Chilli plants potted up ....

Today (well 4.30pm) I decided to go over the allotment to do some digging etc, but due to rain, I decided to pot up some of my superhot chilli plants.

As I got some 29cm Terracotta pots cheap, that is what I am using, and hopefully I will be able to overwinter them as well.

I started by putting something (large stone etc) to bridge the hole in the base of the pot, but without completely blocking it :-



Then I used some Hydroton Clay pebbles to cover the bottom 1-2cm :-





Then I used a 50/50 mix of 5 year old manure and Verve compost :-





Both the Manure and compost, I screened :-





I then mixed in Perlite and Hydroton pebbles into the mix :-





Add a bit more manure/compost and mix :-



Remove plant from older pot and tease the roots out a little :-



Place in pot and bring soil up to level required :-



And finally dress with Hydroton Clay Pebbles to aid in water retension and also at the same time add a little humidity :-



And repeat multiple times :-



To speed up potting up, I mixed a big batch of soil mix ready to put in each pot :-



As I was over there and potting up, I also decided to pot up my Pumpkin as it must have exhausted all nutrients from the compost and had started to turn yellow in colour :-



We'll see in the next few days if it starts to green up again (you can see it's smaller brother plant in front of the big pot ).

I have around another 12-16 Chilli plants to pot up yet, one of them I will hydroponically grow.

 

I plan on doing a few things with the chillies including making a good amount of powder by drying and then crushing etc

Also have noticed others making chilli fudge, chilli wine...... The list goes on

I also have Sweet Banana growing as well.

I have some seed that originated from your side of the pond, Ed's 'Carolina Reapers', 3 germinated but 1 has been lost, but have 2 very healthy plants which are currently around 5-6" tall, 1 will be grown hydroponically. I already have a chilli plant growing Hydroponically, a Trinidad Scorpion .... I have a few seedlings growing still as well.... Some Orange Habs, Red Habs, Brown Habs, Some more Scorpions, Some Jolokias and some Jalepenos.

Doing some reading, there are varying grow methods which people report as to give vigorous production of fruit, one is to strip and top the plant back to a twig, which stimulates immense growth, and I have seen pictures of this done and follow up pics of the produce...... I cannot bring myself to do that to mine yet.

 

Hi ,

I already have Okra on the go, what attracted me to it, was the flowers followed by the fruit..... Double whammy, plus it is nice in things like stir fries.

And yes, it is Nathan

 

I don't fish and never have .... Wish I had time to do what I already have to do, plus the other half would kill me if I took on another hobby.

I'm not about planting deep, I would always plant at normal levels (as per my pics above).

As also said earlier, I know of people who 'Strip' the plants back to be virtually a stick

Not sure if this pic will come up, but will try :-



Or these 2 :-



and this is the same plant 3 weeks later :-

I'd give more things a go, but as said above, I only have so much time in the day .... And sounds like you have more beasties to contend with there than we do ..... But you do have better growing weather

 

I have copied this direct from the source 'Chilli Pepper Plant Strippers' :-

What is stripping?
Basically; the removing of foliage from younger plants to promote new growth and greater production. How and when this is done depends on a few different factors; personal preference being number one, climate and type of plant, healthy root systems.

Trust me when I tell you I am no expert and here to learn same as others, please feel free to ask any questions. I'm sure as time passes you will have this down to a science with your individual techniques.

Some of the Benefits of stripping may be:

You can start your plants earlier.
stronger and thicker main stalks.
Staking may not be necessary.
large thick canopy will keep the plant cooler on hot days.
Less blossom drop.
Greater production.
Light frost protection of pod in the undergrowth.

 

This 'strip' is by a guy close to me :-



4 weeks later :-





Supposed to promote huge growth, with is evident from the pics, just wonder if it fruits heavier as a result ?

 

It all depends on how many chillis you are growing I suppose, and the guy who has stripped the above, has a huge Polytunnel on a farm and has converted his conservatory into a Hydroponic grow area, which will house around 20 Full grown plants :D

So the odd ones he strips, wont matter too much to him, but will help him with research what methods work best.