Author Archives: ThePlantLady

About ThePlantLady

ThePlantLady.com is a library of gardening information compiled from many resources, including written texts, online databases, current research, and first-hand experience from farmers and gardeners. It includes growing requirements specific to each plant, as well as varietal information. My background in microbiology and chemistry allows me to tap into the scientific research being done today and digest it for the use of the home gardener or small farmer.

Leafhoppers

Close up of leafhopper damage on potato leaf

Leafhoppers seem to be the bain of my existence…well, not really – but they sure complicate my veggie gardening. They would only be mildly annoying, if it weren’t for the diseases they spread. Physical Description very small insects, ranging from 1/12 – 1/8 inches long (2-3 mm). They are wedge-shaped, with narrow bodies that are […]

Curly Top Virus

Curly Top is an insect-vectored viral disease spread by beet leafhoppers, which affects many plants. The beet leafhopper loves warm and dry weather, so that’s when infections are most severe. Species & Taxonomy Kingdom: Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Genus Species: Plants Affected beet family crops: beets, spinach, swiss chard tomato family crops: tomatoes, potatoes, tomatillos, […]

Sweet Chocolate Bell Pepper

Details Capsicum annuum Open-Pollinated: yes Type: sweet bell pepper Shape: bell pepper Color: ripens from dark green to deep mahogany/chocolate; brick-red flesh inside Maturity: 60-85 days from transplant Size: ? Yield: ? Taste: These peppers can be exceedingly sweet peppers Disease Resistance: great for short-season areas Notes: also known as “Choco” Recommended mahogany-brown bell pepper variety by […]

Sweet Banana Bell Pepper

Details Open-Pollinated: ? Type: ? Shape: ? Color: ? Maturity: ? Size: ? Yield: ? Taste: ? Disease Resistance: heat-tolerant; also good for cool gardens Notes: Recommended by Sylvia Thompson in her “Kitchen Garden” as a heat-tolerant sweet pepper plant that will set fruit if you live where daytime temperatures in summer are routinely in […]

Super Heavyweight Bell Pepper

Details Open-Pollinated: ? Type: sweet bell pepper Shape: blocky bell pepper Color: ? Maturity: 77 days Size: “enormous, blocky pepper” Yield: ? Taste: “delicious sweet flavor” Disease Resistance: “Strong, disease-resistant plants” Notes: Sources: (where to buy) my seed came from Gurney’s, but as of 2013 it is no longer listed on their site. Results from […]

Quadrato Asti Giallo Bell Pepper

Details Capsicum annuum Open-Pollinated: yes Type: sweet bell pepper Shape: blocky bell pepper Color: ripens gold from green Maturity: 70-80 days from transplant Size: “huge, blocky Italian bell” Yield: ? Taste: “a touch of spice in its sweetness” Disease Resistance: ? Notes: Recommended gold bell pepper variety by Sylvia Thompson’s “The Kitchen Garden”. Described as […]

Purple Beauty Bell Pepper

Details Open-Pollinated: yes Type: sweet bell pepper Shape: Stocky Bell pepper Color: Green then ripens to dark purple Maturity: 70-80 days Size: 18-24″ plants produce 3-3.5″ long x 2.5-3″ diameter peppers with thick walls Yield: “very productive” Taste: Crisp & succulent Disease Resistance: ? Notes: Recommended by Sylvia Thompson in “The Kitchen Garden” as an open-pollinated […]

Lorelei Bell Pepper

Details Open-Pollinated: ? Type: ? Shape: stocky bell Color: purple skin with green flesh; ripens to red Maturity: ? Size: ? Yield: ? Taste: ? Disease Resistance: ? Notes: Recommended purple bell pepper variety by Sylvia Thompson’s “The Kitchen Garden”. Described as “a stocky bell the color of eggplant – its green flesh beneath the […]