Karoo's 2016 Glog

Hi all,
this is the start of a new season as most of you are at the peak of yours.
I grow for my own enjoyment . I enjoy germinating ,growing , eating , drying and saucing peppers.
Some peppers and sauces might end up as presents , but I don't sell peppers, sauces or seeds.
 
I have built my own grow box with T5 CFL lights and aluminium foil for reflexion.
Germination was with the modified paper towel method in 100ml pill vials at 30 degrees C.
First seeds were in the vials on paper on July 11.
 
Lists and pics to follow.

 

[karoo]

The weather has been holding up and no frost for two weeks now. Time to go outside.
Most plants are doing great potted up to one litre pots and on the windowsill outside to aclimatize.

I had a few plants in the shed over winter. I had a lot of aphids , but no problem , just blasted them with warm water to reduce the numbers every month. The aphids did come back , but not enough to hurt the plants.

What a way to start my 8 month growing season. Healthy plants and new buds already forming.

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[karoo]

So, overwintering can be a pain with aphids , but totally worth it in early season blooming and pods. I need an early start, because mid summer is way to hot for flowers around here.

Early choc hab flowers.

Thai red bonchi

New plants also blooming early
Chocolate cherry

Trusty cayenne

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[stickman]

Nice jump-start to your growing season Jacques... Good luck in 2016-17!

 

[karoo]

Spring is in full swing over here and all my overwintered plants are in bloom.
Here is a few pics of my Large red Thai bonchi , planted in its new home. It still needs a bit of landscaping work.

And two friends making more friends.

Looks like a bite to eat on the left , when they are done.


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[karoo]

This is the slow part of the season, all the germinating and transplanting done , all extra seedlings given away , best plants in the biggest pots for growth and possible future overwintering and the rest of the plants in the ground.
 
Note to self; overwintering is worth it , Plants are looking great.
 First picture, on my overwintered Choc Habanero , looks like a double or triple flower , I will keep an eye on this one.

 
My best grower and producer from last year , Malawi peppadew , received a new pot and new nutrients , and now refuses to flower , must have been to much Nitrogen.!

 
The rest is just pics of new buds , flowers and new pods enjoy.

 

 

 

 
 

 

[PeriPeri]

oooh aahhh - looking great for so early in the season, going to be a bumper season - nice one Karoo!

 

[OCD Chilehead]

Looks great. Some really nice plants.

 

[PaulG]

Looking good, Karoo!  Shed...mulch...OWs... all just top notch!
 
Good luck going forward - your grow log will be fun during
the dark winter days here!

 

[karoo]

Thanx all for liking, responding and just watching.
At the top of my previous post is my Choc Hab triple flower .
Three stems , three flowers merged into one.
I cannot wait to see what happens and will keep you updated.
 

 

 

 
 

 

[Masher]

Looking great....love your shed. Those over winters look well worth time and effort.

Will be watching your progress. Can't wait for spring already.

 

[karoo]

Update time.
All the peppers are doing well ,some just slower than others. I have a lot in the ground , mainly the mass producers like Jalapenos , cayenne , Paprikas .and Bells.
Some in huge plastic containers, ex-horsetroughs and cribs.
The others, potential overwinterers in pots.

Looking forward to the new Peppers to me.
Caribean red and Lemon drop.

 

[karoo]

Update overdue![emoji3]
Will update bit by bit over the next few days. I have been able to harvest cayenne, jalapenos,paprika, Caribean red , Orange Thais and Big Jim's over the last two weeks.

These Caribean Reds are great . They are new on my growlist and a real star in growth, pods and taste! Are these small or normal size?

My season is out of sync with your Growdown, but here is an appetizer.
My Aji lemon drop have outgrown its own strength.

So I had to cage it's Nitrogen fueled outburst.

It's about 4 feet high.
Orange Thai is a beautiful plant ,also new on my list, great grower and producer.
This plant is loaded with new pods.

 

[Plantguy76]

Great golg you have here karoo.
I like your cage for the lemon drop looks super cool.
Nice to have something to look at during the winter.
The caribbean reds look different than I thought they look but I've never grown them maybe as you said there Just small
Wishing you best of luck for the rest of your season

 

[karoo]

Back from a great two week summer break.Really relaxing , and ready for the New Year.

I did a lot of this (Braai).

And this.( Just relaxing in bed).

And making and eating poppers.

Just to come back to my new favorite peppers, the Caribean red.

 

[PaulG]

Sunsets, chilis, wine and poppers.  Can't go wrong there!
 
Good luck for the second half of your season!

 

[karoo]

Mid December and January/February is quite lethal to unguarded chillies around here.
Temps go to 35-45 degrees Celsius daily. My potted chillies spend most of their time in the shade and are watered every second day.
 
My overwintered Malawi Peppedew is podding up and hit 6 feet this week.

 
Chocolate habaneros always produce well.

 
The most impressive is the Caribean Red , it is only 18 inches high, but really productive.

 
New to me , Sunrise scorpion , also good grower and producer.

 

[karoo]

I have been picking peppers for the last 6weeks , but this morning was my first big harvest and cut back.
Today I harvested my overwintered Choc Hab and ? Carribean Red , both great producers.
Most of the plants are in pots or SIPs and only get 3-4 hours of morning sunlight due to our very dry air and 40 Celsius days.
 
????? Question time! Are these Carribean Red , No complaints here . Great grower , producer , 3-4 pods per node , very hot , on par with choc hab, sweet habanero taste and smell , but bit smaller and more pointed.
 

 

 
Here is the Carribean red fruits and the plant , all 18 inches of it, after the BIG harvest.
And compared to my Choc and Orange Habs.

 
And finally , for the end of season sauces my pomegranates.

 

[dennish]

Nice set-up you have there Karoo, enjoyed reading through your log... some great pictures.  Looks like you are having a great season, all the best.

 

[Masher]

Great looking plants and harvest...what a view at the beach. 
 
You're killing it from all sides, congrats.

 

[karoo]

Thanx for the replies ,
 
But any oppinions on those Caribbean Reds.?