Chilli/pepper update!

DEBTMONKEY1A

Ok...as my 1st attempt at ANY sort of gardening thought I'd update you all (& also so any newbies who are chilli freaks might benefit for next year!).

Jalapenos-grown from seed end March-well most of these (bar 2 of them which seem smaller in the greenhouse!) are in big black buckets on the windowsill in the house & the bigger ones are over 1foot tall & the flower buds (tiny!) are just starting to appear....2 chillis per big black bucket!

Scotch bonnet/habernos (grown from a FRESH seed taken from fruit purchased on Huddersfield carribean stall on Saturdays!)-a complete experiment! Planted 6 seeds in March-4 germinated (kept covered in cling film till shoots appeared)..they took FOUR weeks to come up-the jalapenos only took 12 days (!)....inside on windowsill-2 to a big bucket-not as tall as Jalapenos but wider-bigger leaves-no flower buds YET but looking not far off!

Cheyenne (orange medium hot chilli)-plug plant from wilko-bought mid April-about 3 inches high....in greenhouse doing MEGA well-3 big fruits on one already & all have been flowering for 3/4 weeks. DEFINATELY seems a good one for uk climate! Put in greenhouse about 3rd week in May. ...1 plant per big bucket.

Cayenne-(thin hot red!)-again bought as a plug plant in Wilco at same time as cheyenne-in greenhouse & all just under a foot high-just producing flowers now (not open yet)-smaller plant/leaves than cheyenne...1 plant per big bucket.

Bell boy red peppers (very small plant bought for 99p at B & Q around mid-April-MEGA MEGA MEGA & huge (at least 2 foot high!)...went in greenhouse 3rd week May..all flowering & 1st peppers starting to grow....looks very very healthy!

Will definately do cheyenne/bell boy & possibly jalapenos next year....BUT will start from seed very early-late December/January to maximise growing season! Will also do bell boy too from seed & try some unusual chillis like chocolate haberno, lemon drop & the hottie (!) bhut jolakia....will also try scotch bonnet again but will see how this years crop goes!

Will also attempt to 'overwinter' some of the strongest plants too (been googling & if pruned back it can be done-giving a head start!).

I SO WANT TO PICK my 1st big green cheyenne but will be patient....(!)

Hope this info is of some use!

Once more chillis/peppers on all plants will feed weekly with wilco miracle grow...!

olly300

DEBTMONKEY1A wrote: »

Once more chillis/peppers on all plants will feed weekly with wilco miracle grow...!

You are better of feeding chillies and peppers with tomato food not miracle grow.

And I overwintered some of my plants last year inside due to sowing them late and having a poor summer. Some of them gave me a few peppers/chillies in the winter.

DEBTMONKEY1A

Thanks olly...will do! Did the overwintered plants produce more chillis/grow bigger 2nd season?

olly300

DEBTMONKEY1A wrote: »

Thanks olly...will do! Did the overwintered plants produce more chillis/grow bigger 2nd season?

They are only producing the bulk of their crop at the moment and the answer is nope and nope.

jeferey

Thanks for info on peppers - I may try Jalapeno next year. Sounds like you are doing great!

I have grown all mine from seed - Tabasco, Cayenne and California bell peppers. All are currently in greenhouse.
The tabasco and cayenne are about 2 1/2 feet tall and I have 6 or 7 2 to 3 inch long fruits on each one - still green of course. Nothing much on the bell peppers yet.

I planted about 15 Cayenne peppers on my allotment last year and got loads of ripe peppers. Pulled the whole plants up in October with their remaining peppers and hung them upside down in a bright airy shed - still eating the dried peppers now - excellent!

DEBTMONKEY1A

Jeferey-so far the CHEYENNE have deffo worked best!

alanobrien

Dont forget if the chillies are indoors they may not self pollinate due to lack of insects so you may have to do a bit of DIY. I use a clean, soft-bristled paintbrush and do it by hand - works a treat!

olly300

alanobrien wrote: »

Dont forget if the chillies are indoors they may not self pollinate due to lack of insects so you may have to do a bit of DIY. I use a clean, soft-bristled paintbrush and do it by hand - works a treat!

I still get fruit- well chillies and peppers even though they are not being pollinated.

I was actually surprised at first but they don't seem to mind.

smk77

alanobrien wrote: »

Dont forget if the chillies are indoors they may not self pollinate due to lack of insects so you may have to do a bit of DIY. I use a clean, soft-bristled paintbrush and do it by hand - works a treat!

I've got a chilli plant sitting at the window next to me in work. There are approx 30 flowers on at the moment - some of which have started to produce chillies. We don't even have windows in the office (all air con) so no insects to pollinate.