Are these plants leggy?

[Superh]

I'm very new to growing. I planted these cayenne seeds about 11 weeks ago. transplanted them from the seed tray a good 7 weeks ago now.

They seem slow growing and leggy, although they have been on a south facing window the whole time. but maybe i jsut don't know what counts as a healthy plant?






Thoughts?

[scarey55]

They do look a little bit leggy to me I don't know if it's just the camera but they also look a little bit pale to me. If at all possible, put them outside on a warm day even if it's only for a little while and they might benefit from a bit of food. I think some peeps pinch the tops out to encourage bushiness too but hang on for a bit and see what everyone else thinks before you do anything drastic like that.

[Chef_uk]

If the roots are poking through the drainage holes then they need potting on. If it were me, i'd be tempted to pot them on anyway and get them covered back up to their seed leaves just like toms.

[Matt94]

considering there 7 weeks old i dont think they are too leggy, cayenne chilli's grow very tall (had them about 1.5m). however you can plant the stem a little deeper if they get anymore leggy, which i think will be inevitable - considering the size they are and how long it will be until they are ok to plant outside.

oh and can you please add your location in your profile as it will help us to answer you questions better, and theres also a welcome/introduce yourself board on here if you want to tell us a bit about yourself!

thanks,
matt

[Superh]

They do look a little bit leggy to me I don't know if it's just the camera but they also look a little bit pale to me. If at all possible, put them outside on a warm day even if it's only for a little while and they might benefit from a bit of food. I think some peeps pinch the tops out to encourage bushiness too but hang on for a bit and see what everyone else thinks before you do anything drastic like that.

Thanks for your thoughts. It is just the camera flash though, they look a nice healthy green. Also, i have noticed on the bottom of most the plants there are lots of small spikes at the stem??

[Matt94]

there where the roots will shoot from, your compost level should be above that!

[Superh]

there where the roots will shoot from, your compost level should be above that!

hahaha! gotcha. should have clocked that earlier. Looks like i will be transplanting them again ASAP. thank you for your help.

p.s anyone else had a go at growing Dorset Nagas before?

[BarleySugar]

I've grown Dorset Naga seeds (all from seed swap, 4 different grapes). I always sow nagas, scotch bonnets and habaneros first, followed on by my other chillies. I keep them either inside on the bedroom or kitchen window sills (south facing), or at a pinch in the greenhouse once it warms up enough, but my garden is north east facing, so it isn't as warm as indoors.

[Superh]

I've grown Dorset Naga seeds (all from seed swap, 4 different grapes). I always sow nagas, scotch bonnets and habaneros first, followed on by my other chillies. I keep them either inside on the bedroom or kitchen window sills (south facing), or at a pinch in the greenhouse once it warms up enough, but my garden is north east facing, so it isn't as warm as indoors.

I'm much in the same situation! North-East facing garden and all. The back of the garden and the greenhouse get plenty of sun, however. So i am planning on leaving the lot in there once i get the smashed glass replaced.

From previous crops, how hot have the nagas been in terms of hotness? I mean I love hot food, but i love my sense of taste too!

[Two_Sheds]

I planted these cayenne seeds about 11 weeks ago.

I think you've done very well to get them this far. I haven't sown mine yet ~ there just isn't enough daylight, nor is it strong enough, in Feb.

Where are you going to put them next? Each time you pot on they're going to get bigger, and can't go outside until mid to end of May ...

[Matt94]

i agree with two sheds - where are you going to put them?, they cant go in until may, however i have to hold my hands up i put mine in my GH last week and they are growing better in there than they where in the house, i havent got a clue why? but i wouldn't advise you to put them in yet!

[Shadylane]

i put mine in my GH last week and they are growing better in there than they where in the house, i havent got a clue why?

Cos they'll be getting more light and it's been mild lately. Our placcie's been toastie in the day time. We have a right faff when they out grow the windowsills. Out in the placcie GH in the morn, back in at night, rinse and repeat for about 3 months

[BarleySugar]

The nagas are pretty hot! I used one in plum jam (1.5kg fruit and sugar) and it gave a good heat. Mind you, I didn't bother to take the pith out, just stewed it whole with the fruit, then rubbed it through a sieve.
I dried some as well, but taking the lid off the jar can choke you with chilli fumes, so I haven't used them on their own in basic cooking as OH and son no2 don't like things too hot .
I do use them to make a hot chilli powder though, mixed in with some milder ones to give a bit of heat to go with the flavour of the others.
I've just potted up 25 further chillies in 3in pots, habaneros, naga jolokia and jalapenos. I do have lights that I keep mine under though, so where to put them is not such a problem (except I have 26 more varieties I haven't planted yet!).
A lot of my plants will be sold at fund raisers for school and the allotment association though. I only keep a couple of each sort for myself and for seed saving.

[zazen999]

I'll be putting a shed load of chillis and toms out into my greenhouse in the next week or so - just got to mend a roof window first.

I'll be hardening them off properly first though.

1 hour a day outside
Then next day - 2
Then 4
Then 8
Then with fleece, from dawn to bedtime,
Then with fleece, all day and night. Depending on the weather - if a really cold snap is expected, they will come back in for the night.

[Superh]

Thank you for all your replies!

I think you've done very well to get them this far. I haven't sown mine yet ~ there just isn't enough daylight, nor is it strong enough, in Feb.

Where are you going to put them next? Each time you pot on they're going to get bigger, and can't go outside until mid to end of May ...

Well i have not thought that far ahead yet to be honest. I would say i want them in the greenhouse by the end of march. It's not going to damage the plants or crop by having sown them so early, is it?

I think i will just have to keep them in smaller pots for a little longer than i would like.

any tips?