chilli king

[ROD 'MR CHILLI' HOLMES]

Hi all,
Sorry for not being about for the last 12 or so months.......big apologies to all of those that have posted messages and received no replies..........but

Now I am back

A year older..a year wiser (and now an award winning allotment under my hat).

It's been a poor year for those growing chillies out in the open, but inside (wow)

ANYWAY Post questions and comments

Let the debate commence !

[Chantal]

...and still as modest as ever I see

OK, first question, why did 100% of my chilli seed, sown in late March in propagators in my greenhouse, fail to germinate? I did nothing unusual except have Tigger as an assistant that day Usually I have 100% germination but this year, nothing.

[John]

Having just read the reports in today's papers of the latest Gardening Which? tests on seeds, Chantal, it might well be that you had a packet of duff seed!

John

[Colin_M]

the latest Gardening Which? tests on seeds

For those of us who missed it, do you fancy giving us the highlights of this report John?


Colin

[Chantal]

Having just read the reports in today's papers of the latest Gardening Which? tests on seeds, Chantal, it might well be that you had a packet of duff seed!

All 12 varieties? Some of it was saved seed as well

[ROD 'MR CHILLI' HOLMES]

Hi Chantel,

Well well, what a dilemma.

Firstly, It seems to me that you may be sowing them very late. I know that the packet will tell you when and where etc, but i find that they nearly always say the same, no matter what it is.

I always sow all of my Chilli seeds in the week between Xmas and New Year (As does Chillipig from Simpsons seeds)

I always sow them upright (not flat) so the seed does not hold water and rot (this is a very common problem and will cause wipeout).

Now to Sophie. My mog (Marley) has the habit of having a good dig and also eating the smallest of seedlings (but that maybe just her The Odd Mog !)

Germination temperature should be approx 25-30

Roottrainers are great

Some Seeds can take up to 2 months to germinate !!

Use a propagator, or plastic bags, but make sure that you do not cut off a constant air supply.

Keep in a shaded area (but not total blackout, as this will cause fungal disease-leading to rot)

Have you tried overwintering chilli plants ? I have seen plants that are 4 and 5 years old that still produce heaps of fruits.

Hope some of this may have shed some light

Mr C

[Johnboy]

Why should germinating in the dark cause fungal attack and rot?
JB.

[John]

Hello Colin
You can read the Telegraph report online at:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jh ... eds128.xml

T&M came out as the best all-rounder (flower and vegetable) and Plants of Distinction also come out very well. I've always found T&M a bit more expensive than the others but it looks as though their stuff is well worth the extra.

John

[Johnboy]

Oh clever Gardening Which. Their account in the newspaper and on the BBC Radio 4 News where they added that well known gardening Pillock Don who from the outset doesn't know his arse from his elbow talking about how to store seeds. Put them in paper envelopes then into a plastic container and put them in the freezer. Totally wrong!!!
Because Tuckers Delphiniums were poor they then try and say that all their seed would all be the same.
I have dealt with Tuckers commercially and I have never had any difficulties with the germination of their seeds for over a thirty year period.
The same with Kings and Suffolk Herbs and D T Brown.
The only companies I have had difficulty have been Thompson and Morgan, Marshals and Unwins and I would not deal with those three ever again.
JB.

[Chantal]

Thanks Rod

I did sow them late this year as I was waiting to go into hospital for an operation. I was worried about having a greenhouse full of plants that would die without lots of tlc so delayed sowing. Maybe that was the problem as I had the right heat, light, humidity etc etc.

I do have several chilli plants that I grew last year and overwintered. However, despite being watered and getting loads of leaf growth this year, there are very few chillies to be seen.

Having just bought two large bags of scotch bonnet chillies at £1.50 per lb from the market, I'm not sure I'm even going to bother with them next year.

[ROD 'MR CHILLI' HOLMES]

Johnboy,

Its a combination of 2 things really:

If you try and germinate chillies, some over a 2 month period and the growing medium is kept in a warm dark place with no air flow the air will go stagnant and the heat/damp will cause mold to form

Moulds love dark and warm enviroments.

If you really want to get away from this situation, the best solution is to grow them Hydroponically (which i shall be treating all of my chillies to for the 1st time this year

[ROD 'MR CHILLI' HOLMES]

Hi Chantel,

The best way to overwinter chillies is basically 'Bonsai' them . It seems very harsh the 1st year, but if fed over the winter with a dilute nitrogen feed (Chempak No2) once a fortnight, you will find masses of new growth in the spring . As the years pass the base of the plant will mature so you do not have to be so drastic.

Always treat your chillies as you would tomatoes and pinch out the growing tip (the chilli yeald will be much greater)

Also, when flowers start to form, switch the feed to a high potash feed (chempak No 4)

Another little insight for you into the world of Mr Chilli

Mr C

[strawberry tart]

As far as I know to "Bonsai" anything would involve root pruning is this what you are advocating?..Strawberry tart.

[ROD 'MR CHILLI' HOLMES]

You can do this, but not the main lateral.

It is always a good idea to change pots every now and again, and this is the best opportunity.

Even if you do not need to increase the size of the pot, do so to change the growing medium that it is in as within 3 weeks of being placed in any compost, most plants will have extracted all of the nutrients within and the soil will basically be lifeless.

But dont trim the roots every time just once a year will suffice, and let the plants grow to full maturity, dont keep them small all the time.

Chillipig recommends members of the baccatum or pubescens family as the best to overwinter i.e Rocoto or Friars Hat.


Mr C

[strawberry tart]

the best way to overwinter chillies is to basically bonsai them

did you not mean root puning then?.Strawberry tart.