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Sawyer's 2013 Glog - Last Harvest/First Sauce

I haven't done a grow log before, but thought I'd give it a try this year. I'm growing mostly super hots, so I feel like I'm already behind schedule. Anyone know where January went? No pictures yet, I'll add some later when things (hopefully) start popping.

My setup is a basic home-made 2-tier 1" PVC plant stand. Each tier can accommodate 4 standard 1020 nursery flats and has three 2-bulb T-12 4' 40W fluorescent shop lights suspended above. The bulbs are a mix of Daylight, Wide Spectrum, and Power Twist. (I can't give you a K rating on these off the top of my head.) I use heater mats to try to keep the flats in the comfort zone for germination. They are wired to a dimmer switch so I can adjust the current. Even with the dimmer switch, in the past I've had trouble keeping uniform temperature, so this year I've put a layer of aluminum foil on top of the mats to spread out the heat and a layer of kraft paper on top of that. The flats go directly on the kraft paper. If anyone has any tips or tricks for controlling the temperature of heater mats (without purchasing an expensive thermostat), I'd love to hear about it.

I use standard 1020 nursery trays with 1206 (72-cell) inserts. I filled the inserts to planting depth with Sushine Mix #1 and planted anywhere from 2 (new) to 4 (old) seeds per cell. I then topped off the trays with some peat-based germination mix. I intended to use Fafard 3b germination mix, but didn't want to open a new bag for only four flats. I had a small bag of Miracle Grow and one of Ferry Morse left over from days past so I used one of those, I forget which.

The germination stand is in a back room in the warmest part of the house. As plants geminate and become established they'll be moved, either in whole flats, or potted out separately, to a 3-tier, 5 flat/tier stand in front of a bright picture window on the south side of the house. No lights on that yet and may not need them since the window gets direct sun for several hours per day. I'll be starting a lot of other seeds besides hot peppers, so I can't just leave them on the heater mats 'til plant out.

I started four flats today, one whole flat of self-propagated, pure-strain red Bhut Jolokia and up to 12 cells each of the following (note - I prefer the term 7 Pot to 7pod, but am keeping the 7pod nomenclature here out of deference to the vendor):

(First parenthesis is # of plants from first planting on 2/11, second is # plants/# soaked on 3/4)

Red Bhut Jolokia (my own isolated) (75)
Yellow Bhut Jolokia (PL) (0)
Brown Bhut Jolokia (PL) (1)
White Bhut Jolokia (PL) (8), (15/20)
Yellow Fatalii (RFC) (11), (6/10)
Giant White Habanero (RFC) (7)
Trinidad Scorpion Moruga/Moruga Blend (PL) (10), (28/35)
Trinidad Scorpion Moruga/Moruga Blend (RFC) (14)
T. Scorpion Moruga/Moruga Blend Yellow (PL) (6), (19/25)
T. 7pod Congo SR Gigantic (PL) (9), (2/7)
T. 7pod Large Red (PL) (4)
T. 7pod Large Yellow (PL) (1)
T. 7pod Brain Strain (PL) (10), (2/9)
T. 7pod Brain Strain Yellow (PL) (4), (11/12)
T. 7pod Brown (PL) (17)
T. 7pod Burgundy (PL) (8)
T. Douglah (PL) (5), (4/20)
T. Scorpion Butch T. (PL) (7)
T. Scorpion Yellow (PL) (18)
T. Scorpion Original Strain (PL) (1)
T. Seasoning (PL) (4)

New strains/sources started on 3/4:
Red Bhut Jolokia (PL) (45/50)
Scotch Bonnet Brown (PL) (22/34)
'12 7 Pot Yellow (RFC) (0/11)
'12 Bhut Jolokia Chocolate (PL) (0/14)
Datil (PL) (7/22)
Bhut Jolokia Orange (PL) (15/20)
T. Scorpion CARDI (PL) (7/20)
Tobago Treasure (PL) (8/20)

Started on 3/6:
Red Bhut Jolokia (own isolated) (>50)
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion (CPI) (13)
NuMex Pinata (CPI) (40)
White Bullet Hab (PL) (13)

Unrecorded plant date:
Orange Hab (PL) (2)
TS Cardi (PL) (7)
Dorset Naga (PL) (5)

Started on 3/25:
Yellow Bhut Jolokia (PL) - 8/?
Long Choco Habanero (AjiJoe) - 17/42
Pimenta da Neyde (PL) - 14/30
Giant Mexican Rocoto (PL) - 0/40
CAP 1144 (PL) - 0/21
(old) Yellow Habanero (Trade Winds) - 0/24
(old) Jamaican Red Mushroom (RFC) - 0/18
Trinidad Congo Red (PL) - 10/12
Datil (PL) - 9/22 (4 hh)
7 Pot Primo (PL) - 5/18
Early Jalapeno (PL) - 19/36
Cracked Jalapeno (PL) - 33/36
Large Hot Cherry (PL) - 33/36
Surprise Hot Mix (AjiJoe) - 97/144

Edit 4/3: add sources PL=pepperlover, RFC=Refining Fire Chiles, CPI=Chile Pepper Institute
Edit 4/3: (in blue)
Edit 4/29: Edit title (again)
 
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Thanks, Mike.  With that starting point, I think I've narrowed it further to the genus Condylostylus and the sipho group of species.  Glad to know they are good guys.
 
Edit - "Long-legged fly" is not a very elegant name for such a beautiful insect.
 
Thanks, Robert.  Worms and wasps are part of the game.  I talk about them, but I don't lose much sleep over them.
 
No pictures today; the camera battery was low and I misplaced the charger.  Found it a little while ago, so now the camera is charging.  I got a few more plants up-potted today.  I can't believe it's July and I'm still potting.  Pitiful.
 
The temperature was creeping up here for a few days, but we have this to look forward to in the coming week:
volcsx.png

After the last two years, I'm almost giddy with relief that this is what we're getting in July.  Hopefully some of that rain will pan out.  It's bone dry wherever I haven't been watering.
 
I have a pod on one of the in-ground Brainstrains.  (Picture tomorrow.)  And several of the in-grounds are covered in blooms or just about to be.  Even the purple-stemmed Douglah pictured upthread is getting ready to pop.  I'm going to try to cage and cover it before the blooms start opening.  I did a cursory inventory of the varieties in-ground and I have Douglah, SR Congo Gigantic (allegedly... not sure about the pod shape yet), Brainstrain, Red Bhut, and 7P Burgundy.  More, I think, but I didn't look at all the labels this afternoon.
 
Until this past week, I thought the potted plants were going to outgrow the in-grounds, but if the weather remains this moderate, the in-grounds have the advantage.  I have found the yellows, both 7 Pots and Scorpions, seem to be the most vigorous plants.  That seems consistent with what I've read elsewhere.  The Red Bhuts continue to be the most tolerant of abuse. 
 
Warning:  Graphic spider pic below!
 
KiNGDeNNiZ said:
Woohoo nice updates. Wish my maters still alive they all got consumed by spider mites
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Thanks, DeNNiZ.  My first planting of tomatoes really suffered.  They mostly drowned in the flats while I was away back in May, but what didn't drown got eaten by the sow bugs.  I guess better the tomatoes than the peppers; maybe sacrificing the tomatoes saved the peppers.  Anyway, I'm hoping for a late frost this year.
 
Devv said:
Nice weather coming your way, glad it will be cool enough to set some fruit.
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Hi Scott, thanks for stopping by.  I hope to get a lot of fruit set in the next several days.  It's supposed to get into the upper 90s by the end of the week, so that may put the kibosh on things.
 
Here are some pics from yesterday.  Does this look right for a first pod Brainstrain?  Doesn't seem quite "bumply" enough to me.  Seed from pepperlover.
2pr9377.jpg

 
Here's peering down into the 7P Congo SR Gigantic (that's a mouthful).
2iasjdi.jpg

I noticed late yesterday another pod on this plant is showing some color.  It could have been sunburn, though, I'll check again today.
 
This is a terrible picture; I was still shaking a little from being buzzed.  Notice the wasp on the cart handle.  There are a lot more in there.
24x0329.jpg

That's twice in two days I've been buzzed as a result of disturbing a nest.  The other one is between a screen and a window and I was pulling Virginia creeper off the screen.  Both times wasps flew around me and escorted me away from the premises, but didn't sting.  I don't mind the ones behind the screen, but I need that cart.
 
I discovered this doting mother when I removed some old square pots from the flat.  This also gave me a start.  She is one of the biggest spiders I've seen around here.  For scale, that is a standard 1020 flat.  Anyone know what kind of spider?
zjtlk3.jpg

 
More later.
 
My Brain Strain from pepperlover started off the same, but they got 'Brainier' along the way. Thought it was the cold Dutch weather.
 
Don't know about the spider, but I sure don't want to meet one :scared:
 
Glad to see the poddage!
 
Yeah dang hornets and wasps around here are terrible! I don't hook-up a trailer, sit on a mower seat. Pull the tractor out...you name it without checking for them.
 
Not a pretty looking spider!
 
Not a fan of those either...
 
John, The Brainstrain looks like it will be on target for you.  The spider looks like a Wolf spider we have down here.  They find their way into the shop I work at.  Some of the cleaning staff have actually quit because of them.  The legs on that one are more striped than ours.  I haven't seen one more than 2 inches big.
 
Sawyer said:
I discovered this doting mother when I removed some old square pots from the flat.  This also gave me a start.  She is one of the biggest spiders I've seen around here.  For scale, that is a standard 1020 flat.  Anyone know what kind of spider?
zjtlk3.jpg

 
More later.
Click to expand...
+1 on the Wolf Spider ID. They're soil dwelling, and the female carries her eggs wrapped up in silk with her. When the eggs hatch, she carries her babies on her back and they hop off to spread themselves around as she makes her rounds. You can see one of he defectors on the bottom margin of the pic.
 
wahlee76 said:
My Brain Strain from pepperlover started off the same, but they got 'Brainier' along the way. Thought it was the cold Dutch weather.
 
Don't know about the spider, but I sure don't want to meet one :scared:
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Hey, Wally, thanks for stopping by.  Seems like the Brainstrain is the right strain.  I don't want her crawling on me, but I'm sure glad to have her (and all her kids) around. 
 
Devv said:
Glad to see the poddage!
 
Yeah dang hornets and wasps around here are terrible! I don't hook-up a trailer, sit on a mower seat. Pull the tractor out...you name it without checking for them.
 
Not a pretty looking spider!
 
Not a fan of those either...
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Hey, Scott, you and me both on the poddage.  I'm slowly getting the garden in shape and more and more plants in adequately-sized pots.  Hope to post a family picture in the next week or so.  I'm usually pretty good about checking for wasps, but I got careless.  A couple of refresher courses and I'm vigilant again.
 
capsidadburn said:
John, The Brainstrain looks like it will be on target for you.  The spider looks like a Wolf spider we have down here.  They find their way into the shop I work at.  Some of the cleaning staff have actually quit because of them.  The legs on that one are more striped than ours.  I haven't seen one more than 2 inches big.
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Thanks, Mike, I have two Brainstrain plants in the garden (more in pots) and they are the tallest plants I have (almost waist high), but they aren't nearly as dense, nor do they have as many blooms as the red bhuts right next to them.  I hope they set a few more pods anyway, before the high temps return.  I guess you're right on the wolf spider.  I have lots of them around, but they are usually smaller and have more of a brown pattern.  I've not seen one before this large or with this coloration, or as hairy for that matter.
 
stickman said:
+1 on the Wolf Spider ID. They're soil dwelling, and the female carries her eggs wrapped up in silk with her. When the eggs hatch, she carries her babies on her back and they hop off to spread themselves around as she makes her rounds. You can see one of he defectors on the bottom margin of the pic.
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Rick, thanks for taking a look.  I remember as a kid the first time I accidentally (or maybe on purpose) whacked a momma wolf and all her babies scattered all around.  It was a pretty trippy moment until I realized what had happened (and then I felt bad).  I missed the little guy at the bottom.  I had placed the flat in a shady spot and put a couple of pieces of cardboard over her after I disturbed her yesterday.  Looked today and everyone was gone.
 
My in-ground plants that have been shown somewhere up-thread occupy only a tiny part of my garden space.  The rest had gone wild with weeds and volunteer grains.  I mowed a little more than half of it today (the part where the rows run North-South) and started a no-till planting.  I set out 7 Pinata jalapenos (CPI), 4 Original TS Yellow (PL), and 12 Red Bhuts (my own seed).  The ground was bone dry, but I did find a (very) little moisture about 8"-10" down at the top of the clay layer.  The rows that had grains in them were a breeze to mow, easy cutting and instant mulch.  The Pinatas are scrawny little things, still in flats, barely more than sticks (I have others in pots), but I thought I'd give them a chance.  If they don't make it, I've got others looking for a home.  The TS Yellow and Red Bhuts were root bound in 3.5" square pots and for the most part are pretty healthy plants.  They've been getting full sun morning to noon.  We'll see how they like all day sun. 
 
I'm sure there's a bumblebee nest out there somewhere, but I didn't find it.  I did get buzzed a few times when I mowed down some of the passion flowers they were feeding on.  I really, really hope I can spot the nest before I give them cause to be upset.
 
The next challenge is mowing the part with East-West running rows.  That has been fallow for two years and is full of over-head-high Johnson grass.  Once mowed, that will get tilled and the rows re-oriented N-S to match the rest.  I'm going to use some kind of plastic or cardboard mulch to keep the Johnson grass down.
 
glad you're finaly having rain Sawyer, it's about time :)
 
That brainstrain looks quite good, not all of them get very ''bumply'', but nevertheless, they are quite tasty and very very hot :)
 
Oh, yeah!  Got about another 1/4" of rain today!  I think in just about every direction from here, they got more.  There's something weird about the lay of the land here.  I've seen typical storms coming from the West split in two and go North and South of me.  Lately weather has not been typical, but the bulk of the rain has been missing me.  That also means, the tornadoes miss me and the worst of the winter weather, too, so I'm not complaining (too much).  As long as my well holds out, I'm happy.  (Ecstatic, even, with the low temperatures we've been having.
 
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