definitely had a blueberry-ish antho taste but very seedy. Cannot find any info on this.

- tomate de arbol / tamarillo - first time having this - super sweet like a tomato x mango or passion fruit?

- jitomate de manzana / "apple" tomato - Green ones that had a crunchy skin like when eating an apple with skin on? Tart, fun texture, but definitely not super flavorful.

- purple tomatillo in the middle - probably my favorite - I didn't catch the name! Sweeter and delicious raw.

Otherwise, it was a lovely solo meal, staff was wonderful and explained everything in detail. It was an amazing representation of the local ingredients of the area. I am sure pepper nerds would appreciate their use of the the different chilhuacle peppers and the super rare yellow variety for their moles and other sauces.

Moved in a couple years ago and there is a 3 story TOH growing in the concrete. Neighbors must have chopped it down a year before I moved in since there is a nasty stump next to it. It's growing between a concrete wall and my neighbors fence - crazy and difficult to get in there because its a 10-11" gap.

This year, neighbors decided to girdle it in May. Yes I realize this is wrong timing but we didn't know.

Definitely weakened a little... since the upper leaves are kinda wilty but it still did push out yellow flowers and spent the last few weeks sweeping that shit up everywhere. We're gonna be picking out volunteers again.

Anyways, new growth is growing from the stump. I am waiting until August to chop it off and dab it with Round up. I also plan on hacking below the girdle and applying Round Up - specifically the concentrate for poison ivy? (Triclopyr,Triethylamine Salt 2.50%,Fluazifop-P-Butyl 2.00%,Diquat Dibromide 1.50%)

HOWEVER, this morning, I noticed a sprout next to it from the bottom. It's doing the thing... do I chop the new sprout down NOW in mid June or should I wait until August? 

It feels like it grew 2 feet overnight and I'm freaking out!

Moved in a couple years ago and there is a 3 story TOH growing in the concrete. Neighbors must have chopped it down a year before I moved in since there is a nasty stump next to it. It's growing between a concrete wall and my neighbors fence - crazy and difficult to get in there because its a 10-11" gap.

Last year it had tons of lantern flies and grew more. The nymphs are all over the healthy growth.

This year, neighbors decided to girdle it in May. Yes I realize this is wrong timing but we didn't know.

Definitely weakened a little... since the upper leaves are kinda wilty but it still did push out yellow flowers and spent the last few weeks sweeping that shit up everywhere. We're gonna be picking out volunteers again.

Anyways, a sprout is growing from the stump. I am waiting until August to chop it off and dab it with Round up. I also plan on hacking below the girdle and applying Round Up - specifically the concentrate for poison ivy? (Triclopyr,Triethylamine Salt 2.50%,Fluazifop-P-Butyl 2.00%,Diquat Dibromide 1.50%)

HOWEVER, this morning, I noticed a sprout next to it from the bottom. It's doing the thing... do I chop it down NOW or should I also wait until August? It feels like it grew 2 feet overnight - I didnt notice it last week.

I made it a point to grow more flowers this year and to have a more balanced ecosystem in my little concrete yard... but with the up-and-down weather, nothing is as lush as I hoped. I am seeing less bees compared to last year.

Shout out to the sweat bees, masked bees, and smaller pollinators! Haven't seen larger bees consistently yet so hoping bee populations are still building up... but my portulacas are starting to bloom, sunflowers are almost there, and still waiting on cosmos. Bacopas are going strong and bolted cilantro/dill/etc have been great. Bolted collard greens that survived all winter were really popular early season in March/April and trying to figure out how i can recreate that lol.

Tomatoes are just starting to bloom and set fruit finally but I'm still walking around shaking my plants and hand-pollinating my squash.

Unfortunately, I think I will be removing marigolds from my list next year since the french ones are largely ignored.

I think I will have to try bee balm next year but curious if anyone has favorite early/consistent bloomers? Bonus kitty gardening buddies.

It's all concrete down there. We found this sad thing when we moved to this apartment. Probably just one or two canes. Last year, I posted what I should do and was recommended to trellis it. I did so ... badly aka... just stuck a trellis and zip tied it to the fence. Last year, it bloomed a little bit and very briefly, but was taken over by virginia creeper and just stayed green the rest of 2025.

This year, this thing has come back with a vengeance - I've also ripped out a lot of Virginia Creeper and put a trough planter for squash this year.

Bro is spitting out crazy blooms and I had to trim it back a couple times. New blooms coming. I just learned about Dr. Hueys and it probably is that? We'll see if new blooms come since I guess they are one and done.

I guess the next step is to learn about grafting? I am enjoying the red blooms though! Bonus cat progress pics (yes he has also gained weight too).

Second year gardening!

I have to go from my kitchen on upper level of apt, down stairs to basement bedroom, through a hallway and back up... to shlep water as we don't have a water hookup - I've tripled the plants I am growing this year so I am 100% concerned about even watering specifically the tomatoes. I have two 2-gal cans and now a portable sprayer for mites but even so... the damn tomatoes drink so much.

Tomatoes: Sun Gold, Northern Lights, Black Krim, Black Cherry, Blondkopfchen, Mystery Yellow, and Mystery Stripey

Peppers: Serrano (apparently x2 in a 5 gallon smh), Purple Bell Pepper x2, Shishitos x2
Zebrange and Korean (Hong) Gochu Pepper (Trades from r/blackmesabeanfarm!! I love reddit)

Elevated Planter: Shungiku, Chard, Parsley Garlic and Scallions.

Other herbs: Shiso, Oregano, Mint, Cat Nip and Cat Mint for Kitties, Cilantro (bolting, gonna succession plant), Confetti Cilantro, Basil, Thai Basil, Dill and Chive

Sad potato slips that grew in a 10 gallon growbag as an experiment.

The side wall on the right had a small 10-11" gap that was filled with English Ivy and Virginia Creeper (which has taken over the apt behind the fence). Ripped as much as I could out and put some 45 - 55" trough liners and planted some Magda Zucchini (I plan growing vertically as they are bush variety) and the other has purple sweet potato as an experiment - pretty leaves so idk. Floral filler/spillers/thrillers are portulaca, cosmos, and nasturtium.

Tons more flowers this year for the bugs: Couple pots of beneficial insect mixes (mostly false queens anne's lace) / bee mixes - portulaca seeds sprinkled EVERYWHERE, Sun Flowers/bachelor buttons and planning another 7 gallon pot for variegated celosia and idk...my neighbors gave me some salvia so... maybe they can be companions? Idk.

I moved and there was ONE singular rose branch and 2 years later, it has POPPED off. (Only thing not in a container).

Fig tree coming soon!!!

Learned so much here and in the r/tomatoes sub - I am so appreciative! I think I have overdone it though. Should I ask if the building can provide a hose hookup? LOL

Bonus kitties who have kept rodents away from my tomatoes and compost. Mostly the black one since the other, older one just sleeps on that sofa for hours and doesn't move unless it's for meals.

Growing 7 different tomatoes this year and trying 15-20 gallon bags this year (I am aware they aren’t filled - I ran out of dirt lmao - I’ll be topping them up in a couple weeks and will idk just remove and replant their marigold buddies).

They were transplanted a couple days before the 60s to 90s heatwave we survived in NYC and now it’s a rainy and chilly MDW like jfc. Everyone’s looking good though.

Blondkopfchen, Black Cherry, Black Krim, Sun Gold, Northern Lights, Mystery Yellow Beefsteak and a Mystery Stripey Orange Beefsteak - both tasty tomatoes I ate last summer from the farmers market.

Video from last year! I am growing a million more portulacas this year because the bees went nuts for them! They're so colorful and fun - I've sprinkled seeds around all of my veggies to attract bees. They really get after them. (Are these longhorn bees? Leaf Cutting? I'm in 7B/NYC)

2nd year container gardening 7B NYC and I have a pot I’m dedicating to bee mix and a few sunflowers … but this was the first to pop up in a cluster.

I figure I’d let it grow since it’s a mystery bee mix I got in the mail (used the same last year got cosmos, skinny sunflowers, and 1 random 4 o clock so this seems different). It does not smell like basil or oregano - latter of which I did let grow there but pulled end of season and it never went to seed. Smells green and bitter.

I mayyyy have used the dirt from the container I did grow tomatillos in and those thangs got everywhere - thank god for my concrete yard otherwise they’d be popping up everywhere. I am also plucking tomato volunteers from this pot.

I am new to figs. This was a drunk purchase lol I’m mostly a tomato girlie lol

I bought a Longue d’aout that is thiccc and still... no change so that’s good, I assume.

I received this Col de Dame Rimada on April 11 a day after (now 4/27) and stuck it in dirt after scratching the base. It did come with wax top that came off and with green growth/buds. (Third photo is when I got it, first two is today after spritzing it with water)

it’s shriveled up. I tented it with a ziploc and then the nodes got some fluffy white mold. Then I untented it and dabbed them with hydrogen peroxide. Just scratched it and it reallyyy doesn’t seem green. I know it’s only been like two weeks but did I fuck up. 😭

I feel like my timing is wrong too for 7b lol. Like do I give up until next winter?