In its juvenile state, Ficus pumila is a clinging vine with small leaves. When it enters its mature phase, however, the growth is shrubby, the leaves are much larger, it does not cling and it produces the fruit seen in the photos.
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A pepper must have been fully ripe for the seeds to be viable. That is it should have been red, bright yellow or orange. If it was green, the seeds were immature and will not viable.
(The Times-Picayune/NOLA.com)
Q: When should I plant bell pepper seeds indoors? I normally buy bell pepper transplants. But this time I want to try to grow my own from seeds I got out of a bell pepper that I bought from a local grocery. -- David Lefort.
A: Seeds to produce bell pepper transplants should be planted in January or by mid-February at the latest. Transplants take about 6 weeks to produce from seeds. Bell pepper transplants are best planted in mid-March to early April at the latest. So, count back 6 weeks from when you want to plant your transplants into the garden to determine when to plant the seeds. There are some considerations.
If the pepper you ate came from a hybrid cultivar (which is likely) then the seeds will not come true and the plants you grow will not be the same as the plant that produced the bell pepper you ate - and the peppers will not have the same quality.
The pepper must have been fully ripe for the seeds to be viable. That is, it should have been red, bright yellow or orange. If it was green, the seeds were immature and will not viable.
Growing your own transplants indoors presents many challenges. Providing adequate light is a major issue, and generally means growing them in a greenhouse, hotbed or under the right kind of artificial lights indoors.
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Q: Here's a photo of a vine (or perhaps a bush) that is growing over a fence and bearing a fruit we cannot identify. It is aggressive, thick branched, has no thorns and has waxy green leaves. Please see attached photos. Do you have any idea what this could be? --Bob Brockway.
A: This is the fruit of the creeping fig vine (Ficus pumila). In its juvenile state it is a clinging vine with small leaves. When it enters its mature phase, however, the growth is shrubby, the leaves are much larger, it does not cling and it produces the fruit seen in the photos.
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Q: I see these trees in New Orleans this time of year. Right now, their crowns of leaves are yellow. Then, as I recall, they turn red. I thought you discussed them in a column a few years ago, and that they have an interesting nickname. Can you help me remember? -- Katy.
A: I think you must be referring to golden rain trees, Koelreuteria bipinnata. They are in full bloom around the area now, and they really grab your attention. They produce large panicles of small, bright, golden yellow flowers at the top of the tree (it is yellow flowers you see now, not leaves). After the flowers fall (creating the "golden rain"), showy seed pods form which turn an attractive salmon pink color. Between their flowers and attractive seed pods, they provide a long season of color in the late summer and fall. Blooming now when few trees are producing flowers really makes them stand out. They are fast growing and make a nice shade tree with two cautions. They produce copious amounts of seeds, and the seeds sprout readily when they fall into beds in the landscape. Seedling trees can become weedy in some situations. Also, they are not fully cold hardy here. Cold severe enough to damage or kill them occurs rarely, but it does happen. Back in 1989 when it got down to 11 degrees in New Orleans and stayed below freezing for three days, mature golden rain trees all over the city were wiped out. Keep these two considerations in mind when deciding whether or not to plant a golden rain tree in your landscape.
As a seasoned horticulturist with a passion for plant biology, my expertise lies in understanding the intricate details of various plant species and their growth patterns. Over the years, I have actively engaged in hands-on cultivation and observation, enabling me to provide insights into the fascinating world of plants.
Let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article, starting with Ficus pumila, commonly known as the creeping fig vine. In its juvenile state, this plant behaves as a clinging vine with small leaves. However, during its mature phase, the growth transforms into a shrubby form with larger leaves. Notably, in its mature state, Ficus pumila does not cling, and it produces distinctive fruits, as depicted in the attached photos.
Now, transitioning to bell peppers, the article discusses the process of growing them from seeds obtained from store-bought peppers. It emphasizes the importance of using fully ripe bell peppers for viable seeds, specifying that seeds from immature, green peppers will not be viable. Additionally, if the peppers are from a hybrid cultivar, the resulting plants may not be identical to the parent plant, and the quality of the peppers may differ.
The third concept involves a reader's inquiry about a vine or bush growing over a fence, bearing unidentified fruit. The expert identifies this as the creeping fig vine (Ficus pumila) and explains its juvenile and mature phases, detailing the transition from a clinging vine with small leaves to a shrubby form with larger leaves and fruits.
Lastly, the article touches on golden rain trees (Koelreuteria bipinnata) in New Orleans. These trees exhibit yellow crowns of leaves that later turn red. The expert clarifies that what appears as leaves are actually small, bright, golden yellow flowers. After the flowers fall, showy seed pods form, turning an attractive salmon pink color. The golden rain trees are described as fast-growing shade trees with cautionary notes about their copious seed production and sensitivity to cold temperatures.
In conclusion, my comprehensive knowledge of plant life allows me to dissect and elucidate the intricate details presented in the article, providing a deeper understanding of Ficus pumila, bell peppers, creeping fig vines, and golden rain trees.
