Why Are My Pepper Plants Turning Purple?

I'm still learning about gardening and every day is an adventure. A few days ago, the latest adventure came when I discovered that my banana peppers had purple streaks in their stalks and all of my pepper plants have purple joints. I was certain that this was some kind of horrible pepper disease and all of my pepper plants are going to die. As it turns out, that is not the case.

Question: Why are my pepper plant's leaves turning purple?
Answer: If the leaves are curled, the purple can be caused by a nutrient deficiency. Just as with marigolds, this should be cured through fertilization, but unlike marigolds, the nutrient that is deficient is not necessarily phosphorus. The plants could be short on nitrogen, magnesium, calcium, or a mixture of these four. Testing the soil or testing the leaves themselves is a possibility that may help to determine how best to treat the plants.

Question: Why is my pepper plant's stem turning purple?
Answer: This can be a sign of over-watering, overly cold conditions, overly hot conditions, or too much wind. Or, for most pepper plants and some tomato plants, it's a sign of anthocyanin. This is a natural occurring pigment in plants that is useful for attracting butterflies and bees. In short, it's not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, the anthocyanin in plants will become even more prevalent when plants are unhealthy, as the pigment also helps to release antioxidants to fight whatever it is that ails the plant.

Question: I have purple pepper plants, now what do I do?
Answer: If the purple is slight and veiny, you don't need to do anything except stop worrying about your pepper plants. Move on to more pressing concerns like how to keep your dog out of your garden. If the entire stem is dark purple or if the leaves are curled, take a look at what is happening in your garden. If your garden is overly sunny, try shading your pepper plants during the day. If you are having difficulty keeping your plants watered, mulch them well. Try fertilizing or watering with diluted epsom salt. When you've done all of these things, let me know what works for you!

Plugging the Local Gardener

I want to put things into perspective here. There is famine, there is war, there is disease. My problems? They are not real problems.

Yesterday, I was lamenting the fact that my dog won't stay out of the garden. Yes, I've found that chili pepper keeps him out, but I have to constantly keep a fresh coat down and you know what? Sometimes I'm going to run out of chili pepper. That happened this week, and I lost two more tomato plants and more than half of my sunflowers. He dug up a spaghetti squash, all of the cucumbers, and some watermelon, though I may have been able to save those - only time will tell. I am unhappy, to say the least. It looks like I'm going to end up putting some kind of fencing up after all, which I hate, hate, hate. Again, this is not a real problem. People have cancer. I have a dog. Not the same thing.

Still, I was whining and moping around and decided to focus my efforts on transforming the landscaping in the front lawn. This is a staggering undertaking and one I will be no doubt blogging about in full sometime soon. In my efforts to landscape, I paid a visit to Ron Anderson, a neighbor who sells plants and vegetables in front of his home. I would link to his web site, but he doesn't have one. His business, Ron's Fresh Vegetables, is one of the hidden gems in Columbia, Missouri. His plants are beautiful and very well priced, as is his fresh produce. I have purchased almost all of my garden plants from Ron and I will continue to do so. I stopped by yesterday to see what kind of perennials I could purchase for the front landscaping and I found some beautiful options. I purchased two pampas grasses, two wormwoods, and two sedum, and I will be going back tomorrow for more.

While I was shopping, I related the story of my dog and asked if there was any way they had a tomato plant left this late in the season. Not only did they have a beautiful four pack of Mr. Stripey tomotoes, they gave it to me for free. And then gave me another four or five pepper plants. And then gave me two more flats of them. In total, I walked away with more than 80 plants. Ron also grabbed a bag of zucchini for me, which cost me the low price of the promise of a loaf of zucchini bread. I expected a couple - he gave me nine. We're going to be eating zucchini for every meal for a while. He said that he had more than he could sell and he'd rather give it away than throw it away. I saw a very kind man before me; one that understands that business is about more than the bottom line. He knows that repeat customers are what he needs as well, and I tell all of my friends to patronize Ron's Fresh Vegetables. Whether they do or not, I'm not sure, but they should. He's a good man, his employee Dee Dee is a nice woman, and they always have popsicles waiting for my kids when we arrive.

You can call Ron at 445-5260 to inquire about what produce he currently has, but I encourage you to stop by his house at 1009 Plymouth. They are open every afternoon and most mornings. If you do go, tell them that I sent you and that I thank them for their kindness.

Clean Eating Cookies

Clean Eating Cookies Can Still Taste Delicious

Can you make cookies as part of a clean eating diet? Yes. Should you? Maybe not. The problem is not with the whole foods approach to eating. The problem is that cookies are yummy and way too easy to eat. If you are one of those people who can eat one cookie and be satisfied, good for you. I want 10.

The best method I have found for satisfying a cookie craving is to make sure the cookies satisfy a nutritional need. It is always best to make only a few cookies, announce to the entire household exactly how many there are, and then let the games begin to see who can withstand them the longest.

You don't need to purchase a specialty cookbook for healthier cookies. Almost any cookie recipe can be made with whole foods with just a few tips at your disposal:

• Sub whole wheat flour for all-purpose, or use a mixture of whole wheat flour and oatmeal.
• Sub agave nectar, pure maple syrup, or honey for sugar. I have often read to sub unsweetened applesauce but, unless you're making apple flavored cookies, I don't care for the way it turns out. Applesauce has its place, but not as a replacement for sweeteners.
• Use a tablespoon of ground flax seed and some water to replace butter, but this does add a bit of a flax seedy flavor to the mix, I don't care what anyone says. Counter the flax flavor with strong spices like cinnamon, cloves, or ginger.
• You can still make chocolate chip cookies with a clean approach. Use unsweetened, organic dark chocolate chips instead of the standard milk chocolate morsels. You'll need fewer of them and they taste even better than the traditional chips, in my opinion.
• Instead of, or in addition to, chocolate chips in cookies, throw in a number of dried fruits. Last night I made cranberry oatmeal cookies and they were fantastic, but you can also add dried, unsweetened coconut, raisins, or basically any other chewy fruit your heart desires. Just make sure they are in small enough pieces.
• Nuts are a popular addition to cookies. I love nuts, but I don't care for them in my cookies and neither does the rest of my family. The one exception: peanut butter cookies. Use freshly ground peanut butter and you will marvel at how much better they taste. For a tropical tasting peanut butter cookie, add coconut oil and unsweetened coconut flakes to the batter.
• If you have the time or the inclination to play around, use pureed fruits and vegetables to add flavor and moistness (Is moistness a word? Moistening? Moistocity?) to the batter. This is where many suggest applesauce, but I more often use pureed sweet potatoes. Take a look at organic baby food and you may find some true inspiration, believe it or not.

Check out this site for links to several clean cookie recipes online.

The Healthy Tomato Plant Experiment, Part 2

It is June 6, and the Healthy Tomato Plant Experiment continues. For those who aren't familiar with the experiment and are too lazy to read the previous post, I chose three different fertilizing techniques and tried them out on three tomato plants that seemed to be on death's door. A fourth tomato plant was left untouched. These all came from the same tray, they receive the same amount of sunlight and the same amount of water.

Esther Epsom, June 6

Esther Epsom, May 20

Esther Epsom was treated with epsom salts, both diluted in water and as a side fertilizer at the base. She began with yellow and brown drooping leaves. I was certain I would be pulling this plant, and all of the others, and cursing myself for wasting fifty cents on these four plants.

On the contrary, Esther has grown quite strong, tall, and very green. Yes, I realize that I am a horrible photographer and you will just have to take my word for it. From what I can tell, epsom salt is the real deal. Of course, the proof will be in the production of fruit, which is still on the horizon.

Esther Epsom received another treatment with epsom salts, both at the base and through watering, and the leaves and blossoms were spritzed with an epsom salt solution as well. The next treatment will be on Wednesday, June 20.

Cathy Coffee, May 20

Cathy Coffee, June 6

Cathy Coffee was treated with old coffee grounds in her base and was given a thorough "watering" with cold coffee. I had read mixed messages about whether or not coffee is a good idea for tomato plants, due to the acidity it adds to the soil. As you can see by the picture at left, Cathy did not have far to go to become damaged beyond any help.

As far as I can tell, the coffee grounds have not damaged the plant. The leaves are green and it is blossoming well. Cathy has not grown as well as Esther, but the experiment is still in progress.

Cathy received another treatment of coffee grounds this morning and will be "watered" with cold coffee this afternoon once I'm certain that my husband is finished with his coffee drinking and the pot has cooled off. It should be noted that we drink our coffee very, very strong. The next treatment will be Wednesday, June 20.

Eddie Eggshell, May 20

Eddie Eggshell, June 6

Eddie Eggshell was treated with crushed eggshells. This is supposed to add nutrients to the plant and is supposedly an effective deterrent against slugs, rabbits, and other garden pests. Eggshells, no matter how they are baked, cured, or mixed with soil, are not an effective deterrent against dogs.

Eddie was treated with eggshells on May 20. Eddie was eaten by my dog on May 21. RIP Eddie Eggshell. You will be missed.

I chose not to redo the experiment with eggshells for a couple of reasons. First, I felt that the experiment would not be as accurate as it could be, since these four plants were purchased together. Any other plant I chose would not have the same advantage or disadvantage as the others. Second, I assume the dog would just dig up any plant that had eggshells near it. Frankly, he already wants to tear up the garden. Eggshells are just taunting him for no reason.

Tom Tomato, May 20

Tom Tomato, June 6

Tom Tomato is the control plant, treated only with water and no other form of fertilization. I have not bought or used food spikes, fertilizer spikes, or any other thing at all. Water, sun, and love is it for Tom Tomato.

You may not be able to tell from this picture, but Tom is hanging in there, though he is easily the smallest and the least healthy looking of the three.

As of now, I believe that epsom salts are the best choice for a natural fertilizer. In fact, I'm so convinced of it that I'm treating several of my other plants with epsom salts as well. I have two Lemon Boy tomato plants that are dying, but have been given a thorough epsom salt treatment. I am also treating my okra plants, which are (for now) the only plants in the garden that have been attacked by spider mites. I also did a light spritz of  water and diluted epsom salts on all of the plants except for those that are part of this experiment.

The saga continues in two weeks.

Secrets of a Successful Road Trip

If you have been following my blog, you know that I have been road tripping with my family and that we had a very good time. This was our first big family road trip. It was a test drive, if you will, and it may very well be the first of many. The kids were happily entertained, the adults felt well at ease, and the entire trip was a nice diversion from everyday life without costing a ridiculous amount of money. There were no fights, very few tears, and only one cry of boredom.

Distractions
I planned a lot of road trip activities for the kids. The license plate game and the scavenger hunt were big hits. Printing off maps so that the six-year-old could follow along was less well received, simply because he kept yelling out directions that were not applicable to our actual location. DVDs were, of course, a lifesaver, but an assortment of books, toys, and coloring pages were much needed for both children. Sometimes, five minutes is all it takes for a child to get bored with a toy, which means another one has to be right around the corner. And if you're out of toys? Be creative.

Beatrice entertained herself for 30 minutes with a clean diaper.

Planned Stops
I am a planner. I had a mental and physical list of places we could stop on the road when we needed to get up and stretch. I thought every couple of hours would be sufficient, but it turned out that the kids could go much longer than that and be fine. We made our first destination several hours before we had planned, simply because the kids were satisfied in the car. That way, when we did stop, we were able to stop at fun places instead of whatever gas station happened to be by the side of the road.

Visiting the totally out-of-the-way Blarney Stone in Shamrock, Texas

Snacks
I learned which snacks were appreciated, unappreciated, and completely unnecessary on this trip. I had probably twice as many snacks as were eaten, and many that ended up being thrown away. I went out of my way to find travel size milk only to learn that the baby wouldn't drink them anyway because they weren't heated. The Fruitables, on the other hand, were appreciated by everyone and may very well become a mainstay in our home. Next road trip? More fresh fruits and vegetables, less meat and dairy - the sliced summer sausage and cheese sticks were barely touched.

Conversation
I focus a lot on how to keep the children happily occupied, but the adults need to have a good time too. I'm lucky that I'm married to a man whose company I thoroughly enjoy and with whom I can have hours of conversation. I admit, though, even I sometimes plan for conversation topics so that we can keep the car rolling down the highway. This time, my plan was to discuss landscaping, which took all of about 10 minutes. My husband and I never have a lack of conversation, though, and we managed to cross state lines without even realizing it when we were so embroiled in talking with one another.

Flexibility and Bathroom Breaks
The six-year-old says he needs to go potty 10 minutes after your last potty break? Do you make him (and therefore everyone else in the car) suffer? Or do you go ahead and make another stop? Only a parent can know if his or her child is really in need of a potty break, but our general attitude is to take the kids at their word. I am less flexible than my husband, and also more likely to ask my son to "hold it" for a while, but we will never create animosity in the atmosphere by yelling at our child for needing to use the bathroom.

Do What Suits You
When I was a child, the road trip was a given and happened more often than I can probably remember. It was also, in my opinion, dreadful. My mother may read this and tell me I'm misremembering, which admittedly could be, but my take on the situation was that it was an all-day, spontaneous event that included potty breaks at the grossest of the gross roadside parks and a late night stay at a whatever motel my father happened upon. I can remember going from place to place until my father found one that was the right price and had a vacancy. Sometimes an hour or more would pass before we were actually able to settle down. My parents always thought I had a love of water towers - not so. I was excited when I saw a water tower because I thought that meant we were near a town, which meant that we could maybe, finally, stop. The barreling through the day with no reservations technique worked for my parents and it may work for you. It does not work for me. My suggestion is that you do what suits your personal style.

Remember the Children
Above all, do not forget your children. I don't mean that you shouldn't abandon them by the side of the road. Well, yeah, don't do that either. But what I'm saying is don't forget that the kids are as much of a part of the family as you are. This vacation is yours as well as theirs. While it's not practical to allow a six-year-old to plan a vacation, it is empowering for them to have input. Give your children the chance to weigh in on certain matters and when you make whatever decisions that you do, explain those decisions to them. Nothing, and I do mean nothing, is worse than not having a voice. When you allow your children to be a part of the trip, and not just spectators, you can have the best experiences of all.

Clean Eating Spinach Stromboli

This is a very quick, very tasty meal that works for everyone in the family. Don't be afraid to play around with the ingredients. Basically any thinly sliced vegetables would work well. Last night as we were eating this, we thought about adding black olives and corn, which would be wonderful! All you need is:

olive oil
1/4 cup diced onions and green peppers (I buy them frozen)
1 can diced tomatoes or 2-3 medium tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup dried basil
1 clove garlic, diced
pizza dough (make it from scratch or keep an emergency can of pre-made on hand for those nights that you have to get the kids to gymnastics AND t-ball at the same time)
1/4 to 1/2 cup spinach
1/4 cup reduced-fat, shredded cheese
salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning


Add enough olive oil to a medium-sized pan to cover the bottom. Heat on medium-high.

Add chopped onions, green peppers, and diced garlic to the olive oil and heat until golden brown. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. No need to get overzealous with the salt. You have a lot of flavor going on here already. 

Stir in tomatoes and basil. If you're using fresh tomatoes, you may need to add about 1/4 cup water. Bring to a boil, then turn heat to low and simmer uncovered for about five minutes. If you're using frozen spinach, make sure it is thawed and drained, then add it to the sauce. Fresh spinach may be placed directly in the stromboli.

Roll out your pizza dough and sprinkle with basil or Italian seasoning. Add a small amount of shredded cheese - you should be able to see the herbs and the dough through the cheese.

 Add sauce, then layer the toppings. At this point you can add fresh spinach and any other vegetables you desire. If you are a meat eater, you can add meat at this point too. Cover with the remainder of the cheese.

 Roll loosely, jelly roll style, with the seam facing down. I like to curve the stromboli, but you don't have to. Make several slits in the dough with a sharp knife, though you may have to use your fingers to widen them.

Cook for 11-13 minutes at 425.

Slice and serve!

Clean Eating on the Road

Is it possible to eat clean on the road? Yes. Is it easy to eat clean on the road? No. Did I eat clean on our recent road trip? Um... no. This is not a how-to. This is a confession.

I really had no intention of eating totally clean, totally healthy foods while we were traveling. I am working on this whole moderation approach to my eating habits. Allowing myself and my children to sometimes indulge in unhealthy foods will not turn us into evil, cackling monsters. In fact, the occasional dip into junk food, processed food, and desserts may just keep us sane. However, the 1600ish mile trip involved a bit more than a sampling of unclean food. It was as though fast-food, fried food, and super bad choices were having a parade in our car and I, of course, was the Grand Marshall.

I started off smart. I packed oatmeal-to-go, which was a huge hit and something I plan on making often for everyday breakfasts. I also packed dried fruit, nuts, low-fat cheese sticks, and bottled water. I was all set for snacks and simply hoped that meal time would present itself with good choices.

Breakfasts were pretty easy. The hotels we stayed in had free morning breakfasts, which allowed me to have my oatmeal, but I wanted more substantial foods to get me through the day so I also tried to eat about half of an egg patty and half of an english muffin. I drank apple juice each morning as well. I felt satisfied each morning and made the best choices possible.

Lunch was a different story. As one is traveling, they often end up needing to have at least one meal in the car. This one meal was lunch, and it was a series of stops at Sonic, Braum's, and Dairy Queen. As it turns out, sometimes there are simply no other choices. Also, as it turns out, Dairy Queen has these things called Jaliscos, which basically amount to fried jalapeno peppers. Holy cow. I ordered the large, ate the whole thing, and didn't share. And I'd do it again. Right now.

Most fast food places do have garden salads. They are covered in shredded cheese, but dressing and croutons come on the side and can be taken in moderation or avoided altogether. However, eating a salad in the car can be difficult. If your grace is like mine, it can be darn near impossible. Therefore, when we stopped to eat, I had the garden salad, but when we were traveling I had the jaliscos, grilled cheese (with jalapenos - thank you Sonic!), cheese quesadillas, fries, and tater tots. Not exactly whole foods.

Sit down meals, for me at least, were not that much better. There are options out there, but I had two slices of pizza, a couple of dinner rolls, and macaroni and cheese along with whatever salads and vegetables I could find. I also had dessert. I unapologetically ate a slice of apple pie as well as a delicious chocolate brownie that was clearly made with real chocolate, real sugar, and possibly real lard. We were in Southwest Oklahoma after all.

Clean eating on the road is possible, but I do think it cuts into the enjoyment of the road trip, and not just for the person who is eating clean but for all of those around them. Of course the trip is not about food, but when you're at the Big Texan in Amarillo, Texas, and you insist on vegetarian fare, you're going to get chicken. That's just the way it is. Sometimes, it is best to just fly under the radar, say, "Yes, I will order the appetizer plate that includes mountain oysters, I will let other people eat the dead animal parts, as long as I can get more fried jalapenos."

Hot rolls, fried food, and good times at The Big Texan.

I am not saying no one should eat healthy on the road. The fact is, as I unload all of the meals and snacks that I had while we were traveling, I ate fairly healthy as well. What I am saying, though, is that I have no reason to be angry with myself. I had a good time, and I am home and ready to eat healthy again full-time, until the next time.