The 2023 Chilli Growing Thread

thermionic · February 2023

Well, here we are then. I was going to try and buy some good quality seeds this year, but somebody bought me this at Christmas:

https://i.imgur.com/wKJyqAj.jpg

Jalapenos, Habaneros, and Serranos - sounds good to me. The plant in the background is one of last year’s surviving Habanero plants - is it worth trying to keep it going on a sunny windowsill?

The instructions were to place the bar in something like a takeaway tray, but none I had were big enough so I sliced the bar in three. I hope I didn’t damage or displace too many seeds by cutting it. Now sitting in my electrically heated propagator in the hope of germination.

https://i.imgur.com/fcggPKX.jpg

Grunfeld · February 2023

I attempting to grow some from seed this year -- my chilli plant last year was a gift and it did alright.

I guess it's time to start the seeds... once I can find where I put them.

Hungarian yellows I think.

Benm39 · February 2023

@thermionic ; re your over wintered habanero, yes, well worth giving it a good prune and then see if it comes back. Although considered annuals many chillies grow as bushes in the wild and will often keep going. Give it some fresh compost and check its not pot bound and it should get going faster than a seedling

Kalimna · February 2023

I currently have about 20 2-leaf seedlings grown from seed collected from a couple of chilli's a local deli gave me last year that the owner grew in the shop

No idea of variety, but had that spectacular heat you only get from windowledge-grown chillis in Scotland. We'll see how they do this year. I have also ordered some plug plants for later on in the year.

Adam

thermionic · February 2023

Just ordered some Cherry Bombs (easy to germinate and grow) and Purple Tiger (ideal for windowsills) seeds for variety.

Stratavarious · February 2023

Was just starting my growing plans for 2023.

I used some Cayenne frozen from last year in a nice spicy stir fry last night!

Made some killer chillis this past year with some oven dried peppers.

I do like Joe’s Long as a general cooking pepper.

ThePrettyDamned · February 2023

I'm in.

Fewer varieties than last year, though. I'm going for sugar rush stripy, peppacream and poblano for the edible ones. I'm growing one super hot, probably going to do 7 pot douglah again, it's basically inedible but sort of fun. Oh, and a couple of habanero plants.

Then I'm growing lots of sweet peppers, like tangerine dream and banana peppers. Hoping that the allotment soil is slightly improved on last year for being mulched for a year. They struggled a bit last year, and of course I'm counting on good weather.

I'm sowing them at the weekend in a plug tray, and aim to get them outside and under cover in late April or early May. It's a bit risky, but can withstand a very very light frost with a good thick mesh, and the dark colour of the mesh helps to keep it warm in the sun.

I'm also working on my bonsai chilli, which is a habanero. Hoping to make it look like a small tree with a thick trunk, and have a few branches with a couple of pepper lanterns hanging off. Going well so far.

RedRabbit · February 2023

I planted my chilli seeds a couple of weeks ago and have had them in the propagator since. There's 5 varieties in there - all have germinated other than the hottest variety (I can remember what they are all called off the top of my head). I'm not giving up on them just yet but I am starting to doubt if the seeds were still valid.

Of those that have germinated, some are getting pretty leggy with out much leaf development. Do I need to find somewhere with a bit more light for them?

chillidoggy · February 2023

After last year’s overwintering failures I wasn’t going to bother this year. But now I’ve seen this thread I might have another go with some Jalapeños. I don’t want anything that’s too fussy about it’s environment, though.

ThePrettyDamned · February 2023

RedRabbit said:

I planted my chilli seeds a couple of weeks ago and have had them in the propagator since. There's 5 varieties in there - all have germinated other than the hottest variety (I can remember what they are all called off the top of my head). I'm not giving up on them just yet but I am starting to doubt if the seeds were still valid.

Of those that have germinated, some are getting pretty leggy with out much leaf development. Do I need to find somewhere with a bit more light for them?

Yes, this time of year a grow light is a requirement. A windowsill won't provide enough light for good growth.

You can somewhat mitigate this by transferring into a bigger pot, and burying the stem. Pepper plants, like tomato plants, can form roots up the stem so you will have a sturdier plant. It will get leggy again, though.

Stratavarious · February 2023

Actually,. I have some grow lights from a genetics experiment my daughter did while back in the loft.. will get em out and build something.

I’m usually a windowsill and propagator grower but the leggy seedings are a problem.

RedRabbit · February 2023

ThePrettyDamned said:

RedRabbit said:

I planted my chilli seeds a couple of weeks ago and have had them in the propagator since. There's 5 varieties in there - all have germinated other than the hottest variety (I can remember what they are all called off the top of my head). I'm not giving up on them just yet but I am starting to doubt if the seeds were still valid.

Of those that have germinated, some are getting pretty leggy with out much leaf development. Do I need to find somewhere with a bit more light for them?

Yes, this time of year a grow light is a requirement. A windowsill won't provide enough light for good growth.

You can somewhat mitigate this by transferring into a bigger pot, and burying the stem. Pepper plants, like tomato plants, can form roots up the stem so you will have a sturdier plant. It will get leggy again, though.

Cheers, I've just ordered a grow light.

GoFish · February 2023

I'm completely new to this. What would I need to get started?

Stratavarious · February 2023

GoFish said:

I'm completely new to this. What would I need to get started?

Got a garden or outdoor area for planting out/pots or looking at a windowsill setup?

GoFish · February 2023

I'm fortunate to have outdoor space and pots. Would I need to begin the process indoors? I have no indoor stuff, but could probably find a window...

Supportact · February 2023

I'm growing some this year! Got a small electric propagator this time so starting them off in that.

We get our Chilli (and other veg) seeds from this site:
https://www.realseeds.co.uk/

They have some interesting varieties. I'm trying a few, the 'Ohmnivec' in particular looks nice.

ThePrettyDamned · February 2023

Supportact said:

I'm growing some this year! Got a small electric propagator this time so starting them off in that.

We get our Chilli (and other veg) seeds from this site:
https://www.realseeds.co.uk/

They have some interesting varieties. I'm trying a few, the 'Ohmnivec' in particular looks nice.

Ohnivec is nice, it's the big green peppers you get in kebab shops. I grew them the other year. They're bit as hot as realseeds would have you think, but they do get a real bite when ripe! Very prolific as well.

Kittyfrisk · February 2023

I have managed to keep some chili plants alive on an indoor window sill in the north east for over 3 years now, despite repeated attacks of virus caused by bastard red spider mites...grrrrr!
This place has a fair range of seedlings & is fairly priced (good for herbs & spices too) https://spicesontheweb.co.uk/chilli-seedling-plants

Supportact · February 2023

ThePrettyDamned said:

Supportact said:

I'm growing some this year! Got a small electric propagator this time so starting them off in that.

We get our Chilli (and other veg) seeds from this site:
https://www.realseeds.co.uk/

They have some interesting varieties. I'm trying a few, the 'Ohmnivec' in particular looks nice.

Ohnivec is nice, it's the big green peppers you get in kebab shops. I grew them the other year. They're bit as hot as realseeds would have you think, but they do get a real bite when ripe! Very prolific as well.

Ah that's good news, I do like those kebab shop peppers!

CoffeeAndTV · February 2023

My son and I have been doing this for years, we plant about 30 each year and give them away to friends when they start bearing fruit. I’m not particularly interested in gardening, but it became tradition about 6 years ago. I still have some from last year in the window. We made some hot olive oil in the past and given that away too.

Favourites have been baskets of fire, I have some Aji Limo which are citrus-ish.

thermionic · February 2023

ThePrettyDamned said:

I'm in.

I'm also working on my bonsai chilli, which is a habanero. Hoping to make it look like a small tree with a thick trunk, and have a few branches with a couple of pepper lanterns hanging off. Going well so far.

I have a Habanero plant which has survived on a sunny windowsill since last year - how do I bonsai it? It’s getting a bit unruly and only produced about 7-8 fruit last summer.

ThePrettyDamned · February 2023

thermionic said:

ThePrettyDamned said:

I'm in.

I'm also working on my bonsai chilli, which is a habanero. Hoping to make it look like a small tree with a thick trunk, and have a few branches with a couple of pepper lanterns hanging off. Going well so far.

I have a Habanero plant which has survived on a sunny windowsill since last year - how do I bonsai it? It’s getting a bit unruly and only produced about 7-8 fruit last summer.

I'm not an expert, but I'll post a photo tomorrow.

I grew it last year, in a normal pot, harvested and then brought inside (hello, fungus gnats).

Then in November or December (can't remember which) I cut it back hard to just a few branches on the short stem. Was not gentle!

Then I lifted it out of the pot, removed some of the roots and soil (maybe 1/3rd), added fresh compost and repotted. It recovered within a few days, starting to produce some shoots and now it looks kinda cute. Not going to win any awards, mind!

Nitefly · February 2023

Last year I took one of the kits from @ThePrettyDamned (thanks, TPD!), and grew them first on a sunny windowsill, then to a greenhouse and finally in pots outdoors.

I had most success with Ring of Fire, Rokita, and Purple Cayenne. The various Habaneros didn't do very well.

robgilmo · February 2023

Im going to buy seedlings later this year and use a plastic greenhouse thingy, I cant be arsed with growing from seed.

thermionic · February 2023

“It’s not what you think officer, I’m just trying to grow some chillies.”

https://i.imgur.com/keYkS8A.jpg

Kittyfrisk · February 2023

Does away with the need for an additional outside security light too

Good luck growing

ThePrettyDamned · February 2023

thermionic said:

“It’s not what you think officer, I’m just trying to grow some chillies.”

https://i.imgur.com/keYkS8A.jpg

When I had the bed delivered last year the lads asked if I "had any going spare". Didn't understand, so he gestured to the plants.

I said they were chillies, and he looked absolutely devastated.

I've had first couple germinate now, so the lights went on yesterday. I only have them on for a few hours per day for cotylydons (spelling?!) but they'll go on longer in a week or so when they need more light. Hopefully in a few weeks the lights won't be needed anymore.

Kittyfrisk · February 2023

^ Pretty damn close

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotyledon

ThePrettyDamned · February 2023

Kittyfrisk said:

^ Pretty damn close https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotyledon

Noted! What an awkward word...

Snap · February 2023

I had a good crop of hot cayennes last year, plenty still in the freezer. My scotch bonnets started fruiting after about 10 months and are now producing quite a few hot ripe fruits. That is doing well.

I have a greenhouse, so most of the growing is done in there. Will get some seedlings once it warms up a bit, something hot I think. Will also have a do at some from seed, usually works out ok, though often not as hot as I'd like, which is always a bit of a downer.

ThePrettyDamned · February 2023

Getting half way decent rates of germination here, it's been about 1 weeks and out of 49 cells (one seed per cell) I currently have 10 seedlings. Not bad, considering most of the seed was out of date last year and some varieties take 2 weeks or more.

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The 2023 Chilli Growing Thread

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