Chilli Growing (Merged Thread)

tlck9

am I too late to start

Money_saving_Diva_2

Ok.. I love this thread!! I am growing Chilli Apache F1 which is meant to be grown on windowsills or in tubs on a warm patio. I am struggling with fungus gnats right now so they are all (bar one) banished to the garden which this week has meant non stop rain.

However I am dealing with the gnats and will be moving half of them back into the house soon. I had NO idea about pollination - I am a newbie at all this, so will have to try the paintbrush thing once I have more than one inside the house again. Almost all six of them have three or four flowers with more coming, but I guess they won't pollinate unless I help them!!

I am also growing red peppers (Redskin), another plant that is bred for growing in pots on windowsills etc. All plants doing well and all have at least one flower so I am very hopeful!! Let's just hope the british weather works in all our favours this summer. Being in Devon we usually do really well for sunny days, but not so far this year!!

Davesnave

tlck9 wrote: »

am I too late to start

No, it's the finishing that you might have problems with!

Only go down the seed route now if you know you'll have somewhere to maybe overwinter your peppers; they may not make it to fruit in time.

You could root around at B&Q or Homebase to see if they have any modest sized plants left, but I wouldn't buy one of their larger ones at a rip-off price.
(May as well go to Sainsbury's!!!)

It may be better now to plan for next years seeds - after all, February is only 6 months away!

tlck9

Can I save seeds for next year? sorry to be asking daft questions, but really new to this

Being n the south our winters tend not to start until later, so I have planted a couple of them

Okay here is the queston

I have a seed, do I plant them straight in, or have to soak them???

I have bought those little soil things where you put one seed in each

any tips welcome

Davesnave

Plant them without soaking and keep at over 20 degrees C. The seeds can be sown in modules, but maybe put 2 in each and thin to the best one if they both come up. Make sure the modules are damp but not sodden or dry. This is harder to achieve than it sounds, which is why I prefer a small pot!

The seeds will be fine next year. Keep them, well-wrapped, in the fridge.

misskool

Help please

I got some chili seeds from wahaca and they have grown! They are now TALL, and have JUST started to flower (I think). I've been reading that you need to pollinate them?. How do you know? Or should I just do it just in case?

This is my first time ever growing something from seed.

Thanks everyone

tlck9

Althugh I have planted a few seeds, came across a medusa chilli plant in my nearby town, for £3.75, so brought it.

I've read that it is a hot variety, ornamental but can be eaten.

Its got stacks of chillies on so I shall be taken a few seeds!

Primrose

Haven't yet read through the whole of this thread so apologies if it's already been mentioned before, but one of the problems of growing chillies indoors is whitefly, which can eventually kill the plants if infestations get heavy enough, so whenever possible, put them outside in warm weather.

Money_saving_Diva_2

Well I got rid of the fungus gnats with my 3 fold attack (described on the pepper thread...lol) and so far, no whitefly but I am keeping an eye out now you have mentioned it, so thank you Primrose. So far they are all on the windowsill and thriving!

tomsolomon

I have got to get me some of these.............

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1411339.ece

http://www.chileseeds.co.uk/

:beer: :beer: :beer: