Any chilli growers here?

[funk]

I had the hair brained idea of starting 'a season' this year for the first time.

Underestimated how well things might go and have ended up with a good few plants to content with by accident 😳

Hot sauce ahoy this autumn if things continue the way it's gone so far 😂

 

[cliff_poole]

Easiest things to grow ever. If you keep them indoors over winter, they last for years, end up looking like bonsai trees. Don't be alarmed at leaves falling off, it is just natural, and keep them away from aphids.

It is a good time to start planting other stuff like tomatoes. Great to have a free source of fresh veg over the summer.

 

[TheDaddy]

Never done Chillies dont think my bottom could take it !
I plant my cucumbers & tomatoes at the end of March normally.

Dave.

P.S One thing I can never grow is peppers , The green fly gets me every time unless I wipe them down every night ! Any ideas greatly welcome as I would love to be able to grow them.

 

[uberpixel]

I have a bottle of something called 'Regret' - 12 million scovilles. At that level of heat, food isn't fun anymore. 😂

 

[TheDaddy]

 

[lix]

Last had a plant around ten years ago, it produced only one chilli but it was massive and very rich and tasty.

Sure enough the greenfly got to it despite the plant being five floors above ground level and behind closed windows. It's like they teleport directly onto the plant.

 

[funk]

Yeah I'm not looking forward to the pests which are inevitable, so far avoided any in the house but yeah, fully expecting them. May branch out and grow some other stuff next year.

Poblano, Cayenne, naga, bhut jolokia, razzamataz, Anaheim, jalapeño, scotch, Kashmiri, habenaro... think that's the lot for this year 😳

 

[John Bennett]

I planted chilli seed kit someone bought me once.
It did eventually grow and produced one solitary, tiny, bright red chilli.
Picking it and immediately eating it wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done

 

[kingtreelo]

I have had moderate success with chillis, although a few years back i planted about 8 and used to get this amount every 3-4 weeks...couldnt give them away in the end, they were very very hot as well

 

[funk]

I have had moderate success with chillis, although a few years back i planted about 8 and used to get this amount every 3-4 weeks...couldnt give them away in the end, they were very very hot as well
View attachment 1758

That there sir is my dream 😂

 

[kingtreelo]

That there sir is my dream 😂

that was purely just plants on a table in the garden, i used to go out and mist them each day, ive never had anywhere near that success since though even though i try each year

i dont think it helps that the seasons are pretty much knackered now in this country amd i cant really try anymore due to my dogs

 

[r-type]

I regularly grow chillis. We go to the chilli festival at Waddesdon Manor (National Trust). Last year was my best ever. I've still got loads in a bag in the freezer.

Always start my seeds just after christmas. I find peat free compost is best, and make a mix using vermiculite and perlite. Tomato feed works wonders for them too.

Sadly, this year I took my eye off the ball as I've had lots going on at home and have only ended up with 5 plants this year. Still, it will be refreshing to only have to look after 5 instead of 20 - 30 plants.

Aphids are a pain, I use a spray bottle with a simple solution of dish soap and water. That keeps them at bay, but quite often I'm still there having to manually remove the little shits...

 

[funk]

Yeah the pests I'm really not looking forward to. Need to sort out a greenhouse for outside before the other half kills me!

@r-type when have you started feeding previously out of interest?

 

[funk]

So it's not been going too badly for a first timer.

Pest wise slugs have been the biggest problem, keeping as gooder seal as possible on the temp greenhouse seems to have helped on that front.

Anyone who has had issues with pests previous, get yourself some neem oil, it's worked wonders so far at keeping them at bay. Way too much in too smaller place though 😳

 

[CMYKhazi-Dan]

I love chillies, I tried to grow some. Failed. I did keep a chilli plant from the supermarket going for a while (cheating 😅) but I eat them too fast.



Any advice growing from seed would be greatfully received, wouldn't mind giving it another go!

 

[cliff_poole]

It has been a good year for ladybirds which helps keeps away the aphids.

Cooked my first big pot of chilli of the summer last week. It was very hot. First batch is always difficult to judge.

 

[miner2049er]

I bought some ladybirds online with mixed success.
I think they were homing ladybirds.

 

[Bods]

feeling left out here

Not into growing stuff but I like me spicey stuff, put chilli sauce in Tomato Soup got a mix of Sauces for Xmas and had Mild one first but only picked it looking at name, didn't notice the heat label at bottom so when I opened the 2nd I took it from other end, holy moly only had a small dab It was Naga Jolokia Pepper Sauce (Scorching) i'd put loads on me plate as well, couple of nights later i put a small bit of it and some mild as well, ran out of mild so put more on, then when head was on fire I realised i'd only put more of the Naga again so was downing loads of drink, then had to get mint yoghurt on too. I've got Scorpion Pepper Scorcher next which is one down from Naga

 

[kingtreelo]

my big batch i did, i regular went out and misted them, talking daily. Also, dont water them too much, they need to be watered every 2-3 days at the most, im going to have another crack next year as my garden is being done

 

[kingtreelo]

So it's not been going too badly for a first timer.

Pest wise slugs have been the biggest problem, keeping as gooder seal as possible on the temp greenhouse seems to have helped on that front.

Anyone who has had issues with pests previous, get yourself some neem oil, it's worked wonders so far at keeping them at bay. Way too much in too smaller place though 😳

these all look way too tall without any chillis on them, most of them start to sprout chillis when they are about 1-2 feet tall