Week 26 has been a week of maintenance, precision, and preparation. The team cleaned the wet wall, drained and refreshed the isolation room reservoir tanks, measured growth across every plant in the Dutch Bucket system, adjusted fertilizer levels based on what the data showed, pruned the Dragon's Breath plants, repositioned grow bags to prevent cross pollination, and put serious time into updating the greenhouse training documentation.
No single dramatic moment this week, just the steady, detail-oriented work that keeps a world-class pepper crop on track.
Seed Stock Production
Wet Wall Cleaning
The wet wall got a thorough cleaning this week. It's one of those tasks that's easy to overlook but critical for maintaining consistent temperature and humidity across the greenhouse. A clean wet wall means better airflow, more efficient cooling, and a more stable environment for the plants. We stay on top of it so it never becomes a problem.
A long view of the wet wall inside the Pepper Joe's greenhouse, cleaned and maintained weekly to keep temperature and humidity as close to optimal as possible. The heat wave the past few weeks has been giving it a run for its money.
Isolation Room Reservoir Tanks Drained, Cleaned, Refilled
The reservoir tanks in the isolation rooms were fully drained, scrubbed, and refilled with fresh nutrient solution this week. Keeping these tanks clean prevents nutrient salt buildup, algae growth, and any contamination that could affect the plants being managed in isolation. Fresh solution in, clean slate out, every time.
Left: one of the isolation room reservoir tanks drained and mid-scrub, our team cleans them by hand to prevent nutrient buildup and contamination. Right: the same tank freshly refilled with nutrient solution and ready to go.
Growth Measurements Across the Dutch Bucket System
Every plant in the greenhouse got measured this week. Tracking growth data is how we stay ahead of problems and confirm that our nutrient program is working. It tells us which varieties are thriving, which might need attention, and whether any adjustments are needed before small issues become big ones.
Fertilizer Adjustments Based on Plant Growth
Based on the growth measurements, we dialed in the fertilizer levels across the system. As plants mature, their nutrient demands shift, root systems develop, canopies expand, and pod production begins to ramp up. We adjust EC levels and specific nutrient ratios to match where each plant is in its growth cycle, keeping everything optimized for yield and pod quality.
This is worth noting for home growers too: your fertilizer program shouldn't be static. Pay attention to how your plants are growing and be willing to adjust. A plant that's pushing heavy vegetative growth may need less nitrogen and more phosphorus to start setting fruit.
Pruning the Dragon's Breath Plants
The Dragon's Breath plants in the main Dutch Bucket area got a solid pruning session this week. Keeping the canopy open improves airflow, reduces disease pressure, and directs the plant's energy toward pod production rather than excessive leafy growth. With super hots like Dragon's Breath, consistent pruning throughout the season is one of the most impactful things you can do for your final yield.
One of our greenhouse team members pruning a rogue branch off a Dragon's Breath plant in the main Dutch Bucket area.
Moving the Grow Bags
We currently have three separate varieties growing in grow bags outside and this week we repositioned them to create more distance between each variety before they flower. When you're growing multiple pepper varieties in close proximity, especially for seed stock, cross pollination is a real concern. Spacing the bags out gives us the best chance of keeping each variety true to type.
If you're growing multiple varieties at home and saving seeds, this is something to keep in mind. Physical distance between varieties is your first line of defense. Isolation cages or hand pollination are options if space is limited.
Three separate pepper varieties growing in bags, repositioned outside the greenhouse this week to create distance between them and reduce the risk of cross pollination once they flower.
Updating the Greenhouse Procedure Documentation
The team put significant time this week into updating our internal greenhouse documentation. We're refreshing the Dutch Bucket system maintenance guide, cataloging replacement parts for faster reordering, and building out a troubleshooting reference so the team can resolve issues quickly and consistently.
It's the kind of foundational work that doesn't show up in the plants directly, but it's what allows a growing operation to scale, train new team members, and maintain quality season after season.
Looking Ahead
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- Continue monitoring Dutch Bucket plants post-fertilizer adjustment
- Track Dragon's Breath canopy development post-pruning
- Monitor grow bag varieties for any signs of cross pollination stress
- Continue documentation updates for our procedures
What This Means for Home Growers
If you're growing peppers at home, here's what to take from this week:
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Fertilizing based on growth stage?
- Don't just follow a fixed schedule. Watch your plants and adjust. Heavy vegetative growth with no fruit set is often a sign to back off nitrogen and push phosphorus.
- Blog: Pepper Plant Nutrients: What to Feed Peppers and When
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Pruning super hots?
- Don't be afraid to open up the canopy. Better airflow means healthier plants and more energy directed toward pods.
- Blog: How to Prune Pepper Plants in 5 Easy Steps
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Growing multiple varieties?
- If seed integrity matters to you, create as much physical distance between varieties as possible or use isolation techniques like bagging flowers before they open.
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Need more guidance?
- Check out our full library of growing resources in Grow with Joe.
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Fertilizing based on growth stage?
Keep Up with the Greenhouse
Missed last week? Week 25
Want to see how the season started? Start at Week 1
Stay spicy. Until next week, keep growing.
🌶️ The Pepper Joe's Growing Team