Growing Chillies

[BoRED S2upid]

This year i'm growing some quite impressive Chilli plants which are now in flower and the chillies are starting to grow. Question is do the flowers need insects to do their work? i'm growing them in the house so nothing around to be bothered with flowers.

[Earthboundmisfit]

Not sure if they need isects or not but you can perform the job of the insect with a cotton bud. Watched it on Gardeners World or some other type show once.

Please note, you have to make a buzzing sound so you fool the plants

[HootersGsy]

Earthboundmisfit said:

Not sure if they need isects or not but you can perform the job of the insect with a cotton bud. Watched it on Gardeners World or some other type show once.

Please note, you have to make a buzzing sound so you fool the plants

Please make sure you film this. Purely for educational purposes for the rest of us of course.

[z4RRSchris99]

BoRED S2upid said:

This year i'm growing some quite impressive Chilli plants which are now in flower and the chillies are starting to grow. Question is do the flowers need insects to do their work? i'm growing them in the house so nothing around to be bothered with flowers.

i use tweezers

[Craikeybaby]

I've grown chillies on my windowsill for the last few years and have just left them to it.

Got Jalepeno, Hungarian wax and ring of fire chillies. Don't forget to keep seeds out of some of the chillies so that you can grow them next year.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

You do know you don't need to sow chilli seeds every year? The plants can be overwintered perfectly successfully, and in fact will crop better in the 2nd, 3rd and possibly 4th years. By about the 5th year it's time to retire them.

[arfur]

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:

You do know you don't need to sow chilli seeds every year? The plants can be overwintered perfectly successfully, and in fact will crop better in the 2nd, 3rd and possibly 4th years. By about the 5th year it's time to retire them.

^^^ This

However last year for some reason it didn't work (3rd year). I ended up starting afresh in the greenhouse .. 2nd crop already this year ...

[Craikeybaby]

Mine didn't survive the winter, will try again this year though. I've got most of mine planted outside though as haven't really got enough windowsill space.

[Lost soul]

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:

You do know you don't need to sow chilli seeds every year? The plants can be overwintered perfectly successfully, and in fact will crop better in the 2nd, 3rd and possibly 4th years. By about the 5th year it's time to retire them.

That's interesting , I have some chilli's on the go outside

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

I usually cut them back a bit and remove any dead bits, and keep them watered slightly less than I normally would.

Edited to add: They need to be overwintered inside, because they're not hardy. A bright south-facing windowsill will do, or a frost-free greenhouse.

[Lost soul]

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:

I usually cut them back a bit and remove any dead bits, and keep them watered slightly less than I normally would.

Edited to add: They need to be overwintered inside, because they're not hardy. A bright south-facing windowsill will do, or a frost-free greenhouse.

HMmm not sure Mrs LS will allow that , she is more than a bit OCD and runs a tight ship

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

That was the principal reason why I got myself a greenhouse!

[BoRED S2upid]

Cheers guys I will get a cotton bud tonight and buzz around the kitchen

[CrutyRammers]

Don't think you need to as said above - we just leave them to it and get plenty of chillies.
They freeze very well whole so you can stock up for the year. Or slice and pickle.

[Lost soul]

CrutyRammers said:

Don't think you need to as said above - we just leave them to it and get plenty of chillies.
They freeze very well whole so you can stock up for the year. Or slice and pickle.

apparently the more you pick them the more they produce

[NathanM1]

And use a fertiliser that will promote more flowering , I have around 30-40 different varieties on the go including around 5 Carolina Reapers

If any of you are on Facebook, I can add you to the chilli growers page, lots of hints and tips from like minded people from all over the world

[BlackZeD]

Put a link up to the FB page Nathan will join it.
I'm growing Chocolate Habaneros and Bhut Jolokias at the moment, have many
flowers and a few fruit on some.
I pollinate mine with a rubber covered wire plant tie, I just pull the rubber
part over the wire so its softer on the flower head.

Dave.

[BigJonMcQuimm]

I was told that gently shaking the stems helps propogation.

I also have 30 odd plants growing including 7 pot, Morgura Red, Scotch Bonnets, BrainStrain and various Habs.

My favourite is the purple vampire - beautiful flowers.

[BlackZeD]

Little pic of my Bhut Jolokias they are on the right, ones at back are sweet peppers.

[bint]

I find a good small paintbrush for pollination works well. Mine are covered in greenfly currently (growing in bedroom windowsill) so spend most evenings squishing them