Hello! I'm a newbie and could do with some advice (chillis!!)

[Lottie01]

Hello!
I've just signed up on here and I'm not really sure where to start so this seemed like a good place!

My new project is growing as much as I can in the tiniest space imaginable! I've gone from having a lovely big garden with a greenhouse to a double French window with railings outside I didn't think I'd miss the garden as much as I have so I'm now crowding in whatever I can in hanging pots and one long container perched between the doors and railings!! Im actually having more fun than ever being innovative and creative with the space!

My main project is my chillis and I need a bit of help but can't seem to find the information I need anywhere...if anyone has any info they'd be willing to share (or can signpost me) on how to select the strongest plants then it'd be appreciated! They're indoors in my French windows and I've been lucky to have every seed germinate and grow, I have Hungarian hot wax, habenero and fire cracker. My problem is space! I have 8 in my bedroom doing really well and 'my 8 backups' in the kitchen window that haven't had as much sun and no fertiliser...I've been a bit cruel to these guys but wasn't sure how the main guys would get on so kept them just incase I needed to bring them on a bit. I need to rehome some of my main guys and don't want to give the best away!
My question is do I keep the tallest? The ones with the most leaves that are a few cm shorter? The ones with the thickest stems? Basically what qualities are going to make the best full grown chilli plants? I'm going to be really bummed if I give the rest away and they turn out better than the ones I keep!

[burnie]

Firstly welcome and secondly, no idea, I'm new to chillie growing, but someone will be along to help.

[damian1225]

I grow chillies but I am no expert, I always judge a plant on thickness and foliage.. if its got lots of nice healthy looking green leaves and a thick trunk then thats the one I usually keep if there is a choice, just because its a couple of inches taller doesnt really make any difference (imo)
I'm sure its all down to personal preference but thats what i do.

[Lottie01]

Thanks for replying guys! & that does help, I was thinking I'd probably keep the shorter but stockier plants myself, they look a bit more sturdy and bushy.
I've just got attached to them all especially with them doing so well. Even keeping three is going to crowd my windows!!
They could just do with a few sunny days now to give them a spurt!

[veggiechicken]

Hi Lottie01 and welcome to the forum. I don't grow chillies either but the short and stocky rather than tall and leggy sounds like the way to go. I can relate to short and stocky myself

[Lottie01]

Thanks for the welcomes
Well I think that's the way to go with the chillis anyway! I'm going to miss the others when I finally bring myself to give them away
veggiechicken there is nothing wrong with short and stocky, I'm a little height impaired myself...although hopefully not referred to as stocky

My next quest is to figure out when I can finally plant out my coleus, again I have far too many and theyre clogging up my window! im not sure they're going to appreciate the wind being four floors up outside anyway but I'm going to give them a go!

[damian1225]

if you live in Hereford I will take the excess chillies and give them a good home lol

[Lottie01]

If I did you'd be welcome to them! I'm actually in Dudley (not originally so I don't have the proper accent )
Everyone I've offered them too doesn't seem that interested and I can see them being dead in a few weeks!!

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Hi Lottie01, and welcome from me also!

Yeah! The shorter and stockier the better, as they are the one's putting down good root systems making for a "Sturdier" and stronger plant to carry the fruit, bare in mind if you are keeping them indoors to give em a gentle shake 2 to 3 times daily to aid in pollination! Treat em rough too, letting them dry out from time to time as this shock worries them to produce more fruit thinking their "Life cycle" is through!

As for your "Coleus" I hope you enjoy, must admit I did grow them once and loved the amount of different colours n textures I got! But more of a Veg fan rather than flowers, but that's mainly down to a time constraints thing!

[Lottie01]

Thanks Deano, i like the logic behind it that makes a lot of sense thank you. Thanks for the tips too, I was planning to get a little paint brush and move from flower to flower but if shaking works then that's less effort!
I'd rather have veg too but in the very limited space I have I've really had to compromise so I've gone for pretty rather than useful! Im thinking the coleus will fill in some gaps around my herbs.
Lettuce was a bad idea! It takes up too much room and it's really lacking in flavour anyway, I definitely won't bother again!

[vixylix]

Hi Lottie and welcome!

There are a lot of chilli fans on here, myself included. Sadly I can't give any advice on giving plants away as I can't do it! Could you keep some indoors on windowsills?

[Lottie01]

Oh and another thing I won't grow again is lobelia!! The most faffy thing I've ever dealt with! Ill be going to the garden centre next time and paying the few quid for a tray if i want it!

[Lottie01]

Hi vixylix and thanks
The problem I have is such a tiny area to grow in I haven't got the room outside so they're in my French windows indoors, unfortunately the only other free window sill is my kitchen and that's north facing, I've got some there too but they're less than half the size of the ones in the south facing window. I really didn't appreciate my garden when I had it!

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Please don't write off lettuce! a couple of "Little Gem's" grown in a small pot, don't take up a great deal of room and sown in succession over a period of time give great refreshing results!

[johnjohn]

Hi Lottie, welcome to the Vine. Sounds like you might need this
DMBC - Allotments
Application form is at bottom of the page.

Also, you might consider growing indoors under lights? My chillis are in a grow tent at the moment with LED lighting, they've got good fruit formed but will go out this coming week or next after hardening off- there's no reason why you can't do this all year round if you have the space inside though.

There's a bit of stuff about it in this useful thread
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...7-a_92000.html