2016 Chilli Growers Thread
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Soldato
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Put 40 seeds in my germinator last Thursday. It's a bit later than I would have liked but there you go. I got lucky with the weather, though, because the sunlight allowed warming from above as well as below. I believe this has to play a role as it is how it happens naturally.
Seeds planted:
5 x Early Jalapenos
5 x Chocolate Marouga Scorpion
5 x Trinidad Douglah
5 x Red Hab
5 x Naga
5 x Infinity
5 x Carolina Reaper (from two different shops)
5 x Trinidad Scorpion Marouga
Today I have my first little loop poking up and it is a Trinidad Scorpion Marouga. Which is a surprise because the superhots usually take longer. Must be a vigorous little blighter. I was expecting the Jals to be first.
From my four overwintered plants the two Orange Habs didn't make it, my Chocolate Hab is sprouting new growth, and it is in the balance for the Naga. Fingers crossed there.
Seeds planted:
5 x Early Jalapenos
5 x Chocolate Marouga Scorpion
5 x Trinidad Douglah
5 x Red Hab
5 x Naga
5 x Infinity
5 x Carolina Reaper (from two different shops)
5 x Trinidad Scorpion Marouga
Today I have my first little loop poking up and it is a Trinidad Scorpion Marouga. Which is a surprise because the superhots usually take longer. Must be a vigorous little blighter. I was expecting the Jals to be first.
From my four overwintered plants the two Orange Habs didn't make it, my Chocolate Hab is sprouting new growth, and it is in the balance for the Naga. Fingers crossed there.
Soldato
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As well as the TS Marouga I now have two Chocolate Marouga Scorpions and a Carolina Reaper germinated.
These are second generation.. i.e. they are seeds off the original plants - some species are developed to prevent continued propagation. Anyway.. this is about chilli.
Watching this thread with interest, Nobody in my household actually like super hot burning chillis, but I like growing them because they make fabulous plants that look attractive and I can give my neighbours loads and get plums etc in return.. From so far that I read in this thread.. there are loads of folks who are trying their best with far from optimal conditions.. yes, you can germinate seed in an airing cupboard, however especially the more specialist seed really does need quite precise temps.. The next big one I've seen over and over.. people starting seeds in feb etc.. with no greenhouse or more importantly grow lights.. I started my tomatoes 2 weeks back, the reason? If you start them too early they will grow leggy, (ie spindly and be weak) or they stay dwarf for an age.. I originally grew birdeye which i germinated from seeds from shop bought chillis, (my daughter sucked her thumb, the chillis stopped that!) I built (from a kit) a 12 foot by 10 wide greenhouse.. I mainly use for toms but also grow mini cucs and also a few chili plants.. I still have my birdeye, which is near 4 foot tall in a big pot, I just cut it back and stop watering then leave in frost-free greenhouse over winter. To be successful at chilli growing you need a few things, first is a decent propagator, one with a temp control. The scale I grow at, I watched a vid from gardeners world and built my own.. cost about 50 quid, can do 7 seed trays in one go (http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardenersworld/video/toby_30minfix/index.shtml ) After that you need light and heat.. Ideally 22-30, you also need some shading, especially under glass, be it in a conservatory, or greenhouse, even the cheapo plastic covered ones. Direct intense sun can scorch leaves very easily, chillis are more robust than tomatoes, but still care needs to be taken not to stress the plant, otherwise it may drop all the flowers and worse it's leaves.. Giving feed is a very tricky subject, I've known some who feed every other day, and some once a week, but if you are tending your plants everyday, you soon will get a feel for what they want and what is annoying them.. As for the gnats, I've never had a problem. same for fungus, maybe because they are in a greenhouse, but I ensure excellent ventilation at all times. Do the gnats attack the plants? or are they just annoying floating about the house? You can buy fly papers which you hang up around the plant and they will land and that's them, very cheap too.. otherwise a fine gauze fabric wrapped around the pot and secured to the stem will stop them, you can still water and feed straight through, just them gnats can't lay their eggs!
Anyways waffled loads, hope some helps, I was also a person with zero plant/garden skills, I've learnt most from forums, books, talking to experienced friends and neighbours. I now have 11 raised beds roughly 6x3 ft, produce probably 7 or 8 carrier bags full of toms a year, all our onions, parsnips, salad through the summer, carrots most the year, leeks, garlic. All of which is organic, so prob saves a million quid!!! I've had many failures, but when just one thing works.. such feelings of achievement
Good luck growers I'll be watching your results (Hopefully we'll have some sun this year, maybe I won't still be picking toms in december!)
Anyways waffled loads, hope some helps, I was also a person with zero plant/garden skills, I've learnt most from forums, books, talking to experienced friends and neighbours. I now have 11 raised beds roughly 6x3 ft, produce probably 7 or 8 carrier bags full of toms a year, all our onions, parsnips, salad through the summer, carrots most the year, leeks, garlic. All of which is organic, so prob saves a million quid!!! I've had many failures, but when just one thing works.. such feelings of achievement
Good luck growers I'll be watching your results (Hopefully we'll have some sun this year, maybe I won't still be picking toms in december!)Quick update again. Most of the plants are progressing nicely. I took the hotter ones out of the propagator since I don't think they were getting quite enough light and maybe ventilation. I've had to ditch 9 or 10 that didn't make it, I must have done something wrong along the way.
I thought I was doing nicely but 5 of my chillis / peppers have suddenly shrivelled up the leaves 
Can't decide if I've over or under-watered, or if the utility room wasn't warm enough with the back door being open. Have moved the seed tray to the kitchen to see if I can save any...
Can't decide if I've over or under-watered, or if the utility room wasn't warm enough with the back door being open. Have moved the seed tray to the kitchen to see if I can save any...
I finally got around to planting my chillis this weekend. I usually do them quite a bit earlier but I kept forgetting about them. Hopefully I'll still get a decent enough crop and I think having a conservatory this year will definitely help!
Don't worry - just give them good sunlight and keep them warm(ish).
The leaves they have sprouted are the initial seedling leaves. So until you see a second set of leaves the leaves just grow a little in size. Those leaves never get massive just a kickstarter for the first proper set.
I'd put the lid on for now. Just don't allow them to get too hot.
Cold seedlings slow down, unless it's too cold but typically they wilt under heat or cold.
The leaves they have sprouted are the initial seedling leaves. So until you see a second set of leaves the leaves just grow a little in size. Those leaves never get massive just a kickstarter for the first proper set.
I'd put the lid on for now. Just don't allow them to get too hot.
Cold seedlings slow down, unless it's too cold but typically they wilt under heat or cold.
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Approx 15 plants - various species (yes I forgot to label them 
). I've switched off the prop heating - leaving it to the house heating and the window sun to keep them warm.
Also have 21+ sunflowers doing well .. they just needed a soak in water first!
Chilli plants that are large need some wind to move their stems - this causes the plant to strengthen the stem and they grow straight (rotate them 1/4 turn daily).
When there's a large change - temps etc (even draughts) chilli plants sulk by drooping and possibly dropping their flowers. So it's good to harden up the plants before they're too old but then don't drop them outside straight from the warm and expect them to take it!
). I've switched off the prop heating - leaving it to the house heating and the window sun to keep them warm.Also have 21+ sunflowers doing well .. they just needed a soak in water first!
Chilli plants that are large need some wind to move their stems - this causes the plant to strengthen the stem and they grow straight (rotate them 1/4 turn daily).
When there's a large change - temps etc (even draughts) chilli plants sulk by drooping and possibly dropping their flowers. So it's good to harden up the plants before they're too old but then don't drop them outside straight from the warm and expect them to take it!
It looks like they need more light as they are getting a bit leggy. Usually you'd wait for the first set of proper leaves and for the roots to start breaking through the compost before potting up, but you could move them into a small to medium pot now and bury some of the stem to help support them.
That makes sense, I was keeping them out of direct sunlight so they didn't dry out too quick
(facepalm). I'll move them to pots now, really appreciate the advice mate