Scotch Bonnet Chillies

[OllieMartin]

But chillies prefer to be kept on the dry side.

That's what I was thinking. From my reading I would guess it was a vermiculite, perlite mix. The plants do look pretty healthy.

[WrexTheDragon]

But chillies prefer to be kept on the dry side.

I like to keep mine damp when the plant is growing, but stop watering when the flowers drop and the fruit form to get the maximum heat.

[Galileo]

Hi Ked

That was great information about B&Q selling the Scotch Bonnet chillies. I went to the local B&Q here today and picked up two nice plants (See Attached Photo)

You will also notice the price difference but it has saved me a year as my seeds have only just sprouted and it is probably too late to get a crop from seed this year.

Thanks again I will dedicate my first curry to you

Galileo

[Welshjohn]

You bougt the "organic" variety, there is a "non-organic" line that costs under a quid.
I do however need a bit of advice, I'm growing mine in my conservatory (3 kids and footballs won't allow me a greenhouse), how do I stop the plants from growing all spindley and weak?

[nerdgas]

I use the perlite and vermiculite mixture.

I find that I am now only having to water my plants in my greenhouse about once or twice a week at most.

The Vermiculite is also supposed to help prevent the nutrients from being leached from the compost quickly by watering as they hold some of these for slow release back into the compost as it dries out. At least that's the theory. Whilst the perlite aids drainage and is supposed to help prevent water logging. Again that's the theory.....

Looking at how much vermiculite is being used on the surface of the pots above I suspect it's also being used as a barrier to help prevent fungus gnats from getting into the compost to lay their eggs.

[chilliking]

they look very healthy plants indeed. while the quality can be a bit hit and miss it is nice to see more places like B&Q selling different varieties such as habs rather than just the generic "chilli peppers" they were selling a few years ago!

[ked]

Good to see this chilli thread is still going strong

Glad to be of help Galileo! My scotch bonnet is doing really well and is now dominating a 5 ltr pot. Does anyone know how large they get?

Now we're a few months down the line, I've got 11 different chilli varieties on the go in the greenhouse:

Dorset Naga
Scotch Bonnet (B&Q)
Orange habenero (B&Q)
Hungarian hot wax (B&Q)
Jalapeno (B&Q)
Paper Lantern
Numex twilight
Explosive blast
Nose Gay
Filius blue
Mystery chilli (grown from some seeds found in a dried chilli)

They are all going strong in 5 ltr pots and starting to flower, in fact I spotted my first chilli forming on one of the fillius blues

I'll put some pics up when I get some time..

Ked

[grovesy1975]

Grovesy

I started off my Scotch Bonnets last October from seed out a bought chilli and now have a 6 fantastic plants producing countless flowers, however suffering badly from bud dropping. All my other types of chilli are fine, just the scotch bonnets.

[bister mungle]

I've read that if you are having a lot of flower buds drop with out fruit it is because you are watering irregularly and should water at the same time each time.

Got 3 types of chillis on the go (Cayenne, Cheyenne and Scotch Bonnet) at the mo and all but the Scotch Bonnets are flowering. I hoping it is just because they are slower?! Looking forward to them the most.

[Tattie-muncher]

I've got my Scotch Bonnet planted in a fairly large tub, sitting in a tray of water, that way, I don't have to worry about watering times, the waters there when the plant wants it, I drain the tray the same day every week, refill with water and add a little feed, and it seems to work as the plant is growing well, as is my other peppers

[Shadylane]

So you have it constantly sitting in water then, or do you drain after it's had a drink? I wouldn't have thought it would appreciate being sat in water the whole time. I would think the roots would rot (??)

[Florence Fennel]

I'm treating them mean, but they aren't that keen this year. Very slow growing, especially the habs.

[Tattie-muncher]

Honestly, the tub the plant is in sits in a small tray all the time, and there's always a water/feed mix in the tray, and its growing well for some reason, it gets on fine.