2019 Chilli Growing thread

[DarrenM343]

The two reepers are doing well . Quite a compact plant vs the much taller yellow bonnets I'm also growing.
Getting a bit concerned all the shutdowns will make it difficult to get enough pots and compost for when all of the planets need moving on from their current 6inch pots. I have one in an 8" pot so might just leave that one there anyhow.

 

[Daytrader]

Nice looking plants, yeh dont think i will have a chilli season myself this year, i only just planted my seeds(no hots), and wont have any compost for them in a week or so, so think i will just chuck them now, this 3 weeks will end up being months with garden centres shut up, guess it will be the least of our worries, be safe everyone.

 

[Semple]

The two reepers are doing well . Quite a compact plant vs the much taller yellow bonnets I'm also growing.
Getting a bit concerned all the shutdowns will make it difficult to get enough pots and compost for when all of the planets need moving on from their current 6inch pots. I have one in an 8" pot so might just leave that one there anyhow.

Those are looking good!

What size pot do you plant them into?

I'm currently growing a mixture of chillies (not the extreme heat end), and have two per 9inch pot, they're about 2 inches tall with 6-8 leaves on them. I think within another 2 weeks they'll need to be separated into their own 9inch pot, or possibly bigger?

The other thing i'm unsure of, they've currently been growing on our south-facing window, i've occasionally taken them outside and put them on the patio table for the day and bought them in overnight as temperatures have been a bit chilly.

I've got one of those small grow-houses that have the plastic sheeting that goes on. At what point would i start to look at leaving the chilli plants in there permanently? At night time it can still drop to just under 10C, but during the day especially if the sun is shining on it all day, the grow-house can easily reach 35C+.

 

[DarrenM343]

Those are looking good!

What size pot do you plant them into?

I'm currently growing a mixture of chillies (not the extreme heat end), and have two per 9inch pot, they're about 2 inches tall with 6-8 leaves on them. I think within another 2 weeks they'll need to be separated into their own 9inch pot, or possibly bigger?

The other thing i'm unsure of, they've currently been growing on our south-facing window, i've occasionally taken them outside and put them on the patio table for the day and bought them in overnight as temperatures have been a bit chilly.

I've got one of those small grow-houses that have the plastic sheeting that goes on. At what point would i start to look at leaving the chilli plants in there permanently? At night time it can still drop to just under 10C, but during the day especially if the sun is shining on it all day, the grow-house can easily reach 35C+.

They're in 6" pots at the moment. They've grown quite a bit more since that picture. I have one plant in an 8" pot and that's definitely larger than the rest now but it's not possible to come to a conclusion as to whether this has caused it to grow more as it's a different variety than all of the others. The reepers were the slowest but their leaves are so large and getting taller now. Most in 6" pots are still hardly showing any roots out of the bottom.
A couple of mine started growing buds, one of the Reepers (as in that last picture) and the one in the large pot. I've topped most of them now apart from the Reepers which has got rid of the buds and started some new growth. I'm hoping this makes them more bushy while not growing too tall and it's stopped them trying to flower for now (too early?).
First timer so not sure on other questions. 2 per 9" pot sounds alright for now. Putting them outside I think is too early, especially when thinking about keeping them out overnight - probably need at least until May at earliest if not mid-May to June. I'm planning on keeping mine indoors unless they become too big and then maybe a few i'll move outside.
Still struggling to get pots and compost atm. Ordered online but the place is taking ages to deliver which is understandable given the circumstance albeit still a bit frustrating when they only send out a generic email about orders taking a while. That was over a week ago and still nothing.
The final pot size I'll be using is 10" which I believe is around 7.5 litres, assuming I receive them, if not it'll be interesting to see how well they flower and fruit in their current pots. I probably have enough compost to get one into a clay large outdoor pot but also have some dwarf tomatoes on the go so will be difficult to decide who gets promoted .

Is there an ideal date to get them into their final pots? I assume if you leave it too late they'll start putting out more growth rather than flowering and putting out pods?

 

[Semple]

They're in 6" pots at the moment. They've grown quite a bit more since that picture. I have one plant in an 8" pot and that's definitely larger than the rest now but it's not possible to come to a conclusion as to whether this has caused it to grow more as it's a different variety than all of the others. The reepers were the slowest but their leaves are so large and getting taller now. Most in 6" pots are still hardly showing any roots out of the bottom.
A couple of mine started growing buds, one of the Reepers (as in that last picture) and the one in the large pot. I've topped most of them now apart from the Reepers which has got rid of the buds and started some new growth. I'm hoping this makes them more bushy while not growing too tall and it's stopped them trying to flower for now (too early?).
First timer so not sure on other questions. 2 per 9" pot sounds alright for now. Putting them outside I think is too early, especially when thinking about keeping them out overnight - probably need at least until May at earliest if not mid-May to June. I'm planning on keeping mine indoors unless they become too big and then maybe a few i'll move outside.
Still struggling to get pots and compost atm. Ordered online but the place is taking ages to deliver which is understandable given the circumstance albeit still a bit frustrating when they only send out a generic email about orders taking a while. That was over a week ago and still nothing.
The final pot size I'll be using is 10" which I believe is around 7.5 litres, assuming I receive them, if not it'll be interesting to see how well they flower and fruit in their current pots. I probably have enough compost to get one into a clay large outdoor pot but also have some dwarf tomatoes on the go so will be difficult to decide who gets promoted .

Is there an ideal date to get them into their final pots? I assume if you leave it too late they'll start putting out more growth rather than flowering and putting out pods?

Thanks for your pointers!

Reading back I actually meant 9cm rather than 9 inches! so clearly a 9 cm pot will be too small to grow these in.

I actually planted way too many, anticipating that some wouldn't make it, when infact the majority did. Overall I've now got about 50 chilli plants growing . Whilst they're still small they're not too much of a burden. But if they grow to what ~a foot tall, then I won't be able to keep them all indoors.

I've also got some parsley, coriander, sage and tomatoes on the go, and will be planting some rocket, parsley and runner beans very soon.

 

[arknor]

I planted some romano regular peppers a week ago but its probably too late already , did chilli peppers a few years back though, was supposed to be some really mild ones but were way too hot imo...
how come we have a lack of gardening threads on these forums in the last few years.

thinking about buying some t5 lights and converting a storage cupboard to a grow room or buying some kind of shelving unit for the living room and just doing it there.

I have a south facing balcony that gets at least 8 hours full sun but seen a lot of slugs on the walls in the past few years so not putting something out there..

 

[Daytrader]

April planting of seeds is still ok for regular non hot peppers/chillis, even on my shop bought fresno/jalepeno seeds it says march/april sowing is ok.

 

[DarrenM343]

I have some fresno supreme seeds I wanted to try but leaving those until next year now seeing as the seeds from the chillies a colleague gave me have has worked well this year.
While I think COVID has put some off growing this year, I'm glad I have given it a try. Working from home it's quite relaxing tending to the chilli plants and a few other plants I'm growing. Don't need much work to be honest but just checking up on them and watering is nice and erm, therapeutic ?
Some of mine are starting to flower now. One of the reepers has three flowers and one of somethign else (not sure the variety) that's in a larger pot has loads of buds and just one flowera t the moment. The reepers are still in 6 inch pots unfortunately. It's nearly 4 weeks since I ordered some stuff online and still waiting.
Not hand pollinated yet but might stick the flowering ones outside soon during warmer days and/or start giving them a shake each morning to encourage self pollination..

 

[Pigeon_Killer]

Mine have gone mental in the last week and my grow tent is now way too small.

Is it too early to chuck some or all of them out in the greenhouse once they've hardened off? Will be about two months earlier than last year.

 

[arknor]

While I think COVID has put some off growing this year, I'm glad I have given it a try. Working from home it's quite relaxing tending to the chilli plants and a few other plants I'm growing. Don't need much work to be honest but just checking up on them and watering is nice and erm, therapeutic ?

yea I used the excuse of needing anti bacterial handwash, shampoo and body wash to take a trip to wilkos a few back and grabbed some seeds and compost whilst I was there.

certainly glad I did, imo taking care of plants that yield fruit or vegetables, watching how much they grow day to day etc is just as good for mental well being as owning a pet to keep you company.

also at the end you get a nice edible reward for your efforts which is very satisfying

 

[DarrenM343]

First one has started. Picture taken a few days ago so a little longer now. Surprisingly this first one is from one one of the two reeper plants. Both reepers atm have quite a lot of flowers vs mostly just buds on some of the milder plants

 

[Daytrader]

I been pruning my overwinter chillis back still, cutting 100's chilli buds off them(since feb/march) , far to early for me, i dont want buds/flowers until at least june at the earliest, want all my plants energies to go into the plant itself at the moment, i have 11 little chilli plants coming on, did not even plant seeds until last week of march, still ok as this year am not growing long season super hot chillis, got massives of them from last season still in freezer/powder/flakes/dried etc, enough to last me years to come, also i had seeds from 2011 germinate ok, will be interesting to see how these plants turn out.

 

[DarrenM343]

i wondered whether to cut them off especially as the buds and flowers started forming while the plants were in 6" pots. Now all moved to their 10" final pots so might be better off having the energy put back into growth for now. Maybe I'll experiment with a few plants and see the difference it makes over the course of the summer by the two different approaches

 

[Daytrader]

Yeh try with just one plant.

 

[Semple]

First one has started. Picture taken a few days ago so a little longer now. Surprisingly this first one is from one one of the two reeper plants. Both reepers atm have quite a lot of flowers vs mostly just buds on some of the milder plants

Are you feeding them now?

I think my tallest ones are only about 7 inches. Unfortunately the sun damaged a few over the weekend. South facing garden and whilst chillies like the warmth, they clearly hate roasting away in the sun.

 

[Semple]

Mine have gone mental in the last week and my grow tent is now way too small.

Is it too early to chuck some or all of them out in the greenhouse once they've hardened off? Will be about two months earlier than last year.

I've been keeping mine outside in the small greenhouse during the day, and then bringing them inside for overnight.

I've got a smart sensor in there so I can keep an eye on temps etc...

 

[DarrenM343]

Are you feeding them now?

I think my tallest ones are only about 7 inches. Unfortunately the sun damaged a few over the weekend. South facing garden and whilst chillies like the warmth, they clearly hate roasting away in the sun.

Yeah, using Chilli focus or tomorite if also watering the tomatoes at same time. Only using about once a week atm but will probably increase the frequency of using feed as the weather improves.
Mine do okay in a south facing window although during sunny days they needed watering one every 2 days while in smaller 6" pots. I'm new to this but it's nice to see the leaves droop when they need watering although I should probably water them before that happens. Since movign to larger pots I've not had to water them since Sunday/Monday. Weather also changed of course. Only 18c in the room they're in today.

 

[dl8860]

First year growing chilis for me, I've done tomatoes and bell peppers before but this is my first foray into the hot ones.

I planted 12 seeds on 15/02 and these are what I have to show for it now.

2 cayenne plants doing well, leaves keep sagging even though watered which is a bit odd.

2 smaller cayennes, looking healthy but tiny compared to the two above, I don't think they were water deprived so perhaps just slow growers. Would I expect these to yield less than the two above? Is it worth continuing with them?

2 habaneros, again healthy but not very big for 2.5 months old! Will they keep growing?

Here's my useless habanero but I keep willing it on. Probably not going to give me anything, who knows?

They've been kept on the windowsill so far, so tonnes of sun and plenty warm enough too. I don't think I've overwatered, I know you're supposed to let them dry out a little but perhaps that's when they are bigger? If anything the last small one I think has been a little too moist, I've had to poke holes to allow the soil to dry out a bit.

I guess I just wonder if anyone can tell me if they are looking ok, are they very slow growing or is this just how it is? They are extremely slow compared to some sweet peppers I planted at the same time that are in a coldframe outside and are all comfortably bigger than the first two cayennes.

Any other tips, is it time to try some fertiliser yet? Some places say wait, some say once you have 6 true leaves then give them some. My 2 decent habaneros have plenty of leaves, but so densely packed and they aren't very big plants.

They have been planted in general purpose compost but it's quite sandy stuff, so the drainage should be good right?

Any thoughts really appreciated, cheers.

 

[Semple]

snip

I can't comment on whether that's "normal", but i can say my Cayenne's are very similar. I planted maybe 20 Cayenne's and i reckon 5/6 are about similar height to your biggest ones, the rest are a mixture of heights.

I can't quite tell by the sizes of your pots, but i think if you don't move them into a big enough pot fairly quickly, that might stunt the growth.

 

[Psycho Sonny]

Yeah I'd say bigger pots needed.

Yeah, using Chilli focus or tomorite if also watering the tomatoes at same time. Only using about once a week atm but will probably increase the frequency of using feed as the weather improves.
Mine do okay in a south facing window although during sunny days they needed watering one every 2 days while in smaller 6" pots. I'm new to this but it's nice to see the leaves droop when they need watering although I should probably water them before that happens. Since movign to larger pots I've not had to water them since Sunday/Monday. Weather also changed of course. Only 18c in the room they're in today.

I'd say you are doing it right by waiting for them to droop a little. You could end up over watering otherwise which will cause more damage than a tiny bit of thirst. your tending to them everyday I imagine and in that regard I mean a quick glance over for 5 seconds is all you need.