2024 Scottish Superhot trial ........

Hi Guy's

Here in Scotland we have .....let's face it.....shitty weather.... lots of cloud and often wet, cold summers however some of us have the chilli bug and feel compelled to grow these beautiful jewels of nature. Particularly when we were lucky enough to grow up in the middle East raised on spicy food and a Grand father born and raised in Kerala India in the 1920's spice is in my families very DNA

Spicey food has always played an important part in our family over the last few year's I've strived to find varieties that will grow in my particular wee Scottish greenhouse............ First was the Ring of fire cayenne which is a perfect substitute for Indian green chillies only hotter a ridiculous early tasty variety.

I've managed to find a couple of Scotch bonnet types that grow well in my wee Scottish greenhouse and taste superb I'm a happy boy.

However my search for a "superhot" that performs well in my wee Scottish greenhouse and tastes excellent continues........the Dorset Naga is pretty close and while I like the flavour and heat the aesthetics are lacking......to smooth and not gnarly enough !

My search continues...........in the past the only superhot I've grown are Dorset Naga and Bengle Naga both selections from seaspring seeds in Devon.....personally I find the "Bengle" naga which is infact a variation of bhut jolokia more aromatic, tasty and certainly more aesthetically pleasingly than the Dorset naga a variation of Naga Morich but not quite as hot but at 700,000 to 900,000 shu but not too shabby !

I highly recommend seaspring seeds "Bengle naga" a variety I see little mention of but highly rate in flavour, heat and aroma

Anyway back to my 2024 superhot trial...........


Here in Scotland I find starting early best in heated propergater and I use a home made light box to stop seedlings going "Leggy" this season I believe I started my superhot seeds Approx 04/12/23

This season I used rock wool in a ice cube tray in a box in my propergater which I highly recommend as germination is very quickly observed and seedlings either put in soil of transferred to a kratky hydroponic set up less time wasted

Light box does wonders to stop Leggy seedlings, I use a simply homemade set up a reptile bulb in a homemade set up 7 cm pot's of soil and a few mini kratky hydroponics.


Fast forward to March 2024 hydroponics seedlings plus soil seedlings have been in my light box, window ledge and transferred and hardened off into my unheated greenhouse and have been out there for approx a month being covered with x2 layers of horticultural fleece ( which i highly recommend) temps have been down to a bit less than 2 oC ! With no ill effects.

Dorset Naga in 5 litre kratky set up while I'm not huge fan of the aesthetics, my pods were very smooth the flavour and heat are excellent, this season I used the last of my original seeds in had from seaspring seeds hoping for my gnarly pod's than I had before......

The "Bengle" naga (aka improved bhut jolokia ) very tasty, a smaller plant than my Dorset but hopefully it will catch up, delicious and much underestimated in my opinion

Death spiral I have high hope's for this chilli pepper variety a strong healthy plant in 5 litre soil trial pot

Super bhut jolokia jw the weakest/smallest .......i may give this to a friend to grow on in their greenhouse to free up space plus I feel/think it's not going to be hot enough ...... just a big bhut

This was a Mustard Naga I grew last year from Black King Naga seed I'm not sure if its a variation or hybrid ? Very prolific hot and tasty........give it a go ........strong healthy plant

Fatallii gourmet jigsaw ( sh*t name) the last of my seed from Mr Fatallii himself hopefully more gnarly than last seasons which was damaged by aphids and not as gnarly as I've seen.

Devils Nagabrain red an F4 cross from Justin at White Hot peppers I've had alot of luck with Justin's seeds so will give this a fair go .................

Primotalii this plant is a month or more younger than the rest but has caught up nicely I have high hopes for this one .........

Hurt berry apparently it's an early maturing variety.....? Hope so being a British variety I would hope so to make the most of our short cold wet season

My 7 pot primo seems to be a big hardy plant again I have high hope's ..........

My Trinidad moruga scorpion is also a big hardy plant no idea if I will like the flavour........

7 pot Barrackpore a big besty of a plant ..........Apparently big pod's and big heat ........

7 pot Brainstrain yellow another highly recommend variety I feel I must grow............

I'm pretty sure my 2024 superhot trial will find me a variety my grows well and tastes good in my wee Scottish greenhouse, last season the 7 pot Douglah blew me away with it's huge insanely hot pod's however I didn't like the after taste ......

the search continues...............


Stephen

 

[MarcV]

Think of the yellow 7pot brainstrain as a very hot scotch bonnet

 

[Englander]

Hi Guy's

A little up date in my 2024 Scottish superhot trial.............


When I'm wrong I'm wrong and happy to admit it and learn from it and hopefully not repeat it ! And if it helps other not make the same one even better.

My cunning plan for 2024 was germinate early, move to light box, 7 cm square pot's, like square pot's simply makes sense for trays and ease of moving lots of wee plants.

As they grew potted to 9 cm and as they romped away to 11cm square pot cunning plan all going well

Meanwhile as I'm normally finished work by 1pm it let's me get plants out of the spare room and a few hours out in the greenhouse idea being to harden them off abit get them used to cooler temperatures. The other year I'd experimented with cull plants and found them very tolerant of temps down to 2 oC so plan was to get them out into there final 5 litre pot's ASAP !

5 litres pot's may seem small for a chillie trial but it was a tip from my mate in Wales simply let's you fit more varieties in our wee greenhouse and there for experience more varieties at one time. I used this last season with my scotch bonnet trial and it proved very useful.

However this is where it all went pear-shaped everything going well plants out in the greenhouse even through temps at night were dropping low all was well.
Another part of the cunning plan was to possibly identify varieties or individual plants that were abit more tolerate to low temperatures.

However unfortunately my next move was going to be a big mistake ! I went straight from 11cm square pot's to 5 litre round pot's idea being the root's could do there thing without being disturbed again hopefully giving them a head start.

A combination of factors conspired against me now simultaneously ! firstly the ill-fated move from 11cm to 5 litre, secondly a good top watering in each plant, followed by a crash in night and day temperatures meaning my plants that had been growing well in there 11cm pot's were now surrounded by a large amount of cold wet soil

The result was a stall in growth followed by some varieties beginning to look very unhappy indeed leaves going a lighter green while other's seemed to handle it better staying a nice dark green but not really growing.

After week or so dawned on me what a pillock I'd been ! and some emergency down potting was the only way to hopefully save the day

My Mustard naga wasn't happy and required emergency down potting however the in the background the Trinidad moruga scorpion, Brainstrain yellow and 7 pot primo seemed OK and stayed in their 5 litre pot's.

Likewise the Fatallii gourmet jigsaw was another unhappy variety

Devils nagabrains red and Hurt berry another two not impressed by my 5 litre pot up .......however the 7 pot Barrackpore , Death spiral, Habenero Chocolate were another 3 that seemed to be ok.

I'd already culled my super bhut jolokia jw by cull I mean given to a friend so i can free up some space and still see how it does

Now this was about second week of April.........................

 

[PaulG]

Keep up the good work in Scotland. Hats off for
undertaking s superhot grow in a cold, wet climate!

 

[Englander]

Hi Guy's

At the time the penny dropped about the excessive cold wet soil that was causing my plant's problems I noticed some plant's still in their original 5 litre pot's were producing side shoots like mad !

I decided to trim off the older large leaves to allow as much light as possible onto the new growth........... about the end of April

My 7 Pot Primo with the older big leaves removed .

Death spiral big leaves removed

Trinidad moruga scorpion after the same trimming

My Kratky Dorset Naga also had a trim like wise the Habenero Chocolate and 7 Pot Barrackpore in the background.

I know the Habenero Chocolate is not a superhot but last year all my Chocolate Habenero from multiple sources were terrible ! I'm giving the variety one last go with seeds from whp

 

[Englander]

Hi Guy's

Fast forward today Scotland has been basking in bright sunshine and highs in the light to mid 20oC area ! 21oC -24oC absolutely baking for us after what feels like a very cold and extremely wet start to 2024. Everyone seems to haveca skip in there step and a smile on their face duecto blue skys on sunshine

Obviously all my plants are loving it I've been hardening off all my outdoor chilli varieties to the uv all week as I'm off currently playing nurse maid as my wife's just had an operation.

Few photos from this morning hopefully you can see the results of the leaf trimming and the biggest strongest plant's I've potted up to 35cm milano pot's about 18 litres....all my over superhots are now back in 5 litre pot's minimum as they have recovered from the cold damp soil after being down potted.

The other day I noticed that two had forked Trinidad moruga scorpion and the Death spiral with the 7 pot primo seriously thinking about it and in fact today it has the Brainstrain yellow and 7 Pot barrackpore are just about there too.

Everything else is growing well except my kratky Bengle naga appears very sluggish compared to the kratky Dorset ...... which I find strange as I have always found the Bengle faster to grow mature and fruit ! Maybe just a poor specimen? Infact a later sown soil Bengle naga appears to have caught up and over taken its kratky siblings.

There is also another a few more runners in the race i very late started Tiberius mauler red and Peach, Reaper x Naga, Reaper x moruga and Reaper x srtsl .....most are in mini kratky hydroponics but the Tiberius mauler red is a beast out growing all the others so moved it to a larger kratky set up.

I've also got Andys king BOC and Peach ghost jami in small kratky set ups both are showing remarkable vigour! Watch this space...........

Trinidad moruga scorpion side growth coming on well tiny buds and you can clearly see the fork

Death spiral forked and growing strongly

7 Pot primo a nice strong plant

Brainstrain yellow the last currently in 35cm pot's....please excuse the perky litte Sutherland kale seedlings that were in my sieved worm compost vigorous litte buggers I shall be pulling them out for weeks!

The 7 Pot barrackpore I shall probably leave in it's 5 litre pot a nice strong healthy plant but not sure its as hot as the first 4 varieties and I want to prioritise the super super hots.

The Fatallii gourmet jigsaw I've never found particularly vigorous but it's extremely hot and I do like the flavour......but again probably staying in 5 litre pot.

Primotalii while later sown and set back by the cold damp soil its coming on well and back in 5 litre pot but may very well go into the 35cm milano pot.

The Hurt Berry has the most work to do to catch up but that's on me and my soggy cold soil caper .......

Tiberius mauler red and beast !! Be interesting to see where this one goes.........

The Dorset naga slow and steady but about to take off in its kratky set up i feel.

Don't know what's going on with th8s Bengle naga.........?

This extremely late sown Bengle naga appears to be far more vigorous......

 

[MarcV]

I want to see you eat some of those super super hots when they are ready!

 

[Englander]

Hi Guy's

It's now 7 day's on from the last photos I forgot to mention my Devil's nagabrains never recovered from the whole soggy coldcwet soil caper and perished ! Although I do have another in mini kratky set up.

We have had some lovely weather over the last week or so temperature mostly in the low 20's oC and lots of sunshine, now the problem is trying to keep the greenhouse cool enough ! It's easy hitting low 30's oC and without my automatic window and manual opening the door it would get 40oC +

Been culling potting up recovered plants and im really trying to concentrate on the hottest of the superhot options now all in 35cm / approx 18 litre pot's.

The poorly plants seem back to normal now just got to catch up, but the growth in 7 day's is remarkable !

My Dorset has been moved to a larger kratky set up.........

I'm not sure the 7 Pot Barrackpore is in the same heat class as the other's......but it's a strong healthy plant but I'm planning on keeping it in the 5 litre pot.

 

[growyourown]

are they growing naturally that bushy shape or did you top them?

 

[Englander]

No not topped, I find it sets plant's back too long in our short season. I simply removed the original first large side leaves when i saw new side shoots trying to grow but not getting much light .

I mentioned the subject of topping to the guys at Seaspring seedsmthe Dorset Naga people they advised against it.

One year I kept two of each variety topped one left the other........topped took way longer to produce fruit. Also I have to agree with a guy I saw on you tube see below.

I saw a guy on you tube he topped half his Bell peppers and half not he recorded the results both, the topped produced 'more' fruit .......butthe plant's not topped actually produced 'more' in weight.

 

[C.JackSparrow]

Man those are some very happy plants!
Amazing.

 

[Englander]

Hi Guy's

It's 20 day's since my last post and we had alot of good weather sunshine and temps in high teens to low 20's oC day dawn /dusk here is currently 03.30 and 22.59 so we got plenty of light assuming it can get through the clouds some day's

The recent spell of good weather has caused issues even with my auto opening roof window and my wife opening the sliding door "if" the sun comes out proper the temperature in the greenhouse has been hitting the low 30's oC by the time I get in from work approx 1.30pm ! Ironically I spend most of my time trying to see the dam thing warm enough and now it too hot

However I've added a piece of shade cloth only to the slope of the roof that gets the afternoon sun and even with the door closed it's not got above 29 oC and with the door only open a few inches it's staying in the mid 20's oC which I'm much happier about

Out of interest my max - min thermometer was reading 11 oC as the lowest temp in the greenhouse last night, it's pretty much been staying in the low teens at night in the greenhouse the last few weeks. In May frost are still highly probably but June is safe now till probably October.

The Hurt Berry is still struggling............

The Fatallii gourmet jigsaw has come on alot but again like last year not what I'd call vigorous and one side shoot hs overtaken the growing tip ! It does have tiny buds visible now ...........

The primotalli was later sown and of course me potting it up too early in the cold snap didn't help but its really coming on nicely

7 Pot Primo has always been a strong vigorous plant and as you can see is in flower high hope's here just hope I like flavour I'm sure the heat will be what I'm after

7 Pot Brainstrain yellow again always been a strong vigorous plant also in flower

I'm very excited about the Trinidad moruga scorpion again a big brute and in flower I tasted these guys from dried pod's I bought and know I really like the flavour and heat

Death spiral another strong healthy vigorous plant also in flower given it Naga heritage I have high hope's for this fella too

I've never found the Dorset Naga a particularly early variety and same this year despite being in kratky hydroponics ! But it's dependable I like the heat and flavour but the aesthetics let it down not gnarly enough for me

7 Pot Barrackpore has been such a big strong vigorous plant I've ended potting it up to 18 litre pot again it's in flower

My Bengle Naga in kratky hydroponics and another in soil have been a real let down this year ? In fact I culled the kratky one as the soil one later sown was doing better ! I moved the soil one to kratky but it's disappointing too .........?

As I start running out of space I will have to prioritise the best performing varieties.......hard decisions to come at present on the naughty list are Hurt Berry, Jigsaw., Bengle naga......

I'm pretty sure 2024 will see me pick a "keeper" superhot over the last few year's I've been trialling cayennes, Bonnets, Rocotos etc trying to find varieties that one i like and will grow well enough in my wee greenhouse in my particular micro climate.

Each year there for I'm growing less varieties my current Keepers are

Ring of fire
Chocolate scotch bonnet
Rocoto long

The Dorset naga has been my default superhot but I looking for some thing more vigorous and gnarly that will do well for me .

Next year should be interesting as it will be the first year I will be able to keep multiples of my favourite varieties which should prove interesting. Although I'm currently playing with my Mustard naga that cropped up last year and a few late sown kratky Tiberius mauler and a few others but as I run out of space...........?

 

[ChilliCrosser]

Looking great for this point of the season. Glad you are getting the better weather, please send some further south when you are finished with it, thanks in advance

 

[Englander]

Hi Guy's

The the last 7 to 10 day's has been over cast lots of rain showers and a North wind day time highs outside 13 oC !

Luckily my babies are in the greenhouse and things have been moving......... and I've flowers on some but not all !

7 Pot Brainstrain Yellow......WHP

7 Pot Primo ......WHP

Trinidad moruga scorpion red .....WHP

7 Pot Barrackpore .....WHP

Death Spiral ....WHP

Dorset Naga......seaspring seeds

My Fatallii gourmet jigsaw is in bud , I've culled my Bengle Naga it just didn't seem to be growing !

My Chocolate scotch bonnet, Habenero Chocolate and Scotch brains yellow f6 are all in flower and my Ring of fire has pod's

 

[MarcV]

Looks pretty good! Luckily you have a greenhouse! Mine have to withstand the open air and are getting buckets of rain. And yet they are flowering and setting fruit! Next week is supposed to be better... fingers crossed!

 

[Englander]

Hi Guy's

Three and a bit weeks since my last update...........weather's been weird cool/cold winds often overcast sun not coming out till late afternoon night temps "inside" the greenhouse 13oC (55.4 oF) - 15 oC (59 oF)

The other day Wife and I were driving home from the shops sun shining it felt roasting ! checked the outside temp .........20 oC (68 oF) couldn't believe it I'd have swore it must have been in the high 20's oC that's how rubbish are weather's been
Other night it lashed with rain wind and temp dropped to 13 oC everyone you spoke to said feels like winter in July !

Looking back at last years pics I reckon Everything is abit behind, spoke to my mate in Wales he agreed.

As I've been running out of space in the greenhouse I've have been having to prioritise the biggest, strongest most vigorous plant's and most like to produce for me ......culls are being moved outside weather than binnedgiving me the opportunity to possibly over winter them if the notion takes me .....but to be honest if there out I'll probably have no use for them ...........but it's so hard to bin healthy albeit slow plant's.

My Pot Primo from Justin at whp I'm very excited about this plant it seems very prolific I just hope I like it .........

Plenty of wee pod's and tons of flowers very excited as it should certainly have the heat I'm after.......

7 Pot Brainstrain yellow from whp good strong plant I'm less excited as its a yellow and im not too sure what to expect flavour wise .......only had yellow Bonnets and yellow scotch brains......Will it replace my yellow scotch brains.......

Again loads of wee pod's and tons of flowers..........

Trinidad moruga scorpion red from whp I'm also very excited about this plant I've cooked with dried pod's I bought online and loved the flavour and heat

Looking good

The Death spiral again from whp extremely prolific funny shape but it did lose a big branch which I have in water 4 weeks now looks healthy but still no root's ??

Again loads of wee pod's and flowers probably the most of any and also a lighter green.

My Dorset naga the last of my original seed from seaspring seeds not really in the trial as I know I like the variety but I managed to kill my first attempt at kratky Dorset naga last season.......

Slow and steady.......only a couple of pods visible loads of flower's ......old reliable it will get there in the end. But always keeps me guessing and worried

The kratky root system so far in 20 litre bucket.......

7 Pot Barrackpore from whp again a big strong plant......I'm looking forward to seeing what it does ......

So far I'd say it pod's are the biggest if not as numerous but ment to be impressive heat flavour and production.......

I have other varieties that aren't superhots so I'm not including them in the glog and as you know I've lost some and culled others......all in my quest for a superhot that does well in my wee greenhouse and of course I love the flavour and hopefully the aesthetics ....my only real gripe with the Dorset Naga I wish it was gnarly like the Bengle naga

I'd just been saying this season I've not really seen any greenfly (touch wood) .....of course tempting fate is never good ...... well I've found green fly on my Brainstrain yellow, Tiberius mauler peach mini kratky, Reaper x Naga mini kratky I've smudged out the greenfly and treated the plants with need oil mix spray.......funny how only certain plant's can be infected while other's not ??

Normally I'd blast everything with seem oil but in trying only treating the effected plant's.......

 

[MarcV]

Plenty of wee pods... just like what I'm getting... seedless wee pods... they taste ok but heat is not up where it's supposed to be...

 

[Englander]

Hi Guy's

It appears that 2024 may have been a particularly bad year for me here in Scotland to do my superhot trial

Poor light levels and temperatures across large parts of Europe seem to have resulted in lots of foliage and tiny round smooth dark green pods and as Marc said seedless limited heat.

However late summer weather improvements seem to trigger "Normal " pod development in size and texture !

Example these scotch brains f6 small, dark, seedless but still ripening to yellow but staying tiny !

After much thought and contemplation I decided to remove all the dark green smooth pod's from all my plants..... given that the plants soul objective is to procreate and produce seeds I'm guessing this will help produce "Normal" pod's

However later pod's on the same plant are completely different !

Newer pod's are unrecognisable from the first small, dark, smooth pod's ....wow !

However recently weather has taken a nose dive again .....August it feels more like November ! Last few day's lots of rain getting dark way earlier than usual daytime temperature high on Sunday was 13 oC / 55.4 oF

I've had recent night's of lows inside the greenhouse of 11 oC unheard of in August normally.........

However........looking at it in a positive way I'm thinking any super hot that does ok or well in this very poor year in my wee Scottish greenhouse should really shine in a good or average year

As usual I've too many varieties and have been running out of space ! some varieties that aren't looking too promising have been "culled"........ well moved outside to make room for the varieties showing the most promise.

Also it appears that despite my best efforts it appears there's been a cocked up or two with seedling lableing

Here is a quick update and possibly already the 2024 superhot trial winner

7 Pot Barrackpore is now producing proper pod's in reasonable numbers

Finally the Death spiral is producing proper pod's I love the colour of these pod's reminds me of the Bengle naga.

Now to a cock up ! This is labled as my Dorset naga in kratky hydroponics.............. sadly sowed the last of my pedigree Dorset naga seeds from seaspring seeds however obviously I must have mislabelled them and they must have been culled by mistake so nae Dorset Naga for me this year

I was beginning to think perhaps it may be a second Trinidad moruga scorpion as ive one in a 18 litre pot of soil........but I now doubt that and have no idea what it is

Definitely not a Dorset Naga and pretty certain it's not a Trinidad moruga scorpion......however its pretty productive now producing proper sized pod's

I do have a couple more plants that I'm not 100% sure of there identity and may post laterly about there progress.............

One plant already is looking like pushing ahead for the title Scottish superhot in my wee Scottish greenhouse is the Trinidad moruga scorpion red and im delighted as it's on of the few superhots I've managed to get dried pods to try and I love them

My Trinidad moruga scorpion red in 18 litre pot of soil appear to be romping away in both pod size and production !

And the pheno type is looking good

That's all for now it looks like there's something to be salvaged from this extremely poor year

 

[MarcV]

Now it's just the long wait until they start coloring... and hope they will turn out as expected!

 

[Englander]

Hi Guy's

Dispite 2024 turning out to be a terrible year weather wise for chilli growing and everything is anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks behind !

The objective of my 2024 superhot trial has produced what I was looking for a superhot that will grow well in my wee Scottish greenhouse !

The Winner is most definitely the Trinidad moruga scorpion red even in this rubbish year it loaded with pod's and the size is way better than any of the other varieties who all seemed to produce final pod's much reduced in size than in a normal year.

However I did complicate the situation by mislabling or managing to mix up some seeds, seedlings or plants although im not 100% certain when exactly and I still have some unknown plants although as they start to colour up hopefully this will aid identification

The 2024 Scottish superhot chilli trial winner........Trinidad Moruga scorpion red it's loaded with pod's they are starting to colour up the plant has a very "open " style and small leaves I wonder if this has helped to allow what little light we've had this year get into the whole plant ?

The lableing mix up has made me uncertain of some of the plant's but I'm pretty sure this is my 7 Pot Primo quite a productive plant the certainly in 2 nd place no sign of any pod's colouring up yet.........

Pretty disappointed with my Death spiral these are the biggest pod's and again no sign of any colour......

7 Pot Barrackpore has just started to colour today, again I'm a bit disappointed a few large pod's but the majority of the smaller size..........

I've finally identified my mislabled "Dorset Naga " it is infact my other Scotch brains yellow f6 being it's in a 20 litre kratky bucket it's bloody huge ! And smothered in pod's again today the first sign of any colour a very thick dense plant loads of leaves but also tons of fruit and mostly of good size I'm not really counting this as a superhot and also I already know I like it.

A late runner in 5 litre kratky the Reaper x Moruga f4/f5 not a huge amount of fruit but interesting and it will be interesting to taste.

Now this is a mini kratky late sown Black Naga but from the the same packet that produced an Olive last year......given then phenotype seems off reckon it might turn out to be another Olive......I have since bought new Black Naga seeds from a different source and may try them next. Season.

Now to another mislabled plant.......it was labled Scotch brains yellow f6 but it's not ! It was decimated by aphids and only produced a few tiny pod's however they phenotype are all pretty much identical to what you see here ? After the aphid attack is stopped flowering, growing very unhappy however recently it's gone completely mad pushing out fresh leaves branches and flowers.
I wondering if it is a Hurt berry but not 100% ..........it is of interest as before the aphids attack it was extremely prolific in flower and small leaves pod be interesting to see the colour it ripens too.

I do have a few other late sown in mini kratky that may of may not turn out to be of interest.

I'm gutted I lost/misplaced my Dorset naga and the last of my original seaspring seeds, seed ! I have very very late sown last year non isolated Dorset Naga from my plant .......it's in minim kratky and I may over winter and orvgrow it under lights over dark nights, it's super healthy looking specimen

Dorset naga the next generation

Stephen