harvesting AJs Last Harvest of 2011

[AlabamaJack]

My grow season is officially over as of Sunday and Monday nights....was in the 20s Sunday night/Monday morning and right at freezing this morning...

This years record heat wave resulted in the worst harvest I have had in the last 4 years...

I can not complain much though since I have some pods to work with and make my powders/sauces/purees/infused vinegars etc...I will put most of these in large brown grocery bags with a banana to enhance ripening then process them as below...if the pods are still green after my ripening efforts, they will be made into "pepper sauce" (hot vinegar poured over the peppers in mason jars)

Trinidad Scorpion - powder/puree

7 Pot - puree

Brain Strain 7 Pot - puree

Red Savina - powder

Cayennne - powder

Trinidad Congo left/Fatalii right - powder/puree

Billy Biker Jalapeno/Foodarama Scotch Bonnets - Chipotle/puree

continued

 

[AlabamaJack]

Bhut Jolokia - don't know yet...too few for much processing...probably dehydrated and ground into powder...

Tray of mixed...super chili, hatch, cascabel, anaheim, miriachi, white habanero

picure of the red savina plants - this makes me sick....all these pods will probably not ripen and the plants are loaded...you can see my billy biker jalapenos up top....totally gone...

 

[Nova]

Better luck next year AJ, happens to us all.

 

[Pr0digal_son]

Seems like you have had a tough year gardening and real life. I can relate. I don't know you much but I know you are one of the most beloved and benevolent folks on here. Good luck with everything.

 

[Justaguy]

Hopefully next year will be much better for you AJ.

 

[redeyeguy]

Awesome harvest - my mouth is watering!

 

[ghostpeppers541]

I sure would like to buy some of your super hots AJ...you wouldn't know where I could get my paws on a lb. of superhots do ya ?

 

[buddy]

sounds like a tough year - your harvest is still amazing though.

 

[AlabamaJack]

Better luck next year AJ, happens to us all.

thanks Nova...you are right, it does happen to us all...

Seems like you have had a tough year gardening and real life. I can relate. I don't know you much but I know you are one of the most beloved and benevolent folks on here. Good luck with everything.

when life gives you lemons, make lemonade...I have a lot to be thankful for...good friends, great wife, wonderful pet, roof over my head and I am not hungry...all of us growers are at mother natures mercy...sometimes she is good to us and sometimes she isn't...growing is a crap shoot...thanks

Hopefully next year will be much better for you AJ.

sure won't stop trying...

Awesome harvest - my mouth is watering!

these will be enough to get me thru the winter and into next spring when I can get some more....thanks...

I sure would like to buy some of your super hots AJ...you wouldn't know where I could get my paws on a lb. of superhots do ya ?

sorry, but I don't have enough this year to sell...these are my "personal stash"...and I dont' know anyone else that has any...somebody will come thru for you though I bet...

sounds like a tough year - your harvest is still amazing though.

thanks buddy...was a tough year but that's life...

 

[geeme]

And a word from the frozen tundra that is Ohio......

I've pretty much been done for several weeks now. The plants I wanted to overwinter, I put inside the garage initially, to keep frost from getting on them. (It's a detached garage, and I left the door open for light, so it's not warmer in there than outside.) I've been repotting and bringing them into the house a bit at a time. Funny thing is that I've left the rocotos and trinidad perfumes out there, because they have lots of pods on them, and so far they still have most of their leaves.

The rest? The ones that were completely done - no more pods - I've removed from their pots and trashed. The ones with pods? They're still just out in the open. It's been down to 23 here a few nights, but it hasn't stayed consistently that cold. Here's the thing - some of the pods bit the dust when it got down to 23. BUT, some did not. I've left them alone, and slowly, very slowly, some are starting to ripen. Now the leaves all bit the dust, regardless, but some of these pods are fine. All this to say if you leave the plants alone, or at a minimum put them under some cover, you might get more ripe pods than you expect. Hope it works out that way for you!

 

[SuperHot]

Even you can only do so much… got to play the cards you're dealt with!!

You'll get 'em next year!!

 

[Scovie]

Nice stash AJ! A new season awaits you next year, with your new puppy!

 

[Edgie]

I'm sure that next year will be better. Great looking last harvest!

 

[S.S.Tupperware]

I'm sure that should hold ya over, I'm sure your itchin for next year already...

 

[AlabamaJack]

And a word from the frozen tundra that is Ohio......

I've pretty much been done for several weeks now. The plants I wanted to overwinter, I put inside the garage initially, to keep frost from getting on them. (It's a detached garage, and I left the door open for light, so it's not warmer in there than outside.) I've been repotting and bringing them into the house a bit at a time. Funny thing is that I've left the rocotos and trinidad perfumes out there, because they have lots of pods on them, and so far they still have most of their leaves.

The rest? The ones that were completely done - no more pods - I've removed from their pots and trashed. The ones with pods? They're still just out in the open. It's been down to 23 here a few nights, but it hasn't stayed consistently that cold. Here's the thing - some of the pods bit the dust when it got down to 23. BUT, some did not. I've left them alone, and slowly, very slowly, some are starting to ripen. Now the leaves all bit the dust, regardless, but some of these pods are fine. All this to say if you leave the plants alone, or at a minimum put them under some cover, you might get more ripe pods than you expect. Hope it works out that way for you!

I am picking out a few I am going to cut back...probably will get about 15-20 of this years plants plus about 2 or 3 or the two year old scorpions...I do like you do, just leave the plants alone...I only picked ones that were starting to ripen except for the Billy Bikers and Cayenne...it's gonna work out I am sure...if not, I won't let it bother me...

Even you can only do so much… got to play the cards you're dealt with!!

amen to that SH....


You'll get 'em next year!!

planning on it right now...

Nice stash AJ! A new season awaits you next year, with your new puppy!

yup SD...speaking of the new puppy...here is a shot of him while I was picking yesterday....his name is Ike....

I'm sure that next year will be better. Great looking last harvest!

thanks Edgie...about next year, until this La Nina phase passes, it will stay hot and dry...I am expecting a harsh winter in north Texas and a close to record summer heat next year with little to no rain...for the Texans on board...if you don't have drip irrigation on your plants, I would highly recommend it because of water restrictions...it cut my usage from 300-600 gallons a day to 50-75...

I'm sure that should hold ya over, I'm sure your itchin for next year already...

I think this will do for a while anyway ... and I am already planning and scheming for next year too...

took some pictures this morning as I was going through my scorpions...these are a few pictures of my favorites from this years harvest...this color phase is the reason I grow them...this exact color phase and pod shape are my absolute favorites..

 

[LUCKYDOG]

Very Handsome dog AJ - I had to look back and see where I missed him. Im happy you found a rescue. Its nice not to go thru the puppy chewing up everything phase and right into training and loving.

And better luck next year.

 

[AlabamaJack]

Very Handsome dog AJ - I had to look back and see where I missed him. Im happy you found a rescue. Its nice not to go thru the puppy chewing up everything phase and right into training and loving.

And better luck next year.

Thanks man...Ike is a good boy...so easy train and so wanting to please...


here are two shots of my favorite brain strains this year...

I have been very selective with my pod shape and size during seed selection over the past couple of years...this is the pod shape and size I want consistantly...

 

[PIC 1]

Thanks man...Ike is a good boy...so easy train and so wanting to please...


here are two shots of my favorite brain strains this year...

I have been very selective with my pod shape and size during seed selection over the past couple of years...this is the pod shape and size I want consistantly...

AJ, those pods look great,
On average, if this were and average year... ... about how many "Brain or Scorp" pods
would you get per container plant.?

Greg

 

[AlabamaJack]

AJ, those pods look great,
On average, if this were and average year... ... about how many "Brain or Scorp" pods
would you get per container plant.?

Greg

thanks Greg...average year...about 50-60 I reckon...figure a pound a plant...these late season pods are larger than the average...

 

[Kappy]

Great harvest AJ! What a beautiful assortment of pods and colors. Your Red Savina plants look amazing, so many pods! I hope the weather allows them to develop more for ya. Love the photos of the Scorpions, what gorgeous color variations. And that new puppy looks great too! He's got beautiful eyes

Good luck with the rest of your plants/pods!