Easy to grow chilli plants in England?

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by kyleleonard, Jan 9, 2012.

  1. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2006
    Messages:
    17,534
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Suffolk, UK
    Ratings:
    +12,668
    Even if not essential you will be supplementing "nature", so can only benefit I reckon. (Except on things where it is totally unnecessary ... self-pollinating plants, although off hand I can't think of any that I would suggest not hand pollinating if the plants are indoors & less likely to see the normal population of insect pollinating vectors.

    I don't bother to pollinate Chilli and Sweet Peppers, nor Aubergines, in my greenhouse, but if I had time I would.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • kyleleonard

      kyleleonard Total Gardener

      Joined:
      May 23, 2011
      Messages:
      1,428
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Ashton-under-Lyne
      Ratings:
      +950
      I found a greenfly on my chilli plants the other day.. God knows how it got in.
       
    • Phil A

      Phil A Guest

      Ratings:
      +0
      You want to watch them, they're like Chard Girls, born pregnant.
       
    • kyleleonard

      kyleleonard Total Gardener

      Joined:
      May 23, 2011
      Messages:
      1,428
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Ashton-under-Lyne
      Ratings:
      +950
      • Like Like x 1
      • HarryS

        HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

        Joined:
        Aug 28, 2010
        Messages:
        8,906
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Retired
        Location:
        Wigan
        Ratings:
        +16,248
        May not be the best of sites to daly on Kyle , probably whatever town you type in will give the same results on that site . Chard girls is just a version of the Essex girls jokes , or whatever town name you care to put in for your area. :WINK1:
        Back to Chillis , an odd flower bud dropping off is not a problem. If you get lots dropping off this would need to be investigated !
         
      • kyleleonard

        kyleleonard Total Gardener

        Joined:
        May 23, 2011
        Messages:
        1,428
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        Ashton-under-Lyne
        Ratings:
        +950
        The one which is getting fatter is getting a bit longer! I think it's a success story!

        My sister moves into her new house on the 2nd June, so I plan on getting her a nice pot and giving her one of my 6 chilli plants!
         
        • Like Like x 2
        • Phil A

          Phil A Guest

          Ratings:
          +0
          That would be a lovely gesture Kyle, if she keeps it indoors it'll last for years.
           
          • Like Like x 1
          • Fat Controller

            Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

            Joined:
            May 5, 2012
            Messages:
            27,607
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            Public Transport
            Location:
            At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
            Ratings:
            +51,884
            Update (and photo to follow as soon as I get the chance) - I bought a couple of trough things with a reservoir at the bottom and a wee tube that feeds the reservoir without getting the top of the compost wet.

            I've moved them over, taking a big handful of compost around the existing roots (hopefully I haven't disturbed them too much), and have planted them ever so slightly deeper so they have a wee bit more support.

            Best of it is, they are now in a row, so all I need to do is flip the trough round once a day to stop them leaning toward the window.

            Might get another couple of these wee troughs for growing my basil and parsley on the kitchen windowsill. :)
             
            • Like Like x 1
            • shiney

              shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

              Joined:
              Jul 3, 2006
              Messages:
              62,942
              Gender:
              Male
              Occupation:
              Retired - Last Century!!!
              Location:
              Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
              Ratings:
              +122,466
              Good idea, fc :dbgrtmb:
               
              • Like Like x 1
              • Fat Controller

                Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

                Joined:
                May 5, 2012
                Messages:
                27,607
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Public Transport
                Location:
                At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
                Ratings:
                +51,884
                Well, the move doesn't seem to have upset them too much, although admittedly I have only managed to do one pot :redface: - I definitely need a lottery win so I can heave this 'work' lark and get on with my garden :snork:

                Anyway, here they are in their new home:


                IMAG0256.jpg

                Sorry the picture is a bit dark - its not actually that dark on that windowsill, quite the reverse - I can only assume that the light coming in the window confused the camera on my phone.

                The ones still in their original pot on the other windowsill are looking healthy though, and in fact all of them appear to be laden with little flower buds, so hopefully that means I am in for a good crop?

                IMAG0258.jpg

                The one really interesting thing that I have noticed with these is that they sort of go to sleep at night, and the leaves flop a bit - come morning when the sun comes back up, they perk up again ready for another day; isn't mother nature brilliant?
                 
              • Scrungee

                Scrungee Well known for it

                Joined:
                Dec 5, 2010
                Messages:
                16,524
                Location:
                Central England on heavy clay soil
                Ratings:
                +28,997
                Is that because they drop the leaves to face the sun when it's low at sunset/sunrise or they're flopping because the plant feels knackered at the end of the day?
                 
              • Fat Controller

                Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

                Joined:
                May 5, 2012
                Messages:
                27,607
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Public Transport
                Location:
                At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
                Ratings:
                +51,884
                No idea - they seem to do it once its gone dark, so I just assumed that they were having a wee rest :biggrin:
                 
              • kyleleonard

                kyleleonard Total Gardener

                Joined:
                May 23, 2011
                Messages:
                1,428
                Gender:
                Male
                Location:
                Ashton-under-Lyne
                Ratings:
                +950
                Got two plants with chillis growing!!
                 
                • Like Like x 2
                • HarryS

                  HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Aug 28, 2010
                  Messages:
                  8,906
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Occupation:
                  Retired
                  Location:
                  Wigan
                  Ratings:
                  +16,248
                  Good job Kyle ! Very very roughly , when a Chilli forms it is about six weeks before they are ripe to pick . Some of them you can pick at different stages of ripening . I am growing Hungarian Hot wax , they start off lime green then change to yellow , when they can be picked , they then go on to red with a bit more heat. If you Google your Chilli type you can find the signs of when to pick them.:dbgrtmb:
                   
                  • Like Like x 1
                  • Scrungee

                    Scrungee Well known for it

                    Joined:
                    Dec 5, 2010
                    Messages:
                    16,524
                    Location:
                    Central England on heavy clay soil
                    Ratings:
                    +28,997
                    Great news, it's taken me a couple of years to get the hang of growing them.
                     
                    • Like Like x 1
                    Loading...

                    Share This Page

                    1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                      By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                      Dismiss Notice