So who's growing chillies 2021?

[Ajhutch]

This weather is bloody awful for growing chillies without a heated greenhouse isn’t it?! This time last year we had plenty of sun and warm days so my plastic greenhouse was great, this year I’m still doing the Hokey Cokey of indoors and out. I hadn’t even put my plants into their final pots because I don’t really have indoor space for 5 big pots, but they were clearly pot bound in their 10cm pots so it has had to be done.

 

[Clint]

I put just one so far in the polytunnel and it seems ok. I lost all my turtle claw to pests! Got a couple of cayenne and jalapeno to fall back on. I can see me buying a few back up plants to be honest...as it happens a local garden centre has a craft fair on this weekend..with a local micro brewery stall...when I get up tomorrow I may nip there and kill lots of birds with one stone!

 

[Sandimas]

Mine have been in the greenhouse overnight now for a week, after the last frost. Seem to be OK but nowhere near as good as this time last year.

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Hope we can get back to some sort of normality, chilli festivals and craft beer+ sunshine!

If you hear of any chilli festivals, please post!

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Mine were doing fine all through winter in the heated shelter I have for delicate plants, but I stupidly let them dry out a few weeks back and they kicked the bucket :-(

 

[The Cat]

Grown everything from seed this year even Strawberries. Chillis are looking healthy in the greenhouse now - still in small pots but are growing.

 

[Polcho]

I’m well behind this year. We had the coldest and dryers April on record, plus I was really busy working.

 

[MonkeyMick]

I've had some Naga, Anahemin, Cayenne, Jalepeno and Habanero growing since mid March in a propagator. Moved the seedlings into larger pots in the conservatory yesterday.

Fingers crossed for a bumper batch so I can make fermented. Sauce again..

 

[The Cat]

I've had some Naga, Anahemin, Cayenne, Jalepeno and Habanero growing since mid March in a propagator. Moved the seedlings into larger pots in the conservatory yesterday.

Fingers crossed for a bumper batch so I can make fermented. Sauce again..

Is there a recipe you have for that please?

 

[MonkeyMick]

Pretty much its as simple as chop them up, into a large jar. I add mustard seeds and a couple of cloves of chopped garlic, and cover with brine made from smoked sea salt.. Make sure everything is under the level of fluid, and let it ferment! Once it's stopped bubbling away, blitz it and store in the fridge.

I'm sure others on this forum have their own ways/recipes, but I find chucking it together without defined quantities and leaving it to do its stuff works for me..

 

[The Cat]

Pretty much its as simple as chop them up, into a large jar. I add mustard seeds and a couple of cloves of chopped garlic, and cover with brine made from smoked sea salt.. Make sure everything is under the level of fluid, and let it ferment! Once it's stopped bubbling away, blitz it and store in the fridge.

I'm sure others on this forum have their own ways/recipes, but I find chucking it together without defined quantities and leaving it to do its stuff works for me..

Thanks, will give that a try.

 

[Sandimas]

I just made my own chilli powder from some of last year's chillis dried above the woodburner over winter and then put in a coffee/spice grinder with the seeds removed. Used it in a curry last weekend, wow, so much flavour compared to the commercial stuff.

 

[will4009]

Plants are coming along, think it might be time to put them in their final pots.

Not quite sure what size pot I should go for. Currently I have 15 plants in the conservatory, plan is to keep them there but space is extremely tight. I have some Jalapenos and Hungarian hot wax, I thought they would probably need a decent sized pot. The Super Tramp and Bolivian Rainbows, I was planning on using smaller pots. Any suggestions?

Oh and a few have already started flowering, I have read that some remove the flowers at this stage, some leave them alone....

 

[Polcho]

Plants are coming along, think it might be time to put them in their final pots.

Not quite sure what size pot I should go for. Currently I have 15 plants in the conservatory, plan is to keep them there but space is extremely tight. I have some Jalapenos and Hungarian hot wax, I thought they would probably need a decent sized pot. The Super Tramp and Bolivian Rainbows, I was planning on using smaller pots. Any suggestions?

Oh and a few have already started flowering, I have read that some remove the flowers at this stage, some leave them alone....

Mine have started to flower, they are in the earth in the pollytunnel and are quite small compared to previous years. I’ll be removing the flowers today.

 

[Polcho]

It’s just so cold this year.

 

[Oneflewover]

Most of mine are in their final places. Everything except the Rocoto (Tropical Orange, a 'Pubescens' variety) is behind where it should be - Rocotos tend to prefer a cooler environment and I've always found that they flower and fruit better outside.

I've never taken flowers off, I really don't think it is necessary. Interested to understand why we might do it?

 

[Clint]

Why remove flowers?

 

[Hanglow]

I think if you remove earlier ones it goes into overdrive producing more

 

[Polcho]

Well in my case this year, with one thing and another, the plants are too short for my liking. My feeling is that when plants start to flower, it’s starting to think it’s life cycle is moving on.

If I remove the flowers, and feed with a low nitrogen feed (seaweed for me), it will put more energy into growth, bigger healthier plant should mean more chillies. I get a long season in the pollytunnel, so I’m not too worried about running out of season.

 

[Oneflewover]

Well in my case this year, with one thing and another, the plants are too short for my liking. My feeling is that when plants start to flower, it’s starting to think it’s life cycle is moving on.

If I remove the flowers, and feed with a low nitrogen feed (seaweed for me), it will put more energy into growth, bigger healthier plant should mean more chillies. I get a long season in the pollytunnel, so I’m not too worried about running out of season.

Ok, that's not my experience, but if it works for you

Few photos of my peppers