Chillies 2024

I’ve just potted on my chilli hot wax today and had it standing outside in the garden for some fresh air. Should I bring it back indoors now or can it be kept safely out doors? I’ve grown chillies before but kept them in the mini greenhouse, but found they were prone to greenfly attack in there last year, so I can either keep the pot inside by the back French door (so it gets plenty of light) or risk leaving it outside, but don’t want to lose it if it drops too cool overnight, which is a possibility where I live - I’m in South Yorkshire.

 

Oh yes bring it indoors overnight.
They'll sulk if overnight temps drop much below 14-15C.
It won't kill them, but they may not grow much for a little while - until they forgive you

 

Thanks, Pete. I’ll bring it in. Will my tomato plants need the same treatment, or can I cover them with a lid (they’re sitting in pots in a trough that has a lid that could cover them at the moment until they grow too tall).

 

If you can keep your toms a bit warmer they'll appreciate it.
They won't sulk unless the temps drop much below about 12c for any length of time.

It was so warm yesterday I planted out 4 in the veg patch... I'm regretting my haste a bit today - I'm sure they'll be ok - they're Swiss variety

 

I’ve checked the overnight temps for the next week and it doesn’t look as if they are going to fall much below 11 degrees C at the lowest.
I’ve covered the trough with its lid, so think I’ll risk leaving them out tonight as the temp is going to drop to about 13 degrees. My problem indoors is space, now they are in their bigger pots, even though they are bush varieties rather than cordon tomatoes- It’s a bit limited.

 

They should be fine then.
They'd just prefer it if it were a bit warmer - and so would I

PS - you may see some purpling of the leaves if they get a bit chilly, but it's only temporary

 

Thank you for you help @Pete8, it’s much appreciated.

 

I cloche or fleece any toms or chillis I put outside initially, helps a lot. It was 6c last night here

 

Yes, thanks @Hanglow. I’ve brought the chilli and one tomato indoors and the other two toms are in the trough with the lid on as I don’t have room for them in the house now they’re in their bigger pots.

 

Hello all,

Just came back from 1 week holiday and was pleased to see that the hydro chillies have survived with no problems. In fact they have grown well during the week I was away which is probably due to the nice weather. I'm starting to see lots of flowers and small chillies on the Jalapenos and the Sweet Peppers have larger fruits already.

This morning I measured the pH of the water in the tanks and it was a bit high (7.6). I adjusted it back down to 6.0, the preferred value for chillies.

Anyway, some pictures showing the progress.


Jalapenos in foreground with Aji Lemons in second tank. Sweet peppers at the back.


Sweet Peppers (8, 4 x 2)



Aji Lemons (aka Lemon Drop)


Jalapenos (8)

We've had 1 small outbreak of aphids but I sprayed with Neem Oil and it seems to have got rid of them.

Regards

Ademission

 

Looking great @Ademission, very well looked after and well grown

Mine...are not. I had a terrible aphid problem I picked up when they were at home, not greenfly but they looked more like brown/red coloured. They aren't spider mites, just normal looking aphids. Tried spraying with neem and I might have overdone the neem maybe as the leaves are now looking bad, almost scorched. And after three days not able to have a look at them, completely covered in aphids. So I've gone back to just squashing them every day to keep the numbers down.
I'm going to transplant them today from their 500ml pots to their final ones, a variety of 10l to 30l pots. I'll be putting more than one chilli into the 30litre pots this time though. I am also going to have a look at buying a couple of other plants in, I fancy using the outside BBQ today as its supposed to be dry so will see if there are any acceptable supermarket sold ones

 

One of the problems I've encountered with neem is the fact so many sites quote different ratios of neem, soap and warm water. I did read both too much neem and use of certain soaps (castile being the recommended) can cause leaf burn. I've also found it takes a lot more than 1 or 2 sprays to work, but it has worked for me after 2-3 month!

 

When I first started growing chillies I also potted them from small pots to big pots.
They weren't happy.
There was no growth for ages and the plants didn't look healthy.
I suspect that they weren't happy having so much moist compost around a relatively small root-ball.
Since then I've potted them on in multiple stages.
They seem much happier with that.
I do get they tiny white aphids on them now and then, but they cause almost no damage and a dose of seaweed extract help the plants perk up again.

 

@Hanglow anything with Spinosad in it will efficiently take care of aphids. In one go. And it is safe to spray around pets and two legged creatures.

 

Spinosad isn't something I've heard of previously in the UK but see it is available.
Another similar treatment is probably pyrethrum which is derived from chrysanthemums.
It is something I use on rare occasions and only use it at dusk