Chillies - growing and overwintering 2017

[burnie]

Looks like I've killed my chillies and peppers, I was up before light to go over to my daughters in Perth, still a hard frost and cold in the conservatory, left the lid on the heated propagator. Blazing hot day and I get home in the dark, peer through the condensation to see well and truly wilted plants, bugger(if you'll pardon my French), start from scratch again I fear.

[Mitzi]

Growth seems to be picking up slightly now

Have fed them last week with seaweed foliar and also growmore liquid fertiliser.

They look very healthy, but I didn't know they needed feeding at this size. Is it something you would recommend?

I've only started feeding those of mine that have been potted up for 6 weeks; thought there was enough in the potting compost to keep them going until then.

[Mitzi]

Yes i understand the reasoning Mizi but reguarding overwinteringtake for instance my black naga last year.
I had a small crop on her ( sown on w/s in jan) about 8 pods if i remember correctly ( very hot but there is that fruity tang ) but that crop would have been a lot bigger had i managed to overwinter her succesfully ( sadly she gave up the ghost) the next season.
Like i said, never say never but i will be watching with interest yours/deanos/tims crops and all others who use lights from the hotter chillis

I understand your reasoning too; it makes complete sense. In another couple of years' time, I might have established favourites and be able to grow fewer varieties and overwinter them for better crops. But at the moment I'm still trying to decide what I like and therefore want fruits this season from as many varieties as possible so I can taste them all, even if it's only a couple of pods per plant.

The only superhot I'm growing is Carolina Reaper; I was planning to try Bhut Jolokia as well but I've sown them three times and none have germinated. Someone on Facebook said they grew three Reaper plants last year (sown in Feb but I don't know if under lights or natural light.) They only got one pod on one plant and it has only just turned red, a whole year after sowing. I've seen others say they are very sparse fruiting, too. So it's definitely going to be a challenge.

I forgot to say - my other reason for the lights is that I have only one small south-facing windowsill where the curtains remain open. My overwinters are on there and there isn't much room left for seedlings. The other rooms get the curtains closed at night and I wouldn't want to risk tender seedlings between curtains and window on a frosty night. Hopefully they will be OK on there once the weather warms up and the plants are stronger.

[Mitzi]

Looks like I've killed my chillies and peppers, I was up before light to go over to my daughters in Perth, still a hard frost and cold in the conservatory, left the lid on the heated propagator. Blazing hot day and I get home in the dark, peer through the condensation to see well and truly wilted plants, bugger(if you'll pardon my French), start from scratch again I fear.

Don't give up hope - some may recover. I had some seedlings on damp tissue in a plastic box in the heated prop, hadn't got round to pricking them out yet. Must not have sealed the lid properly. Came home to find the tissue had dried out and the seedlings had collapsed and shrivelled. Dead, I thought. Re-damped the tissue (because it has other seeds on it) and left it. Next day one had perked up really well and the other half-heartedly.

[Shooter]

Butch t reaper ,carolina reaper, moruga scorpion ,7 pot katie ,mauls red ,aji fantisy so far.

[Shooter]

Gives them more room togrow

[Mitzi]

Butch t reaper ,carolina reaper, moruga scorpion ,7 pot katie ,mauls red ,aji fantisy so far.

Now there's someone who likes it hot! What's mauls red?

[maverick451]

They look very healthy, but I didn't know they needed feeding at this size. Is it something you would recommend?

I've only started feeding those of mine that have been potted up for 6 weeks; thought there was enough in the potting compost to keep them going until then.

Im not a chilli expert by any means but Ive always started feeding a few weeks after sowing once they have reached a semi reasonable size and have found in the past they do like a feed

They is a danger of over feeding when there is only a small amount of compost, this is when there is a build of of the chemical crystal salts, to prevent this I only feed 1/2 strength or better yet use an organic based fertiliser.

The lady at seaspring seeds uses chicken manure and very high nitrogen feed all the way through the season and I dont think anyone would argue with the results she gets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bm93RBvMfc

[Scarlet]

Yes, I go for feeding early too....made a huge difference to mine last year. I also chucked a load of chicken pellets into my pots.

[Small pumpkin]

I usually only feed a couple of times between germination and them getting moved to the tunnel. Because they get potted on at least 3 times in that time so there should be enough in the fresh compost ( and it's a faff, feeding in the house ! ). But I feed once a week when in the tunnel and they have a good amount chicken pellets mixed in their compost of their final pot.

[JusPotterinTim]

I start feeding mine (in pots) when they're around the four true leaf stage, half strength at first for a month or two, and then full strength, about once every two weeks. I think it helps to ensure an adequate supply of nutrients in case the compost is lacking at all or the chillies use up what's present in the compost in the starter pots/propagator etc. quickly.

I use a high potassium feed called Tomato Focus, from the same people who make Chilli focus, but the tomato one works out cheaper and has the same NPK. I can see the high nitrogen feed might work well if you have the space for large bushy pod-making machines (I don't).

[Tripmeup]

Yes, I go for feeding early too....made a huge difference to mine last year. I also chucked a load of chicken pellets into my pots.

Me too ...............

[Scarlet]

....and into the biggest pot you can fit in the green house (when the time is right )

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

....and into the biggest pot you can fit in the green house (when the time is right )

Yeah! Following all your antics from last year, thats my thoughts too!

From initial seed sowing cells, into individual 3 inch pots, then into 10 inch pot's!

Nothing ventured nothing gained as they say!

[Kitchen Gardener]

I am a newbie to chilli growing but saved seeds from two lots of supermarket ones so no names but one lot were green/red finger chillies and the others Scotch Bonnett all are through and good and healthy! Happy for guidance on growing.