Topic: How big do they have to be.....

[tim]

..when planting out (cold greenhouse) to give a chance of harvesting -  Peppers & Chillies??

Or, put another way, what's the latest date for putting out a well rooted seedling?

[saddad]

We usually pot ours up for the last time about the end of May Tim...
 :)

[kt.]

My Gypsy peppers are about 6 inches high.  I will be planting them into their final position in the greenhouse today.  A black bucket without the bottom, dug half way into the ground, the rest topped with multipurpose compost.

[Hyacinth]

Chillies, Tim...my g/house is unheated (whew wotta scorcher today!) & they have been in there since I germinated them in the house. I'm quietly confident that, just like every other year, I'll be reaping and freezing the benefits from August onwards. 8)

[tim]

In their final position, Dad?

Yes, Lishka, you put them out when at how big?

[calendula]

mine are in their intermediate pots and are going down to the greenhouse tomorrow and they'll get into their final pots over the next couple of weeks when they are bigger but more because I have so much else to do - so any time from now really   :)

[Tee Gee]

what's the latest date for putting out a well rooted seedling?

I don't particularly work to dates Tim more to do with size and if they are going to be grown in pots or greenhouse borders.

I like to see at least three pairs of leaves before planting out.

[tonybloke]

I wait till at least first set of flowers.

[Barnowl]

I put mine out over the next month or so, they're already in the unheated greenhouse but the more recently sown ones are still getting some bottom heat from  propagators. It's not so much their size I go on, as the root system.

For the last few years, if they were growing through the bottom of a 3.5" pot they got potted on, then hardened off and put out (possibly to get one more potting on depending on the size of pot they're already in and the type of chilli).

But I've used lots of root trainers this year and most my toms are going straight to their final position so I may do the same for the peppers. I expect they'll be around 8" high.

Incidentally, somewhat annoyed that none of the Blue Jay seeds from Medwyn have germinated - they weren't cheap.   E-mailed the man last week and am waiting for a reply. His Gypsy came up at 75%  the rest of the seeds in the tray (from other suppliers) were around 90-100%.
 

[Barnowl]

PS Have heard from Medwyn. He's disappointed by the Blue Jay's lack of germination  and has offered me either more seed or some  seedlings in a month or so. That's pretty spectacular service. :)

[PurpleHeather]

Last year, (cold and wet) none of these produced anything out doors.
Year before they did better outside than in.


Truth is, with our climate this question is the proverbial how long a piece of string.

[debster]

I have 2 rather large chillies on my plants already  :o can you freeze chillis then Alishka, thats very handy to know

[Fork]

My second attempt at growing the chillies worked.......just waiting for them to get to a decent size now.

[euronerd]

Seat of the pants tim, as seems to have been suggested. Sorry. Unhelpful and facetious.  ;D

Geoff.

[tim]

Just looked back at our best Jalapeno crop -  planted 18/5 & ripening 25/8.