The 2010 Chilli growing thread - it's scorching!

[NickK]

Nagas are 'harder' to grow. I use the term harder loosely because it's just that they need warmer/longer germination and then when they do start growing they can be a bit fussy. Fingers crossed, although it can be a bit hit and miss.

Sorry to hear about your plants.

Currently mine are flowering but I think the cold nights on the windowsill are causing them to get a little stressed (I noted a 2degC in the car one morning).

 

[NickK]

Total noob here but i've just bought myself some nagas and bhut jolokia seeds... any tips from anyone? Got a nice windowsill to put them on but i'm thinking im going to have problems keeping them warm, should i get myself a heat pad to put under the propagator?

Also is it worth getting a grow lamp? if so any recommendations only after a small setup.

With Nagas/Jolokia you'll need to keep them in a stable temperature to stop them getting stressed. For germinating you'll need a good warm place (germinating doesn't require light) in a sealed box with some damp paper towels/soil.

Once they've germinated then you'll need to ensure they're in pots and in the sunlight. They'll remain sensitive to the cold until they've got their first set of leaves. Then slowly bring them into normal temps.

Grow lights (I'd recommend CFL rather than HPS/HiD) are good and will result in them having enough light but at the expense of 250W for a few hours or more each day (depending on how you use them).
Are they needed - well that depends on the weather and if you want to keep them fruiting when the days get shorter later in the season.

Both those varieties of chilli will grow over a meter high and two meter diameter canopy if you let them..

 

[NickK]

Cheers for the tips nickk!

So once propagated I can pot and put on the windowsill... sounds like a heated pad may be needed then, will a bog standard one do or is it best to get one that i can adjust the temp on?

Once they've got a few sets of leaves they'll be fine as long as they don't get a cold draught. They will sulk for a day or so initially when you move them.

You'll probably be fine without a heated prop to be honest. Just use a non-heated one and at night just close the vents so that the heat remains inside. They'll quickly outgrow a prop in a month so with a little care you'll not need one.

 

[NickK]

Depends on the temperatures (day and night) and the species unfortunately. Nagas probably won't like the current night temperatures at the moment.

 

[NickK]

Drew the curtains today and the flowers have started to product perfume so it won't be long before they're starting to produce pollen

 

[NickK]

Those Nagas you sent me have all finally germinated, got them on a windowsill in the day and made a little light box to keep them in at night

I'd advise to make sure they get a good 8 hours of darkness. They'll grow a surprising amount during the night after a good day in the light. So extend the daylight time with the box but don't exhaust them with 24/7 light.

 

[NickK]

I guess there is still a chance mine could germinate then, still no signs of life though.

Yup, originally I had a few germinate, gave up on the others and planted the jalapenos in the same pods.. only to have the nagas germinate about a month later out of the blue!

The seeds are from a set of pods, all put into a pot and mixed up so no one person would have all the seeds from one pod. That way if one pod's seeds are dud then there's high chance that each person got seeds from other pods that will germinate.

So fingers crossed - what temps have you got them at?

 

[NickK]

I've got some chillies coming through on my plants now, about 2.5-3" at the moment. They're all in 15cm pots and the roots are coming out the bottom now, is it worth re-potting them into bigger pots or will they be fine staying in them? I was going to put them into 20cm pots but as they've started fruiting now i'm not sure if theres any point.

Up to you really. I doubt it would drop the fruit (although it may drop a few flowers).

Small pot Pros - limits plant size and the plant feels it needs to fruit quicker.

Small pot Cons - smaller plant = less fruit, also the plan will suck the pot dry quicker. Nutrients will be exhausted quicker.

Moving between pots will stress it for a few days but you'll also add more nutrients in the long term (although these could be made up with liquid feed). The plant will grow bigger and fruit more (usually).

 

[NickK]

I don't have a thermometer so not sure but I have them on top of my HIFI amp which is on all the time and is quite warm. They're in some damp kitchen roll in a sealed bag. Same thing I did with my Cayenne chillies but they're a lot easier to germinate.

Can it stop them germinating if its too warm? I doubt its anything to do with the seeds as I also have some Bell Peppers in a separate bag that are refusing to germinate.

Ideal temps would be ~27 degC for the naga. Although some peppers take longer to germinate, so keep at it.

Initially the seed will rehydrate and absorb water. It can take a while for this to happen. Some growers soak their seeds in water overnight before attempting to germinate them.

Is the kitchen roll still damp?

 

[NickK]

I've never pinched any leaves off, but I could be wrong

 

[NickK]

Some of my seeds are sprouting already! Should I plant them straight away of give them abit longer in the airing cupboard?

Up to you but if you know they're germinating then getting them into soil will start them off as quickly as possible.

 

[NickK]

Is it best to let them turn red on the plant, or pick them first? I'm not sure how big they should be before picking them.

I'd leave them on the plant until they're ripe - or at least the first crop so you get used to their ripening process.

For me it's when they're ripened as the taste is better.

If you want to collect the seeds, it's better to let them ripen to let the seeds mature.

 

[NickK]

4 degC according to the car this morning! Nagas decided to drop a load of flowers :/

I'll give them a dose of Focus tomorrow and see if I can get them back to their happy place..

 

[NickK]

Speaking of flowers, are these the beginnings of flowers and if so should it be flowering at just 7" tall? I thought they started flowering when the plant reaches full size which is 2' - 3'.

Yes they're flower buds. They grow as the plant grows. So by the time the plant has enough leaves to produce the energy to support flowering/fruiting they should be ready too.
That's not unusual

 

[NickK]

I have no idea how but there appears to be a shroom growing next to one of my tomato plants.

Stealin yur Newtriants - giz it to kitty for dispozal

And if you think that was bad.. I got "OMGWTFBBQ?" into a work conversation yesterday.. but they did start it.. and with that masterful move I left them in a state of 'perplexment'..

 

[NickK]

Forecast right through to sunday is 4 degC at night.. Grrr. Although it I have my suspicions that I may have a chilli fruit on the go..

 

[NickK]

Came home from work today and one of my Naga seeds has finally germinated \o/. Another looks like it could germinate as well.

Might be a little too late in the year now but i'll get it under the grow light and hope for the best .

The plumbers have finally 'fixed' the water leak, so I'll break out the grow lamp over the next week and give my three a blast.

 

[NickK]

Should be fine.

The older plants have a better ability to deal with temperature changes.

I think I'll give them a dose of HPS as it's almost pitch dark here at 0930 in the morning thanks to the cloud.

 

[NickK]

Hehe jalapenos are almost indestructable and they'll fruit regardless of the weather!

 

[NickK]

Just noted that my iPhone weather app is showing night temps as low as 2degC over the next 5 days so worth checking your night temps on your area.