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A Pepperhead glog: Pickling, Saucing, and Powdering

Okay Chiliheads,
At the end of the month I will begin my crop for this season, as it seems the hard core chilis take a while to germinate. Then it got me thinking...Why not run a few experiments to see what germination method works best. People seemed to have some issues with the Reapers so I figure I'll start there and do the same with some other superhots and compare the results.
I'm going to try three methods of germination: Overnight soaking in a solution, scarifying the seeds then overnighting in a damp towel, and for a control just straight into the dirt.
For the solution I'm going to experiment with a vinegar base, I'm thinking equal parts vinegar and water and a little H2O2. I'm trying vinegar off the animal digestive tract transportation and deposit theory. Let's see if the vinegar acidity breaks down the shell a little.
I'm going to use a matchbook to scarify the seeds for the damp papertowels.
I will do my best to post temps, soil conditions, water amounts, etc.
All results with some pictures and colorful graphs will be posted.

I know this forum is full of smartypants, many with much smarter pants than me, so I actively encourage ideas and constructive criticisms to make this as scientifically accurate as I can make it. Perhaps a recommendation for the vinegar solution?

What this Glog is: Hopefully fun and educational for the Glogger and the reader.

What it is not: A forum to whine about the seed suppliers. Even the slightest grumble about any of the suppliers of my seeds will get you reported. My Glog, my rules.

So give me some ideas and the last week of January I'll be ready to go! Enjoy!
 
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The following is the rant of a really frustrated beginner chile grower. Ahem.

Why the hell can't a plant that originated in the tropics handle a little mid atlantic sun? I mean, really, almost everything is bleaching out and shade doesn't seem to be able to keep it at bay. Who knew I would end up with a group of PLANTS that don't like THE SUN. I had no idea this was a thing. What the effing swear word is going on here? Does the sun bleaching go away? I had nice big bhuts now succumbing to solarphobia. What the F*&%!

(Sigh) Thank you.
 
Once burnt, those leaves will remain bleached, but the new ones will be able to take the sun. You just want to ease them into the sun so you don't shock them so badly they die. I put mine out for a half hour the first time, then two hours the next time, then a half day, then a whole day.

Edit: typo
 
OK, so it's been a while since I've posted so I have some updating to do.  Lost a few due to the sun blight, but everything seems to be over that now.  Noticed first tiny buds today!  Prik kee, Bhut, and Dorset.  Have a few planted in their final buckets now:  1 Reaper, 1 big Bhut, 1 Dorset, 1 Jonah, 1 7 Pot, and 1 Brain Strain went in the Ground today.  I might just have a 7 pot bubblegum that may go in and the lone Butch t looks like it's ready, too.
 
Not this weekend, but the following one I will be having a yard sale and hopefully move the rest of my decent ones as well as the butt load of tomato plants I have.  Anyone in the northern VA area looking for some pepper plants feel free to stop by.  Message me and I'll let you know where.
 
I'll try to get some pictures up soon. 
 
And finally a question:  Do most people pinch the early buds?  My plants still seem kinda small to support pods this early.
 
Leave the flowers on the plants for sale, use discretion on your own. It depends on alot of factors....length of growing season, plantout to harvest, species of plant, rootbound ? 
 
I leave the c.chinense alone, whether shorter season habs or the long range bomber super-hots. I like to have a continuous harvest from start to finish.
 
But for some of the larger annuums such as the long horn shape New Mex varieties or sweet bells I'll pinch off the flowers. Two main reasons: #1 I don't want the peppers growing down and touching the ground. #2 larger type peppers normally produce less fruit per area on the plant. Pinching the buds will force the plant to branch out more before shooting out more clusters of buds. Bottom line....more nodes, more bud
 
Thanks.  I'll let them grow out and see how they do.  Been pretty rainy here so I haven't been able to get any pics yet, but I'll try to get to that this weekend.
 
Yep rough weather we're have in the mid Atlantic. We got 4 inches of rain here in just over an hour yesterday. There was a raging river complete with rapids running 20' from my garden. Then temps in the 40s tonight coupled with the 40mph winds today. This is more like march/april weather than late May. I hope November is more like September, otherwise we'll be stuck with a lot of green pods.
 
Yard sale tomorrow.  Peppers and tomatoes amungst the clutter, so if your in Northern VA send me a message and I'll let you know what and where.
 
Lessons learned from my recent yard sale:
 
I have too much junk that no one wants.
 
Tomatoes are a big draw.  Sold a lot of those.
 
I didn't expect ghost peppers to be a big seller, and they weren't, but next year Jalapenos are the way to go.  Regular habs as well.  There was interest in hot peppers, just not superhots.
 
Finally some photos!  From little cotys in February to scrappy plants ready to pod up.  Enjoy!
 
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My biggest Ghost and tallest pepper.
 
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Primo.  For awhile I didn't think any of these would grow.
 
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My biggest Reaper.  I've got a smaller one in a bucket, and another coupla little ones waiting for a home.
 
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My little Prik Kee.  Lot of flowers, no pods yet.
 
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Three brain strains were started probably 3 weeks or a month later than the rest.  Already caught up.
 
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My best 7 Pot.  I still think they hate me.
 
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Another late start, Butch T.
 
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Left to right, Carribean Red Hab, Grocery Store Hab, and a Bell.
 
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My lone Jonah.  I actually had good numbers with these early on, but they they slowly dwindled down to just this one.
 
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Another late start, 7 Pot Bubblegum.
 
Those are all my In Ground (Bucket) plants.  I still have a few extras which will probably fill my garden in later.  Whatcha think?
 
Hardening off the plants can be a challenge sometimes.  You really have to keep an eye on them in the beginning.  
I always sunburn some of mine, but they usually rebound.  Curious how much you sold you tomatoes and jalapeno's
for.  
 
No jalapenos this year, but my tomatos went for $3 a piece.  Probably could have got $5 but I sold quite a few so we'll see next year.  Or if I have any left later in the season.
 
Lookin pretty good man! Looks like you have some type of mites though. Have you treated them with anything for pests? Neem oil, mineral oil or even soapy water can help if you hit them early and often. Look under the curly leaves with a magnifying glass. You might spot the little bastards.
 
I have checked those curly leaves and haven't seen anything so wasn't sure what to do about it.  I have a soap, water, veggie oil mix for aphids, I'll have to hit them up when the rain stops.
 
Pepperhead said:
Lessons learned from my recent yard sale:
 
I have too much junk that no one wants.
 
Tomatoes are a big draw.  Sold a lot of those.
 
I didn't expect ghost peppers to be a big seller, and they weren't, but next year Jalapenos are the way to go.  Regular habs as well.  There was interest in hot peppers, just not superhots.
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I find that folks tend to shy away from the supers because they think supers are too hot for their normal use. I remind them that 3 little supers will make a half gallon of salsa, then they see the efficiency of using supers. Supers may not be ideal for poppers to most folks, but they can be incredibly efficient in rubs, stews, sauces, and slaws.
 
It's funny, they ask and I say hot peppers.  As they reach for it I tell them they are superhots and their hand shoots right back.  I knew they were a niche plant going in, but there were plenty of people who would have bought jalapenos, had I had them.  I bet Tobascos would have gone over well, too.
 
Yay first pod sighting today!  I was performing a squishy aphid apocalyse on everything, and during an inspection spotted one little bitty pod on one of my ghosts.  Popped it right into the garden.  Did a check of everything else and found three more growing on my PK.
 
That last sentence was really hard to write, and still sounds like I have VD. :rolleyes:
 
So a few of my Ghosts are starting to sprout pods (yay!) and only my bell and PK are following suit so far.  Is it a matter of variety?  Is it like an alarm clock that goes off for each kind of pepper?
 
Somehow, one of my little Reapers fell and lay on the ground injured and wilty.  I repotted it and gave it some water and it's started to wake up, so hopefully it'll come back.  Maybe I'll pop it into the garden.
 
On another note, anyone near me need a bale of peat?  I have one extra unopened one I could mix with some dirt, but I'm out of perlite, and don't really want to buy more.
 
Everything has grown so big since those last pictures, thanks to all the rain.  My Jonah has leaves as big as my hands!  I'm thinking of making a little notebook with preserved leaves and flowers to help me learn and classify what I've grown, like a pressed flower book only for raging hotness.  Is there a way to positively ID pods using size and maybe thickness or is there just too much variation from pod to pod, even on one plant?
 
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