The 2016 Chilli Thread

Is it possible to grow these outside?

 

Thanks @Loofah I might have a go growing some on the allotment under a plastic cloche tunnel

 

I also started mine off yesterday

I usually start them at the beginning of January. They'll be fine though

I had some of the older gents down at the allotment amazed by my peppers and chillies last season. As stated above, i started them in early January and continued to pot them up. I eventually took them down to the allotment to transplant into my polytunnel around the back end of May. They got constant feed.

I had my best ever harvest of vivid red's and orange colour peppers with chillies producing more than i could freeze.

They normally only produce small green ones

 

forgot to mention the varieties

for the first time, im trying

Pepper - colour rainbow X8
Pepper - traffic lights X8
Chilli - patio sizzle X7

I've been thinking about investing in a grow light to try and slow their vertical growth this year.

Last year they got very tall, almost touching the top of the window. They weren't bolting, just rapidly growing

A grow light might make them more bushy

 

I am a little late this year sowing my Chillis . Need to buy some new seed compost this week . I'll soak the seeds for about half a day then sow them in little props , put them in the airing cupboard at around 30°c until they show . Then into my mini light box.
I'm only doing one variety this year , Tokyo Hot , a cayenne type . Really pleased last year with the mid heat at 20,000 scoville plus very productive
http://www.sowchillies.co.uk/products/tokyo-hot-chilli-seeds

 

wow! that's some plant

do you start yours off with lights?

 

I only got around to sorting my seeds out yesterday for sowing this year, but they'll be under lights (gradually reducing) until May, and go into polytunnels 1st June. I tried putting them in tunnels earlier than that last year, but low temps forced me to keep bringing them back home into warmth.

Varieties for 2016:

Draky (extremely mild) http://www.seaspringseeds.co.uk/sho...itstart=0&option=com_virtuemart&view=category Saved a load of seeds from last year's crop.
Joe's Long (only I can't find where I've put them!)
Dorset Naga http://www.seaspringseeds.co.uk/shop/chilli-seed/superhot-chillies/product117-detail (neighbour gave me an almost full packet of seeds - £6.00 plus P&P, so might try this competition [1])
T&M Naga Jolokia (part of my T&M bargain seed hauls)
T&M Padron (ditto)
Saved Cheyenne (bog standard car boot/charity sale chillies).


[1] http://www.seaspringseeds.co.uk/new...ng-competitions/dorset-naga-growing-challenge

 

I cut back on the varieties to grow this year.
I grow habaneros and ring of fire in pots that I hang outside. Haven't started these seeds yet. Probably by the end of the week.

I am growing bhut jolokia, carolina reaper, moruga, 7 pot yellow and chocolate douglahs . Most of these plants get to about 5 feet tall and produce until october, in the greenhouse. Started these seeds around boxing day.

You need to keep them warm and undisturbed. Their blossoms will fall off if you look at them cross eyed.