Container Gardening Season 2 - Week 19: Baby Eggplants and Pests Galore

This week we find our first baby eggplant, plus our jalapeno pepper plants are producing like crazy with 17 peppers growing. Also we continue to deal with red spider mites while our flea beetle problem is gone.

This is our second year attempting to grow fruits, vegetables and herbs in containers on our patio in the city. Each week we update with what's new, good or bad, in our patio garden.

This year we are growing:
Basil
Cherry Tomatoes
Cilantro
Dill
Green Onions
Eggplants
Habanero Peppers
Jalapeno Peppers
Oregano
Lettuce
Spinach
Strawberries
and a random heirloom tomato plant given to us as a gift

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[Hidehorticulture]

Red spider mites love the heat. Next time, instead of spraying with Neem oil (which can further burn leaves in the heat of the summer), just use water to wash the underside of the leaves. Pinching the worst set of leaves off, will also reduce spider mite numbers. Rinse off leaves in the early morning, so they dry without promoting another problem. I had this happen last year and I would feel the underside of the leaves for a gritty residue to see if they returned. That residue is their poop.

[ThePatioGardeners]

@Hidehorticulture That's an interesting suggestion and we may try it if we have this problem again in the future. The problem is there are so many leaves on the plants that it would take forever to do, so that may not be a reasonable option. Does it have to be done every day or just weekly?

[McHenryAnge]

Almost embarrassed by how caught up I am in the drama of your garden. This is fun.

Pepper warning. Pepper plants will cross pollinate so your otherwise mildly hot jalapenos can become crazy hot like the habaneros, Or the habaneros can calm down. You never know.

They will also mix with bell peppers.

When you get a mix that you like, separate those seeds to start your own personal "designer" pepper plants.

Gourd plants (cukes, pumpkin, squash) might do the same thing but I've not done that.

[ThePatioGardeners]

@McHenryAnge Arlen thinks it would be awesome if the pepper plants cross pollinate. We've only eaten one of the jalapeno peppers so far and it seemed pretty normal. The habanero only started flowering a few weeks ago though.

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[Hidehorticulture]

You'll get lots of bug pests, unfortunately because you're situated high above ground levels. Best not to crowd your plants, and water deeply, thoroughly - instead of frequently. Water once and then go back and water again after an hour or so. I suggest to pinch back growth when plants are coming up to keep them tight and compact. That way you'll have more space. Have fun learning through your way.

[Hidehorticulture]

@ThePatioGardeners Your patio/balcony must get hot often. Cherry tomatoes don't mind partial shade. The spider mites require hot locations to feed and breed. Changing the temps, perhaps cooling down the brick, floor - whatever you can to deter heat will help reduce their populations. Best trick to to monitor the plant is when young, to nip it in the bud. Run your fingers on the undersides of leaves to feel grit as I said earlier to be pro-active.