Chillies 2023

I find, at least the few I grow, are a bit hardier than tomatoes.

I was just thinking aloud really, but its based on the fact I've had a shelf in my south facing unheated back porch for years.
Its on the house wall and catches the sun all day, if there is any.

I can move plants of most kinds to that shelf probably a month before I can leave them in my frost free greenhouse.

At this time of the year we are coming to a point where you only need to raise the overnight temperature a couple of degrees for a couple of hours around dawn.

Its obviously not going to have any effect during winter or after cloudy days.

 

So extra light won.

Seedlings were getting etiolated.
Put them into the greenhouse.
I figure that even if they slow down a bit until it warms up, they will be sturdier

 

Outside every day now but in at night. Overwintered Orange pepperoncini most advanced but it's in too small a pot

 

Voles ?

 

This is the open pollinated version of Redskin F1. It's looking true to type and is the earliest to set fruit this year.

 

Hello All,

We started to put the chilis into the greenhouse today. Prepared the Wilma systems during the week and put in the nutrients and set the pH. This morning we washed the clay beads and planted 8 of the chilis (all Jalapeños) from the grow tent. Tomorrow we need to do the same with another 8 (Cayennes and Birds Eyes) with more bead washing. Weather permitting, same again the day after with a third set of 8 (sweet peppers). I've included a photo of the first 8 plants and I hope the weather will be warm enough so as not to kill them.



That's all for now.

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Hello all,

2nd Wilma System now filled with 4 x Cayennes and 4 x Thai Birds Eye plants.



Weather on Monday and Tuesday nights could be down to 0C so installed a 1kw heater on a timer to prevent any plant damage. I hope the 1kw power level is enough in the large greenhouse.

Another 8 plants tomorrow!

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I went to a few garden centres this weekend to stock up on more chilli plants for the summer.

Is it just me, or are there are lot fewer varieties on offer than in previous years ??

 

In your experience, would warming the hydroponic solution (with an aquarium heater) give you localised warmth as a microclimate, that would be more energy efficient than a space heater ?

 

Infradig,
Yes, I'm sure it would. However the heater will only be on for 1 or 2 nights through the predicted cold snap on Monday and Tuesday. Also it won't cost too much as our night rate is now only 9.5p/kwh as we have a solar system and get an Electric Vehicle tarrif.
I have seen the aquarium heater technique on YouTube videos and it is interesting and I'm sure much more efficient. I would have to buy 3 aquarium heaters/thermostats though so the cost in the short term would be higher.

Thanks for your suggestion.

Regards

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