whats size pots for chillies

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by flatfeetflynn, Jul 13, 2009.

  1. flatfeetflynn

    flatfeetflynn Apprentice Gardener

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    I have been growing some chillies plants in 4 inch pots they have started to flower but leaves look a bit droopy on some of the plants, what is the best size pot to put them in now before they get any worse ?
    Thanks..
     
  2. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    It depends on wht size your plants are really. I've got mine in 6" pots and they are just starting to flower, my plants are about 12" high.

    If the roots are starting to show underneath the pot then its time to pot them on, it's best to increase the size of the pot slowly over a period of weeks, this helps to get even root and foliage growth.

    It sounds like you might have some other problem if the leaves have become droopy, maybe over-watering - is the compost soggy?
     
  3. strongylodon

    strongylodon Old Member

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    Mine are in 8" to 10" depending on variety.
    You don't say where you are growing them, obviously if on a window sill pot size is restrictive (and so is your view:)) but if in a greenhouse then the bigger the better.
     
  4. flatfeetflynn

    flatfeetflynn Apprentice Gardener

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    Hi they are about 12 inches high chillie plants have been growing on window sill up untill last week which would be quite restricted for them, i put them outside for a couple of days it did rain quite a lot so they probly are a bit damp there back in the window sill at the minute but looks like i've got some repotting to do and some more window sills to find hahaha the wife will be pleased!!
    How big do they grow ?..............
     
  5. strongylodon

    strongylodon Old Member

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    Height depends on variety, one i grew last year (in a 12" pot) reached 5ft, with large orange fruits. I would say the average is about 1 1/2- 2ft excluding pot.
    I have never tried chillies or peppers outside.
    I am able to grow mine at work and space is not a problem but for a small greenhouse or a windowsill it is. I would think a 6" pot is the max you could put on a windowsill.:)
     
  6. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    The Demon Red I grew last year were only in a 5" pot (I think) and they did OK - 4 plants gave me more than enough, dried, to last a year, but they are a dwarf variety.

    I've got some Jalapeno and "Hot Stuff" growing in the greenhouse border, and they have got to normal Sweet Pepper size - the Jalapeno perhaps a bit bigger, so around 2' to 2'6"
     
  7. basilthegr8lo

    basilthegr8lo Apprentice Gardener

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    I originally had mine in around 5" pots for cayenne variety, Now the plant is about 20" high so its in a 10" pot and its doing pretty well for itself....
     
  8. strongylodon

    strongylodon Old Member

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    The chillies I am growing are: Joe's Long, Tabasco, Cayenne, Bolivian Rainbow, Bangkok Upright, Purple Tiger, Rocoto Red, Aji Yellow, Fuego and Tepin, somehow I forgot to grow Jalapeno.
     
  9. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    Thats a lot Strongy, I'm growing about 5 or 6 different varieties Hungarian Hot Wax, Cayenne, Jalapeno, Habenero, Twilight and pot luck (saved from last years supermartket seed pod). Trouble is they all taste the same to me, very very hot!
     
  10. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    I grow a variety of chillies but can't remember their names :old: because they are either from the previous year's crop or they are the ones that I have been growing for years.

    In general, if you are growing from seed, you should expect the larger type of chilli to grow a bigger plant and therefore requiring a bigger pot. This doesn't apply if you are keeping them as perrenials. My perrenials have extremely hot small chillies (no more than half inch long) but I manage to keep them pruned down to 6ft. These are each in 18" diameter pots.
     
  11. strongylodon

    strongylodon Old Member

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    JWK, I gave up on Habeneros due to them being just too hot, although some I am growing this year I've not tried before so could be just as hot..
    I trade most of mine, an ex work mate started his own business in home grown veg, flowers, jams and chutneys so he has my chillis and I get free chutneys.:):thumb:
     
  12. flatfeetflynn

    flatfeetflynn Apprentice Gardener

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    I have planted the chillie plants in 2 litre pots will they be ok outside ? as i have run out of room on the window sills.
    When is the best time to pick the chillies ?
     
  13. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    They should be OK outside for the summer. Picking time is difficult to say. It depends on the variety. Some are green chillies and should be picked green when they reach the size that the packet (or internet) says they should get to. The red chillies should be picked when they go red.

    Having said that, you can pick them earlier with no trouble at all but they won't have the full flavour or heat. If you get plenty of chillies on your plants and need some chillies then just pick the bigger/riper ones as you need them. A problem you get with a lot of varieties is that most of them mature around the same time.

    Some varieties will mature in August and others not until almost autumn.

    I don't know what part of the country you live in but if you are anywhere near Hertfordshire there is a chilli festival at the end of August. I usually go to that one.

    Here's the link:

    http://www.beningtonlordship.co.uk/events/chillifestival.shtml

    There is, also, usually a chilli festival at West Dean in Sussex, one at Levens Hall in Cumbria (in a couple of weeks time, I think) and one in Brighton in September.
     
  14. flatfeetflynn

    flatfeetflynn Apprentice Gardener

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    I have planted jalepeno and cayenne chillie and pepper yolo.

    I live in the northwest, the one at levens hall cumbria is the closest to me what are the opening times ?

    thanks.
     
  15. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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