Anyone growing Chillies this year?

[kiteless]

Bob the Planner said:

kiteless said:

...
However, a question for the chilli plant experts: once we've established the plants, are they indoors all year around?

In Tamworth, I put the Cayennes in the sunroom over winter but where in the courtyard in the late spring to mid autumn. The Bhut Jolokia and Birds Eye servivied last winter outdoors with no protection in Newcastle. If you are in a cold weather climate make sure they have some heat and as much light as possible in the winter and are kept away from frost.

That was Tamworth UK and Newcastle NSW although if in Tamworth NSW, I would also put them in doors as you get frosts !

Thanks for the advice, Bob (it's Cayenne chillis we've got on the go at the moment)

[Nimbus]

Here's my attempts... first time this year, and planted 9 seeds about a month ago..



it took ages for anything to happen, and 3 still havent started, but the others are doing ok ?

I'm thinking that they are nearly ready to put into individual pots ?

They are just in compost, in the kitchen window, and outside on decking in the sunny weather...

[Mobile Chicane]

Nimbus said:

Here's my attempts... first time this year, and planted 9 seeds about a month ago..



it took ages for anything to happen, and 3 still havent started, but the others are doing ok ?

I'm thinking that they are nearly ready to put into individual pots ?

They are just in compost, in the kitchen window, and outside on decking in the sunny weather...

I'd keep them inside, on a sunny windowsill, and pot on when they're about 10cm high.

[Nimbus]

Mobile Chicane said:

I'd keep them inside, on a sunny windowsill, and pot on when they're about 10cm high.

ta, another week then I reckon... and perhaps a move to the other side of the house..

[Mobile Chicane]

Nimbus said:

Mobile Chicane said:

I'd keep them inside, on a sunny windowsill, and pot on when they're about 10cm high.

ta, another week then I reckon... and perhaps a move to the other side of the house..

I potted mine on at about 2 months I think.

My house is cold, so they've been slow to grow, but with the warmth of the last week they've really come on.

[JonRB]

I grew some chillies last year from a packet my sister gave me. Looked like one of those microwavable rice pouches you get from the like of Tilda and it just grew in that. Just bunged it on the windowsill and watered it every day or so and it not only survived but actually grew.



This year I intended to grow some properly like some of the people here but I didn't get my lazy arse in gear in time. Maybe next year.


(Edited to fix broken pic link)

Edited by JonRB on Tuesday 29th May 18:25

[Mobile Chicane]

JonRB said:

I grew some chillies last year from a packet my sister gave me. Looked like one of those microwavable rice pouches you get from the like of Tilda and it just grew in that. Just bunged it on the windowsill and watered it every day or so and it not only survived but actually grew.



This year I intended to grow some properly like some of the people here but I didn't get my lazy arse in gear in time. Maybe next year.

Don't worry hon, I can spare you a plant.

I'm cultivating 28, mostly Apache, which have a nice sweetness in addition to heat.

[garreth64]

Good to see so many people growing chillies this year in all forms :thumb up:

I've still got 22 plants but the pots keep getting bigger and bigger due to repotting, and are taking up a lot of room now. Will all be worth it though with a huge fresh supply of heat hopefully soon

[JonRB]

Mobile Chicane said:

Don't worry hon, I can spare you a plant.

Oh cool! Thanks T.

[Nimbus]

argh ! I'm infested !!

So, I went away for a fortnight, and before I left the chillies were doing fine, growth slowish but definitely growing...



Got back last week and they seemed ok, tho I did notice there seemed to be some white 'stuff' on the soil, but didnt think anything of it..



Today, was moving the plants upstairs to a better window so they get more sun and....

They're alive !!!



There are some f***ing bugs marching up and down my plants and looking very hungry !


Anyone know what they are ? ( aphids ? they dont look like greenfly, tho they are green ! )


Is there anything I can do about them, or are they going to make my chillies into lunch ?

[Sticks.]

Something like this? http://www.worldofchillies.com/growing_chillies/ch...

I'd try some Bug Clear from your local garden centre. Or import some ladybirds!

[garreth64]

I've got the same problem!

Most of my plants now have Aphids, plus black flies in the soil. They have never been outside due to our poor weather. I have sprayed them a bit indoors but can't do it properly in case the spray goes everywhere. Ideally I was hoping for some dry sunny days so they could go outside and I could give then a good spraying. A bit stuck for what to do for the best at the moment.

I've got some good bug spray called Provado ultimate bug killer (in a yellow spray gun) but it seems that unless you get every single one, they are back again within a few days!

As a side issue, my Naga and Bhut Jolokias are now massive and taking up loads of room in the house, but still no fruit as the flowers are all dropping off.

The chilli growing idea is becoming a bit of a pain at the moment.........

Nimbus said:

argh ! I'm infested !!

So, I went away for a fortnight, and before I left the chillies were doing fine, growth slowish but definitely growing...



Got back last week and they seemed ok, tho I did notice there seemed to be some white 'stuff' on the soil, but didnt think anything of it..



Today, was moving the plants upstairs to a better window so they get more sun and....

They're alive !!!



There are some f***ing bugs marching up and down my plants and looking very hungry !


Anyone know what they are ? ( aphids ? they dont look like greenfly, tho they are green ! )


Is there anything I can do about them, or are they going to make my chillies into lunch ?

[garreth64]

This is how my plants are now looking compared to my previous posts.

From Left to right, Naga, Tabasco and Bhut Jolokia - all over 4ft tall. I've got 18 plants left in the house, fortunately not all that big.

I've got a good crop on the Twiglights and Masquerades.

Think I will grow more smaller varieties next year!


Untitled by garreth64, on Flickr

[Nimbus]

well, sent OH to get some bug spray today (as recommended from link above ta ), so it will be DDT time for the little buggers tonight..

My chillies live ( or did I was about to move them to a sunnier windowsill ) next to a french door in the kitchen, but I've been putting them outside whenever it was sunny.. whenever that last was !

I cant see when the aphids got to them tho, as they were ok, and clean when I went away 2 weeks ago, and they havent been outside in that time..

fingers crossed the ddt does the trick..

[Number 8]

I've got a scotch bonnet indoors by the window, but I'm finding that it's getting infested with little black bugs and green fly. Not sure how to get rid of them without initiating a chemical warfare. The plant looks reasonably strong and has grown to about 11" tall at the moment with the biggest leaves being a good 8-9" in length, but some of the smaller leaves look like they've been attacked.

Any ideas?

[evilmunkey]

when my chillies were younger they got infested by lil black and white bugs. went to the garden centrr and was shown a spray that was non systemic , you have to be carefull which spray you get. some are designed for edibles and the chemichal does not go in the plant itself. the stuff i got at tong garden centre worked a charm, i think i introduced the pests from a chilli plant bought at a car boot, a lemon apache. still no probs since spraying and all doing well and fruiting. one thing though this being my first season doing cayenne, bhut jololika, apache and habanero and lemon chili, how do i know when a chilli is properly ripe and ready to pick ?

[Mobile Chicane]

evilmunkey said:

when my chillies were younger they got infested by lil black and white bugs. went to the garden centrr and was shown a spray that was non systemic , you have to be carefull which spray you get. some are designed for edibles and the chemichal does not go in the plant itself. the stuff i got at tong garden centre worked a charm, i think i introduced the pests from a chilli plant bought at a car boot, a lemon apache. still no probs since spraying and all doing well and fruiting. one thing though this being my first season doing cayenne, bhut jololika, apache and habanero and lemon chili, how do i know when a chilli is properly ripe and ready to pick ?

When they show signs of reddening, that's as big as they're ever going to get.

BTW, I'm not overly hopeful for my crop this year. They're indoors, but it is far too cold for them to really do anything.

Hey ho. The seeds, pots and compost were free - it's just my time I've wasted.

[The Major]

I got a big pot from sainsburys for about 4 quid an planted on the 14th of march.

they are coming on alright atm, about a foot an a half high atm.

just dont know what make chilli they are, so im not holding out on anything mega hot, just a nice gentle heat, something I can make chilli jam from.

Ive got 12 plants atm, and it doesnt look like Ive got any bugs either.

does anyone have a foolproof recipe an way of making chilli jam?

[littlegreenfairy]

My scotch bonnet got very dry then very wet and all the leaves fell off but has 3 fruit still growing.

The habernero is growing slowly but the waterlogged ground isn't helping much.

[0a]

I have a couple of plants, lots of small ones coming. How long do they take to ripen or is the weather too cold (they are outside)?