Chillies 2023

Please tell me if/how you' let them down' after intensive (forced) growth as I imagine they are 'soft' and prone to ailments/fungus etc. Will you continue them on a hydroponic* basis; how do you expect them to produce compared to 'normal' cultivation in terms size and timing. I have absolutely no experience in growing in cupboards !
Edit:* I have now read your 'back posts', maybe understand!

 

Hello Infradig,

You ask a very good question.

This is my third year of growing chilis this way and you are right in that the risky time will be as they are transferred from the growtent into the greenhouse (about a month from now). Chillies are warm weather plants and a temperature of 26C does not "force" them providing they have enough light. In fact they germinate and grow very well at this temperature. Towards the end of the one month period I mention above I may tweak the temperature down to 23C/24C in preparation for the cooler nights they will see inside the greenhouse. I may add a thermostat and heater to the greenhouse if necessary to ensure that the temperature doesn't go below a temperature of 10C (maybe 15C).

The seedlings will be grown hydroponically in the greenhouse. I use several Wilma systems with clay beads as the growing medium. Each Wilma System has 8 x 11litre pots and they all sit on top of a large 120 litre tank of water with the appropriate nutrients. The water and nutrients are pumped onto the top of each pot for 15 minutes every 3 hours (or so).

I have found that the benefits of growing hydroponically are many. The plants grow bigger and quicker and produce a larger quantity of chilis. They require less maintanance as the water is topped up every week rather than daily. However, I do have to measure and adjust the pH and strength of the nutrients in the water every so often. I would defy anyone to be able to tell the difference in taste between soil grown and hydro grown fruit.

I have posted photographs in previous years of the hydro setup and the chilies so I'll dig out a few and post them when I get time.

I also grow tomatoes in exactly the same way except with slightly different nutrient levels.

I hope I've been able to help.

Best regards

Ademission

 

Step two my chillies is sitting in natural lighting, indoors.

I brought these upstairs this morning. There are many more down in the grow tent but these came up first because they are ready to transition.

 

@Loofah you're a lot braver than me. I'm keeping all of mine indoors for another month!

 

My acquisitions from a couple of weeks ago are starting to look a bit leggy indoors.
I am considering putting them in the greenhouse.
Extra light v lower temps

 

I sometimes wonder, at this time of the year it might be worth building a small cold frame from those lightweight thermal blocks, on the greenhouse bench.
They should absorb the heat during the day and release it at night.

Or even a ring of coke bottles full of water to heat up during the day.

I can't experiment, haven't got enough room to swing a cat.

 

Not convinced this will make a significant difference
The heat radiated will be a couple of degrees for a few hours max ??

Chillies would like it bordering tropical ?

 

When I first got my little greenhouse, I tried adding mass by putting 5 gallon pails of water in the greenhouse. I had painted them black to absorb heat. It did help some but not a significant amount however @Loofah 's situation has large troughs of soil and I can see how that would really moderate temperatures after a hot sunny day. Just my take on it.