Chillies - growing and overwintering 2019

[Scarlet]

Got any photos? What was he growing?

[MyWifesBrassicas]

Got any photos? What was he growing?

I'll ask him if he's any pictures, i didn't take any
Not sure what variety, they looked like apache
It was his fathers hydroponic system, the plants were wrapped around pieces of string hanging in a polytunnel stopping them from flopping over, approx 2-3ft and really bushy, literally lbs of fruit

[Scarlet]

I've heard conflicting things about watering from the surface/bottom

There is no right or wrong. Everyone grows the way that works well for them. None of us do exactly the same, all have different growing conditions. Don't panic, they will grow. I have pots with a few holes, pots with loads of holes, I use compost from bought bags, compost from my compost bin....I water mostly from the bottom as I keep in large greenhouse trays but sometimes I water from the top....but so long as I check them out often I can make sure they grow well. Change things that suit.

[veggiechicken]

For the best harvest would it be best to use a higher quantity of smaller pots, or fewer, larger pots?

For example generally speaking, for windowsill varieties, would 4x 2 litre pots produce more, or less than 2x 4 litre pots?

I have a pot drainage hole question. I have these 10 litre pots, and not sure if they have enough drainage holes. For clarity there are only 3 holes and I've circled them in yellow. I wonder if I should drill holes on these sections by the red question marks?

Thought you were using smaller pots?

[Scarlet]

Thought you were using smaller pots?

Nope! SP changed his mind

Personally I'd also try an "ornamental" they sound rubbish but they look lovely, small compact plants and some have super hot pods / royal black and tri colour variegata are fabulous plants for a windowsill and grow well in flower buckets.


# if you want to put more holes in your pots, warm up a screw driver and push some in. Drilling cracks the plastic.

[Small pumpkin]

Nope! SP changed his mind

Personally I'd also try an "ornamental" they sound rubbish but they look lovely, small compact plants and some have super hot pods / royal black and tri colour variegata are fabulous plants for a windowsill and grow well in flower buckets.


# if you want to put more holes in your pots, warm up a screw driver and push some in. Drilling cracks the plastic.

As far as I'm concerned 4lt is a small pot for a chilli or are we back to 10lt now

[dave_100]

Thought you were using smaller pots?

Haha I've been confused too!

I've been weighing it up, as Scarlet mentions SP's advice of fewer larger pots has led me to using 10 litre pots rather than 2,3 or 4 litre where possible.

I have 2 south facing windowsills and my plan is;

Kitchen windowsill (smaller) :
3x3 litre, containing prairie fire, ring of fire, and Thai dragon

Then in the spare bedroom I have a larger windowsill, I'm going with 2x 10 litre pots, one with Ring of fire one with Thai dragon.

Probably.

[Small pumpkin]

Thai dragon and ring of fire will like being in 10lt pots.

[Mitzi]

Just to add to the put size debate, my experience has been that plants in small pots will fruit and ripen much quicker but you get a much smaller crop. In a big pot you get lots more pods but they take longer to grow and ripen so if you have a short season like me, there's a danger of running out of time.

[dave_100]

Just to add to the put size debate, my experience has been that plants in small pots will fruit and ripen much quicker but you get a much smaller crop. In a big pot you get lots more pods but they take longer to grow and ripen so if you have a short season like me, there's a danger of running out of time.

Cool, it sounds like having a mix is a good idea. I'd hope 10 litres isn't too huge and that in south east England if I start in February there'll be plenty of time to get fruit.

[4Shoes]

Just to add to the put size debate, my experience has been that plants in small pots will fruit and ripen much quicker but you get a much smaller crop. In a big pot you get lots more pods but they take longer to grow and ripen so if you have a short season like me, there's a danger of running out of time.

What is you alternate "medium size" - 7l Rose Pot?

[Mitzi]

2019 season under way. First seeds in to soak:

1. Manzano orange
2. 7 pot BBG red
3. 7 pot BBG white
4. SB MoA WHP X
5. Uber Fatalii
6. White Lightning
7. ChilliWilly’s Red
8. ChilliWilly’s Yellow

[Mitzi]

What is you alternate "medium size" - 7l Rose Pot?

I expect the plants in small pots would do better with more feeding. I wasn’t as diligent as I should have been there.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

On about "Pot Size"

Have a neb at this!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=URPPQi903ZY

Think I have just about completed my grow list for this year, with a few exceptions, Seeds ordered, but would like a few more, but have to limit it this year as I just don't get the time these days, but heres hoping!

[4Shoes]

On about "Pot Size"

Have a neb at this!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=URPPQi903ZY

Think I have just about completed my grow list for this year, with a few exceptions, Seeds ordered, but would like a few more, but have to limit it this year as I just don't get the time these days, but heres hoping!

That was interesting -

I've got a freezer full of chillies after growing all my plants in 12l Orange B&Q pails this year. I wasn't able to get seed from all the varieties, so will be growing them again this year, but thinking smaller pots. From above post was thinking 7l Rose pot, but having watched this, could go smaller - perhaps I need to consider 5l pots for the "seed bank" area.