Active Chili's

[IanM]

One thing that is growing well are the chili's. I got a set of 12 this year, 3 x 4 different varieties. What I want to know is what sized pot they should be in? The are all flowering and one or two of them have roots to the bottom of the pot. They are in 4-5 inch pots currently. Should I pot them on or should I leave well alone? If I need to pot them on, what do you suggest for size?

[Florence Fennel]

Glad yours are romping away Ian, mine seemed to be at a full stop, but I've potted them on in fresh compost and they are now growing away, I think the nutrients had been sapped as they'd been so long in 4" pots. I just went next size up, but I think one thread suggested that they can be left to finally mature in 8". Suppose it depends on the growth rate? I'm a chillie novice, so I'm sure someone more experienced will advise.

[crichmond]

The bigger the final pot size the better they will do, obviously final pot size will also depend on the variety of chili you are growing as smaller plants dont need as big a pot.
For my larger plants I tend to use a final pot size of 7.5lt not sure how this converts to inches though.

[Two_Sheds]

I put some of mine on the lotty last year, and although they didn't grow any bigger than the greenhouse ones, they produced much more fruit.

[IanM]

So it seems that new compost is as much needed as pot size I will look to move them up a size. Many thanks for your answers, this is a great forum!

Ian

[Incy]

I put some of mine on the lotty last year, and although they didn't grow any bigger than the greenhouse ones, they produced much more fruit.

TS. Did you plant them in the ground or simply have them outdoors in pots? Does this work as well for sweet peppers do you know. My GH is groaning so if there are things that would do well outside I think I should move them

[Florence Fennel]

So it seems that new compost is as much needed as pot size I will look to move them up a size. Many thanks for your answers, this is a great forum!

Ian

Hi Ian, I don't know why I was so surprised when new compost made such a vast difference, I told someone only the other day that the compost can feed the plant for about 6 weeks and then needs help, but I couldn't take my own advice obviously! I agree with you wholeheartedly about this forum, I have learned more in the last few months from the experienced growers than I have in a few years from books and practice. Now I just need to learn to have a bit more patience!

[gadgetman]

I left my last year in 5" pots, and they did ok. So long as you feed them weekly, I use a double strength tomato feed mix, they'll be fine.

Last year was my first and found one the first fruit came, they seemed to romp away with the flowering. We also didnt have any bee activity, but thanks to ours and neighbours planting flowers into our once bare gardens, every morning I see a swarm working away pollinating everything.

[Two_Sheds]

TS. Did you plant them in the ground or simply have them outdoors in pots?

In the ground.
I don't grow sweet peppers, cos I can't eat them (they don't agree with me)

[Two_Sheds]

I use a double strength tomato feed mix.

why?

you can do as much damage from over-feeding as from under-feeding, as well as spending twice as much as you need to

[gadgetman]

why?

you can do as much damage from over-feeding as from under-feeding, as well as spending twice as much as you need to

I experimented after speaking to a colleague that grew them. 1/2 had the correct mix, 1/2 had the double mix.

The double mix ones grew better pods (and hotter), and seemed more healthy overall. So I've repeated this again this year.

Only using cheap Asda's own tom feed at £1.

[Two_Sheds]

Ah.
Mebbe Asda's is weaker, diluted stuff

[Snadger]

Ah.
Mebbe Asda's is weaker, diluted stuff

By that logic, tomato feed bought from Harrod's is the way to go!

[crichmond]

By that logic, tomato feed bought from Harrod's is the way to go!

Whats that cost then £599.99 a bottle

[gadgetman]

Ah.
Mebbe Asda's is weaker, diluted stuff

Says 15ml per 4.5 litres. Last year used tomorite which IIRC you had to mix with 7 litres.

Still used 30ml per mix of water. But only do this on the chillies. Everything else uses the correct mix.