Topic: Chillies

[Val]

Do I have to pinch them out or anything? Are they okay in grow  bags or do I  have to put them in pots? Its my first time of growing in case you haven't guessed.Thanks folks if you can help or anything else I might need to know. Cheers Val. Sorry just seen the other post on chillies I should've put it there.

[simhop]

I started them in seed trays and just kept potting on when they looked a bit big for their pots. I think I ended up with a 15 or 16 cm diameter pot which I had on the patio in the summer. I never pinched them out.

[cleo]

They will be fine in big(ish) pots or grow bags. And if you can keep them frost free will over winter to give an early crop the following year-after that they can get a bit woody so start afresh.
Sorry forgot to add-let them grow as a bush
Stephan

[tim]

As demonstrated by MD elsewhere today, Stephan??

[Val]

Thanks, Will I get chillies from them this year, or do I have to overwinter?

[Mrs Ava]

You will get chillis this year.  Horrah!!  ;D

[chrispea27]

They do seem to freeze very well am still using last years.

[oubykh]

chrispea27 - how do you freeze them?
whole or chopped, with stem or not if whole, blanched/unblanched? ???


and do all varities freeze well?

[kenkew]

You need to pinch out the growing tip when they're about 9" tall to make the plant bush out and produce more side shoots which grow the fruit.
Thin ones will freeze whole, but if you don't want them too hot take out the seeds first. No need to blanch. The larger ones are best eaten fresh. Should last about 10 days in a fridge.

[Mrs Ava]

I bunged all of my surpluss into a freezer bag and just kept adding to it, after all, how many chillies a day can a girl eat!  They are great, crumble easily into cooking, and still pack a punch!  (Ask Ava, he had chilli con carne for supper last night)

[oubykh]

thank you, might be getting ahead of myself as still waiting for seeds to germinate!! ;)

[Val]

Thanks everyone yes I'm still waiting for them to germinate...wish they'd get a move on. Its a wonderful day here today, just come in from the garden...more like summer, its so good to feel the sun on your back....and gardening tele tonight what more could a girl ask for.

[wardy]

If you're going to freeze them just chuck them in a bag as EJ says.  Don't do anything else.  I tried to deseed them and and I practically choked to death on the fumes they gave off (not a pretty sight)  I wouldn't do it again  ;D