Chillis

[cardiffsteve]

Is there a good variety of chilli for a newbie like me to grow?
I have always bought chilli plants in the past but would like to have a go myself.
I do like hot chillis like scotch bonnet but anythng would be a start.

I have a heated propagator but not much luck using it. Stuff goes leggy and rots off quickly.

Any advice always appreciated.

[rustylady]

Steve, the trick with a heated propagator is just to use it to get stuff to germinate. As soon as they show their pretty little heads above the compost remove them to a windowsill.

[stavroslinni]

Hi Steve,
As Rusty Lady says above, take them out as soon as theyve germinated.
I personally like prairie fire, small compact bushy type, with loads of small very hot chiles small but def carrying a punch with them

[cardiffsteve]

It seems that I take a peek one day and theres nothing and the next day they're 2" tall

I will give it a go again and have more patience.

[hollychap]

my first window cill sowings emerged last week they were in an unheated propagator 6 cayenne (freebie gyo) and 6 jalapeno they are looking a bit leggy so i will look to sow some more at the months end

[rustylady]

It seems that I take a peek one day and theres nothing and the next day they're 2" tall

I will give it a go again and have more patience.

Are you sure you look every day? Where is your propagator?

[Two_Sheds]

I just checked my journal, and the chillies I sowed this time last year were "leggy". So this year I'm waiting till March.

Maybe.

[Florence Fennel]

Same here TS. I've just got up off my hands to sow some then slapped them and put them back. Really trying to wait until March.

[horticultural_hobbit]

Three years ago, I started with Cayenne's from wilkos. This year I have ten different varieties in my chilli experiment including cayenee. All started in a heated propogator and then moved out to a warm window sill. There have been casualities. Generally, I have found chillies to have a high infant mortality rate; both this early and if grown later. Some chillies are easier to grow and to germinate than others. For instance, early jalepeno has demonstrated that now is too early and keeled over. Probably will make a second sowing in a few months to get a full compliment in the experiment.

[cardiffsteve]

Are you sure you look every day? Where is your propagator?

Fairly sure because I'm impatient and want too ssee the plants come up.
My propagator is in the spare bedroom which is fairy light not bright as it has a shade on the window but room is southish facing.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I hate to put it this way CS but if the window is shaded they are living in the dark.

Colin

[cardiffsteve]

I hate to put it this way CS but if the window is shaded they are living in the dark.

Colin

OOps! How did I become MoM?

Its only a thin blind its still bright in room.

[veggiechicken]

OOps! How did I become MoM?

Its only a thin blind its still bright in room.

You became a MoM because you kept the blinds drawn and couldn't see what was going on.

[Potstubsdustbins]

First because you are a nice helpful chap.

Second at this time of year there not enough natural light to grow hardly anything so any shade will just make matters worse.

Colin

[cardiffsteve]

First because you are a nice helpful chap.
Colin

Now your just taking the p....mickey.