Running before I can walk? Hello...!

[Asty]

Hello, I found this website whilst looking for information on how to care for the growing number of chili plants I am acquiring rather quickly. After having disastrous results with chili germination, I've opted to buy the plants as seedlings and I'm eagerly (to the point of obsessively) awaiting for a chilli to appear.
Living up north however I think I am hoping for miracles.
Could anybody point me in the right direction of some chile heads?

Many thanks in advance...

[veggiechicken]

Hello Asty and welcome. There are plenty of chilli heads here (but I'm not one!). Don't worry, one will be along in a minute or three

[Veggielot]

Hi welcome to the site. Only grown chillies once, as not a particular fan but did quite well. Nothing wrong with buying seedlings, if you want a variety it can be a good idea but don't give up on growing from seed as its a great feeling growing from seed. Where about is up north? You can edit your profile to show your location, it will help with advice.

[KittyColdNose]

Hello and welcome Asty. Where in the North are you? You can add the general area to your profile if you want (like mine above )

What chillis are you growing? I have some vampires in my kitchen...

There are lots of chilli lovers on here and I'm sure more will be along soon to say hello.

[Asty]

Hi, thanks all.
I am just outside of Burnley Lancashire so not so far from you Veggielot.
Currently I have a couple each of Apache, Super Fresno, Habanero, Cheyenne? and I have just ordered
a couple of Moruga Trinidads. Its all or nothing with me. I initially started my chili growing with Basket of Fire chili seeds, which I intended to have in hanging baskets. I sowed 8 seeds in Jan and I have one seedling appx 4cms high! But I'm not giving up on it!

[Verinda]

Hello Asty, welcome to the forum!

[Bren In Pots]

Hello and welcome to the vine Asty

There's a thread on here about overwintering chillis that's full of info. This year I've managed to keep Orange Habs and Scotch bonnet ticking over in a bedroom window and now they're growing new leaves.

here's a couple of links :-

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...nts_71424.html

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ies_63415.html

[BertieFox]

Chillies really aren't difficult from seed, it's just that the seed takes its time to germinate and needs relatively high temperatures to get them going, around 70 to 80F. Allow a month for germination and only give up after that!
They also take a long time to mature as plants, which is why some people overwinter them to give them a head start the following year. Expect most of the crop at the end of the season in September and October, seldom much earlier. One plant with small chillis can produce a bumper crop, far more than you would realistically need however much of a chilli-head you might be, though you can dry them and powder them in a mill to make paprika.
Personally I really like the mildly hot chillis like the famous Espelette one from the Basque country, a large long pepper which you can use in fairly large amounts for cassoulet or other spicy bean recipes. Good luck with this year's crop. Let's hope the weather finally warms up sufficient to get them growing away.

[SarzWix]

Orreet Asty I'm not so far from you

If chillis are your thing, put a heated propagator on your Christmas/birthday list so you can get an early start with the seeds next year. They need a fair bit of heat to get going, and will sulk if they get cold overnight. You can get round it if you have an airing cupboard with the hot water tank, or somewhere else constantly warm, but my best results come from the propagator.

[lottie dolly]

welcome to growing

[marchogaeth]

Croeso i'r Vine.

[DonSpillacy]

Hello Asty.
I germinate my chillies in a cheap propogator on a windowsill above a radiator from mid to late Feb, it is important to keep the keep the temperature from dropping too low overnight. I have found that the better quality and fresher the seed, the higher the germination rate (especially for the hotter plants). I've yet to successfully grow a hab (they keep getting stuck inside the seed pod however much I soak them) but have grown several scotch bonnets for a few years.