Chillies - growing and overwintering 2019

[Mitzi]

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..

I hope you get well soon.

I can offer you one each of Hot Cherry (Cseresznye) Paprika, Monkey Face, Purple Tiger and/or Aji Guyana seedlings if you would like any of them? The first three are quite small but will be a few weeks ahead of yours. The Aji Guyana is quite large and I'm not sure how well it will travel but I'm prepared to risk it if you are. Maybe also 7 Pot Burgundy (small pod phenotype.)

[Chrissyteacup]

Oh no hope your on the mend I’m sure I can send you a couple of plants too pm me your address.

[dave_100]

Do you think something is wrong with my seedling here? The leaves seem a bit droopy! I'm watering about an inch of water from the bottom once a week and this is after a week of decent sunshine on a south facing windowsill


https://imgur.com/QJRlbVL

[Scarlet]

Nope! They look fabulous Dave.

[Philthy]

Greetings all.

Well latest goings on my end are that my big 2 year old Apple Crisp chilli plant that I was hoping would flourish and grow HUGE in a third summer has snuffed it. I reckon it's because I watered it excessively during that brief and wholly unexpected 'hottest February day/s on record' period. When I say excessively, it doesn't have to mean drowned, it can also mean any amount of water given that is over and above what the plant has grown accustomed to. In the case of this hibernating chilli plant, it amounted to x2 waterings two days apart of about 1/3 of a litre of water each time into a 15 L pot.
I was worried with the temperature climbing of the pot drying out completely.

The smaller 1 year old specimens also received a small amount of water, but theirs was easier to regulate being in just 4 L pots, and they exhibited no ill effects. I watered them again last weekend and this would've been going on six weeks since that last watering, to give an idea of how little they need during dormancy. Happy to report nine healthy specimens just now showing the first new buds of leaves about to burst forth. So I added approx half a level teaspoon of nitrogen granules to each pot before lightly watering in; hopefully this should encourage healthy development of the new leaves until re-potting can take place in a month or so's time, as the existing compost is last year's and completely spent of nutrients.
But a month is a long time, and plenty can happen between now and then so I can't afford to take my eye off the ball just because the remaining plants are exhibiting first signs of greenery again.

Also despite investing in a significant haul of many new chilli seed varieties last summer, I've completely missed the boat now to sow any of them! So I ordered some plug plants from a couple of different suppliers both UK based at the start of the month (cheating a bit this year for time constraints), and these arrived 10 days ago and have since been potted up. I got my usuals like Fatalii, Paper Lantern, Lemon Drop, but also a couple of new ones again such as Pimenta De Neyde and Aji Charapita. My seed haul will just have to go back into the box for 2020!

*Pimenta De Neyde is quite unique in that it’s pods stay purple throughout the ripening cycle, only changing in hue slightly. I want to make flakes / powder from it eventually; I think that could be quite interesting knowing the purple aspect is stable. And the plant itself should make a lovely ornamental.

I grew Trinidad Scorpion Green a couple of years ago - a Trinidad but mild heat - that one also had pods that changed little in their colour cycle, starting grass green and ripening to olive green, but still these were at least distinct shades.

[Mitzi]

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.

[Mitzi]

Bought an Apache seedling at the garden centre today, which completes my grow list for the year. I wanted something relatively bomb-proof. Hopefully it will produce early and prolifically while I’m waiting for the more interesting varieties to do something.

Speaking of early, first flower of the year is open - on the Basket of Fire which Small Pumpkin sent me. I know I should pinch it off but, well, I don’t think I can bring myself to do it.

Yesterday and today the adult ladybirds are emerging from their pupae and there are quite a few black ones. Last time they were all red which I can pretend are not beetles but something cuter. The black ones make me realise that basically I just have a house full of little beetles.

[dave_100]

Do you think mine are ready to be repotted into 2/3 litre pots? The plants are just under 3" tall (except the prairie fire which I don't expect will get much taller, more bushy).

Most have multiple roots showing at the bottom

[Small pumpkin]

Do you think mine are ready to be repotted into 2/3 litre pots? The plants are just under 3" tall (except the prairie fire which I don't expect will get much taller, more bushy).

Most have multiple roots showing at the bottom

I would. Others would wait till they're bigger.

[burnie]

I have flower buds on the over wintered de Cayenne, well happy...……………………...

[benb89]

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?

[dave_100]

When did you start yours? Did you put them under lights? They have come on a lot more than mine!

[benb89]

When did you start yours? Did you put them under lights? They have come on a lot more than mine!

Some 20th Jan and some more a little bit later. I have a grow light I purchased from Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07JYV2BDH

[Small pumpkin]

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?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]85949[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]85950[/ATTACH]

They're looking good.
I've planted a lemon drop in the raised bed in the polytunnel. It did brilliantly. I'd never consider planting or putting plants outside, as I'm Up north. I know there's a few that grow outside very successfully in pots. Don't know of anyone growing in the ground. Hopefully someone will be more helpful than me

[Scarlet]

I put a few of mine in the GH border - ones that I know will give me a good crop before the autumn - cayenne/jalepeano etc

I know people do grow outdoors ( not something I do) but in pots at least they can be put somewhere sheltered by a wall etc.