Chilli-heads take heed

[HotStuff]

Here's an interesting article: Chillies evolve spicier defences in wetter climates (Wired UK)

[Rocketron]

A team of evolutionary biologists from the Universities of Indiana, Michigan, Washington and Florida.

A pretty wide range of habitats.
I wonder why they had to go to Bolivia.

[Jeanied]

Way hey, Hotstuff - so us southern England growers have something to look forward to - along with the Dorset Naga growers. Must remember to keep watering then!

[Dead Dogs]

So all I need now is some warm weather and I'll be able to grow some really hot hot chillies SHMBO will love.

[BUFFS]

here's an interesting article: chillies evolve spicier defences in wetter climates (wired uk)

that will explain why i always seem to get a good chilli crop in the greenhouse which gets all the water it needs via seep hoses from waterbutt....:d:d:d:d

[chilliking]

interesting. i know many growers state that by not looking after them too well (i.e keeping them thirsty) you tend to get hotter fruit. i've not experimented scientifically on this but i've always found this to be true...

...has anyone else noticed this?

[northepaul]

I'm going to 'invent' my own variety...!!!

[daylily]

interesting. i know many growers state that by not looking after them too well (i.e keeping them thirsty) you tend to get hotter fruit. i've not experimented scientifically on this but i've always found this to be true...

...has anyone else noticed this?

Partly so. Cultural advice tends to be 'not to water chillies a week prior harvesting'. (Of course the fruit won't be full of water) This does not convey any contradictory information to the findings(correct or not).

[smallblueplanet]

Pretty unspecific findings - how wet is wetter and how much heat and sun were they also getting?

[snakeshack]

I was under the impression that chillies get hotter if they are stressed in any way as a defence mechanism,not sure where that came from though