Stetto's First Winter Grow ('16-'17)

Amazing how you don't really notice how much growin' is going on until you compare pics from just a short time ago....
 
End of July and five minutes ago (eleven days)
 

 
I have been feeding them with a 3-1-2 soluble (Jobe's), I think next year I'll simply order the CNS17 in gallons instead of pints...
 
The Mystery peppers (aji limo) have kicked in and look to be a heavy hitter.
 

 
And my rocotos are really impressing, this a mini rocoto rojo (thanks Matt!)
 

 
The CAP267 is still the champeen pepper-maker out there, it hit the ground running and won't quit! It's hard to see in the pic, but I quit counting new blossoms at 1000...Geonerd prolly injected some batshit-laden genetic production amplifier into the seed....
 

 
I am so looking forward to fresh-ground paprika! This little thing is LOADED.
 

 
All these plants are looking great, I just wish I could squeeze an extra month of good weather out of this season. I talked to a local habanero grower, he tells me that our season is actually marginal for most hotties besides anuums. He doesn't get ripe pods until AFTER the first frost (yes, he covers), and it doesn't seem to matter how early he plants. He has, like I did, plant his habs as early as December before and they refused to produce more than token podlets before late July/August. A greenhouse/high tunnel/hoophouse sounds more and more a necessity for the kind of produce I want to grow...Or moving a couple miles south....
 

 
While most of you guys are posting harvest pics here I am waiting for my first pods! Heh heh, Dude will abide!
 
At least I know I can grow the Anaheims!!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Eric!
 
A fine looking garden!
 
I hope the weather holds for you

Eric, you got plans for next year?  

Devv said:

Eric!
 
A fine looking garden!
 
I hope the weather holds for you

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Thanks Scott, you had a lot to do with a lot of it. Amazing how climate and geography unrelated can have so much in common! I really appreciate the seed you and others here have supplied me. I was so one dimensional for so long. This can only get better!


  

Geonerd said:

Eric, you got plans for next year?  

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Heh heh, I so love ya, Greg. I started my season way last winter just wanting to produce an orange pepper from Peru. You and PaulG made that happen, then you introduced me to all manner of baccatum (will I ever spell that right?). Yeah, right now I want to focus on Peruvian specific, and the rocotos turn me way on. But ya gotta ask me again after MY harvest. I have a lot of things growing I had no idea I could grow here. I want the starfish and bishop hats and angelos to get moving for me, I want a stuffed rocoto so bad I can imagine it in my mouth.

So yeah, I got plans for next year, they involve some REALLY good peppers. More to come as I realize it....Unless you have guest quarters, I can consider that too.....

Garden looks great Eric !   The hots are soon to follow , plenty of time left ,    

moruga welder said:

Garden looks great Eric !   The hots are soon to follow , plenty of time left ,    

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Gawd Frank, I hope so.
 
In less than a month the frost watch usually begins up here. Weather guys are piss-poor at predicting it, and I can be as much as ten degrees cooler than the closest weather station 12 miles south.
 
I wish I had a frost canopy for those nights, but what I got is just odds & ends sheets and paint tarps, a real pain to apply. I may wind up picking individual plants to save, at least my potted ones can come inside.
 
But every rare once in a while there is no frost until mid-to-late October. You can imagine how I love those seasons.
 
Thanks for the well wishes, Frank. They mean much.

Wow, you're garden is looking great! I would love to fire roast, peel, stuff with cheese, and batter fry a few of those anaheims.

Thegreenchilemonster said:

Wow, you're garden is looking great! I would love to fire roast, peel, stuff with cheese, and batter fry a few of those anaheims.

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We do a LOT of rellenos around here. My pork green chile ain't no slumchow either....

Never once considered growing my own paprika. Now I'm giddy about it. Super heavy, very pungent chile aroma, I have a feeling these are going to make a great powder!
 

 
It's getting jungly out in the 8th acre. Just about everything is going nutz making poddage, except my Bishop Hats, Brazilian Starfish and--a wonder indeed, the Aji Amarillo & Pacay. The Amarillo I have potted is weighed down with pods, but the plants in the 8th acre, though they have grown HUGE, are just not progagating. The superhots waited til the last couple weeks, but are loading up as I type. Even my Orange Thai has a healthy number of peppers on it.
 
I wonder if the Amarillos need something....special.
 
I do see a culinary crisis in my future. What with Gochus and Bebers and all manner of baccatums and chinenses and ROCOTOS, some of you folks might have to come up here and teach me some new cookin' habits....I, of course, will supply the beer....

Nice big peppers you have there.
Paprika got me into hotter peppers , but is still high on my list every year . Like most other pepper things, nothing compares to your own fresh produce.

Glad those Paprikas made for you Eric, they look stellar
 
Short season growing is a bitch, tell me I know. Just when they get going the weather hates them. I'm still trying to find a way to get things done before the heat sets in. One day I hope!
 
I really hope you get the harvest you're hoping for

karoo said:

Nice big peppers you have there.
Paprika got me into hotter peppers , but is still high on my list every year . Like most other pepper things, nothing compares to your own fresh produce.

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It's kind of funny, but until I actually picked these two I was convinced that paprika was a simple color agent for deviled eggs! And roger that on the fresh vegetables. I ONLY eat Brussels Sprouts that I grow...
 

Devv said:

Glad those Paprikas made for you Eric, they look stellar
 
Short season growing is a bitch, tell me I know. Just when they get going the weather hates them. I'm still trying to find a way to get things done before the heat sets in. One day I hope!
 
I really hope you get the harvest you're hoping for

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Well thanks Scott, means much! The two I picked are early ripers, but only 2/3 the size of the BIG ones! They really like it here...I panic every August when certain veggies aren't far enough along for me, but if I'm frost-vigilant I do usually have until the first week of October, from now about 5 more weeks. Far as the harvest I'm hoping for goes, This year I'm willing to take what I can get, education most likely. The latest pepper plant out here was sown on March 1, six weeks earlier than I usually do. Part of me wanted to expect great poddage as soon as they hit dirt, but alas! The deer pretty much eliminated that six weeks in one gluttonous meal. Those paprika are the ONLY ripening pods in the 8th acre... 
 
I am going to try over-wintering a few plants, just not sure which yet (the aji mango for sure!  ), and again will try to start on or around March 1 next Spring, but will try to be ready for the critters this time. Next years crop will be a bit different too, depending on what turns me on this Fall. I have got to try those monster manzano size rocotos I saw in PaulG's glog, I have a chunk of jarlsberg and some 5 year old Dutch farmers cheese just screaming for a pepper like that...
 
I am having a blast with these peppers though, wish I'd have started this a long long time ago.
 
If it's any help, this paprika plant is -/+ 3 foot tall.
 

 
...you do the math on those pods. They are huge, and making more!
 
One of two Trinidad Moruga Scorpions. There are 20+ pods under the canopy, but do you see what I mean when I say LUSH? All these plants are like this. Nitrogen Valhalla or something....
 

 
A large orange thai plant, four foot tall, lots of flowers, maybe a dozen pods. Love to see more of the latter.
 

 
Aji Angelo, a late bloomer, over 5 feet tall, a handful of small green pods.
 

 
My Brazilian Starfish, this entire green eco-complex hosts 1 (count 'em, ONE) fitty-cent piece sized pod. There seem to be some breeds that come to the party late, I was hoping to use the Bishop Hats (also no pods) and this one to try and initiate the family into more exotic and spicy cuisine. Won't stop me from trying again next year, I need to analyze and condition soil....
 

 
I won a lot of seed from Mpicante in a football poll last fall, this is one of those, she labeled the seeds "Madbalz". I have a sneaking suspicion that the only balls involved will be what I'll need to grow to eat one of these...
 

 
These started out as Mystery Peppers, were supposed to be Aji Amarillos, the seed from Peru via PaulG. These are PRRRO-LIFIC!!
 

 
...and the ever-popular Red Fatale, which I'd never even heard of before finding this wonderful collection of Pepper Gurus (sorry Rich, just a vernacular)...
 

 
Reco-nize these, Scott? I hope they ripen, 'cause there are a LOT of 'em. Gochugochugochugochugochugochu, all over the place!
 

 
Something I mentioned in PaulG's glog; I have six very large, very lush, very healthy looking Aji Amarillos in the 8th acre, five with no more than one or two pods, one with none. This is one with one. I gotta figure out what they need out here.
 

 
The one with none:
 

 
Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's seed or pedigree, it's gotta be environment in the dirt. This is the one on the deck, loading down (and yes, a ripe one deep inside)...
 

 
In fact, all my pot-bound plants are kicking ass. They are living in a mix of whatever potting mix I had handy and a 25-50% blend of 8th acre muck. Check them out.
 
Aji White Lightning Bolt.
 

 
Aji Mango.
 

 
Rocoto Amarillo.
 

 
NOTaPDreadie SB.
 

 
And definitely not least, my aji lemon drop.
 

 
So, being that I like to believe I'm no dummy, and the other fact that outhouse engineering is a passion of mine, I know I have some homework to do to get actual results in that 8th acre. I can grow shit, but I need to figure out how to convince some of what I grow to actually feed me.
 
What confounds is that two plants next to each other, just a mere 40 inches apart, have such different requirements to attain that level of existence....

I can't imagine what's keeping your Aji Amarillos from pod-setting, Eric. 
 
In our climate they grow big, flower a lot, and set big pods.  All through
the hottest and coolest temperatures.  I 
 
I can only suggest some kind of Phosphorus and Potash heavy fertilizer
to give the flowers and pods a boost.  Other than that, I'm stumped.
 
Were the Mystery seeds in an unlabeled packet?  Could very well be
Aji Limo - I had some seeds around, but haven't seen them, and all
the ones I tried to start failed.

PaulG said:

I can't imagine what's keeping your Aji Amarillos from pod-setting, Eric. 
 
In our climate they grow big, flower a lot, and set big pods.  All through
the hottest and coolest temperatures.  I 
 
I can only suggest some kind of Phosphorus and Potash heavy fertilizer
to give the flowers and pods a boost.  Other than that, I'm stumped.
 
Were the Mystery seeds in an unlabeled packet?  Could very well be
Aji Limo - I had some seeds around, but haven't seen them, and all
the ones I tried to start failed.

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Yeah, the Aji Amarillos are a real head scratcher, but the potted ones are doing really well, so nutes are the likely culprit. I intend to acidify and nutrilate my 8th acre this fall after last harvest, get that soil conditioned for next year.
 
The mystery seeds were mixed in the same packet that was was labeled 'Aji Amarillo P'. They are kickin' 'em out!

Eric, some serious good work in the garden this season for sure!
 
Next season you can act with lessons learned.
 
A trick to beat the early frost: setup a sprinkler and run it during the frost making weather. It pulled me out of a 26° late March freeze we had years ago. I lost one plant out of 48 plus.
 
The only other thing I can think of to extend your season aside from a greenhouse is to have a setup to get them to size prior to dirt day. My goal next season is an earlier start and less plants so I can get the size of them larger, without running out of room. And that's what I say now...LOL

Another anti-frost trick is to place a bucket or three full of water next to the plant, beneath the tarp.  
If there's a big supermarket nearby (or floral store) check for discarded ~3 gallon black buckets that the assorted flower and stems come packed with.  I scored about a hundred of them last Mother's Day.
 
As for the lack of flowering... "who the heck knows."  The dang plans often seem to behave completely at random   , although I suspect this is just one more example of Human Ignorance at work.  
Here's an interesting paper that discusses N and P vs. flowers and heat.
http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/content/43/5/1549.full

Devv said:

Eric, some serious good work in the garden this season for sure!
 
Next season you can act with lessons learned.
 
A trick to beat the early frost: setup a sprinkler and run it during the frost making weather. It pulled me out of a 26° late March freeze we had years ago. I lost one plant out of 48 plus.
 
The only other thing I can think of to extend your season aside from a greenhouse is to have a setup to get them to size prior to dirt day. My goal next season is an earlier start and less plants so I can get the size of them larger, without running out of room. And that's what I say now...LOL

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I'd heard of the sprinkler angle but never tried it. This may be the year. I've never had so much to cover! I am starting to get a lot of pods on some plants, just want them to have a shot at getting ripe. And yessir, next year is gonna be glorious!
 
Hey, stay dry and secured down there. I heard that even you landlocked sand sifters might well lose power tonight. My buddy's web cam in Port A. is lookin' miserable.
 

Geonerd said:

Another anti-frost trick is to place a bucket or three full of water next to the plant, beneath the tarp.  
If there's a big supermarket nearby (or floral store) check for discarded ~3 gallon black buckets that the assorted flower and stems come packed with.  I scored about a hundred of them last Mother's Day.
 
As for the lack of flowering... "who the heck knows."  The dang plans often seem to behave completely at random   , although I suspect this is just one more example of Human Ignorance at work.  
Here's an interesting paper that discusses N and P vs. flowers and heat.
http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/content/43/5/1549.full

Click to expand...

 
You have the knowledge of the Sith, doan'choo Greg...I always feel better after a good shine from my buddy the Nerd de Geo....
 
Hey, I ate a CAP 267 today. It was a yellow one, not sure if CAP 267 is actually an AJI Cristal or not, but I thought I was gonna hate the thing. Tasted real green for a second, then bloomed with a superb heat and some citrus. Didn't last long. I'm going to wait for a ripe one. There are only 782 pods on that stupid plant ( don't tell me, human ignernce at work?)....

Geonerd said:

Another anti-frost trick is to place a bucket or three full of water next to the plant, beneath the tarp.  
If there's a big supermarket nearby (or floral store) check for discarded ~3 gallon black buckets that the assorted flower and stems come packed with.  I scored about a hundred of them last Mother's Day.
 
As for the lack of flowering... "who the heck knows."  The dang plans often seem to behave completely at random   , although I suspect this is just one more example of Human Ignorance at work.  
Here's an interesting paper that discusses N and P vs. flowers and heat.
http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/content/43/5/1549.full

Click to expand...

 

Super interesting read. I never would have guessed the results.
 
Thanks for sharing!

Devv, if you search "pepper nitrogen yield," or similar, you'll find a number of papers, many of which seem to disagree!  The old rule of thumb regarding "Too much N stops fruiting" may be just term of the equation, one subject to being outweighed by other considerations.  It's all something I want to study over the winter, so I can try more stupid experiments on the poor plants....  
 
Eric, the 267s should not taste green if you actually LET THEM RIPEN.      Start sampling when they hit a rich, creamsicle orange.  As they ripen to red, watch out for the tips starting to dry out.  At least that's what they tend to do down here in Aridzona Hell.  How do the Lightning Bolts taste?  

Geonerd said:

 
Eric, the 267s should not taste green if you actually LET THEM RIPEN.      Start sampling when they hit a rich, creamsicle orange.  As they ripen to red, watch out for the tips starting to dry out.  At least that's what they tend to do down here in Aridzona Hell.  How do the Lightning Bolts taste?  

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Greg, I have no problem LETTING THEM RIPEN, I picked one that was in a yellow phase because I'd read that Aji Cristal is considered better at that stage than full ripe. I'd also seen many comparisons between CAP 267 and Aji Cristal, So I figured it wouldn't hurt to find out...
 
Hay! It didn't hurt to find out!
 
I can also report about a hunnert percent absolutely sure (I know, I know, you coulda tol' me  ) that CAP 267, based on the "semi" ripe flavor characteristics, are NOT Aji Cristal.
 
I haven't tried the 'Bolts yet. They don't change a whole lot between green and ripe, do they...