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stupid question, but is this starting of fruit?

The flower fell off and it looks like this, is this the starting of fruit? Its my first time i grow anything.
 
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Yep, that looks like a ripening pod.
I know by having no experience myself, but seeing pictures of growing pods and by the pixels.
 
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Yes that's fruit, usually pretty much guaranteed to grow to ripe now if you treat it well. The technical name for it is that the "fruit has set".
Many recommend now to feed the plants if you haven't already.
 
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Yes, the start of a pod. But let's get some terminology down, because the flower did not fall off or you would not have a pod there. What happened is that the petals fell off - this is a good sign that you're likely going to get a pod there. When the full flower falls off - not just the petals, but even the peduncle ("stem") of the flower - you have a problem with the plant that needs to be corrected and a pod will not be produced.
 
http://grandpacliff.com/Plants/Glossary-Plants.htm << this site has many plant parts ID'd. You don't need to learn them all, but it helps others to help you when you do have problems if you use similar terminology.
 
That aside, keep in mind that all of us have something to learn. No question asked is ever stupid; we all learn by asking questions.  
 
Thanx for info, the plant now have 5 pods :-). How long is the growing time for pods? Do the plant need more water then the other plants that dont have flowers/fruit? I cant find any calsium to use on my plants, i have used a litle bone meal but there isnt any info on the box that there is calsium in it, but it should be calsium in bone meal? They get a spray with epsom salt once a week and a litle nutrient in the water. If i need to lower the ph, is there something normal stuff (in the house) i could use to do that?
 
Congratulations on your first pods! Ripening times vary according to the variety, with milder varieties usually ripening faster than superhots. You're looking at about a month under ideal weather conditions. You can Google your specific variety to find out exactly how long it usually takes.
 
Your plant won't need more water than usual, just continue watching the leaves to know when to water. Be careful not to over water, as that can lead to cracks or bursts on the fruit.
 
While bone meal contains calcium, it's not in a form that's ready for plants to absorb. It needs to break down more in the soil first. Epsom salt doesn't contain calcium, but helps the plants to take up calcium more readily. Have a look at websites or stores that sell hydroponics supplies, they will likely have a water soluble calcium supplement you can order. Or just go to a store that sells plants and fertilizers and ask them for a water-soluble fertilizer that contains calcium.
 
It is not recommended to use household products to change pH. People do experiment with vinegars, baking soda and other items, but you will have the best results using products designed for the purpose. If you're growing hydroponically, it's easy to adjust the pH. However, if you're growing in a soil mix, it's best to prepare the mix and add amendments to reach the correct pH before planting. Unless your pH is wildly off and actively harming your plants, don't worry too much about changing the pH now.
 
It looks as though you're all set for success, once the fruit sets, you're pretty much in the clear. Now you just wait for it to ripen and then enjoy the burn.
 
- Mandie
 
I have water from a well, that water goes thru a salt filter to remove lime? (calcium)  i have that filter since there is so much of it. But if i take out the water before the filter, would that be enough for the plants? I have used the water that has been filtered, but i started to think that maybe use the water before the filter would help? When i wash my car with the unfiltered water and let it only dry in the sun, i will see white spots all over the car from all the lime in the water.
 
pwb said:
I have water from a well, that water goes thru a salt filter to remove lime? (calcium)...I have used the water that has been filtered, but i started to think that maybe use the water before the filter would help?
 
Personally, I would be hesitant to change water now at this stage, since your plants appear to be doing fine. Changing to straight well water just might affect them negatively. If you feel confident experimenting, then you could definitely try it. You could also send a sample of the well water to a local lab to test the mineral content to make sure it's within a safe range for plants. Usually there is a botany/horticulture department at the municipality that can give you the contact details of such a testing facility.
 
If you have more than one of the same variety, you could give half well water and the other half filtered water and see whether it has any effect.

Whatever you decide to do, be sure to share your results here, as it could be a very interesting experiment!
 
I think it's a good idea to keep using the filtered water. You can add nutrients to the water to experiment. You could try an experiment next year with giving one plant filtered water and another unfiltered to see how it affects the plants.
 
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