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Summer temperatures and pepper fruit set - time for fleece?

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  • Summer temperatures and pepper fruit set - time for fleece?

    I know there have been a few threads about this recently but on reading through and finding this:-

    Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post
    I'd agree.

    From your link:

    Tomatoes 18.5 - 26.5° C (65-80° F) Optimum for fruit set

    Less than 10° C (50° F) Poor fruit set


    For chillies: 16° C (61 ° F) Optimum for flowering and fruit set

    Less than 15.5° C (60° F) :Poor fruit set
    I wanted to ask for a bit more advice from those with more experience than me.

    My minimum overnight temperature on the North side of the poly is still only about
    12C - obviously, I don't know how long the tunnel is at this temperature for but it's well below the level for good fruit set on my peppers (they are in the middle bed so should be slightly warmer) and I'm having the whole flower drop experience. Although the petals are falling and leaving what looks like a potential fruit they are not nearly as big/full looking as the ones that have actually set so I am assuming poor/no fertilization.

    I am misting round the plants, which Joyce Russell recommends (I know they are self fertilizing but my tunnel can have quite a dry atmophere) and there are insects in there most of the time as well.

    My question as per the title is, if you were me would you be fleecing the peppers up at night to try and trap warm air for longer? (Day temps are high teens upwards.)

    Thanks in advance people.

    (Tomatoes are doing ok only the odd flower dropping.)
    "A life lived in fear is a life half lived."

    PS. I just don't have enough time to say hello to everyone as they join so please take this as a delighted to see you here!

  • #2
    I've had chillies setting fruit in September in an unheated greenhouse, in Yorkshire. Personally, I err by the 10c rule, and if it drops below that, protect them.

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    • #3
      Originally posted by SarzWix View Post
      I've had chillies setting fruit in September in an unheated greenhouse, in Yorkshire. Personally, I err by the 10c rule, and if it drops below that, protect them.
      OK, thanks. My 12C min is an improvement on the overnight minimum temperatures through July which often weren't 10C so I'll keep an eye on what happens over the next week or so if the temperatures stay up. At least it's now warm and wet!

      Do your Septrmber chillies ripen OK and if so by when? (I think the poly will be much colder than green houses from what I'm reading) I was hoping to get some winter greens into the bed by starting them in root trainers and then planting them when the peppers came out.

      PS How is your polytunnel doing?
      Last edited by marchogaeth; 13-08-2012, 01:46 PM.
      "A life lived in fear is a life half lived."

      PS. I just don't have enough time to say hello to everyone as they join so please take this as a delighted to see you here!

      Comment


      • #4
        My GH goes down to 10` C at times but I am harvesting peppers, very late this year though. I know they are supposed to be self fertile but I find gently rattling the cane as per tomatoes helps.

        Colin
        Potty by name Potty by nature.

        By appointment of VeggieChicken Member of the Nutters club.


        We hang petty thieves and appoint great ones to public office.

        Aesop 620BC-560BC

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        • #5
          I think in that particular year I managed to keep them going til late October, but was fleecing them by that point. I think I've made a mistake in planting them between the tomatoes this year, so if I do want to fleece them it won't be a nice easy one-piece-of-fleece job I'll know next year though

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          • #6
            I am new to the term fleecing! my night temps are going below 50 farenh., here in oregon, usa--My tomatoes aren't ripening--we don't usually have this much chilly weather mid-summer so I've never needed to take precautions.I had my first cherry tomatoe yesterday---just the one do I need to "fleece"

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            • #7
              Well according to Google 50F is 10C.
              Here's the Wiki explanation of fleece.

              I was concerned about fruit set not ripening. I guess, if the temperature are really low you are maybe not getting the sunshine/warmth either so things will take longer to ripen and you may also not be getting the newer trusses to set fully. I know you can spread foil on the ground to increase the light through reflection and encourage ripening but are you outside or inside growing?

              Other people will know more than me. If you don't get other replies on here I'd post a separate thread and introduce yourself in the introductions forum and make your profile as full as possible so people can advise you fully.

              Good luck.
              Last edited by marchogaeth; 15-08-2012, 07:57 PM.
              "A life lived in fear is a life half lived."

              PS. I just don't have enough time to say hello to everyone as they join so please take this as a delighted to see you here!

              Comment

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