2016 Chilli Growers Thread

My scotch bonnet (pictures just up the page) still seems to be dropping it's flowers despite having masses on it and seemingly being quite happy, any thoughts what might be up with it?

It's been watered carefully so it's never too wet or too dry and fed with chilli focus.
 
That looks ok.. could perhaps do with a bit more sun.

I notice sometimes they take time to put roots down then start growing again.

One idea could be to leave the plant to start wilting and then, and only then, give it some water and see how it foes.

I can't see much of a problem on the stem where it meets the soil.
 
valve90210 said:
My scotch bonnet (pictures just up the page) still seems to be dropping it's flowers despite having masses on it and seemingly being quite happy, any thoughts what might be up with it?

It's been watered carefully so it's never too wet or too dry and fed with chilli focus.
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Hmm have you tried pollenating them using your finger? Alternatively if it's stressed - cold draught or cold at night it may drop them. They sometimes will last only a couple of days before the plant gives up on the flower. In that time it needs to be pollenated.

basically the stamen on the outside produce the pollen, the stigma stalk in the centre is where you need to dap the pollen onto - kind of like a sherbet dip!

Then the stalk will thicken and the head f the flower will start expanding if it's pollenated.
 
NickK said:
That looks ok.. could perhaps do with a bit more sun.

I notice sometimes they take time to put roots down then start growing again.

One idea could be to leave the plant to start wilting and then, and only then, give it some water and see how it foes.

I can't see much of a problem on the stem where it meets the soil.
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thanks for the reply. I was just a bit concerned as despite them being the same varient of chilli the difference in leaf colour is quite noticeable.

The only difference I can think of is that the chill at work isn't watered over the weekend, so when I come back in on Monday it's leaves are always drooping, but a good dollop of water and it's soon back to being perky again, although minus any dark green colour.
 
Chillis always drop their flowers freely early in the season. There are so many possible reasons (watering/feeding/light/draughts/pests/etc). Once one flower successfully sets as fruit the drop rate should decrease dramatically. Be patient.
 
I found it was mainly the lack of sun that caused the flowers to drop. As soon as we have a good few days of bright sun you should start to get a few chillis appearing.
 
Few pics of my chaotic 'garden' :)

What we got here is Prairie Fire, Apache F1 Hybrid, Fatalli, Antilias Caribbean and Jalapeno.
Only some of the earliest (planted at the end of January) plants have fruited so far, but I can come back with more pics once the others are showing their wares.

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Complete and utter beginner to the chilli growing fold but saw B&Q had some jalapeno and habanero plants reduced to 50p each yesterday so thought i'd try my luck and see if I can get them growing.

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Just wondering what is the best way to get them established? The tags say they can grow up to 1.3m high and need to be in a 10l pot so thinking of getting them into something a bit bigger. The tags also said they need feeding with tomato fertilizer once a week!

Will they be OK left outside at this time of year? I dont have a green house so failing that my back bedroom window gets sun most of the day so would leaving them there be a wise move?
 
Conditions for chilli - enough sun, some water and they will be eaten by slugs/birds if precautions not taken.

Hmm I think Chilli Focus is slightly different to tomato fertiliser however this year I puts some 6 month pellets into the soil (so the roots once they break out the plugs then have access).


Update here - first chilli plant to fruit is in full gear, the others are starting to flower and one has started to fruit too. So fingers crossed there should be a good selection.
 
R.O.S.S.I, great deal you got there! They look like they are already well on their way, they just need potting up asap. The back window sounds like the best place at the moment. If you want them outside you need to harden them off by putting them outside for a few hours each day to get used to it. But I have found my outside plants never seem to do as well as those under glass or inside.

You wont have to feed them for about 4 weeks or so after re-potting as the compost has feed in it. You could also add a bit of slow release fertiliser in with the compost, like bonemeal. I found this helped a lot with mine. Then feed as normal with Tomorite or chili focus.
 
I've repotted them now into some much bigger terracotta pots in a mix of multipurpose compost and some veg planter soil from B&Q.

Have had them outside yesterday and today as the weather has been very warm and sunny around here but have been bringing them inside at night.

Will that have a detrimental effect or should I just keep them on a window cill?
 
Just an update with a pic of them in their new pots.

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Another quick question - when is the best time to start using the tomato fertilizer I've got? My plan is if the forecasts are warm + clear to pop them outside in the morning and bring them in after tea time when the sun is setting. Our garden is pretty much south facing so gets sun for most of the day.
 
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The compost you have just used to repot them will have feed already in it, so they should be good for a good few weeks. Usually i'd only start feeding once some fruit had set.
 
First time growing but I seem to have some chilies appearing!!!! Exciting times!

This is my biggest plant which is the Bulgarian Carrot...should they be green?

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TheCrow said:
First time growing but I seem to have some chilies appearing!!!! Exciting times!

This is my biggest plant which is the Bulgarian Carrot...should they be green?
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Most chillies (although not all) are green when they start, then one day they will start turning. My old dorset naga went green -> orange -> red in the course of about a day. Very quick.
 
scotch bonnet - nice :)

have to be careful at the moment with the 10 degC nights, wind and random birds :/

Chillies are doing well :D
 
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