2024 Chilli Growing Thread

[bainbridge]

I still haven't bothered with planting chillis this year. They need sun and heat and we've had neither.

Looks like I'll be waiting to see what next year is like.

 

[thefish]

I tried a few years ago and failed miserably, they like the sun and all we get is rain in n. I

 

[BUDFORCE]

Finally planted them outside, normally do it about a month ago, but the weather has been so **** this spring.

 

[sja360]

At what temperature do you need to bring them back indoors? I have two that are growing well in size but no chilli's yet as their a bit neglected.

Is 18-19c indoor temp plus some sunlight enough over the winter for them ?

 

[tom_nieto]

All depends on whether you want to keep the plants alive or whether you want to get a crop from them. Outdoors, chillies don't like frost, but will survive down to single figures overnight. They won't be growing much in the cold though. Your indoor temperatures should still allow good growth and possible fruiting. I'm going to bring some of my plants in and treat them as houseplants this winter.

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

Yeah planning the same, dig a couple up and turn them into houseplants
Been a terrible year for chillis as the early part of the summer was just so cold

 

[Street]

Been a terrible year for chillis as the early part of the summer was just so cold

Yeh, mine started really well, but then March to June they didn't do much. My Scotch Bonnets have done well and are just ripening and I got loads of Ring of Fires, however I only got one solitary Scorpion this year.

 

[Hagar]

Cayenne plant has produced well the last month or two. Scotch bonnets are small, still mostly green and those that have turned color are a bit tasteless.

 

[BUDFORCE]

Yeah planning the same, dig a couple up and turn them into houseplants
Been a terrible year for chillis as the early part of the summer was just so cold

Yea I'm going to give up growing chillies I think, I've had some really successful years but last few seem to be crap.

Probably use the space for tomatoes.

 

[Hagar]

For my birthday I was given four packs of seeds. Basket of fire, demon red, black pearl F1 and armageddon F1. Roll on February.

 

[dave28]

I tried a few years ago and failed miserably, they like the sun and all we get is rain in n. I

Try growing varieties that have been grown for many generations in our own naff climate and have adapted to it somewhat.

Such as the Dorset Naga, I grew it successfully even though there is a massive tree overlooking my glasshouse that blocks the sun for hours every day.

I grew a single plant in a 75 liter pot and got dozens and dozens of pods that ripened perfectly.

Find a milder one from the same breeders though, the dorset naga is so hot that its ridiculous.

 

[BUDFORCE]

Picked these today, I've had a few already, but this year the yield has not been good, we've had less sun.

There are loads left on the plants but all green I'm gonna leave them until we start getting frost.

I don't think I'm gonna bother with chillis next year though, the are good on a good year, I've had literally bags full of good chilli's but then some years are pretty dire, last few haven't been great.

I'm probably just going to stick to tomatos they are more consistent.

 

[Street]

I harvested my last lot of Scotch Bonnets at the weekend, my Cayenne has long since given up the ghost. I had a reasonable crop from both though, enough to dry and fill a good few jars that will keep me going for the year.

 

[dave28]

Picked these today, I've had a few already, but this year the yield has not been good, we've had less sun.

There are loads left on the plants but all green I'm gonna leave them until we start getting frost.

I don't think I'm gonna bother with chillis next year though, the are good on a good year, I've had literally bags full of good chilli's but then some years are pretty dire, last few haven't been great.

I'm probably just going to stick to tomatos they are more consistent.

I think night time temps really damage their development here in the UK.

A chap grew a Bhut Jolokia on a windowsill in a room with central heating.

He planted the seeds in late April, which is way way too late to plant them. Many people plant them in January.

But low and behold he had ripe pods in mid September.

I would imagine it was constant good temps that made the difference.

 

[Semple]

I harvested a load of chillies towards the end of summer. They had been sat on my window sill in a paper bag and shamefully life just got in the way of doing anything with them. They've now fully dried out / shriveled up.

Are they still safe to eat/use? Any useful way of using them or should I just bin them at this point.

 

[BUDFORCE]

I harvested a load of chillies towards the end of summer. They had been sat on my window sill in a paper bag and shamefully life just got in the way of doing anything with them. They've now fully dried out / shriveled up.

Are they still safe to eat/use? Any useful way of using them or should I just bin them at this point.

100% safe.

You can just use them like normal.

Dried chillies are a good way of preserving them.

 

[Semple]

100% safe.

You can just use them like normal.

Dried chillies are a good way of preserving them.

No risk of mould? I had a quick look though some of the big ones and they've just turned a darker red and are paper light.

 

[sja360]

Mould kicks off as white 'fur/fluff' then into green. Probably find moisture causes that issue so chances are the fact they are shriveled up is a good thing.

 

[dave28]

Is anyone going to bother in 2025. It seems like most people have had very poor results the last couple of years.

 

[BUDFORCE]

Is anyone going to bother in 2025. It seems like most people have had very poor results the last couple of years.

Nope.

I'm giving up, I've been growing chillies 10 years maybe more, last few years have been rubbish for them.

I'm gonna just grow tomatoes they are far more reliable, get a nice plum variety, mmmmmm.