A thread for hot pepper-a-holics...

[The Hollyberry Lady]

WOW....great stuff, Millworkman!!!


Thanks for sharing your terrific shots! I see you're a fan of peppers in pots too. I love them in the garden, but I've got a thing for them in pots.


Right now I'm also growing Fish, Jigsaw, Long Red Cayenne, Naga, Black Scorpion Tongue, Texas Bird, Bolivian Rainbow, and Pepper Joe's Alma Paprika. There are others but I can't recall offhand.


It's gone beyond obsession this season!


: )

[Jananas Bananas]

I AGREE! Great shots Millworkman! I did not know there was a pepper that is a tree! Is it supposed to be like that or it just grew that large? Amazing!

~JaNan

[The Hollyberry Lady]

There are some types that grow 6 feet tall!


"Tree" is right!





Here's a mix I've got going, of many surprises. They'll get transplanted to a much bigger pot in a few weeks...





: )

[millworkman]

Thanks for the kind words guys. Hollyberrylady, I think I am done using pots for the most part this year. The plants in the ground for me last year did soooo much better than the ones in pots it was almost unbelievable. All the plants that were in the ground grew to be over 5' and they were all planted late, almost July. As opposed to those in pots that had far fewer pods and were much smaller.

The tree hab does indeed grow just like a tree. It was started much later in the year compared to all my other plants and just took off. Here is a picture of it only 2 months old, passing 42"



The seeds for this were planted in june 2009 and I overwintered the plant in my garage just like this past year. It is already in the ground now and I fully expect it to get over 10' before november this year. It is going to be a very interesting year for me that is true.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Like anything...they always grows better in the garden.


I love them in pots though and especially indoors when it's cold outside. If they're fertilized well and they receive lots of sunlight, they can produce an impressive yield.


Yes, pepper plants can get very tall indeed, depending on the variety. I saw pics of some perennial peppers that were well established and they easily reached 6 feet tall.


Do you ever "top" your pepper seedlings when they're young to make them grow more dense and bushy?


I might top my Bolivian Rainbow...





Nice pepper tree, by the way.


: )

[millworkman]

Ive only topped what I overwinter, and that is only so I can keep them manageable over the winter. If I was growing them indoors for good then I would most definitely top them. Anything that gets started fresh from seeds though gets a full chance to grow tall outside for me, at least for one summer.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

That makes sense Millworkman...and I don't always top mine either.


Here are my Thai Dragons seedlings...





: )

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I came across a couple new ones in my pepper seed collection tonight that I've never tried before...Atomic Starfish & India Jwala.


Anyone ever tried either of them?


: )

[Dean W.]

Nope! Do you have the Japanese pepper? Takanotsume?

[stevelau1911]

Here's an update on my hot peppers. The seed rack is pretty long so I only got 1/2 of it on here, but I have 5 species, bhut Jolokia, Cayenne, banana, Pequin, Devil's tongue, and trinidad scorpion, all of them at least have some degree of germination.

The only problem I encounter is maggots feasting on seedlings before they fully develop, but they seem to become immune once they get big enough. I have sunlight supplemented by a 70 watt 5000spectrum light which I put within inches of these seedlings, and they seem to like it very much.

Bhut Jolokia right, Cayenne left

[Richard]

Originally Posted by stevelau1911

... The only problem I encounter is maggots feasting on seedlings before they fully develop, but they seem to become immune once they get big enough. ...

The source of the maggots could be your soil or the local environment. Before putting the soil in the tray(s), spread it out about 1/4-inch to 1 centimeter thick on a flat surface. Spray it lightly with a pyrethrin product, then put it in the tray. About 3 days later, spray lightly the surface of the soil in the tray(s) to kill any eggs that have been laid in the interim.

[stevelau1911]

I guess I could of done that, but now I have so many of them germinating that it doesn't really matter anymore. It seems like once they get big enough, make their own roots, they become immune to the maggots, and I think they are gnat larva because I see a pile of them dying as they rush to the flourescent light.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Steve, I just don't know how you handle it...I'm a freak about clean & sterile soil. You just won't believe the problems you will encounter from using that soil!


It looks like it's just outside dirt from the garden.


Steve, you may choose to garden how you wish, but I'm just letting you know that you are in for a huge amount of problems by keeping your plants indoors, in that soil. If you have other plants in the house too, the bugs can easily spread to them as well. Soon you'll have a gnat problem too, if you don't already.


The fact that your seedlings were getting eaten, was a HUGE sign of the disasters to come. I used to go cheap on soil too, but then I learned from experience that it's not worth it in the long run. Buying clean sterile soil is the only way to go when sprouting seeds and growing seedlings. Plants whose roots are constantly being screwed with, are weaker. A weak seedling makes for a weak adult.


It's not really that much money to get good soil either, and your seed germination rate will skyrocket! Those maggots are still feeding and they will stunt and deform the growth. I would start over with a good sterile medium.


Only my opinion, but it's formed from my experience. Good luck to you.


: )

[stevelau1911]

I used simple spaghnum moss for these guys, and obviously it is not too steril so I probably needed a seed starter mix. The gnats are however not very smart so they keep running into the light and killing themselves, so there's no gnat problem.

anyways they're starting to make their 1st real leaves so I'm kind of excited.

[The Hollyberry Lady]

I sure don't mean to burst your bubble, Steve. Wish you luck.


: )

[The Hollyberry Lady]

Update:


Here's how my hot pepper seedlings are doing today.


Black Pearl...





A few dark mystery varieties I'm very much enjoying watching develop...





There are many dark purple-ish ones in this next pic...





Blake's Chilly Chili seedlings...





Bolivian Rainbow...





: )

[Dean W.]

Stepped up these two Thai chili plants to 5-gallon containers.

[stevelau1911]

Wow, they are pretty big already Dean. All of mine are still tiny, and some are starting to just start making true leaves. They get 18 hours of light, from 7-11:30 they get natural sunlight, and then I turn on the flourescent light until 1AM so they can stay nice and sturdy. I've also been moving the extras that germinate to a different seed rack.

Here's an update on the cayenne and Bhut Jolokia. There are already noticeable differences between these species.

[Worm_Farmer]

This is a little different, but seems like a good place to share.



Greek Pepper Square Wreath, Eco-Friendly - OrganicBouquet.com

[The Hollyberry Lady]

WOW, I love that Mike! What a fantastic idea!

JaNan was showing wreaths before that had succulent cuttings all around it, and yours reminds me of the same kind of thing. I always have so many chilies that I could actually make something like that. Now you've given me ideas! Thanks so much for posting that gorgeous thing.


Here's the first of my pepper buds this season...





Soon I'll have little round fruits!


Here too are my two marble plants and a mystery variegated type in the back...





: )