Chillies - growing and overwintering 2019

[Mitzi]

Went to the greenhouse today for the first time in a couple of weeks. The plants have got quite badly frosted with leaves dropping, branch tips dying back and some fruit having soft/rotten areas. They actually seem worse than most of my plants that are outside and I suspect it’s because they get morning sun so don’t get chance to thaw out gradually.

Most pods that should be red e.g. Dorset Naga have only gone orange, but if they’ve been orange for a couple of weeks, there doesn’t seem much point leaving them longer so I’ve picked all the ones showing colour. Lots of green ones dropped off too.

[FromYorkshiretoBucks]

If you like scotch bonnet and want something fragrant then Bahamian Goat is a must. It’s my contribution to the seed circle this year so hopefully everyone will be growing it next year. It has a similar heat to SB with a superb fruity flavour.Drop me a PM with your address and I’ll send you some, as you won’t qualify for the seed circle this year. I’ll add some yellow scotch bonnet too.

For hot sauces you can always blend superhots with milder chillies, you don’t have to stick to single varieties.

I’ve spent the last three years trying lots of new varieties each year but next year I’m going back to some favourites from previous years including Sugar Rush Peach, Aji Omnicolour, Aleppo if I can find some seeds, Basque (Espelette) and Rezha. These last 3 are quite mild but have good flavour so would add some depth to your sauces.

I haven’t decided on which chinenses to grow but I’m trying to overwinter 8 so I might not need to sow any new ones.

Thanks very much, I ordered some chocolate habenero today, so there’s a start.

I’d never thought about blending, but that’s a very good idea!!

Going to stock up over the next few weeks and hopefully get planted mid December, however I have my first child on the way next month, so may be distracted!

[dave_100]

Thanks very much, I ordered some chocolate habenero today, so there’s a start.

I’d never thought about blending, but that’s a very good idea!!

Going to stock up over the next few weeks and hopefully get planted mid December, however I have my first child on the way next month, so may be distracted!

Premier seeds direct is a great website to get good value true seeds from in case you wanted any more.
I didn't get on with the taste of the chocolate habanero but taste is so subjective! As SP says, I'd make sure you have a few varieties in your first year so all your eggs aren't in one basket.

I'm not sure if we are allowed to promote other forums on here, but I have found it so useful over the last year this Reddit page is very active and lots of pics/advice can be found on here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/HotPeppers/top/?sort=top&t=day

Congrats on your pending new arrival. At least you have something to keep you busy till your other babies start producing!

[FromYorkshiretoBucks]

I used PSD last year for some Uchiki Kuri squash and black tomatoes, I was sceptical as I bought them from eBay but they did really well, so glad others endorse them. I will see what Chillis they have.

I do use reddit for certain things but it often ends up with people being a bit silly on posts!

Thank you, hopefully the Chillis won’t cause me as much lost sleep as I’m expecting from the little man who’s on the way!

[FromYorkshiretoBucks]

So I’ve done a little lunchtime shopping today.

I’ve bought some Aji Charapita as I liked the shape. Bolivian rainbow Chilli and scotch bonnet to go with my chocolate habaneros.

My fiancé also has a thing for those light green pickled chillis you get in jars / from a takeaway, so going to have to give growing them a go if I can work out what they are called.

[stigs]

Hey Folks,


Just a quickie regarding Chillis. Is it too early to start germinating them for next year? I noticed this thread started on Boxing Day last year.


Thanks,

I have some seedlings that germinated 2 months ago, I am trying an experiment this year due to a frost disaster in June I have built a growroom in my attic with 12 hours of led light ( not so much that the grow fast ) the temperature is regulated at 14c night time and 19c daytime ( except my light comes on at night meaning I have to supply less heat ) and about 1/3 food in the water.
So far I can report that my seedlings have 6 leaves and have only grown 1cm in 2 months but have good dark green leaves.

[chillithyme]

Has anybody managed to overwinter chilli plants in a cold garage with windows before?

I normally overwinter indoors, but I only have space for 3 plants, but have snuck in 4, 2 apache, 1 habanero and 1 Hungarian hot wax.
I have really healthy plants still going in the mini greenhouse, including more habanero, Hungarian hot wax, Trinidad perfume, cayenne and pepper redskin. They are my healthiest plants to date. My chilli plants normally survive until about January outdoors in a very sheltered part, before saying goodbye.

[Mitzi]

Has anybody managed to overwinter chilli plants in a cold garage with windows before?

I tried this two years ago with some baccatums. They appeared to survive right through to about March, then instead of springing into life, they shrivelled and died.

I am in a colder part of the country than you so you might have more success.

[chillithyme]

I've had chilli plants indoors bowing out in march, could it be exhausted from winter and it attempting to grow in the spring. If it shows signs of happening again I will give some a small drink of diluted seaweed in the spring to see if it helps. The garage ones, I will have to find a space to move some of them to prior to march, before the chilli dying off time starts.
I love growing chillies, each year is a new experiment

[stigs]

Has anybody managed to overwinter chilli plants in a cold garage with windows before?

I have overwintered in the polytunnel wrapped in bubblewrap and on a table, about 1/2 would survive most years then I had 2 years in a row where none survived so I bring them in the house now.

[dave_100]

I was quite successful this year with a few varieties around 100k SKU.

I want to grow habaneros, Fatalii and maybe a 7 Pot Yellow next year, but am hesitant if these hotter varities will do well in the UK weather. I'd plan to sow in February, on a windowsill, and move outside in May.

I don't have a greenhouse or polytunnel, only a sheltered garden. I've heard that the hotter varieties require more tropical conditions, so worry that I'll invest a lot of time and effort for them to produce badly.

Does anyone have experience growing similar heat chillies? Im South East England.

[FromYorkshiretoBucks]

I read either on an (old) post on here or on reddit this weekend that Dorset Naga was bred to be grown in colder climates. Could be an option?

[dave_100]

I read either on an (old) post on here or on reddit this weekend that Dorset Naga was bred to be grown in colder climates. Could be an option?

Thanks yeah I will consider that, I'm pretty keen for the varieties I mentioned specifically though. Hopefully someone has some experience with those, Dorset naga is a great backup plan though!

PS glad you are enjoying Reddit

[Mitzi]

Habanero types have done ok for me outside but hotter ones have struggled. Peach Fatalii did ok on my bedroom windowsill but badly outside, although it has been a particularly bad year.

[dave_100]

Habanero types have done ok for me outside but hotter ones have struggled. Peach Fatalii did ok on my bedroom windowsill but badly outside, although it has been a particularly bad year.

Thanks Mitzi, what kind of habanero did you grow? I think the red savina types are hottest, I'm looking at the orange types which I'm hoping will do okay.

Fatalii are one step up in SHU heat, I was planning to do the standard yellow variant, but might give it a miss after your experience, thanks for sharing!