Prarie Fire Plant

[uulwyn]

Hi all,

My prairie fire plant has given up its chillies and they are all red and starting to go shrivelled. Should i start taking all the red ones off and freeze them? When i have done this, will the plant be ok on my kitchen windowsill until next year, or do i need to get a new plant. Do the chillies return next year?

Thanks all for the advice

[HotStuff]

Hi uulwyn,

I haven't specifically grown Prairie Fire, but I successfully overwintered 4 Chilli plants last year and they all gave bigger crops this year. I am hoping to overwinter several in the coming months.

Have a look at this thread:

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...tml#post144330

If the Chillies on your Prairie Fire are red and going wrinkly then they are definitely ready for picking. What you do with them then is up to you, some people freeze them, others dry them.

If you don't have any more seed for your Pairie Fire then you could also save some of the seed from the Chillies you harvest to start some more plants next year.

Hope this helps

[Alice]

I haven't always been successful at overwintering chillies but Prairie Fire was no problem. I had this one for about 3 years. Didn't do anything special. Just kept it on the windowcill or coffee table.

[uulwyn]

Hi uulwyn,

If you don't have any more seed for your Pairie Fire then you could also save some of the seed from the Chillies you harvest to start some more plants next year.

Hope this helps

Thanks for all advice guys. Question maybe a bit stupid but how would i dry them to obtain seed to grow another plant. Would I just snip off a chilli and leave it somwhere warm and then cut it open and take the seeds out of them?

Thanks

[HotStuff]

Thanks for all advice guys. Question maybe a bit stupid but how would i dry them to obtain seed to grow another plant. Would I just snip off a chilli and leave it somwhere warm and then cut it open and take the seeds out of them?

Thanks

I use a needle & thread to string a load together into a Ristra, then leave them in the airing cupboard for a few weeks. Then like you say, just cut them open and harvest the seeds. The flesh can be used in cooking, or whizzed up in a blender to make your own Chilli flakes. Here's a pic of some Apaches I did last year.

[uulwyn]

Thanks Hotstuff for the advice