Chilli Growing (Merged Thread)

jaquivander

TW88.. Don't know if this will be of any help but I grow 50+ varieties of chillis ind the greenhouses and only a few outdoor

the hardiest two seem for me to be Cayenne (including the "long slim variety) and believe it or not Scotch Bonnet .
These two do really well also in less than ideal conditions , i.e. on that shady windowsill ,even up here in Yorkshire! Seems like they are the weeds of the chilli world

Your chilli plants will "tell" you when they're not happy, as soon as the leaves droop, you know you've got to do something.

I spend hours with my chillis but simply because they are my obsession :-) but chillis are one of the plants which really don't need any fuss

I don't know if others have the same experience but I would steer clear of any of the purple varieties (purple tiger or Orozco for example) the purple varieties seem far less hardy than the others and need lots of TLC even in the greenhouse. Beautiful looking plants but .... temperamental

I just picked my first Dorset Naga and Bhut Jolokia of the year (supposedly the world's hottest chillis) this afternoon and they have been a piece of cake again...don't believe the hype...have a go with different varieties even on your windowsill.

About 5 years ago, someone told me , once you pick your first chilli...you're hooked.....hmmmmm well OH is having to build yet another greenhouse as there's a lot of varieties I still want to try !

consumer31

can i please ask where is the best place to keep the chilli plant i have three plants all with flowers on them but no chillis. its been out side till now. or is it better in the window.

Larumbelle

I think with the non-summer we're having a windowsill might make it happier. I'm finding chillis and peppers sluggish this year because it's just not warm or sunny enough for them. Mine are in the greenhouse, but if I didn't have that I'd say on a windowsill, when you get a nice day put them out to sunbathe Also if you've got flowers it might be worth brushing them with a soft paintbrush to make sure they pollinate.

redhornet87

Hi all, Chilli's can grow anywhere i think. i planted seeds in april in a propogater tray, 3 weeks later liitle seedlings appeared. i kept them on the window ledge till the nice weather arrived (all two days of it here in Aberdeen):rolleyes: I think (i am no expert first year growing anything) the secret is changing pot sizes as plant grows. i have now 4 plants and 35 chillis on them. I still put the outside if the forecast is nice, and take them inside if cold or rain is coming. Water them well once or twice a day and use cotton bud to pollonate flowers. Hope this helps some one if i can find the time soon i will post some pictures of the chillies some of them are 3 or 4 inches long :T

Red_Cat

I am growing Cayenne this year (the second time in three years). I always start them off indoors from seed in March, then harden off in late May and plant outdoors. I have them in pots and as Jaquivander said they are quite hardy.
I am in East Anglia and the weather this Summer has been really wet, but still they have set fruit, so I am quite impressed.
I hope August is a warm one so I can leave the fruit to redden on the plant.

Red Cat

consumer31

thankyou for kind information. i will take the plants in door now. its growing really well with flowers. hopefully i will get chillies. this is my first year and i planted with seeds. am looking forward to getting chillies

stormbreaker

Excuse me if you think I am thick, but when do you know the chillie is ready for harvest? I bought the plant in Lidl and the picture shows red and green chillies. The chillies growing are green are these likely to turn red?

Primrose

You can use your chillies now when they're green and unripe or wait until they become red when they will normally develop more heat. If you've got more than you can immediately use, they freeze well whole in a polythene bag, or you can dry them slowly in the airing cupboard in a brown paper bag and them store them in a tightly lidded glass jar.

nodwah

Just noticed tha my chillis have chillis on them whoohoo!
3 plants outside and 2 inside conservatory and it's the outside ones that are fruiting. What's that all about then?

olly300

nodwah wrote: »

Just noticed tha my chillis have chillis on them whoohoo!
3 plants outside and 2 inside conservatory and it's the outside ones that are fruiting. What's that all about then?

Pollination.