Stevia: Started round 4 (looks like a total of only ~5 from previous rounds might make it)

(So my experiment with mixing in alfalfa/kelp with the vermiculite didn't seem to do the trick, as a bunch of those flopped too.)

Stevia experiment... adding soaked kelp + alfalfa

The round 2 stevias that went into vermiculite on top of soil seem -- fingers crossed -- to maybe be taking (?).  But I'm still worried that their roots won't make it to the soil/nutrition in time given the depth of the vermiculite.  So, I added a few dabs on top of the vermiculite, close but not on top of the seedlinguettes, of pre-soaked mixed alfalfa and kelp.  

And, for today's round 3 stevias that have all popped, I put them likewise but with a mix of alfalfa/kelp underneath them before adding the topping of vermiculite.

We shall see...

Started celery R2, stevia R3, and kale (from 2024 saved seeds) and chard

^^^

Stevia woes, arghhhh ----- trying again

Stevia is so fricking hard to get started!!!!  Looks like only 1 of the ~9 that had germinated might actually be taking after having been moved from PT to soil -- I think all the other 8 are kaput.

So, today, the next round of seeds that popped in PT, today, instead of putting them into the soil mix, I put a layer of vermuculite on top of the soil mix, then carefully placed the popped seeds, then just a few pieces of vermiculite on top.  I'm not sure if they'll be able to grow fast enough to reach the soil/nutrients before going kaput, but, this is at least worth a try.  There's quite a bit of vermiculite underneath them to provide buffer re: fungus gnats -- might be too much distance for their roots to travel to nutrition but we'll see.

Started broccoli (Belstar & Piracicaba), cauliflower (from clear baggie), & round 2 of stevia

 The stevia round 1 looks like some will hopefully take, but some not, so started round 2 to make sure I have enough.

Stevia yielded 1 ~3/4 cups after grinding -- will this be enough until next year's harvest?

Dang, all those plants, and all that harvesting and drying, turned into only 1 ~3/4 cups after I put it in the mini blender.  Will use only 1/2 tsp per thermos and see if this lasts through until next year's harvest.

Topped hot peppers (the bigger ones) and accidentally one hungarian sweet pepper; and pruned biggest stevia

Started some peppers, and more celery and stevia

Peppers started:

- Witch Stick (bought last year but I can't remember if it gave the too-hot little ones or the decent long ones or if it gave nothing at all)

- Jalapeno

- Hungarian Yellow Sweet (oops, forgot to not start the sweet peppers until later)

Also started more celery and stevia to fill in the gaps.

Started stevia round 2 and New York onions round ~3 or 4

(To fill in gaps.)

Started stevia

Indoor stevia flopped due to many small flying insects! Moved outside

Yikes, tons of small flying insects!!  I had noticed one a week or two ago, didn't think anything of it.  Came back from camping and now there are so many!

So, moved all three indoor stevia outside permanently.

I wonder if they came in on the stevia that I bought -- that's my theory.  (Two of the indoors stevia were mine, one was from the store.)

The plants look happy, but no way in heck do I want to risk insects for the winter, so putting a stop to this now.

Stevia from last year all gone (except for the two small jars of un-inspected)

Alas!  Used up the last of the aphid-inspected stevia today.  Have been having 1/2 tsp per workday (though used to use only 1/4 tsp) in my tea.  I don't think I can stomach using the un-inspected stuff, so will use the store powdered stevia until I get some of my own this year.

Stevias were rootbound!! Potted up.

I had noticed the stevias weren't looking great.  Uppotted them today and saw lots of big strong roots.  Hoping they were just sad in the small starter pots.

Next year I should either remember to uppot the stevia early, or just put them in a good-sized pot to begin with.

Two of the stevias went into the decorative containers that I plan to keep inside all year (using my indoor homemade mix, no outside materials), probably one on the kitchen table and one upstairs under lights after all the other seedlings have gone or freed up space.

Stevia round 2 started today bec most of round 1 shriveled after putting into soil

^^^

Stevia started in PT

Used up the rest of the seeds from last year.

Stevia is still going strong despite several frosts!!!

Wow!  I thought it was a really tender plant, but apparently not!  They look perfectly fine, whereas the basil, tomatoes, beans, and begonia are all clearly kaput given the frosts.

First frost was last night

It has been a mild fall until now -- got some cooler nights at the 0 +1 range, but no frost in the yard until last night when it went down to -4.  The tenders are now done.  --> Edited to add that actually the stevias are still looking fine even after several cold nights!!

Stevia harvest a-plenty; grow it only in containers in future bec avoids slug damage; wee green insects

The stevias in containers not only look overall happier than the in-ground ones, they're also free from slug damage which the in-ground ones are suffering from a little bit.

Also, there are itty bitty green insects on some of the leaves.  I'm not worried about the plants, but of course don't want to eat them, so am inspecting the leaves closely when harvesting.

Stevia: Putting away the commercial stuff; will see how long backyard supply will last

The stevia I pruned/harvested ~3 to 4 weeks ago is totally dry now, so ground it up.

Big planting day!! Only remaining are the zukes, cukes, zinnias, and basil

The 14 day weather forecast looks good, with nights no colder than 10 (fingers crossed) and days in the 20s.  So, planted a bunch of stuff that was finished hardening:  tomatoes (several Mortgage Lifter (which were my best-looking seedlings, nice and sturdy), Big Tofu Plus (leggy seedlings), and one Jasper (leggy seedling)), stevia (in-ground and in pots), store-bought peppers (jalapeno in a pot; hot banana pepper in-ground; and several sweet banana peppers in-ground and in pots) callaloo, and coreopsis.

And, sowed pre-soaked pole bean seeds:  Scarlet Emperor (beautiful big beans) northmost (south of the peas); Kentucky Wonder Wax (brown seeds) southmost.  Covered with clear plastic after watering.

Now I have to finish hardening the zukes and cukes; and wait for more zinnias to flower so I know which colours they are; and I need to start hardening the basil, no rush there since nights are still too cool for them.