my chillies!!

[emmy1978]

First time growing these and am really pleased with them. Next year going to try a few varieties.

[emmy1978]

[tuinman]

They grow like weeds once they get going :)

[Jeannine]

Mine too.3 different types and a long shot of part of my pepper bench

[cambourne7]

Wow these looks great !!

My chillis are about 1 - 2 inches high after months of growing, i put it down to my mini greenhouse.

Once my greenhouse is up i will move them in as Jeannine has done and put them in grow bags high up on shelving and see if they actualy turn into big chilli plants i have been told that they can survive winters??

[emmy1978]

Wow jeannine - they put mine to shame!

[Jeannine]

Don't be sad, don't forget mine start with heats and lights very early in the season  along with the tomatoes  which have to be started early with some of the odd types I grow.

They are on the bench as most chillies don't grow very tall and it is a useful use of the space. The ones on the floor to the left are regular peppers and aubs.

Cambourne they will survive winter if warm and with light, bring a couple in the house if you can.

I grow a few types that only grow to about 18 inches and they stay good all winter inside.

I could not get one to fruit at all without the heat and lights so actually you are all doing far better than me if you can.

XX Jeannine

[emmy1978]

Thank you - makes me feel a bit better!! Peppers are not fruiting so maybe they need a bit extra. Will plan it in for next year.  ;D

[Barnowl]

Generally the bigger the pot the larger they grow but there are some exceptions like Apache F1 and Bolivian rainbow.

My largest fruits come from the plants planted in the beds up at the allotment (having been started in the greenhouse) - I have too many varieties to put all the ones at home into large pots so several produce smaller fruit than they normally would.

I've grown more varieties very year for 5 years now but won't be growing so many next year (because of new job and the allotment) so if you'd like some seeds PM me in the winter, by which time I should have worked out which varieties I'm going to persist with and which are spare.

[carolinej]

Well thats good news that chilli's dont grow very tall. My cayenne pepper is about 5 ft tall, and on the floor of the greenhouse. Most of the rest of my peppers and chillis are on the staging, as I havent the floor space. They just wouldnt fit in if they grew much taller, and I have been trying to come up with a plan.

If  my cayenne pepper gers any taller, will it survive if I take the top off it? There are loads of flowers on it, and 4 fruit so far. I quite fancy the idea of stringing them up to dry, as that looks very pretty.

cj :)

[Jeannine]

They all grow different heights, wether you call them chillis or hot peppers.I think the word chilli is used here more but to me they are sweet peppers and hot peppers,cayenne being a hot pepper(chilli) I have never topped mine personally but I see no reason why you shouldn't if it has loads of flowers on.

Chillis are not my speciality so maybe someone else should be answering this one.

XX Jeannine

[Barnowl]

I often cut the main stem back, both with overwintered and seedlings that are flowering to soon because I've been late in moving them into larger pots. They tend to bush out more and will flower again surprisingly quickly.

Both of these (overwintered) were cut back in around Feb. Picture taken in late May(Apache on the left, Thailand on the right)  - Thailand now up against the top of the window. I think you can just make out the height of the original main stems.

[thewoodle]

Wow, they all look lovely!! :o
I have some on a windowsill. They all flower but then they loose the flowers without any chillies developing. Apart from that they look healthy... Any suggestions what I might be doing wrong? The are rainbow chillies. ???

[emmy1978]

Wow Barnowl! They are amazing!! Will definately try cutting back next time.

[Barnowl]

Wow, they all look lovely!! :o
I have some on a windowsill. They all flower but then they loose the flowers without any chillies developing. Apart from that they look healthy... Any suggestions what I might be doing wrong? The are rainbow chillies. ???

It's not a problem II've had ith the Bolivians. Are you feeding them with e.g. tomarite once the flowers start appearing? Also don't let the soil dry out too much between waterings if the pots aren't very large.

[Heldi]

thewoodle - give your chilli flowers a little shake or a tickle with a soft paint brush...it aids pollination.

Emmy my firecracker chilli plant is four years old.  I always give it a severe haircut in the spring. This year it was very severe as the dreaded red spider mite was getting ahold.  I've plonked it outside to keep it moist ..the rain, the rain!  I'll bring it in at the end of summer.  i feed very rareky with tomato feed..because I'm too lazy to do it regularly. I read that if you make a chilli plant suffer a bit the chillis get hotter...treat 'em mean to keep 'em keen   ??? ;D  ;D 

[emmy1978]

Wow! I didn't realise (coz I am ignoramus) that they would go a few years - or does that depend on variety?

[Heldi]

I don't know about all the varieties Emmy but I think you can keep most of them going for a while. They certainly don't have to be treated like annuals.

I've got one called "fruit 'n' spice" which I started off early this year. I've been trimming it like a standard lol! Well it's fun to play around.  I'll be keeping it for as long as possible.  I've got more of the same plant up at the lotty but I won't keep those ones. 

I've got two plants called "Pinochios nose" and another two called "Thai Dragon". They are still very small so I'm not holding out for chillis from them until next year.  I wouldn't mind if I got some for Christmas though...might have to go and have words with them  ?  ;D

Sowed some "tepin" seeds. Nothing doing. Most disappointed  :(

MY Firecracker is in a 12 inch pot. Thought it would be it's last year this year but it is still going strong.  Will see how it is at the end of the year.  Been good value for money that one lol!

[thewoodle]

Thanks to you both, I shall start watering more regularly, feeding them a bit and tickling them lol, my daughter will love that bit...

[SamLouise]

Looking good, Emmy.  Well done  :)

[Biscombe]

Wow Emmy, you are doing well my girl!! Got a few plants going well here, my over wintered lemon drop is the most productive (but the chili's are too hot for me!  :P! need recipie ideas) new ones are bulgarian carrot, Joes long, Whippets Tail, Thai & Frenso, I know you've got the chili bug now so If you want some seeds let me know!