Best time to grow chilles?

[allotmentlady]

Chilli growers!

growing chilli peppers thechileman.org i found this website and it was interesting,

[smallblueplanet]

i tried last year and didnt get anything no show this year either they are in a heated propagator but still no show wonder if the seed has gone,would love to grow some jalepono ones might try to get some more seed

How deep are you covering the seeds - I think unconcerned said something on the 'jalapeno challenge' thread about not sowing them too deeply. Just a sprinkle of compost on top. I've started some of my more difficult chilli seeds in a plastic tray, on top of damp kitchen roll, covered with clingfilm to keep them damp. Put the tray in the heated prop and keep an eye on them - the Apache came thru in about 7 days, the Starfish double that time, a topepo rosso (sweet pepper) has just germinated after about 21 days!

[Pieman]

You will find a host of info on the Chilli Forums website aswell - Chillis Galore website

I planted a selection in the middle of January (Black Scorpion Tongue, Jalepeno, Safi, Birds Eye) - I had some problems for some reason so planted some more Jalepeno, Scotch Bonnet, Gold Nugget, Maules Red Hot, Hinklehatz, JalepenoX3 in the middle of Feb - they are all enjoying the south facing windowsill.......

[unconcerned]

Hello
If you plant the seeds too deep they will fail to germinate as they won't have enough energy to make it to the surface. As smallblueplanet says, just a sprinkle of soil to keep the emerging root out of the light.

As for recommendations on variety. If you are growing because you like the way they look and you don't really want to eat them then you are best with the ornamentals. Prarie Fire, Purple Prince, Black Pearl, Medusa will all give you a very nice visual display. For eating you can't go wrong with the Jalapeno. I've tasted about 150 different varieties of chile and Jalapeno is hard to beat. Also up there are the milder chinense (anything with the word seasoning or perfume), the turbo pube is delicious, and I've heard Antillais Caribbean is many people's favourite falvour - though pretty hot.

Last of all it is my new mission in life to stop people growing Apache. It's the worst tasting pepper in the world. Even if you aren't growing it to eat there are still much prettier peppers to try. Please. Compost the Apache ha ha

[smallblueplanet]

Hey unconcerned are you serious about Apache being naff? I've got plenty of others to put in the greenhouse, so could save space and just leave it outside...

[sez]

Last year I grew Cayenne chillis in a black bucket in a plastic greenhouse - and got absolutely loads of chilli fruits!

This year I'm trying 'Bolivian Rainbow' (cos it looks pretty) 'Meek and Mild' (for stuffing with cheese and baking.. yum), and Jalapeno to try and pickle (we love mexican food and jalapenos from the supermarket are expensive).

[unconcerned]

Manda, yes absolutely serious. It's just personal opinion of course. Grow one so you can compare, but don't fill your greenhouse with them, especially if you are growing to eat. Honestly, the taste of the apache is a chemical heat, no flavour at all. Very poor. If you are growing for attractiveness go with either the ones mentioned above or as sez said, bolivian rainbow is a hundred times prettier than apache. Garden centres have a lot to answer for by selling apache. They probably do it because it is an F1 seed so nobody is going to complain about lack of fruit.

[smallblueplanet]

I didn't realise it was an F1 unconcerned, I'm growing some swopped self-saved seed - I presume they didn't realise either! Well I'll just pot them up and grow them outdoors just to see what develops - I'll keep the greenhouse for the starfish, aji cito, jalapeno and hot portugal!

[unconcerned]

make sure you position the starfish underneath the overhead window in your greenhouse. I grew that variety a couple of years back and it was well over 6 feet tall. It's a baccatum and they can get big.

[veg4681]

the Apache came thru in about 7 days, the Starfish double that time, a Topepo Rosso (sweet pepper) has just germinated after about 21 days!

Excuse the spying/lurking (not really into chilli yet) but couldn't help noticing your remark on Topepo Rosso . God 21 days, isn't that very long time for germination even with your experience.

When nothing happened with mine, I didn't bother sowing again but maybe it was the right decision. Besides I was inundated with too many other sweet peppers but I could always try Topepo again next year. I don't know for sure but I think Momol's Topepo germinated from 4-7 onwards in the heated propagator. My apologies to chilli people for hijacking the thread.

[smallblueplanet]

....I don't know for sure but I think Momol's Topepo germinated from 4-7 onwards in the heated propagator.

Yeah in our earlier sowings of sweet & chilli peppers, a topepo rosso came through in a week. I really liked them last year so wanted more than one, for back up. Also last year we probably could have over-wintered one successfully if I hadn't killed it with kindness by bringing it indoors in spring...

...so couldn't figure why the 2nd topepo rosso took about 21 days?

Ah well.