2018 Southern Hemisphere Grow Down-Under

Hi All
 
It's getting to that stage where we need to plan the next growdown.
 
I can supply the Aji Cito seeds, but will need to get them posted pretty quick so get voting
 
I also have no issue if we go with something else, but will need to order in good time as it takes ages to get to NZ
 
If you vote 'Something Else' post a suggested variety
 
Poll closes Friday 27th April
 
 
General Rules

• GROWDOWN BEGINS 21st JUNE
• Seeds to be started on or after start date
• Germinate and grow as many as you want
• All grow styles and techniques welcome
• Only one plant can count towards your entry
• Nominate your growdown plant at first weigh in
• Weigh each harvest, and post picture of pods on scales here
• Heaviest total weight of pods in one year from start will be the winner
• Honour system - If you cheat the Aphid Gods will know

 
 
 

 

[karoo]

What a difference a few weeks away can do!
It's been hot , but not too hot in the last month , so I have pods and flowers all over.
 
First pic from 5 weeks ago , desember 14 2018
 

 
Today January 17 2019 ,  note the extra shade cover on top of the net.
 

 
 
The pods are getting bigger.
 

 
46 pods 
86 grams
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

[karoo]

Total 
 
201 pods 
 
325 grams

 

[dimensionz]

9 small pods 10 small grams
 

 
18g total now, 14 pods. 
 
It is very sad being the one to post a follow up post to karoo indeed.. 

 

[karoo]

 
These things just grow!

 

[bob65]

Another 20 for 55g.
 

 
It is kind of depressing really, I am no longer looking for ripe ones, just the ones that are going brown and mushy.
 
 
That makes 58 pods for 182g

 

[karoo]

I can see what you are doing there Bob.
 
Adding weight to your pods with injected fruit fly larva.

 

[bob65]

Another 6 for 16g
 

 
64 pods for 198g.

 

[KAOS]

Some picking again today. Flowers coming through at least but plant is looking a bit sad (passion fruit fly)

24 Pods
37g

165.2g total

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[bob65]

Passion fruit fly, I had to look them up.
 
Not much different to what I am getting by the looks of it. Surprising you are getting them inside your enclosure, is it open on one side or something?
If they are anything like the Queensland fruit fly, noticing them is just the start. They escalate quickly.
 
At least you are getting lots of ripe pods, they look good too.

 

[drathag]

A couple more weigh-ins.
Brings the total to 51pods @ 104grams
 
Hopefully more to come as long as they survive the next couple of days...
 

 

 

 

[bob65]

Another 15 for 37g
 

 
79 pods for 235g.

 

[dimensionz]

Few more, bringing me to a total of 28g, 21pods. Finally got my first big fat pod. 
 

 
 

 

[Devv]

Not two minutes after I posted those pictures I went to put the stung pods in the freezer (I freeze them for 2 days at least to kill the egg or maggot and then seal them in a plastic bag for garbage day).
 
Dirty little maggot had dropped out of the pod that it had destroyed.
 

maggot.jpg

 
So sorry about this all Bob. They just need to die!
 
I have something similar in the late summer early fall; the Leaf footed leaf hopper ruins the crops with stings. They have a drinking problem...
 

 

[bob65]

Fruit Fly Update
 
Taken over 4 days.
 

 

 

 
21 pods for 66g
 
The pod that is sitting beside the scales in the first pic is from another Cito plant. This plant is not in a great spot, it is barely knee high, and other than watering it has been ignored. A closer look the other day and I found 5 or 6 pods on it. They seem to have been left alone by the FF.
 
In the last pic, the big pod that is kind of separate (nearest the readout) is just starting to change color, but it hasn't been stung yet so I thought I would let it ripen on the windowsill rather than feed the FF with it.
 
So far I have 100 pods for 301g.
 
 
 
I am going to get more aggressive with the fruit fly.
 
Unfortunately this will probably mean taking all the pods off of the plants that are not under the net and spraying.
 
Hopefully this will let me save the season for them, still have a few months of growing to go here.
 
 
The advice that I have been given is that this will take care of the FF, but I can't help but think that once the spray "wears off" that more are just going to come in.

 

[karoo]

Those pods are no good for eating , but good for weighing! 
 
Don't let those winged bastards get the better of you .

 

[karoo]

Bob just check you math
previous total 235 on 22 jan

 

[bob65]

Thanks mate, edited the post, should have been 301.
 
 
I agree, I am getting some nice big pods, average 3g. Pity all but about 3 or 4 have been only fit for the rubbish bin.

 

[CaneDog]

Good luck with the FF treatment Bob.  Really hope it works for you and you get to start eating more of those pods!

 

[timnz]

No ripe pods yet, all still green, but the cito plant is about 2m tall in the greenhouse and has dozens of green pods. It's unfortunately not in the best position, stuck behind a huge row of 2.5m tall really thick jalapenos that steal a lot of the direct sunlight. I'm hoping it's going to ripen up a bunch all at once later. Here's a pic of the cito plant (first) followed by a wide pic of the jalapenos and then a close-up of one section of the jalapenos.

 

[karoo]

Great plants and greenhouse.

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