Outdoor Chilies

[OllieMartin]

I potted my chilies up and moved them outdoors in the hot weather. They've been doing great.
When it tipped it down for the first time in a month yesterday they had a growth spurt, but now after the second day of miserable weather they're starting to look a little less happy. Unfortunately I don't know the variety as they were a present from a novelty mexican herb garden which I didn't keep the packaging for.

Would you expert chili growers recommend bringing them indoors, putting them in the greenhouse, or leaving them outside?

The problem with indoors is that the only suitable windowsil is west-facing and so doesn't get much sun. The greenhouse is a small plastic job, can get pretty sweaty in there!

[danmon_81]

tomato feed....should be fine...

[leoblackcat]

Peppers like to be quite dry. Mine are in the garden in pots so I have moved them to a sheltered spot now - I think they have had enough rain. If it keeps on raining I will move them inside - but maybe I am overprotective!

[Incy]

I have never grown them outside but I believe two sheds grows them at her allotment. Maybe she would be able to give good advice here?

[Graham S]

If it's going to be a hot Summer like they keep saying then I'd leave them outside. I've grown them on the allotment very successfully for the past few years (variety - Ring of Fire which certainly live upto their name). Keep them well watered and fed and they should do OK.
The leaves on your chilli look quite big are you sure it's not a peper plant? Maybe just the variety!
cheers

[stupot]

I found that chilis hate wind. They don't mind the cold so much if properly hardened off. I had jalapenos in my fenced (wind free) back garden fruiting late into Autumn. Chilis on my allotment, which is very open, haven't faired so well. Will have to set up some kind of wind break next year.

[OllieMartin]

The leaves on your chilli look quite big are you sure it's not a peper plant? Maybe just the variety!
cheers

It could quite easily be a pepper plant!
Like I mentioned, it came in a pack which said "Tomato, coriander and pepper" or "Tomato, coriander and chili", but I can't remember! I didn't keep a note as I wasn't really into gardening then, I just planted the seeds in the window-tub and forgot about them.

The coriander turned out to be thyme anyway (not the most mexican plant as far as I'm aware!).

Well I will take your kind advice and keep an eye on them. Expect further questions if they don't stay perky.

[maytreefrannie]

I always thought chillis were a hot variety of pepper.

The varieties I'm growing are:
Jalapeno
Fresno
Torro de Rosso Corno

The last one is sweet, I think. These came from a pack which had some small packs inside and was labelled pepper and chilli varieties.

I keep a few in the kitchen, the others in a little plastic greenhouse - one or two have flowers, I'd love to keep the kitchen ones outdoors, but we get quite a lot of wind here.

Can someone tell me if these are all chillis or peppers, or both? Thanks.

[Graham S]

yes you are right - chilli's are hot peppers as opposed to sweet peppers.

Jalapeno and Fresno are both chilli's and Torro is a sweet pepper.
cheers

[Two_Sheds]

Your chilli looks absolutely fine, Ollie

what is that plant in the background, behind it? A brassica?

[Two_Sheds]

If it's going to be a hot Summer like they keep saying then I'd leave them outside.

I had mine on the lotty last year (wet and cold) and they produced loads

[OllieMartin]

Your chilli looks absolutely fine, Ollie

what is that plant in the background, behind it? A brassica?

That picture was taken just before the rain, so it's not representative of it at the moment. It still looks pretty happy, just a bit more floppy and the flower petals have been knocked off by the rain.

That's a tomato behind it, but it does look like a brassica

[Flobalob]

Most are indoors and are unsuprisingly doing a lot better than these outdoors.
june+harvest+009.jpg (image)

[Florence Fennel]

My youngest son, who has never grown anything, took one of my chillis home a few weeks ago. It is pretty much left alone except for the occasional watering on his kitchen windowsill in full sun half the day and it is now bigger and healthier than my cosseted ones!

[Crosbie]

I figured hot chilli peppers are fine if you replicate their natural habitat; an ambient temperature of say, 80 - 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

I'm growing:

Bhut Jolokia
Dorset Naga
Chocolate Habanero

They're all OK - quite healthy in fact - currently in a plastic greehouse - I started them late tho' - and I applied a bit of bat guano just for good measure.

Thing is, I've seen them grow in the tropics - 'Wiri Wiri' & 'Bird Pepper' and they just get on with it in wanton abandon - like our hedgrows over here.... same with stuff like basil.

It's a tall order to replicate it over here - but there's the challenge I guess - grow-lights maybe?

I can't find Wiri Wiri peppers over here for the life of me - if anyone has got any, I'll give my right arm! (so to speak)

Regards
Crosbie