Spring is almost here!!!!

[Rajun Gardener]

At least in South Louisiana. I had to mow the yard about 2 weeks ago and it's time again because the weeds are blooming like crazy. The tree pollen is falling on everything and giving me allergies that I never had before, must be old age.

I took the camera for a walk around the yard to see what's growing. Maybe the pics will give hope to everyone in this storm that Spring will be here soon enough.

Two year old fig tree I started from cuttings starting to put out leaves

Sorry for the bad pic, it was cloudy and the flash didn't help. 3 year old Kumquat tree with ripe fruit, this is the first year getting fruit and it's loaded with a whole 4 Kumquats.

Blueberries blooming!



2 Ghost pepper plants from last year trying to grow, I didn't cover these and I'm surprised they survived the few frosts we had.

Same with these Jalapenos

These are Mirlitons(vegetable pear or Chayote) planted in big cattle protein tubs starting to come back to life. A frost will knock them back but these will grow about 6 years if a hard freeze doesn't kill them.


Magaton cabbage, if it grows as big as advertised it should fill that tub.


7 Pot Primo and Big Mustard Momma pepper plants I overwintered in the greenhouse coming back to life. Even the weeds in the greenhouse are starting to takeover available real estate.



I'm late on starting tomatoes this year but I should be good, the peppers are loving the warm weather. I haven't had to use a heater in the greenhouse all year=Bonus!


Kumquat seeds I started from a neighbors tree that's sweeter than the trees I already have, just a guessing game as to what they will be but it's fun.


I'm late on getting these onions in the ground too


Fatali peppers that I drug in the old greenhouse when a frost threatened and they're still holding on to leaves. I need to drag those out and replant them with good soil once I'm sure Winter is gone.

4 year old Loquat tree is bearing fruit for the first time, it looks loke the fruit will be a good size too.


The older Loquat tree is loaded with fruit, this tree is 25 years old and usually make a ton of fruit if we don't get an early freeze that kills the buds.

[AlittleSalt]

There's a lot of difference between your neck of the woods and mine. It is greening up, but not time to mow for weeks.

I envy you big time- here in WA we woke up to MORE snow! We have had over 16" in the past 3 weeks- more than ever before. I'm so tired of shoveling snow-- I lived in Bossier City for years, and loved it. My son moved us here so he can help us in our old age- hubby died almost 2 years ago, so I
m alone. I have already started my tomatoes, peppers, lettuce & other stuff in my indoor growing space, and I don't know if they will wait for the snow to go away! I may have to sow a second batch- but I am always early-it helps me cope with winter!

[SpookyShoe]

I love loquats! When I was a child we had a tree in San Antonio, Texas.

[GrowingCoastal]

The tree looks loaded for a first crop. Nice. I don't think I've ever seen one.

[Rajun Gardener]

Salt your time is coming in a few more weeks.

JoParrott hang in there, it's gonna end eventually.


SpookyShoe, remind me later in the year and I'll send you seeds, they start easy. I might be able to ship you a few live plants once they start popping up under the tree.

Coastal, yes it's loaded. Last year they froze with the hard freezes we had so it has all that energy stored up for this year.

[Worth1]

I have a few loquat fruits that made it.

[ChristinaJo]

Hey Rajun, what kind of mirlitons you growing? I use to have Joseph Bertrand(?) something like that....

[PhilaGardener]

All that green is a sight for sore eyes - I had to shovel snow today too!

[Rajun Gardener]

Originally Posted by ChristinaJo

Hey Rajun, what kind of mirlitons you growing? I use to have Joseph Bertrand(?) something like that....

Just the local green smooth skin ones, there's a few different strains here but most are closely related. I tried the white but they have those little pickers that hurt your hand peeling them.

I can't grow enough to supply the pickled mirliton sales so we buy about 100lbs a year of the Mexican variety.

Now you know why I grow so many peppers, gotta have that kick for gumbo.

[ChristinaJo]

Thanks for the website.... my mirliton passed away before I saved some new starts. I'll have to get more...good eatin.

[NarnianGarden]

Enjoy the springtime. We are still shoveling snow here in Finland... but when our gardens are green, you in the South are all sweating under the scorching sun

[NarnianGarden]

Is Kumquat the fruit which is eaten whole, peel and all?

[Rajun Gardener]

Originally Posted by NarnianGarden

Is Kumquat the fruit which is eaten whole, peel and all?

Thar correct, some years the skins are sweeter than the inside.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Rajun Gardener

Thar correct, some years the skins are sweeter than the inside.

They used to sell them in the stores, what happened???
They were killer chopped up fine and mixed with ice cream.