Need a few pointers with chilli plants

[AllInContainers]

First of all, I'm growing Pyramid Rainbow Chillis from realseeds.co.uk. I've got four plants in MPC sited in South facing windows, and all appear to be doing really well. I have been watering these when bone dry with tap water (pretty soft) and on alternate feeds adding Tomorite to a weak solution. Occasionally I might put these out in the back garden on some slug repellant matting to get a bit of air and let the pollinators at them.

My understanding (never having grown ANY chillis before, never mind these) is that picking the first chillis whilst green will help promote further flowering, which I can then allow to ripen through the spectrum of colours later in the season. I have had flowers and have some rather nice green pods developed/developing

Everything sounding OK so far?

I'm pretty happy with the way these are going, but if I need to be harvesting these fruits whilst green to start with, I have absolutely no idea when. I don't really have an appreciation of size or if there's other indicators I should be looking for.

Am I on the right track, and when should I be harvesting the first fruits?

Cheers

[Scarlet]

My first chillies I pick when they just start to change colour, just cos I can't wait any longer!

As for all the other stuff, sounds good to me!

[Scarlet]

.... And if they are the only chilli/pepper that you are growing. Please save some seed and join the seed circle 2014. I'd like to try some of them.

[Trix]

I'm growing these too and have not seen any flowers yet, though there are a few buds forming, so I'm quite jealous of your mini-chillis - they sound like they're doing well. I'd love to hear how they get on as they grow.

I'm also definitely planning to try some saving some seed for next year.

[AllInContainers]

Cheers guys

Scarlet, no probs on the seeds (although DO remind me later or I will forget). Presumably I just dry these on a bit of dry tissue paper in the windowsill do I?

Since starting this thread, me and a mate (a few mins ago) lopped off one of the largest peppers to give one a try Very nice actually, and still quite potent despite being green. I can imagine these will only need using sparingly once they've ripened and warmed up further. So now I know when I can pick them, I just need to know whether it's worth taking off an load while still green, or wait for them all to ripen.

[AllInContainers]

ooohhh ... and another question

If we get what we laughingly call a heatwave this year, would I be better siting the plants outside till the weather eases off to avoid scorching .... or will they potentially suffer just as much if not behind glass (unsure how double glazing will factor into the equation here)

[Philthy]

AIC, you need to pick the chillies fairly regularly in order for the plant to keep producing flowers. Perhaps take a few off now, to encourage more shoots. Once the plant is up and running so to speak, it'll be a staggered process anyway; some will be ripe, others maturing, the youngest still forming. It's better to leave as many fruits on the plant as possible to fully mature; you get to see the kaleidoscope of colours that the plant is known for, and chillies themeselves will be firm and the flavour fully developed.

[AllInContainers]

Many thanks Philthy. There is a good number of flowers buds on the plants already, but always nice to get more I'll try to get some piccies up of them in their current condition in case that has a bearing on anything

[AllInContainers]

Not the best photos in the world, but here's the four plants this afternoon ...

[AllInContainers]

.... and here they are next to four plants I gave to my neighbour, all germinated at the same time. His have hardly grown



I've now inherited back the one in the tall black pot at the back of the group, as he didn't have room for all four in the larger pots. It'll take some coaxing to get that one to catch up I reckon

[Philthy]

Nice plants, AIC. Leaves are a good size and colour. You should do well with those

[AllInContainers]

Thank you Looks like sticking then in the windows was a wise move then. Certainly a lot less questions from the neighbours than the physallis that was there last year I didn't need curtains last year ....