Anyone growing Chillies this year?
Discussion
Hello
Just found this thread, here are my selection for this year..
In no particular order; Scotch Bonnets, Friars Hat, Apache, Cayenne, Dorset Naga, Thai Hot, Trinidad Scorpians (Butch T) and another few random plants yet to be identified.
This is the Friars Hat, over wintered from last year, allready harvested lots of fruit back in January and am hoping to get a very good second year crop.
Just waiting a little longer now before planting them out side....
Just found this thread, here are my selection for this year..
In no particular order; Scotch Bonnets, Friars Hat, Apache, Cayenne, Dorset Naga, Thai Hot, Trinidad Scorpians (Butch T) and another few random plants yet to be identified.
This is the Friars Hat, over wintered from last year, allready harvested lots of fruit back in January and am hoping to get a very good second year crop.
Just waiting a little longer now before planting them out side....
paulmon said:
I have always wanted to do this and doth my cap to those of you who have dived right in but as I suspected it looks like it falls into the "More trouble than its worth" category. For me that is.
It's a piece of cake.This is the second season we've grown stuff in the kitchen window.
All you need is some soil, the seeds and pots! Some people go the whole hog as evidenced in this thread, but we've never bothered with fancy lights or lids and get plenty of chilli's.
Cyder said:
paulmon said:
I have always wanted to do this and doth my cap to those of you who have dived right in but as I suspected it looks like it falls into the "More trouble than its worth" category. For me that is.
It's a piece of cake.This is the second season we've grown stuff in the kitchen window.
All you need is some soil, the seeds and pots! Some people go the whole hog as evidenced in this thread, but we've never bothered with fancy lights or lids and get plenty of chilli's.
Hoonigan said:
Yup same here, see pics above. All very easy
Same here.We've never tried growing anything from seed before, but this year we've got ten chilli plants on the go - all from seed, all looking healthy, and just germinated in a simple covered propagator on a windowsill.
However, a question for the chilli plant experts: once we've established the plants, are they indoors all year around?
brissleboy said:
Is it too late to start this now, I fear it is...? Completely slipped my mind, was planning on having my first bash at growing chillies this year, bugger.
It's too late now to start this year from seed, but you can still pick up small chilli plants at garden centres at the moment for £1-£2 and get a good crop off those, then try seeds next year. I planted my seeds at the beginning of Feb this year to give them a good head start. There are lots of varieties that are easy to grow, just need some pots and soil (peat free), the only reason I used a heated propagator and light this year is I wanted to have a go with the Naga's and Bhut Jolokia's which are more difficult to germinate and grow in the UK.
kiteless said:
Same here.
We've never tried growing anything from seed before, but this year we've got ten chilli plants on the go - all from seed, all looking healthy, and just germinated in a simple covered propagator on a windowsill.
However, a question for the chilli plant experts: once we've established the plants, are they indoors all year around?
That's a very good question. I've currently got 24 plants indoors (I've already given some away) and they are just about using up all my window sill space. They just about need repotting now, which means bigger pots taking up more room.We've never tried growing anything from seed before, but this year we've got ten chilli plants on the go - all from seed, all looking healthy, and just germinated in a simple covered propagator on a windowsill.
However, a question for the chilli plant experts: once we've established the plants, are they indoors all year around?
A couple of years ago, I tried some plants outside, and in my mini plastic greenhouse, but they didn't do very well and also became diseased even with spraying.
So, my plan is to keep as many indoors as I can (esp the Naga's etc), give a few more away, and any I have no room for can go outside and will have to see how they get on.
The only problem with keeping them indoors is that not much pollination occurs naturally from insects, so they may need to be manually cross pollenated.
I have an established plant which I use for general consumption - I don't know what variety it is but they're OK to eat fresh and make lovely flakes when dried and crushed.
New this year is a couple of Habanero plants - again I don't know the specific variety but will see how they turn out.
The question I have for you guys is what do you do with them all? I don't eat half of what I grow and give a lot away.
New this year is a couple of Habanero plants - again I don't know the specific variety but will see how they turn out.
The question I have for you guys is what do you do with them all? I don't eat half of what I grow and give a lot away.
Ranger 6 said:
I have an established plant which I use for general consumption - I don't know what variety it is but they're OK to eat fresh and make lovely flakes when dried and crushed.
New this year is a couple of Habanero plants - again I don't know the specific variety but will see how they turn out.
The question I have for you guys is what do you do with them all? I don't eat half of what I grow and give a lot away.
Apart from drying, I freeze them and use them in cooking. It seems to work well and I'm still using last years crop.New this year is a couple of Habanero plants - again I don't know the specific variety but will see how they turn out.
The question I have for you guys is what do you do with them all? I don't eat half of what I grow and give a lot away.
Other than that I made a nice chilli chutney last year, and this year I'm planning on trying making a chilli jam if I have enough crop....
Ranger 6 said:
Hadn't thought of freezing them - thanks!
With chutney and jam what's good to tone down the strength of the chillis? (thinking of the kids - their tolerance is much lower than mine) or is it a case of not putting many in?
Difficult to say as I like it hot but like you say not putting as many in, using less hot variety, plenty of milder ingredients such as tomatoes and onions etc in chutneys etc, and probably lots of sugar in a jam/jelly With chutney and jam what's good to tone down the strength of the chillis? (thinking of the kids - their tolerance is much lower than mine) or is it a case of not putting many in?
My chillies are doing well. Got loads of fruit and flowers on my random harvested seeds purple tigers are starting to get flowers but my Big Bananas are dropping flowers. They are outside currently enjoying some fresh air and sun. I have also got some other seedlings growing which include Cayenne, Peter Pepper, Ox Horn, Californian Wonder and some Mixed bells.
I have enjoyed growing chillies this year and started to gather seeds to grow next year. So far I have got 39 different varieties with 14 of them being either sweet or mild and I’m planning on giving the Habs, Bonnets, Jolokias and Butch T’s a go as well. I think I will have so many that I will need to sell some through work to thin the numbers.
With my crop I plan to make Chilli Jelly, Chilli Vodka and hot sauces.
I have enjoyed growing chillies this year and started to gather seeds to grow next year. So far I have got 39 different varieties with 14 of them being either sweet or mild and I’m planning on giving the Habs, Bonnets, Jolokias and Butch T’s a go as well. I think I will have so many that I will need to sell some through work to thin the numbers.
With my crop I plan to make Chilli Jelly, Chilli Vodka and hot sauces.
put them outside 2 weeks ago and this thread has just remind me, hope i can save them.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.However, a question for the chilli plant experts: once we've established the plants, are they indoors all year around?
That was Tamworth UK and Newcastle NSW although if in Tamworth NSW, I would also put them in doors as you get frosts !
garreth64 said:
It's too late now to start this year from seed, but you can still pick up small chilli plants at garden centres at the moment for £1-£2 and get a good crop off those, then try seeds next year.
I planted my seeds at the beginning of Feb this year to give them a good head start. There are lots of varieties that are easy to grow, just need some pots and soil (peat free), the only reason I used a heated propagator and light this year is I wanted to have a go with the Naga's and Bhut Jolokia's which are more difficult to germinate and grow in the UK.
Just ordered some chilli plants online so I'll see how I go - thanks for the tip!I planted my seeds at the beginning of Feb this year to give them a good head start. There are lots of varieties that are easy to grow, just need some pots and soil (peat free), the only reason I used a heated propagator and light this year is I wanted to have a go with the Naga's and Bhut Jolokia's which are more difficult to germinate and grow in the UK.
Aren't Nagas and Bhut Jolokias just too hot for everyday use though, these are some of the hottest chillis in the world?? I can't imagine how hot a homemade chilli oil would become using these, thermonuclear one would imagine!
brissleboy said:
Just ordered some chilli plants online so I'll see how I go - thanks for the tip!
Aren't Nagas and Bhut Jolokias just too hot for everyday use though, these are some of the hottest chillis in the world?? I can't imagine how hot a homemade chilli oil would become using these, thermonuclear one would imagine!
They are indeed! I'm just growing them as a challenge Aren't Nagas and Bhut Jolokias just too hot for everyday use though, these are some of the hottest chillis in the world?? I can't imagine how hot a homemade chilli oil would become using these, thermonuclear one would imagine!
I think in small quantities they should be ok, my local takeaway does a gorgeous chicken tikka naga, which whilst very hot has a fantastic flavour which I put down to the naga.
I'm going to make sure I wear full biohazard protection gear when I handle them though
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