feeding chillis

[the big lebowski]

hi all, ive been growing my chillis for about a month now and the seedling compost that im using will be running out of nutrients soon can anyone recommend a liquid feed that I should use for the veg period ? any comments welcome ,cheers

[chilli_grower]

I do not use any liquid feed until flowering has began.

Just pot on in to normal multi purpose compost for now is my advice.

Thats what I do anyway!

[Scarlet]

I dont feed until the flowers show either and then I use the contents from my worm bin. I think a tom feed would be ok to use though.

[Bacchus]

A product called Chilli Focus is good - a bit pricy though.

I do however spray growing chilies with silicic acid every now and again to strengthen the growth

[rhyswales]

I wouldn't feed them at all until plants start flowering to be honest.

[TrysHard]

If using fresh compost nothing else should be needed - a bit of balanced fertiliser N-P-K: 7-7-7 saving a high Potash feed for when they start to fruit.

[chilli_grower]

I also use chilli focus......

[Alison]

At that stage you need to be potting on on a regular basis into good compost (I choose peat free but any decent quality multi purpose will feed fine) so no need for extra feed, especially as the light levels at the moment won't support fast growth.

[the big lebowski]

ok thanks for the replys ,I have a flowering feed that is 2-2-4 does that sound ok ?

[TrysHard]

Once flowers are set I use Green Future Organic Tomato Fertiliser on all my fruit and veg.

[Spunky]

I'd feed them if they've been sat in compost more than a month I use miracle grow

[Alison]

ok thanks for the replys ,I have a flowering feed that is 2-2-4 does that sound ok ?

Do you mean now or when they're flowering?

[Philthy]

I use Chilli Focus too.
An alternative could be a half-strength seaweed extract fertiliser.

To my knowledge, these additives are about making stronger, more resilient plants. They help, certainly, but they're not crucial. Provided it is fresh and of the right composition for each stage of growth, the compost should be adequate on it's own.
Epsom Salts - roughly a teaspoons' worth diluted in a litre of water - sprayed onto the leaves of plants (once approx. 4" high) every couple of weeks, prevents lightening / yellowing leaves.

As has been said, the real feeding starts with the first flush of flowers.

[Scarlet]

Epsom Salts - roughly a teaspoons' worth diluted in a litre of water - sprayed onto the leaves of plants (once approx. 4" high) every couple of weeks, prevents lightening / yellowing leaves.

You learn something everyday

[the big lebowski]

hi all thanks for the replys ,allison i have not started to feed them yet that is my flowering feed its called vitalink and is ment to be quiet good ,can i get epson salts in town ? wilkos or other places ? or is it an internet job ? some of the lower leaves have a slightly yellow tint to them ,cheers