Hi keat63,
Although I wouldn't say I've stressed ours this year, they've definitely been hotter than the type we grew were expected to be & it is said that a pampered chilli produces milder fruit.
I use the finger test for watering: if the pot feels damp I leave it - if it feels dry as an old chip I give it a good drink but never enough that it's standing in water (read somewhere chillies don't like wet feet). Once a week when in peak flowering & fruiting I give a tomato feed drink (maybe a little more than a week if the soil wasn't dry).
I'm not sure about 'stressing' plants now (I'll leave that for a more experienced grower) but it's probably about time to cut back on the watering now anyway if you plan to try overwintering the plant so I can't see that doing any harm. I haven't bothered giving tom feed for a couple of weeks now.
My instinct is there's a chance any still-ripening fruit will still get hotter but if they're already ripe it might not have much time left to have an effect.
Give it a try & see If it works that will be great - if not then you'll still have the chillies (albeit milder ones). I'd be interested to hear how you get on
Although I wouldn't say I've stressed ours this year, they've definitely been hotter than the type we grew were expected to be & it is said that a pampered chilli produces milder fruit.
I use the finger test for watering: if the pot feels damp I leave it - if it feels dry as an old chip I give it a good drink but never enough that it's standing in water (read somewhere chillies don't like wet feet). Once a week when in peak flowering & fruiting I give a tomato feed drink (maybe a little more than a week if the soil wasn't dry).
I'm not sure about 'stressing' plants now (I'll leave that for a more experienced grower) but it's probably about time to cut back on the watering now anyway if you plan to try overwintering the plant so I can't see that doing any harm. I haven't bothered giving tom feed for a couple of weeks now.
My instinct is there's a chance any still-ripening fruit will still get hotter but if they're already ripe it might not have much time left to have an effect.
Give it a try & see If it works that will be great - if not then you'll still have the chillies (albeit milder ones). I'd be interested to hear how you get on
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