Chilli's 2023

Supercell · 18-02-2023 2:17pm #1

Sowed my first seeds of the year today.

Dragons breath and lemon drop seeds saved from last years crop.

Saved one of my lemon drop plants last summer and am keeping at the back of the kitchen behind the sliding glass doors as an experiment. Seems to be doing ok. Will be interesting to see how it crops assuming it makes it until summer.

In other news my peach tree is starting to blossom, hoping we dont get a very cold spell later this winter as its early.

Ms2011 · 20-02-2023 7:28pm

Got some week old seedlings in the propagator, no idea the variety. I'll give them another 2 weeks and I'll transplant them into bigger pots.

Supercell · 02-03-2023 1:35pm

First few starting to show, will divide them up when bigger.

Ms2011 · 04-03-2023 5:33pm

Transplanted these this morning, 2 really good ones, 2 weaker ones but they might be ok

Supercell · 03-04-2023 8:22am

Mum and her babies. Thinned out and repotted yesterday. The bigger ones are lemon drop (as is the parent plant). The ones that didnt make it are in the garden as my kids said it wasnt fair to not give them a chance :)

Ms2011 · 23-05-2023 3:03pm

20230522_121522.jpg

Chilli plants flowering, not long now for some fruit!!

Supercell · 23-05-2023 10:45pm

Wow thats a beaut!

Funny enough, I just planted out most of my chillies and some tomatoes after work today. They have been hardening off the last couple of weeks and the forecast is good for the next week or so, so i took the plunge. My overwintered chilli has a few green chillies growing already, my ones from seed are not as far on as yours though some flowers are starting to appear.

Stephen_Maturin · 23-05-2023 11:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120631682#Comment_120631682

What variety of chilli?

Ms2011 · 24-05-2023 5:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120633578#Comment_120633578

Basket of Fire

Wolftown · 24-05-2023 9:09pm

16849587987923038677308863638717.jpg

Jalapenos starting to show fruit

16849589264227307619686340605107.jpg

And overwintered cayenne also motoring

Stephen_Maturin · 24-05-2023 9:58pm

Jaysus I’m well behind after the cold killed off my first batch of seedlings 😞

I’d say my best specimen is about 20cm tall but still well off any flowers never mind fruit!

Hope it’ll have long enough…would be v disappointed if I get nothing out of them

Supercell · 25-05-2023 6:46am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120636862#Comment_120636862

Great stuff @Wolftown , first time i've overwintered a chilli and have to say it's been a big success, really gets a head start. I don't have a greenhouse or conservatory so this has been a revelation.

I'm also growing some Capsicum flexuosum (Hardy Chili ) and Capsicum pubescens (Rocoto) as a trial as they can supposedly tolerate light frosts so hopefully will not have to overwinter indoors. I'm about a km from the sea here so get very little frost, I'm hoping these might survive the winter as a result. Plan is to plant them close to a SW facing wall at the back of the house where they will get some radiated heat during the colder months, one and only benefit of an 80's built house with poor insulation!

Wolftown · 25-05-2023 11:54am

I'm also without a greenhouse or conservatory, they live on a south facing windowsill and get put outside when the weather is good.

I've had mixed results with overwintering...I had some Chenzo chilli's that lasted 4 years and were very productive.

The cayennes from last year have started quite well, but I've a jalapeno that I overwintered that looks healthy but hasn't produced any flowers yet. Also, the leaves are way smaller this year which I thought was strange...maybe jalapenos don't overwinter well 🤔

Below are some better pics:

This seasons jalapenos

Overwintered jalapeno

Overwintered cayennes

Will be interested to see how your new varieties progress, I'd like to try some more cold tolerant types next season!

Supercell · 25-05-2023 3:33pm

They look great. Looking at the pictures here i'm amazed at how big others are already! Think i'll sow in January next year .

Next time when i overwinter i'll be a bit less brutal cutting back too,

Will update the thread on the hardy varieties, i started them much later and they are still very small. Might not get much off them this year but if they survive the winter i've high hopes!

I've kept some seeds in reserve if they dont.

Ms2011 · 25-05-2023 4:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120637128#Comment_120637128

I'm finding Spring is starting later & it's still warm up to October so you should be fine.

Stephen_Maturin · 25-05-2023 5:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120639815#Comment_120639815

Fingers crossed!

Flew too close to the sun this year - tried to do like 50 plants of 15 different varieties. Was much too much in my Dublin apartment 😂

Only have about ten left - my girlfriend also unknowingly mixed them all up when she temporarily moved them to a different room to do a tidy in the former. So they’re all mystery chilles now! Makes it kind of fun I suppose

Will stick to 5 varieties max next year, learned my lesson (until I can afford to buy a house with some land)

Ms2011 · 25-05-2023 7:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120639867#Comment_120639867

I'm lucky enough to have a big back garden & am in the process of putting a greenhouse together, this year was ridiculous with every windowsill full with plant, next year will hopefully be more organised!

Ms2011 · 30-05-2023 7:54pm

Moved my Chilli's out to my new greenhouse & got my first fruit 😊🌶

SouthWesterly · 30-05-2023 9:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120637764#Comment_120637764

How did you overwinter them. First time growing them .

Supercell · 31-05-2023 7:23am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120659882#Comment_120659882

Just watched some videos on youtube, these two are pretty good, but would recommend watching a few and seeing what suits you best:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuA59WzTJAQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_C-60hC_d4

Wolftown · 08-06-2023 3:20pm

1686233968773812075499943333363.jpg

Jalapenos enjoying the sun 😎

Wolftown · 08-06-2023 3:22pm

Still getting to grips with adding pics!

Stephen_Maturin · 14-06-2023 12:05am

How tall do ye all let your plants get before allowing them to set flowers?

last year I only grew dwarf varieties with small chillis so it was fine having a short plants, still got hundreds of chillis.

However I’ve a mystery plant that maybe 40cm tall or so. It’s beginning to flower but I’ve been pinching them out. Might give it another month of growth and then let it all explode into flower.

Wolftown · 15-06-2023 6:54am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120712435#Comment_120712435

I have always let mine grow how they want. I've never tried to manipulate them to grow or flower in a certain way, maybe it's something I need to look in to.

In my limited experience I've only grown Chenzo, Cayenne and Jalapeno. This years jalapenos are the tallest I've had so far at around 60cm.

They are nowhere near as bushy/dense as the other strains though, and with the size of each jalapeno being relatively large the yield won't be as high as the smaller chilli plants.

Krusty_Clown · 23-06-2023 12:11pm

Here's a pic of my Buena Mulata. Loving the colours of the fruit/flowers. I'm also growing some Hungarian Hot wax (yielded a few already - very mild but tasty), Patio fire, Jalapenos, and I think a chocolate bell pepper plant.

BuenaMulata.jpeg

I also have an infestation on one of my plants (which unfortunately is potted with two other plants, otherwise I'd just chuck it. Anyone help me identify it and know if it can be dealt with? Plants are all indoors.

Infestation.jpeg

Wolftown · 23-06-2023 9:24pm

The infestation looks like aphids to me. You can get a spray from any garden centre, just make sure it's suitable for edibles.

Apparently there are alternatives to treat them, such as soapy water. I've never tried this myself though so don't know how effective it is.

Krusty_Clown · 23-06-2023 10:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120756559#Comment_120756559

Thanks Wolftown! Did a bit of searching, and they appear to be spider mites. Same thing killed off my previous Jalapeno plants, and bug spray didn't do very much, so keen to get them sorted. Have ordered some neem oil, so fingers crossed.

Stephen_Maturin · 24-06-2023 12:29am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120753558#Comment_120753558

Well done on the buena mulata, that’s a beautiful plant

Stephen_Maturin · 28-06-2023 11:18am

Should I top this plant?

It’s about 90cm tall from the base, plenty of flower buds on it now (counted over 70 the other day) It just keeps getting bigger!

Strangely though at the “V” split one of the arms is growing way more than the other

Supercell · 02-07-2023 3:10pm

First ripe chili of the year, mine are growing outside in the garden. Its from the overwintered plant which hasn't really grown much, in fact her babies which i grew from seed are now much bigger! Not going to bother overwintering in future.

Supercell · 02-07-2023 3:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120753558#Comment_120753558

Love your Buena Mulata, gorgeous fruit!, definitely going to give that a try next year.

Ms2011 · 02-07-2023 11:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120795400#Comment_120795400

Did it turn red on the plant or after you picked it?

Supercell · 03-07-2023 11:56am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120797417#Comment_120797417

Turned red on the plant.

Stephen_Maturin · 03-07-2023 4:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120795400#Comment_120795400

Interesting to hear that about overwintering. My friends gf had overwintered her plants for the first time this year - she’s been raving about it! Was definitely planning on doing it but your experience gives me pause. Sure will probably give it a shot, not a huge amount required.

Stephen_Maturin · 03-07-2023 4:16pm

Also my mystery star performer pant finally opened its flowers last week - I’d expected some plain white flowers leaving me none the wiser as I germinated about 8 different Capsicum annum varieties. However these flowers are spotted with green, so it must be the sole C. baccatum i germinated - the lemon drop! Delighted!

Dial Hard · 03-07-2023 5:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120753558#Comment_120753558

That is a beautiful plant.

This thread is giving me serious chilli envy. Haven't grown any in a few years now. Definitely going to remedy that next year!

Supercell · 04-07-2023 8:59am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120800071#Comment_120800071

In fairness, whilst the over wintered chili plant hasn't grown much, it is covered in fully grown (but not yet ripened) fruit, whereas the bigger, younger, ones are only in flower or with tiny fruit. If i had a greenhouse they would probably be a few weeks further on by now growth/fruitwise I'd imagine. Still plenty of summer left!

Ms2011 · 04-07-2023 11:31am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120798761#Comment_120798761

I left mine on the plant for ages & they never turned red. I picked one to taste it & I noticed the discarded end in the compost bin had turned red 🤔

Krusty_Clown · 04-07-2023 12:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120795400#Comment_120795400

Do you mean that you're going to compost the plant at the end of the season and start again with seeds next year, or you're just going to skip cutting it all the way back and let nature run its course?

Supercell · 04-07-2023 1:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120803025#Comment_120803025

I was wondering where that question came from!, I suppose some varieties ripen more quickly than others? Maybe on the compost heap they were facing directly up towards the sun rather than in leafy shade on the plant?, just a theory.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120803180#Comment_120803180

It will go on the compost heap, the veggie plot is small, so i'd prefer bigger chilli plants that produce more overall even if later. My wife makes a brilliant chilli sauce with it that we refrigerate and freeze and get best part of a year out of it. Next year I won't be growing tomatoes or chillies there , maybe some chillies in pots instead to keep the plot soil fresh. It's going to be bean and green land next summer

Ms2011 · 04-07-2023 4:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120803396#Comment_120803396

They're in a greenhouse so get alot of sun, maybe they're just a variety that ripens off the plant, I know that's the case with some tomatoes.

Krusty_Clown · 11-07-2023 7:29pm

Here's the latest pictures of my babies. Clockwise from top-left: Umm, not sure - maybe Hungarian hot-wax, or a purple Jalapeno that hasn't ripened yet; Jalapenos, Chocolate bell peppers (yet to brown), my buena mulata - which is producing loads of spicey chilis (a little like cayenne peppers), and my patio fire. Thankfully the spider-mites infestation seems to be gone after a couple of treatments (warm water, Neem oil, a little soap and some bug killer).

Chillies.jpg

Lessons I've learned with this season's crops:

Planted 6 varieties with about 6-10 seeds each, and ended up with around 38 healthy seedlings, which was way too much effort and space. Probably do the same again next time, but be more ruthless about culling 3/4 of them. I'm now down to 9 healthy plants and two re-potted plants that will hopefully perk up, after spending too much time in small pots.

Picked up these three-way clover-like pots, in which I've mixed up the varieties. Dumb idea. Cross pollination may be a real problem, and very easy for any infestations to hop from plant to plant.

Maybe skip the bell peppers next time. At this rate, by the end of the season, I'll probably have 1-2 fully grown peppers (if they last that long). Probably more suitable for outdoor sunnier climates.

Hotter peppers! Most of the varieties so far are tasty but pretty mild. Hopefully they'll heat up as they ripen, but next year, I'll definitely try to grow some hotter varieties, even though they may not grow as well in our climate.

Dial Hard · 11-07-2023 7:34pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120838494#Comment_120838494

I always found bell peppers a very slow-moving chore alright. Not worth the effort.

In terms of heat, obviously the variety is the most important factor but also don't underestimate the impact how much you water them can have. Once the fruit have set, only water them when they're visibly in need of it. Generally the drier you grow them, the hotter the fruit. Ime, anyway.

Stephen_Maturin · 11-07-2023 9:53pm

Couple of my plants are fruiting while other varieties are only beginning to set flowers now…concerned the late bloomers won’t have enough time to fully fruit and ripen 😞

Wolftown · 16-07-2023 1:30pm

Took some jalapenos off the plants, still plenty more to go over the coming weeks!

Stephen_Maturin · 18-07-2023 5:09pm

Lemon drops fruiting in now - the plant is utterly covered in hundreds and hundreds of flowers, have had to take loads off, no way the plant could possibly support them all fruiting at once!

Ms2011 · 25-07-2023 9:11pm

Going on holidays so decided to harvest my chilli's, not bad for 2 plants

Supercell · 28-07-2023 5:03pm

Congrats, that's a great haul!

Stephen_Maturin · 08-08-2023 2:20pm

Some pics of a few of my chilli plants in the polytunnel - one of them (4th pic) is about 5ft tall!

But I’m distraught at the worry we won’t have time left in the season for them to set and form fruit and for the fruit to ripen.

Have a couple of plants in the house that are in fruit but would be v disappointed to get nothing out of the polytunnel chillis at all…been such a crap summer

Wolftown · 16-08-2023 11:41am

Was away for 16 days, as suspected alot of the jalapenos ripened right through to red... Some nice cayenne in there too

Supercell · 22-08-2023 8:16pm

The final pickings, happy enough given we don't have a green house so all grown outdoors after starting indoors as seedlings. Summer this years wasn't chili friendly but we did ok.

Chilli's 2023

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