Newbie chilli question

[Bassman]

Hi Guys, Ive been growing my chillies in a heated propogator for a little while now but they are now too big to live in the propogator.
Are they able to live in colder teperaratures now i.e. in the conservatory or do they need to still be kept at 20ish degrees ??

I know its probably a stupid question but its my first year growing veg, the questions should fizzle out after a while......hopefuly.

Cheers

[piskieinboots]

Here ya go:

Grow plants in pots and place on a sunny patio, balcony or roof space. The process for sowing, germinating and potting on is the same for all three.

Sowing seed
Fill a 7.5cm pot with seed compost, level and tap to settle. Lightly firm. Scatter the seeds of your chosen variety thinly on top – most seeds germinate so you only need to sow two more seeds than you need in case of losses. Cover with a fine layer of vermiculite, water and label – this is important to help you identify them if sowing several varieties. Pop in to a heated propagator or put a clear plastic bag over the top, secure with a rubber band and place on a windowsill.

After germination
Your seeds should germinate in about a week. Remove the pot from the propagator or take off the bag, and place on a light windowsill. Ensure the compost does not dry out.

Putting in their own pot
When seedlings are about 2cm tall they can be moved to their own pot. Carefully loosen the compost, then gently hold a leaf and lift, while levering from beneath the roots with a dibber. Fill a 7.5cm pot with multipurpose compost, level and tap to settle. Make a hole in the centre of the compost with a dibber and lower in the seedling, until the leaves are just above the surface of the soil. Gently firm, water and label each plant. Keep plants in a light place, such as a windowsill or greenhouse, and when roots show at the bottom of the pots, move into a bigger, 12cm pot, filled with multipurpose compost.

Before putting outside
When plants reach about 20cm tall give them some support by staking with a small cane or peastick and securing with garden twine – when they are about 30cm pinch out growing tips to increase branching. At the end of May plants can go outside. Pot them into their final container - a 5-litre pot will do. As the plants grow, swap the small stakes for a larger cane.

Feeding and watering
These plants are incredibly thirsty and dry compost will quickly lead to a check in growth. Ensure that the plants never dry out and in hot weather you may need to water twice a day. This applies particularly to plants grown in a greenhouse, where it can get very hot even in late summer.The first flowers will appear when the plants are quite small. When this happens feed weekly with a liquid feed high in potash, such as tomato fertiliser.

Harvesting
Fruits can be harvested with scissors or a sharp knife between July and September. Chilli peppers can be picked green or left longer to turn red. Before the autumn frosts, sever the plants completely and hang the branches upside down so the fruit continues to mature. Each aubergine will produce up to five fruits, depending on variety and the weather - pick when they have reached full size and skin is shiny.

[vicky]

Depends how cold the conservatory gets!
They should be happy on a windowsill in the house (don't leave them between the curtains and window at night though as it gets chilly there!). Why not put them in the conservatory during the day so they can benefit from the better light levels?

[ClayGarden]

Depends how cold the conservatory gets!
They should be happy on a windowsill in the house (don't leave them between the curtains and window at night though as it gets chilly there!). Why not put them in the conservatory during the day so they can benefit from the better light levels?

Thats the warmest place i've got

[Bassman]

Thanks for the replies, during the night the conservatory call fall to about 10 degrees but moves back to about 20 during the day (depending on the conditions outside).

[Cutecumber]

10 degrees is fine as a minimum temperature.

[crichmond]

take the lid off the propagator for 2 or 3 days so as to let the plants adjust to the lower temperature or they will wilt, after 2-3 days without the lid you can then take them out of the propagator.

Cheers Chris

[si'sraisedbed]

Piskie: I really enjoyed reading what you put about chilli's until I got to the bit about pinching out the tips at 30cm. Then I got more confused when it says "Each aubergine will produce up to five fruits, depending on variety and the weather - pick when they have reached full size and skin is shiny"

[PAULW]

Mine are sitting on a heat pad and there is no way I am moving them till this cold weather has gone.

[Alice]

Bassman, if you're conservatory is 10 overnight your chillies will be fine there. Just get them used to being out of the propagator and they will be fine. This is some Hotwax last year and they were never anywhere but the windowsill.

[Alice]

Bassman, if you're conservatory is 10 overnight your chillies will be fine there. Just get them used to being out of the propagator and they will be fine. This is some Hotwax last year and they were never anywhere but the windowsill.

[Alice]

Bassman, if you're conservatory is 10 overnight your chillies will be fine there. Just get them used to being out of the propagator and they will be fine. This is some Hotwax last year and they were never anywhere but the windowsill.