Chillies - growing and overwintering 2019

[dave_100]

I wouldn’t be moving those on just yet, wait until they have a couple of pairs of true leaves. When you do pot them up, put them a bit deeper (anything up to the seed leaves.)

Thanks I will do, they don't look too leggy at the moment though do they?

[annie8]

They often look a bit leggy at this stage. Should be fine once you pot on if you put a little deeper.

[meanmoose]

Quick question guys. I'm growing Carolina Reapers this year. I live in an apartment in London with a window that only gets about 2 hours of morning sun. The balcony gets about 3-4 hours, but it is exposed to the cold. I tried growing from seed but that didn't work out too well for me as they died. Going to get replacement plug plants, but just wondering when is the earliest I can place them in the balcony to encourage more growth (due to more light). The balcony is sheltered from rain and wind.

[Mitzi]

Quick question guys. I'm growing Carolina Reapers this year. I live in an apartment in London with a window that only gets about 2 hours of morning sun. The balcony gets about 3-4 hours, but it is exposed to the cold. I tried growing from seed but that didn't work out too well for me as they died. Going to get replacement plug plants, but just wondering when is the earliest I can place them in the balcony to encourage more growth (due to more light). The balcony is sheltered from rain and wind.

Are you able to put them out in a morning and bring them in again at night? If so then they could go out from now unless we get a really cold snap. Just keep an eye on the forecast. Ideally the temperature needs to be above 10*C as below that they stop growing and freezing temps will kill them. London has its own microclimate and is a bit warmer than surrounding areas.

Carolina Reapers are fussy sods that don’t crop particularly well in our climate although you may get lucky. I’d recommend trying some other superhots e.g. Moruga Scorpion, Bhut Jolokia, to maximise your chances of getting a decent harvest. If you’re buying plug plants you could get a mixture. Welcome to the addictive world of chilli growing!

[Tripmeup]

Most of my chillies are under these lights and growing well.. Have s few on the window still too..

[Small pumpkin]

Potted on 39 chillies this morning. Into 1lt pots mostly, a couple were a bit smaller. Just another 12 to go. They're not quite ready yet. Now I'm very short on space.

[dave_100]

Potted on 39 chillies this morning. Into 1lt pots mostly, a couple were a bit smaller. Just another 12 to go. They're not quite ready yet. Now I'm very short on space.

Any pics? Would be good to see what size the transplants are.

[Small pumpkin]

Any pics? Would be good to see what size the transplants are.

Here you go dave.
Some are doing brilliantly some I'm very embarrassed to say are looking shocking .
I believe they will pick up quickly now they are in a much better compost mix.

[dave_100]

Ah most of those have come on a treat. Mine are more at the stage of the ones you haven't repotted. Hopefully with a few days of sunshine forecasted they will have a boost this week.

[Mitzi]

Got back from a short break away to find all plants including seedlings have survived, although some of the overwinters look as if they are on the way out. The ladybird larvae had all started pupating when I went away, so I expected to come back to lots of new shiny red ladybirds, but the boiler broke down while we were away, the house is freezing, and I expect they are waiting for warmer "weather" before emerging. This means that the aphids are increasing again. The war is never won.

The difference between plants which were overwintered on north-facing windowsills vs south-facing is huge - the latter are thriving and the former are really struggling. I need the south-facing sills for this year's seedlings so there's no chance of giving the overwinters a boost with a bit of sun, unless it's very warm at the weekend and I can stick them outside for a few hours. Next year I'm not going to overwinter more than a few plants which stay in the house all summer. I won't be bringing any back in from outside; I've learned my lesson on that one.

It's going to be a long couple of months until the plants can go out.

Edit: Forecast is for less than 10*C at the weekend and down to freezing at night so that rules that out!

[Scarlet]

I find that east facing windowsill a much better bet for overwintering plants. My plants are looking a little deflated but they don't get much water which stops them from putting out new growth. I don't really want to mentio greenfly - but I haven't seen any yet. I've just got 4 plants - choc hab, pink hab, SP'sdorset and a lemon drop.....and yes, that two month wait seems miles away.

[Mitzi]

My only east- facing window is in an unheated room. Tried a plant in there a couple of years ago but it struggled so I had to move it out.

[PepperMonster]

So a terrible thing happened...I spent 4 days in hospital (went straight from work so away 5 days) aaaaand almost all of my pepper seedlings died. Only the few on the downstairs table received water.

...I have resown most of what was lost and they've almost all come up but this is the latest I've ever sown peppers so I don't know how they will do. Last year I had some aji and habanero peppers still fruiting in December in the greenhouse and 2 decorative chillies outside on my patio until January (!) so there is hope..

[toomanytommytoes]

Sorry to hear that! I imagine Capsicum annuum varieties would still reach their potential. Would it be worth you buying some plug plants of the slow growers?

[Small pumpkin]

Sorry to hear that peppermonster. Hope you are on the mend. Sometimes chillies do have to take second place .
Take care of yourself