How about some nice organic black beans or organic pinto beans. Soak them overnight first then drain the next morning and when you have a day off then cook in water with onion and fresh garlic. When you have cooked them at a simmer for 1 1/2 hours pour all of it including the peppers in the crock pot. Usually the directions are on the back of the bag of beans. I cook mine with my red carribeans but serranos would be great and I also have a red cherry hot but they are not red yet, I am sure I will try them in some beans:) Keep up the great work in the garden. Yummy:) If it is a real hot pepper like the carribean I take out the seeds and throw at least 2 in whole and 1 cut up. Dusty

Breath of Spring is, unfortunately, going to be the first mini to be in full bloom. I say "unfortunately" because it is a good show rose, and the first show for me is 2 weeks from Saturday. Olympic Gold is towering, and has a lot of buds, as does Bee's Knees, Erin Alonzo and the Incognitos. The 2 Sorpotimist International plants are attempting to out-grow Moonstone. The potted one (grafted on multiflora) is 4' tall. The own-root is shorter, but it is in the ground and tend to be a little lax in habit. Wonderful should be just that soon. Ty is a charmer, quite a few buds, needs repotting. Comundrum continues to threaten the neighborhood dogs and cats. Leading Lady is just a show-off. Vista is trying to fight its way from under Caramel Fairy Tale (in a pot and needs to be moved, but it is going to look heavenly in a week or so and I want to see it). Marie Jeannette is fighting still, but I don't expect much. Lots of newbies that need repotting. Love my minis!

Thanks. It was such a big investment this year because of all the equipment and soil etc - then the bug spray, serenade, daconil - I didn't really want to go the D route but after all the late blight reports and disease which I had on 3 of my plants ( never did identify it but I was able to control it) I decided I couldn't bare to lose my entire garden. I have all herbs as well which are did really well. Just planted spinach and lettuce in my 2 new boxes. I'm out there every day pruning a little, taking off all the bad leaves etc

Yes, even considering the angle of the shot, they are waaay too low. The soil level should be about 3/4" from the rim of the pot. When they are low like that, the edge of the pot blocks light and air circulation, keeps their environment too humid. If you look at pictures on other threads of people who are experienced with C/S, you can get an idea of how high to pot. The soil may have been too compacted over the 2 years you have had them. It also looks fairly wet. As for the collapsed one, it looks pretty bad. If you want to pursue it here, take a picture and post after you remove it. If it were taller you might cut off the bad, let the green harden off, and then pot it. But it looks like it's pretty much dead. You should be able to save the other two. Good luck. We'd love to see how you repot them if you feel like taking another picture. By the way, I probably don't need to tell you the pots need holes in the bottom.