DROUGHT OF 1999 and a BANNER Hot Pepper Crop!

We are receiving many questions about dealing with the drought conditions this year. It's ironic that in every disaster somehow someone benefits. For example vineyards are doing fabulous in this drought. So get ready for a great year for wine. How about hot peppers? My customers are reporting mixed results..more good than bad. Most pepper plants had well developed root systems by the time the drought intensified.

Tips on watering ================ By now we all have an idea of how our hot pepper plants are doing. Weather and pests are occasional factors to plant health but they are still somewhat within our control to react to. Much like us, garden plants need proper nutrition, water, fresh air and sunshine. And just like us, moderation is the key. We all know what happens if we get too much sunshine. Many of the questions that I've been asked lately have been about proper watering. And as much as I take it for granted I now realize that there is watering..and then there is WATERING. Like everything else the devil is in the detail. With the dry, very hot drought-like conditions the mid-atlantic has had I've found a need to water my plants every 4 days or so when it hasn't rained. I prefer a sprinkler to a watering can as it soaks the entire ground, not just around the roots, very thoroughly. Therefore it doesn't dry out so quickly. At times I do use a watering can to spot water or to fertilize individual plants. When you do this WATCH how the water drains. This is the key. If it runs off to the side with very little getting to the roots you may think you're watering but it's not very effective. This is especially true on a dry year like this one when the soil can be baked to a crusty top layer and the water just runs off. That is another reason I prefer a sprinkler. I create a concave "catchers mitt" of soil around the base of the plant when I transplant my hot peppers so that when it rains or I water my plants the water pools in this concave surrounding and drains directly to the root line rather than running off.

Other Drought Tips ================== I always like to use mulch, but in these dry conditions it is almost imperative. I prefer organic grass clippings. They keep the weeds out and conserve the precious moisture that we badly need this year. Also the mulch breaks down and adds humus content into the soil. If your soil lacks humus you are having a tough time with the drought because it

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