How MSE is your chilli plant?

Silvertabby

My chillies and tomatoes are doing fine in the greenhouse - but then next door's black elder tree is in exactly the right place to shield them from the very worst of the sun. Just 1 plant per 12" pot seems to help as well - easier to keep the soil moist.

fatbelly

Silvertabby wrote: »

My chillies and tomatoes are doing fine in the greenhouse - but then next door's black elder tree is in exactly the right place to shield them from the very worst of the sun. Just 1 plant per 12" pot seems to help as well - easier to keep the soil moist.

I've noticed plants flower better when their roots are just being constrained by a pot - certainly the case for fuchsias. I wouldn't be surprised if that's the case for chillies; a 12-inch pot should handle a huge chilli plant. Most varieties will be happy in something smaller. Here's the South Devon Chilli Farm's guide:

https://www.southdevonchillifarm.co.uk/how-to/growing-chilli-plants/

Silvertabby

fatbelly wrote: »

I've noticed plants flower better when their roots are just being constrained by a pot - certainly the case for fuchsias. I wouldn't be surprised if that's the case for chillies; a 12-inch pot should handle a huge chilli plant. Most varieties will be happy in something smaller. Here's the South Devon Chilli Farm's guide:

https://www.southdevonchillifarm.co.uk/how-to/growing-chilli-plants/

To be fair, the guide does suggest going up to 12" if the plant is big enough.


My 'Ring of Fire' and 'Jalepeno' are now quite big and bushy - and I know from previous years that when I consign the plants to the great compost heap in the sky and empty out the pots, they are well root bound.


ADD: Oops! my bad. My grafted toms are in 12" pots, but my chillies are in 10" ones.

VfM4meplse

I have just reached the 100 mark in terms of yield, making each chilli 5p each. I've also enjoyed the tomato plants gifted by a friend, it's wonderful to collect their fruit every day. Who knew gardening could be so easy?

I can honestly say that I have really enjoyed my garden this long summer! Have bought bulbs to plant for the spring so although every flower that's still alive atm will be gone by November, I should have some colour back in by mid-February

euronorris

Lovely.


My chilli plants are still going. I got them later in the season, in June, free from a colleague as seedlings. One of them was affectionately named runty, as he looked close to death at one point whilst the other was blooming. But I bought them both into the office (loads of big windows and warm window ledges to sit on) and runty took off. Had about 20 from him. The other plants is on it's second time flowering and went absolutely mental! There's close to 30 chillies on there at the moment.


I make chilli jam with them. Lovely with cold meats, or in a stir fry or something like that.


Think I am going to try overwintering them. I have saved a bunch of the seeds already as well.

fatbelly

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I have just reached the 100 mark in terms of yield, making each chilli 5p each. I've also enjoyed the tomato plants gifted by a friend, it's wonderful to collect their fruit every day. Who knew gardening could be so easy?

I can honestly say that I have really enjoyed my garden this long summer! Have bought bulbs to plant for the spring so although every flower that's still alive atm will be gone by November, I should have some colour back in by mid-February

You might think about moving the chilli back into your conservatory for the winter - it should still keep producing.

VfM4meplse

fatbelly wrote: »

You might think about moving the chilli back into your conservatory for the winter - it should still keep producing.

I took your advice and am pleased to report its still bearing fruit - albeit a lot slower than in the summer.

Living_proof

I used a couple of my home-grown chilis this evening which I had dehydrated last year. If you buy the plants you will make a definite loss, but growing food is not all about saving money. There is the sense of achievement as well. My chili sans carne most definitely tasted better I felt than just any old chili. This year I will be growing a selection and my son in law just loves them so I will pass some plants his way and give others to anyone who likes them. I am also trying to get rid of the dreaded tomato crop which is dehydrated and won't grow so many next year. 2019 will be the year of the ladies' fingers.

VfM4meplse

Living_proof wrote: »

This year I will be growing a selection and my son in law just loves them so I will pass some plants his way and give others to anyone who likes them. I am also trying to get rid of the dreaded tomato crop which is dehydrated and won't grow so many next year. 2019 will be the year of the ladies' fingers.

I thought tomato plants are annuals? When the weather gets milder, I'm tempted to bury a few cherry tomatoes in some soil and see what comes up.

I draw the line at okra - evil things :eek:

Living_proof

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I thought tomato plants are annuals? :

I meant get rid of them by means of consuming them. At one point in the summer I was picking 200 a day and at least 100 well into October (greenhouse). Even the green ones which I put in paper in boxes ripened and my life seemed to be one continuous dehydration session.

The thing to do with cherry tomatoes is to soak the seed in water for a few days, then the mix ferments and the slimy seed coating will easily come off. You can then sow the seeds in the normal way. They won't necessarily be exactly like the parent, but it's worth a try.

If you don't like Okra you have probably never tasted it when it's been cooked properly!