just checking

[robfosters]

I want to check with you guys, but I have some cukes and courgettes And chillies coming up nice in a blow away greenhouse. Is it safe to plant them out in big pots now?

[teakdesk]

I wish I had a crystal ball to be able to answer you !!!!

My courgettes and squash all went out in the ground at beginning of June in the expectation of good weather - but since planting we have had wind, cold, wind, cold and wind !!!!


I find chillies do not need a "big" pot and tend to use 5 to 7 inch pots now. For me, they are more productive and much more tasty grown in the greenhouse or in the house as a house plant.



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[oldie]

I'm not far from you and everything is outside now, although I always grow some chillies indoors to be sure.

[robfosters]

Ok cheers. I think I'll stick the courgettes and cukes outside, but keep the chillies in the greenhouse. They're in 5inch pots now. I'm surprised they don't need bigger than that.

[jacob]

My tactic with chillis is to keep them in small pots to force them to flower, then once they've really started put them into larger pots. My experience is that the bigger the pot the bigger chilli and the more prolific the plant...

In Kent you might experiment with a chili outside, but the greenhouse is a much safer bet.

[RedThorn]

Assuming, you're like all of us on here, you'll have multiple plants of each, experiment and see what works for you, but the chilli's, treat 'em mean and keep 'em in the greenhouse/house.

[teakdesk]

... but keep the chillies in the greenhouse. They're in 5inch pots now. I'm surprised they don't need bigger than that.

It probably comes down to watering habits. I find chiliies prefer to be on the drier side of wet.

I like to leave a pot to become dry(ish) and then water thoroughly to stop any compost becoming a dry lump.

If I use too large a pot then the compost stays damp (and cool) for a long time and the chilli roots don't seem to like it.

I've got over-wintered chillies with loads of red chillies on now that I moved from 5 inch pots to 6 inch this spring (just to give them some fresh compost).


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[Newton]

The drier side of wet! Eureka moment. I know what you mean.......mine have not reached the drier side of wet for a few weeks since going in GH.

They will now.....thanks

[Florence Fennel]

I keep mine inside. I did try a few outside last year, but they didn't do anything. I'm another one that treats 'em mean to keep 'em keen.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Sorry folks but I am having a little chuckle to myself, after reading Florence's post my imagination ran wild.

I could just see our FF, RSM's uniform, pace stick tucked under arm, marching those damn chillies up and down the garden.

Think I will go and lay down now in a dark room.

Colin

[JamesM]

the chilli's, treat 'em mean and keep 'em in the greenhouse/house.

It probably comes down to watering habits. I find chiliies prefer to be on the drier side of wet.

I like to leave a pot to become dry(ish) and then water thoroughly to stop any compost becoming a dry lump.

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I will do both of these starting tomorrow . It's my first time growing chillis- i was given the plant and it's been outside for a few weeks seemingly going nowhere. Cheeres

[Germinater]

I grow mine in the greenhouse and find I only need to water the chillier once every 4/5 days also keep them in quite small pots if that's any help although will pot them up to a large pot once the plants start to flower quite heavily .