Blorvak's Greenhorn 2014 - End of Season Wrap Up!

First off, Happy Holidays everyone! Now that I have a little time, I thought I'd start a glog.
 
The backstory:  My last season sucked. Straight up. 10 plants. Averaged 1 pod a plant.

Then I found this place.

THEN I had to wait months to put all the tips I found to work. Suffice to say, I'm rearing to get going!

Hope I don't mess it up!

Hey all! This is my rookie blog, and here is my growlist:

C. Chinense

• Orange Habanero (Trade Wind Seeds)
• Datil (Trade Wind Seeds)
• Trinidad Cola Bean (cmpman1974)
• Trinidad Gold Bean (cmpman1974)
• Mako akokɔsrade (Pepper Lover)
• Trinidad Scotch Bonnet, Brown (Pepper Lover)
• Trinidad Scotch Bonnet, Red (Pepper Lover)

C. Baccatum

• Aji Habanero (Trade Wind Seeds)
• Aji Limon (Pepper Lover)

C. Pubescens

• Yellow Rocoto (cmpman1974)
• Manzana, yellow (Harvested from store bought pod)

 C. Annuum

• Goat's Weed (Trade Wind Seeds)
• Pequin (Pepper Lover)
• Fish pepper (Trade Wind Seeds)
• Joe E. Parker Pepper (Trade Wind Seeds)
• Tunisian Baklouti Pepper (Trade Wind Seeds)
• Hungarian Hot Cherry (Pepper Lover)
• Cracked Jalapeno (Pepper Lover)
• Sucette de Provence (Trade Wind Seeds)

I have only a handful of posts, and already people have been more than generous. THP is a friendly place!
 

 

 

[PaulG]

Welcome to the glogosphere, Blorvak!
Nice variety in your grow list; great heat
and some great flavor!
 
Good luck getting your grow underway!

 

[Electroid]

I'm interested to see how you'll do. Last season I grew a Hab and got 2 pods. However, this year I'm going to start earlier and grow more varieties!

 

[blorvak]

Welcome to the glogosphere, Blorvak!
Nice variety in your grow list; great heat
and some great flavor!
 
Good luck getting your grow underway!

Thanks PaulG! I must say that your glog has been an inspiration to a fellow NW member!
 

I'm interested to see how you'll do. Last season I grew a Hab and got 2 pods. However, this year I'm going to start earlier and grow more varieties!

We shall see! I mostly had nursery starts last year, and I think the major problem was planting in full sun. Most of the plants grew okay, but kept on dropping flowers until the end of the season, when it cooled off. By then it was too late.
Okay, the Master Plan™:

1. Start late season seeds early.
2. Plant half in the ground, and half in root pouches.
3. Move root pouches as needed to find perfect location in yard.
4. Let the sun do it's thing.

My xmas day project was creating a grow room.
 
The location: a very sad, Charlie Brown-style built in. It came with the house. I fully intend on replacing it, but for now it will suit my immediate purposes.
 

 
Several screws, a handful of thumb tacks, two eye bolts, and one roll of project insulation later:
 

 

[HillBilly Jeff]

Good luck on your grow this year, you're in the right place for all things pepper.  Pepper people rock.
 
I don't think your trouble last year was full sun.  All my gardens are in full sun.  Your leaf drop has to be from something else.  
 
Looking forward to seeing your growth this season.
 
 
HBJ

 

[PaulG]

Nice set-up, Blorvak, should work great for you!
I predict lots of little green seedlings
popping up in the future!

 

[blorvak]

Good luck on your grow this year, you're in the right place for all things pepper.  Pepper people rock.
 
I don't think your trouble last year was full sun.  All my gardens are in full sun.  Your leaf drop has to be from something else.  
 
Looking forward to seeing your growth this season.
 
 
HBJ

Yep, lots of variables play into flower drop, some of which i hope to eliminate this year. My entire garden didn't do as good as the year before, so I figured I need to step up my game.
 
Thanks for wishing me luck! I'll need it!
 
 

Nice set-up, Blorvak, should work great for you!
I predict lots of little green seedlings
popping up in the future!

Thanks PaulG! Here's to hoping your predictions come true!
 
So, I've been doing a dry run of the grow room to dial my temps in. The basement is right around 50f and my target is 83f.
 
With the heating pad on, I can push the temps to 75f. With the heating pad and lights on, the temp gets to 95f.
 
My solution? A very scientific venting system:
 

 
Since I added the vent, I've been spot checking the temps, and they've held constant at 82-84f. I think I'm ready to plant this weekend!

 

[PaulG]

Whatever works, buddy!  Time to roll!

 

[blorvak]

First wave of long season peppers are in Rapid Rooters!
 
Variety / # Seed planted:

• Aji Limon: 3
• Aji Habanero: 3
• Datil: 3
• Mako akokɔsrade: 4
• Orange Habanenro: 3
• Pequin: 4
• Trinidad Bean, Cola: 4
• Trinidad Bean, Gold: 4
• Trinidad Scotch Bonnet, Brown: 3
• Trinidad Scotch Bonnet, Red: 3
• Yellow Manzano: 6
• Yellow Rocoto: 6

Planted these in a Hydrofarm germination station. Had some issues positioning it, because my basement floor isn't level. I was worried the water would pool up in one side, and drown the seeds. But I think it's good enough now.
 
I'm aiming for 1 of each plant to grow out, so hopefully I hedged my bets sufficiently.

 

[HabaneroHead]

Hello,
 
Nice setup you have there! Keep posting those nice pics!
 
Balázs

 

[PaulG]

Okay, underway now!
 
Mako akokɔsrade?
I'm not familiar with that one.
 
Happy New Year!

 

[blorvak]

Hello,
 
Nice setup you have there! Keep posting those nice pics!
 
Balázs

Thanks! I'm no photographer, but I'll see what I can do!
 

Okay, underway now!
 
Mako akokɔsrade?
I'm not familiar with that one.
 
Happy New Year!

Pretty much all the cultivars I've got going this year are new to me, so I'm excited for all of them, but Mako akokɔsrade sounds especially intriguing. I believe it's Ghanan in origin?
 
And Happy New Year back at ya!
 
Nothing popping yet. I'm fretting over the moisture distribution. I assume that's normal.

 

[Penny]

Welcome, and good luck in 2014 with your growing season.

 

[PaulG]

 
Nothing popping yet. I'm fretting over the moisture distribution. I assume that's normal.

The humidity and media moisture control are like walking a fine line.  
I like to get the Jiffy pellets or seedling mix pretty wet, then let it drain
before sowing.  I don't water until they start to look dry on top, then I
use a spray bottle.  As soon as I see cotys, I transplant into the 18 oz.
cups and give each plant 4 oz. of water through the bottom.  Helps
avoid trying to maintain moisture control in the small cells or pellets,
and allows for un-interupted tap root extension.  Probably a hair-brained
theory, but seems to work for me     Everyone just needs to find what
works for them and what they are comfy with.

 

[blorvak]

Welcome, and good luck in 2014 with your growing season.

Thanks Penny! I do need some luck!
 

The humidity and media moisture control are like walking a fine line.  
I like to get the Jiffy pellets or seedling mix pretty wet, then let it drain
before sowing.  I don't water until they start to look dry on top, then I
use a spray bottle.  As soon as I see cotys, I transplant into the 18 oz.
cups and give each plant 4 oz. of water through the bottom.  Helps
avoid trying to maintain moisture control in the small cells or pellets,
and allows for un-interupted tap root extension.  Probably a hair-brained
theory, but seems to work for me     Everyone just needs to find what
works for them and what they are comfy with.

Thanks for the tips! Some of my plugs seemed to be drying faster than others, and instead of driving myself crazy by trying to get the tray level, I decided to use a squirt gun to water the ones that were getting dry. I'm a pragmatist
 
Also, I found a pak of Jiffy pellets in the back of a drawer. Going to try those out on my next wave of plantings, and see how I like them.
 
Also a late entry for my long season planting showed up in the mail today... took up PexPeppers on his holiday sale, and had 4 Rapid Rooters left. Just enough for the CGN 21500.
 

 

[Penny]

Looks like your off to a great start though, I'm hoping to get started on my seeds tomorrow....Happy New Year!!

 

[blorvak]

Happy new year to you Penny, and everyone else!
 
Time for a 1 week update: signs of life!
 
Mako akokɔsrade:

 
And a few hooks. List updated with germination information:
 
Variety - Seeds Germinated/ Seed planted:

• Aji Limon: 2/3
• Aji Habanero: 2/3
• CGN 21500 0/4
• Datil: 0/3
• Mako akokɔsrade: 4/4
• Orange Habanenro: 1/3
• Pequin: 0/4
• Trinidad Bean, Cola: 0/4
• Trinidad Bean, Gold: 1/4
• Trinidad Scotch Bonnet, Brown: 0/3
• Trinidad Scotch Bonnet, Red: 0/3
• Yellow Manzano: 0/6
• Yellow Rocoto: 0/6

The Mako akokɔsrade is this week's winner with 100% germination in 7 days! Followed by a strong showing by the Baccatums!
 
Can't see what pops up on the next few days!

 

[blorvak]

A few more compatriots have joined my solitary sprout!
 

 
I've notated the seedling mat by letter and number for my notes, and it's interesting that they've popped up predominantly in rows G & H. Are they dryer? Are they warmer? Coincidence? Only further experimentation will tell.

 

[PaulG]

Hooks at 7 days  Way to go, John.

 

[blorvak]

Hooks at 7 days  Way to go, John.

Thanks! As I'm reading other blogs, maybe 'hooks' is the wrong terminology. But things are growing, which is the important thing!
 
As of today, the tray looks to be at about 45% germinated. Probably going to pull off the humidity dome tomorrow. The exciting news is that the Yellow Rocoto is batting 4/6.