Chillies - Growing and Over wintering 2020

[Small pumpkin]

What the ***? No idea what’s going on with this. Uploaded in exactly the same way as I have done since the year dot. It is just a photo of my Dorset naga if you click on the link.

[Small pumpkin]

This year he’s called Oliver

[SimpleSimon]

Chillis are odd plants. Every year there is one variety that just doesn't wanna play ball. This year its the white Bhut jolkia. I have about 50 plants. 48 of them have been fine but these 2 just wanted to die. Shrivelled up, gone yellow generally looking totally unhealthy. I gave up as I have so many and just neglected them both. About mid march I put them on my poly tunnel bench to get them out of the way. And today they've decided to make a go of it. New growth looking healthy. They will probably go on to produce my best crop! Can't believe they've survived as I don't recall watering them in the last few weeks and it's been about 1c at night this week.

[Vegi potager]

My 6 best plants that I am saving for myself are doing great in the back room with a south facing window a some grow lights, there are open flowers on the padron and all are twice the size of the spares I relegated to a blow-away in the GH 4 weeks ago as I needed the space. they are still in their 9cm pots awaiting a bit more root growth before moving to the 10lt pots I have ready and waiting. The others I hope to give away?!

Padron
Sivri Biber
Cayenne
Lemon drop
Fresno
Cayennetta

A short list of wimpy chillies, I have let the rest of you grow the super hots and read your comments and advice with interest. Although I do feel a fraud as the number I am growing are in the single digits!

[Telson]

Automated chilli grower

Hi all, I have had my chillis growing since December in my Automated chilli shed.
I am growing Carolina Reaper, Trinidad Butch T and Naga Scorpions.
This is my first attempt at automated growing but it seems to be going well.

[Pigmyhippo]

Well, I've taken a gamble. I'm still a month away from last frost date up here in the northeast, but the chilli jungle was becoming unmanageable indoors. So, 27 plants have been transplanted to their final homes in my greenhouse with a heater on to maintain an overnight temp at ground level of 10 degrees. Thermostat is pretty good so it has cost about 20p per night so far (that was when it went down to -1 outside the other night).

Although I do have several dozen replacement plants if any don't make it.

I'm trying a new setup this year in my greenhouse, growing in raised beds in open bottom pots with the top 2 inches of the pot above the soil and wrapped in copper tape to deter slugs. (I've also interspaced French Marigolds) My thinking behind the pots is that the roots are free to travel as deep as they want, and competition for water/nutrients between plants will be reduced. I just hope the thinking is correct haha!

If I'm honest, the spacing is looking a bit too crowded when considering how tall/bushy the plants can get. I'll see how it goes, but I'd imagine next year I will be planting less in there.

Anyway, the plants that have made the cut;

[annie8]

Am quite pleased with my chillies so far. They are getting a fair bit of sun on the windowsill and growing well. The orange habaneros are the slowest. Much slower than the choc habaneros. Dont know if that's typical or because the choc ones are d
fresher seeds? Pleased with the scotch bonnets and cayenne. Miles behind some of the ones you guys are growing but happy so far. Might even put them out in the gh for the day if the weather holds up. My gh is a right mess so need to tidy and clean it out this weekend.

[toomanytommytoes]

Havana Gold is a strong grower hmm. It's the biggest of my non-annums along with Locoto Rocoto, Aji Pineapple and Aji Delight. Mine will probably get their first bit of sun tomorrow.

[Small pumpkin]

First day out for my babies. And first one planted into its final pot.

[Small pumpkin]

What is it?

ohnivec. Never grown it before so letting it do it’s own thing rather then picking flower buds off.
I’ll be putting him in a bigger pot tomorrow.

[toomanytommytoes]

What is it?

[Scarlet]

Woohoo! Well done....not jealous at all

[Small pumpkin]

I don’t think I need to say anything other than........excited

[Holly Daze]

Thank you Scarlet and Small Pumpkin. Got them back in. Have converted dining room into indoor greenhouse. Let’s face it, no-one’s coming to dinner anytime soon. I must say, they are looking healthy.

[Small pumpkin]

As Scarlet said. Don’t put your chillies in an unheated greenhouse.
Yes I’ve put some of mine in the polytunnel. But I’m completely mad and it’s not advisable to do the same as me...........................ever!

My chillies are on a heat mat (a lot sharing so not getting much heat). Also get covered with fleece every night. With that I’ve still had to resuscitate one that had got very cold ( darkening of leaves and very very limp ). Luckily an hour in the heated propagator with the lid on sorted the little fella out.