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First frost killed everything on 10/19/15 now what...

J

Jabski

Now what am I supposed to do. I started the seeds on March 1st and was really picking a lot and still had a lot to pick.  I even protected them but the temp went down to about 22*F.  Only a heated greenhouse I think would have saved them.  I really thought my protection plan would work, damn it.  Every day I'd go out and hang out with my peppers.  They never gave me grief, talked back, etc to me.  It's a little like a well I don't know what to describe it as.
 
Does anyone else feel that way when that jerk Jack Frost comes and kills the plants?
 
Jabski said:
Does anyone else feel that way when that jerk Jack Frost comes and kills the plants?
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Mid to end of October finds me rushing all over the city to pull pods before a frost.  I've got a few plants that were covered and made it, but those have already been dug and put into pots for overwintering.  It does indeed suck, but the good part flip side is now I have a lot of sauce to make/pods to smoke or dehydrate, powder blends to experiment with.  And of course the litany of notebooks to pour over with my grow notes, deciding which to plant next year and what seeds I have/need to get.  :)
 
Yeah, I spend the year planning and accumulating seeds for next year... always a different batch.... with so many varieties, it's fun trying to get those peppers you find interesting.
I know some folks use a plant year after year, but I rip em' out at year's end and plant new in the Spring. Relax man... it's all good, now you get to eat and cook with this years
crop.
 
P.S. Sorry to hear it's sooooooo cold up there!!!!!!!    :onfire:  I'm going out now to pick another batch! 
LOL, not trying to rub it in... I'm originally from Michigan! There's a lot to be said about mild winters tho!!
 
as an FYI for next year:
 
I got my killing frost 2 weeks ago or more......night before, I cut the plants that had more than 5-6 pods on them.....hung them in the basement......getting really, really good ripening on the mature pods......
 
also doing well with the pods on a screen in the laundry room
 
 
probably 90+% ripening on the hangers......over 50% on the screen
 
FreeportBum said:
Are you able to grow indoors? even one plant is better then nothing. I started seeds in July and have some caramel moruga and yellow BBG7 plants starting to flower right now. Fresh pods for X-mas  :party:
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Jingle pods jingle pods !!!! :)
 
I know what you mean about pepper time. Most of mine died last week. It was kind of depressing, but not unexpected. If we had dodged that one frost though, would have gotten 3+ weeks extra grow time. I did bring in a few to overwinter, and trying to get some cuttings to root too. Already have plans for next year's grow. I'm grateful I grew and preserved a bunch of different types this year. Last year I had mostly superhots in the freezer or dried, and that limited my options. I can experiment a little more with flavors this time.
 
Wow!!! Thank you everyone, these posts make me feel way better.
 
winland Feb 1st 2016 is not really that far away instead of March 1st this year.
 
tims77 Thanks for that idea.  I will definately do that next year.
 
FreeportBum I think I'll start an Inca red drop plant or other short type of pepper plant!  Maybe 4 different types.
 
I lost all of mine before getting the first pepper off of them.The rain,wind,damp off and bugs got me this year.  :doh:I could not get any thing to go right for me. :drunk:  We all have next year to try again. :party:
 
 
I got my killing frost 2 weeks ago or more......night before, I cut the plants that had more than 5-6 pods on them.....hung them in the basement......getting really, really good ripening on the mature pods......
Click to expand...
 
Can you get viable seeds this way??
 
Siouxzn said:
 
Can you get viable seeds this way??
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i would assume so? the only pods that will ripen are the mature pods; pods that haven't matured won't ripen......so i would ASSUME mature pods have mature seeds?
 
well the only reason I ask, is that I have heard that store bought peppers are picked immature so they can ripen later for selling. Seeds obtained from these may not be viable.
 
tims77 said:
as an FYI for next year:
 
I got my killing frost 2 weeks ago or more......night before, I cut the plants that had more than 5-6 pods on them.....hung them in the basement......getting really, really good ripening on the mature pods......
 
also doing well with the pods on a screen in the laundry room
 
 
probably 90+% ripening on the hangers......over 50% on the screen
Click to expand...
They won't stop growing here in Alabama! I have new ones still coming out for the 1st time this year!
 
Hell, you did ok. I lost a few early in the year. Just seedlings and they got hit while hardening off. It sucks, but that is why I consider this a good hobby. I have learned a lot about actually trusting the weather forecast. Even if they are wrong.
 
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