2015 Chilli Growers Thread

Zenduri · 9 Jun 2015 at 02:15

mini update from me

Really bad news, somehow i developed some form of fungus or something. Definitely not from over watering and appears like a white lime stain all over the soil and it wiped out every single plant.

Herman Gelmet · 9 Jun 2015 at 09:11

HybridX said:
mini update from me

Really bad news, somehow i developed some form of fungus or something. Definitely not from over watering and appears like a white lime stain all over the soil and it wiped out every single plant.

Sorry to hear that. Hadn't you also had problems with seedlings not germinating? Did you buy the plants from a retailer, and if you did you may have got the mysterious fungus from them. It's impossible to say what it might be without pictures, and knowledge of the conditions.

World of Chillies (assuming yours weren't from them) have a plant sale on until the end of June:

http://www.worldofchillies.com/chil...ants/buy-chilli-plants-unusual-varieties.html

Use the dial navigation and select ALL.

Look at the list and some say "Sold out for 2015", but others say "Plugs sold out, last few plants now 1/2 price" or similar.

Herman Gelmet · 9 Jun 2015 at 09:28

Mark A said:
I am no expert, but from what I have read and done in the past you want to be feeding them more like once a week with a half strength tomato feed. You can increase the strength bit once they have started to fruit.

With watering you want to let the top inch or so of soil dry out before watering again. I usually get a feel for when they need to be watered by the weight of the pot. When its hot you'll need to water more frequently, but at the moment mine have gone 4 days now without needing watering.

Doing this is supposed to reduce the risk of getting fungus gnats as well, but it doesn't seemed to have worked for me.

Yeah it was the white perlite i used as it was suggested in one of the other chilli threads. I'll leave the sand idea then and maybe buy some gravel some time. I do have a pile of slate offcuts I could smash up and use if that would work?

OK, perlite really shouldn't blow away when it's on top of plants, but I guess it could. I know it's better to use something that you already have, but I don't think slate has the same properties. Lot's of chilli growers swear by perlite for creating the barrier for fungus gnats. There are also a lot who prefer organic mulches, but I don't know if they have the same barrier protection properties against fungus gnats.

Herman Gelmet · 9 Jun 2015 at 09:30

cactusweasel said:
My Apache F1s are now in Chilli producing mode, got about 15 of them on the go between the 5 plants - can't wait for them to ripen so I can give them a try!

Looking healthy there, and a nice early crop on the horizon! I have not eaten Apache, so I can't comment on taste/heat etc.

Zenduri · 9 Jun 2015 at 17:19

Herman Gelmet said:
Sorry to hear that. Hadn't you also had problems with seedlings not germinating? Did you buy the plants from a retailer, and if you did you may have got the mysterious fungus from them. It's impossible to say what it might be without pictures, and knowledge of the conditions.

World of Chillies (assuming yours weren't from them) have a plant sale on until the end of June:

http://www.worldofchillies.com/chil...ants/buy-chilli-plants-unusual-varieties.html

Use the dial navigation and select ALL.

Look at the list and some say "Sold out for 2015", but others say "Plugs sold out, last few plants now 1/2 price" or similar.

Cheers Herman, i'll see if i can grab a few plants, bit upset at losing them all to be honest.

Zaphan58 · 14 Jun 2015 at 14:17

Is anyone else having a problem with greenfly? I spotted a couple a few days ago and just squashed them. But have now come back in larger numbers. I am pretty sure they came in on one of the plants I got from B&Q, should have checked them more thoroughly really.

Am about to pick off as many as I can and then give a soapy spray as recommended by the power of Google. Would rather not use any chemicals. Anyone any tips?

Poppy · 15 Jun 2015 at 08:32

Seems re-potting my chilli plant and being a little less generous with watering / feeding is working, have got lots of flowers appearing now!

The problem i've got now is i go away on holiday for 2 weeks tomorrow (its a hard life eh!?) . Do you think a good watering/feed tomorrow will suffice for 2 weeks? How about if i leave a bit of water in the saucer the pot is sat in?

Do you think i'd be better off leaving the plant outside on the patio or indoors on the windowsill? My thinking is if it is outside, if it rains atleast it'll get watered!

Coxyis · 15 Jun 2015 at 11:15

If you can shelter them from the wind, I'd leave them outside I think. I don't think we're likely to see any more frost for a while now.

I hate the thought of leaving mine in the window for a couple of days and frying them!

Herman Gelmet · 15 Jun 2015 at 12:24

Zaphan58 said:
Is anyone else having a problem with greenfly? I spotted a couple a few days ago and just squashed them. But have now come back in larger numbers. I am pretty sure they came in on one of the plants I got from B&Q, should have checked them more thoroughly really.

Am about to pick off as many as I can and then give a soapy spray as recommended by the power of Google. Would rather not use any chemicals. Anyone any tips?

Yes, growing plants which attract aphid predators. I usually have Marigolds, as these attract hoverfly (the good guys!).

Beneficial Insects

It can be really interesting watching the aphids, as they are sometimes being 'farmed' by ants!! An amazing thing when you get the opportunity to watch nature doing its thing on your plants. Ants use the aphids for their juice (honeydew).

Herman Gelmet · 15 Jun 2015 at 12:41

Poppy said:
Seems re-potting my chilli plant and being a little less generous with watering / feeding is working, have got lots of flowers appearing now!

The problem i've got now is i go away on holiday for 2 weeks tomorrow (its a hard life eh!?) . Do you think a good watering/feed tomorrow will suffice for 2 weeks? How about if i leave a bit of water in the saucer the pot is sat in?

Do you think i'd be better off leaving the plant outside on the patio or indoors on the windowsill? My thinking is if it is outside, if it rains atleast it'll get watered!

Good to hear it has recovered.

WRT the break, you might want to consider DIY Self-Watering Pots, or I would suggest that you try capillary matting:

Poppy · 15 Jun 2015 at 15:13

Herman Gelmet said:
Good to hear it has recovered.

WRT the break, you might want to consider DIY Self-Watering Pots, or I would suggest that you try capillary matting:

I know what i'll be doing tonight! Bucket of water with some food and a towel!

Thank you!

Flying_Hellfish · 15 Jun 2015 at 16:25

Zero flowers for me so far, though they have mostly been sat outside. I planted a whole variety of different chillis and so far the Reapers are looking the best!

I basically need to pick the best ones now and concentrate on them.

Mark A · 15 Jun 2015 at 16:32

Herman Gelmet said:
Yes, growing plants which attract aphid predators. I usually have Marigolds, as these attract hoverfly (the good guys!).

Beneficial Insects

It can be really interesting watching the aphids, as they are sometimes being 'farmed' by ants!! An amazing thing when you get the opportunity to watch nature doing its thing on your plants. Ants use the aphids for their juice (honeydew).

Yeah they are interesting to watch and photograph. I managed to find some ladybirds in my garden and popped them on my chilli plants in the greenhouse one year as I had an aphid infestation. These are the Ladybird larvae, they look pretty awesome before they turn into a ladybird.

They didn't stick around for long unfortunately, so I might try some marigolds if I get them again this year.

Poppy · 15 Jun 2015 at 17:19

Random question time, do you think if i put 4 liters of water in a bucket, that would be enough to keep my chilli plant watered for 2 weeks via wicking or too much you think?

Herman Gelmet · 15 Jun 2015 at 17:33

Poppy said:
Random question time, do you think if i put 4 liters of water in a bucket, that would be enough to keep my chilli plant watered for 2 weeks via wicking or too much you think?

Difficult to say as I haven't tried it on that scale. I have some purchased capillary matting which I have used for keeping lots of seedlings moist, but they drink far less than big plants. I would expect a lot depends on the weather, and your location. Try 4 litres, and if all of your plants burn to a crisp, you'll know to use more next time

I'm trying to think of a good reason for not using more water, but I can't. Maybe you can test this for us?

How many plants?
What sized pots?
How big bucket of water?
Sun / Shade?
Time away?

We can then decide whether to risk our plants with the capillary matting methods

Good luck!

Herman Gelmet · 15 Jun 2015 at 17:38

Mark A said:
Yeah they are interesting to watch and photograph. I managed to find some ladybirds in my garden and popped them on my chilli plants in the greenhouse one year as I had an aphid infestation. These are the Ladybird larvae, they look pretty awesome before they turn into a ladybird.

They didn't stick around for long unfortunately, so I might try some marigolds if I get them again this year.

Nice photo. I'm sure you can buy the ladybird larvae somewhere, and other predators. Best to encourage them with the correct types of environments for them.

Poppy · 15 Jun 2015 at 23:15

Ok so this is what i'm thinking, going to fill up this 5 liter water bottle with 5 liters of water and a 5ml per liter mix of Chilli Focus plant food. Ill put this contraption outside on a sunny patio and see what it's like when i get back in 2 weeks!

Herman Gelmet · 16 Jun 2015 at 11:29

Poppy said:
Ok so this is what i'm thinking, going to fill up this 5 liter water bottle with 5 liters of water and a 5ml per liter mix of Chilli Focus plant food. Ill put this contraption outside on a sunny patio and see what it's like when i get back in 2 weeks!

Make sure you have a bit of towel as a wick, entering the pot at the base.

Good luck

CHokKA · 16 Jun 2015 at 12:27

I don't have any Aji Amarillo's in my crop this year, so I'm toying with the idea of buying a plant from World of Chillies, so that I can make this:

http://perudelights.com/how-to-make-aji-amarillo-paste/

Has anyone ever made it?

Herman Gelmet · 19 Jun 2015 at 12:30

CHokKA said:
I don't have any Aji Amarillo's in my crop this year, so I'm toying with the idea of buying a plant from World of Chillies, so that I can make this:

http://perudelights.com/how-to-make-aji-amarillo-paste/

Has anyone ever made it?

Unfortunately not, but it looks really tasty! I hadn't even heard of it until now, so thanks for sharing as I will be trying this, although not with that specific pepper.