Chillies - growing and overwintering 2019

[Mitzi]

Mine go outside but only in pots so if there were an early (or very late) frost I could in theory drag them in to the house overnight. If you've got spares it would be worth trying them in the ground but I'd be worried that, like plants in really big pots, they would spend so much time growing roots and shoots that there wasn't enough of the season left to produce and ripen pods before the frost. If we get a warm summer and frosts hold off until late autumn then I think they would do really well in the ground.

[Small pumpkin]

Finally finished my first round of potting on of chillies. Last 19 done.

[Philthy]

Phil, how do you tell the difference between a dormant and a dead plant? I try to keep mine ticking over through the winter so it’s fairly obvious when they die.

I grew PdN last year but found them very slow-growing and didn’t get any pods. Have overwintered two but neither is thriving. Hoping they take off this year.

Usually the main stem changing colour is the best indicator. The upper branches can still be largely green even if their tips have browned, but if the main stem below them has started to take on a more olive colour or worse dirty yellow that’s a sign of impending doom. If you catch it early sometimes the plant can be saved if the lower half still appears healthy; cut well into the healthy stem when pruning out the discolouring section and then analyse the growing environment for the last couple of weeks to try to identify the likely cause of the deterioration. In my experience the switch from stable just ticking over to in trouble happens fairly quickly so it pays to keep a close eye on the overwintering plants i.e. every few days a visual once over.

Also primarily on the main stem there might appear pitted, dark coloured lesions. They start small and gradually increase in size and quantity. Once these start showing up it’s a sign of imminent death.
Another indicator is to observe the development of buds for the new season’s growth; ignore the ones on the branches and just observe those on the main stem. If they’ve been green for weeks no matter how small but then change to black, track down the stem and hope you find ones that are still green. If you do I’d remove everything at that point above the healthy bud.
Lastly any branches that are hollow inside even if green on the outside will ultimately die so you’d need to identify where the branch becomes solid again and prune out the soft tissue.

Leaf drooping is useful as an early indicator of something amiss so it pays to leave a few intact just for that purpose; personally I’d remove on average 90% of the leaves on a plant I wanted to go dormant as they just encourage greenfly to move in if left in their entirety. The idea would be to correct problems affecting the leaves before they can manifest on the stem.


Glad to hear you have experience with the PdN I’ve heard from a couple of sources that they are very slow growing. We’ll have to compare notes

[Philthy]

I'm pleased with mine and can't wait untill I'm able to plant them out. I have a perfect size bed on the allotment that gets plenty of sun all day (when it shines). I'm toying with the idea of planting them there instead of pots. Anyone else plant them into the ground instead of pots?

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Pros and cons for both.
In the ground you wouldn’t have to worry so much about the soil drying out. But equally on cool days and especially overnight the ground temperature could drop to the detriment of the plants i.e. their growth may well stall. Pepper plants are unfortunately desired by many critters including slugs and snails if they can get to them, so some kind of protection against them and also adverse weather could be beneficial. Crops grown in the ground are generally smaller and later than those grown under cover, but should require less maintenance.

In pots you’d be better keeping them at home if you have the space as they’ll need more attention from the point of drying out once summer is under way. Either way you’d have flexibility within the environment, able to adjust to whichever best suits conditions at the time, including any deteriorating weather. I think feeding would be easier in pots as you’d be able to give more accurate doses knowing it can only be per plant.

The only place I know of where chillies are grown in the open ground without protection of a tunnel is the veg garden at RHS Wisley. But I doubt they’ll go in much before June.

[toomanytommytoes]

Picked up some Hungarian Hot Wax from Aldi, 4 for £1.99. Poor things, being kept in total shade and getting battered by the wind. Two decent looking ones and two slight stragglers. Resisted the urge to buy some Habaneros too. Now I've got to figure out where to put them!

[dave_100]

Picked up some Hungarian Hot Wax from Aldi, 4 for £1.99. Poor things, being kept in total shade and getting battered by the wind. Two decent looking ones and two slight stragglers. Resisted the urge to buy some Habaneros too. Now I've got to figure out where to put them!

Yes I saw the habaneros at Aldi, great value! It was pretty sad seeing them just left uncared for- one of the stems was even broken. I would have purchased but it isn't the same as growing your own from seed, and I don't have space!

[Mitzi]

There's no disgrace in buying plants in. It's how I got hooked - went to the Garden Centre for tomato seedlings and came home with a couple of chillies. This year I've bought an Apache because I wanted something easy and reliably productive in cool weather (I hope it is!) and hadn't grown anything like that, although hopefully the Basket of Fire from SP will also be easy and productive.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Here's mine at the minute



Lush, green and well healthy, had a bit of a set back early doors, but rectified as to what I actually want to grow and save seed from this year

Not as advanced as I would like, but hey! With the cold spell we have had of late, it may have been a blessing in disguise

Easter weekend aproaching, so time to sit, nurture and move on to slightly bigger pots with a little more "Humph"

So far so good!

[dave_100]

Here's mine at the minute

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Lush, green and well healthy, had a bit of a set back early doors, but rectified as to what I actually want to grow and save seed from this year

Not as advanced as I would like, but hey! With the cold spell we have had of late, it may have been a blessing in disguise

Easter weekend aproaching, so time to sit, nurture and move on to slightly bigger pots with a little more "Humph"

So far so good!

When exactly do you plan to move to bigger pots? Easter weekend will bring lots of sun by the looks of thing which should do them wonders.

[chillithyme]

I sowed my chillies and peppers late for me this year, in April, lucky for me some of them came up pretty quickly, cayenne, sweet mini red and another I can't think of right now, others have yet to make an appearance.
I bought some Aldi plants, Habanero, Hungarian hot wax and Apache chillis to make up for my late start. I resisted from buying a Trinidad perfume from b&Q, but now I can't stop thinking about it!

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

When exactly do you plan to move to bigger pots? Easter weekend will bring lots of sun by the looks of thing which should do them wonders.

Thought I'd try something different this year as a bit of an experiment

Currently sat in 2 inch pots which I will upgrade to 3 inch pots tomorrow

Brought down from the loft into the grow station by the French Doors to get a little natural light, sat in a little tray of water with a few drops of seaweed feed!

Hey! There healthy, so I am happy!

[Small pumpkin]

It's a sad day in the chilli world.
Chilli Bob past away this morning after a short fight with cancer.
I learned so much from him in the very short time I met him at a gardening show.
RIP Chilli Bob. Hope you have the biggest chilli farm in the sky.

[Small pumpkin]

Chillies have had their first day in the tunnel today.



And here's the one's that have been out for a couple of weeks.



I've got me a pound shop scotch bonnet when will I learn not to buy seeds form cheapy shops



But it's got a pod, that was a nice surprise this morning.



What do you reckon?

[Small pumpkin]

Here you go Philthy. From the seeds you sent me. They're doing well. Will keep updating

[Mitzi]

I've got me a pound shop scotch bonnet when will I learn not to buy seeds form cheapy shops
What do you reckon?

Well it’s not a bonnet, is it! Cayenne? Thai?