Alberto's Locoto Peppers

[smallblueplanet]

I've never tried a rocoto so when I finally do - I grew one last year that never fruited and died over winter! - I'll let you know what I reckon.

[OllieMartin]

Here's a picture of my Albertos Locoto, grown from seed this year. Will try and overwinter it I hope.

[ATTACH]9657[/ATTACH] - now, with chillies

[ATTACH]9658[/ATTACH] - mid april

What do you have to do to over-winter chillis?

It's my first year growning and they're not too big yet.

[Leif]

I've never tried a rocoto so when I finally do - I grew one last year that never fruited and died over winter! - I'll let you know what I reckon.

I take back what I said. I munched a slice this evening and it was rather tasty. A bit like a hot sweet pepper but rather fruity. Let's hope you succeed.

[zazen999]

What do you have to do to over-winter chillis?

It's my first year growning and they're not too big yet.

Have a read of the first post - that's what you have to do.

[Leif]

What do you have to do to over-winter chillis?

It's my first year growning and they're not too big yet.

I wait till late December, or early January, by which time many if not most leaves have fallen. (Chillis are deciduous.) The plant usually looks rather pathetic. Then I chop the stem to a 6" stump, and trim the root ball to about 6" across. I then repot with fresh compost around the root ball. The plant usually starts sprouting new shouts within a week. Within a month the growth is quite luxuriant. Needless to say the plant needs to be indoors, and getting some daylight. Any freezing temperature will probably kill it. Rocoto are more cold tolerant than most chilli species, but there are limits.

[smallblueplanet]

...Any freezing temperature will probably kill it. Rocoto are more cold tolerant than most chilli species, but there are limits.

As I found out last winter! Too cold even in our porch.

[annacruachan]

This is all very exciting! I have some Albert Locoto seeds from Real Seeds, this year's, and can't wait for next Feb! I also bought Hot Wenk's Yellow. Anyone grown these?

[zazen999]

Gordon Bennett.

I sowed another couple of these this year and harvested one tonight [thinking that it was going to be the same heat as last year's].

I chopped it up, and added to the pan [I prep the chilli on a tuesday as I go to college and the OH cooks it].

I then make a coffee. OH said he could taste chilli on the mug.

No way jose I say - these are mild chilis - wasn't me.

5 mins later, after rubbing my eyes - yup....I'm still crying.

[pipkins]

OH added one to his spag bol last night along with a Purple Venezuelan He was most impressed.

Think the plant has died though in little unheated lean to greenhouse any tips on nursing it back to health?

[zazen999]

OH added one to his spag bol last night along with a Purple Venezuelan He was most impressed.

Think the plant has died though in little unheated lean to greenhouse any tips on nursing it back to health?

Mine from 2008 is still alive, outdoors. Mine from this year is still alive in the greenhouse; which had frozen water in it yesterday.

I think it depends very much on how they have been grown - if they are used to the weather they should be ok. Once all the peppers are off; then either leave it or cut it back. I'm just seeing how long mine will last [year wise] and giving it no special treatment at all.

[Leif]

Last year I left my Rocoto out in late Autumn and it survived several frosts which surprised me. I brought it in as cold will eventually kill it. I think a prolonged cold spell would finish it off. The Capsicum chinense were killed by the light frosts, not surprisingly. The C. baccatum survived which surprised me.

The big problem with Rocoto is that they take a long while to ripen, unless you overwinter of course.