Hello fellow pepperheads! 
to my glog for the 2014 season.
Last year was my first time growing peppers and the results were fantastic! What started as tiny seedlings from Lowe's became large and extremely productive pepper factories (check out my 2013 glog for details). As the end of the season approached I did some research and was able to create a nice indoor setup resulting in the (so far) successful overwintering of all four plants. This year I knew I wanted to take the next step and try my hand at growing peppers from seeds as opposed to buying seedlings. Thanks to the generosity of THP member Cone9 I was able to procure seeds for a variety of peppers, thus beginning my 2014 season! I check this site almost religiously and will try to update my glog frequently thorughout the season.
Grow list for 2014 (from seeds):
7 Pot Yellow
Aji Lemon
Aji Pineapple
Scotch Bonnet TFM
Wild Brazil
Yellow Fatalii
All of my seeds were started sometime in mid February in Miracle Gro Seed Starting Mix with some Vermiculite added in a 1:4 ratio. I used a 72 cell seed starting tray, I think ProHex was the name - each cell was hexagonally-shaped as opposed to square or round, it was supposed to create a stronger root system. Each cell was given 2-3 seeds because I honestly didn't expect to have the high germination rate I ended up having; I don't have an exact figure but it's roughly 90-95%. About a month later in March any seedlings that were eligible received new homes. I decided to experiment a little bit here: some seedlings were moved into 3" round jiffy pots, others into 3" square pots of a similar material, some went into solo cups or other plastic cups, and finally I had to move 8 Scotch Bonnets into a Ziploc container because I ran out of pots! These are there current homes until they will receive their final potting up. Some will go into 2 gal. containers while others will have the luxury of a 3.8 gal container. Also, some plants were given more of the Seed Starter/Vermiculite mix and some were given straight Miracle Gro Potting Soil when I was finally able to get some. When the seedlings first sprouted they were under 3 cfl lights but now they are under a 250w MH bulb and just 1 cfl.
Seedlings as of 3/22
Seedlings as of 4/6
As you can see I also have some Cilantro started as well and some catnip plants (VERY potent based on my cats' reactions lol
) I can't wait for the weather to finally break so I can move everyone outside, which probably won't happen until early May. I have begun a very minor fertilizer schedule since it appears the plants have drained the soil of their nutes.
Plants OW'd from last year:
Cayenne
Habanero
Jalapeno
Serrano
I didn't expect all of my plants from last season to survive when I brought them in for the winter but it appears all 4 will make it outside once more! I thought I had taken more pictures of the OW process but apparently only one picture has survived. The Cayenne and Habanero plants will be going in the ground this year in a bed I have yet to recondition (I'm almost positive the soil is of poor quality, I bought a soil test just to be sure but haven't got around to using it yet.)
Cayenne just before being moved inside
Future home for the Cayenne and Habanero (complete with snow!)
As I mentioned earlier I will try to keep my glog updated regularly, I imagine the next update will be in a few weeks when I finally get to move everything outside.
Good luck and happy growing, everyone!
to my glog for the 2014 season.Last year was my first time growing peppers and the results were fantastic! What started as tiny seedlings from Lowe's became large and extremely productive pepper factories (check out my 2013 glog for details). As the end of the season approached I did some research and was able to create a nice indoor setup resulting in the (so far) successful overwintering of all four plants. This year I knew I wanted to take the next step and try my hand at growing peppers from seeds as opposed to buying seedlings. Thanks to the generosity of THP member Cone9 I was able to procure seeds for a variety of peppers, thus beginning my 2014 season! I check this site almost religiously and will try to update my glog frequently thorughout the season.
Grow list for 2014 (from seeds):
7 Pot Yellow
Aji Lemon
Aji Pineapple
Scotch Bonnet TFM
Wild Brazil
Yellow Fatalii
All of my seeds were started sometime in mid February in Miracle Gro Seed Starting Mix with some Vermiculite added in a 1:4 ratio. I used a 72 cell seed starting tray, I think ProHex was the name - each cell was hexagonally-shaped as opposed to square or round, it was supposed to create a stronger root system. Each cell was given 2-3 seeds because I honestly didn't expect to have the high germination rate I ended up having; I don't have an exact figure but it's roughly 90-95%. About a month later in March any seedlings that were eligible received new homes. I decided to experiment a little bit here: some seedlings were moved into 3" round jiffy pots, others into 3" square pots of a similar material, some went into solo cups or other plastic cups, and finally I had to move 8 Scotch Bonnets into a Ziploc container because I ran out of pots! These are there current homes until they will receive their final potting up. Some will go into 2 gal. containers while others will have the luxury of a 3.8 gal container. Also, some plants were given more of the Seed Starter/Vermiculite mix and some were given straight Miracle Gro Potting Soil when I was finally able to get some. When the seedlings first sprouted they were under 3 cfl lights but now they are under a 250w MH bulb and just 1 cfl.
Seedlings as of 3/22
Seedlings as of 4/6
As you can see I also have some Cilantro started as well and some catnip plants (VERY potent based on my cats' reactions lol
) I can't wait for the weather to finally break so I can move everyone outside, which probably won't happen until early May. I have begun a very minor fertilizer schedule since it appears the plants have drained the soil of their nutes.Plants OW'd from last year:
Cayenne
Habanero
Jalapeno
Serrano
I didn't expect all of my plants from last season to survive when I brought them in for the winter but it appears all 4 will make it outside once more! I thought I had taken more pictures of the OW process but apparently only one picture has survived. The Cayenne and Habanero plants will be going in the ground this year in a bed I have yet to recondition (I'm almost positive the soil is of poor quality, I bought a soil test just to be sure but haven't got around to using it yet.)
Cayenne just before being moved inside
Future home for the Cayenne and Habanero (complete with snow!)
As I mentioned earlier I will try to keep my glog updated regularly, I imagine the next update will be in a few weeks when I finally get to move everything outside.
Good luck and happy growing, everyone!
)
damn that was painful! Next time I'll do the smar tthing and make it inside.
) This first picture is from my harvest today.
