Coach's 2015 Overwhelming Grow

Final Grow List- Updated 3/25/15- 152 Varieties, Around 280 plants:
7 Pot Brain Strain, Red
7 Pot Brain Strain, Yellow
7 Pot Bubblegum, Red
7 Pot Burgundy
7 Pot Caramel
7 Pot Chaguanas
7 Pot Jonah x PDN, F3
7 Pot Jonah, Red
7 Pot Primo, Orange
7 Pot Primo, Red
7 Pot Primo, Yellow
7 Pot White
7 Pot Yellow
7 Pot Yellow x Bhut Jolokia India Carbon
Aji Amarillo
Aji Bolivian Long
Aji Brazilian Starfish
Aji Colorado
Ají Dulce, Orange
Ají Fantasy
Aji Jobito
Aji Lemon Drop
Aji Melocoton
Ají Omnicolor
Aji Panca
Aji Pineapple
Aji Queen Laurie
Aleppo
Ancient Sweet
Bad Brains
Bahamian Goat
Banana, Sweet Monster Heirloom
Bell, Lilac
Bell, Yellow
Bhut Jolokia, India Carbon
Bhut Jolokia, Peach
Bhut Jolokia, Purple
Bhut Jolokia, Red
Bhut Jolokia, White
Bhut Jolokia, Yellow
Bhut Orange Copenhagen
Bih Jolokia, Caramel
Bishop's Crown
Black Stinger
Bonda ma Jacques

Bonda ma Jacques x Yellow 7 Pot
Carolina Reaper
Cayenne, Purple
Cayenne, Ring of Fire
CGN 21500
CGN 21566
Chiltepe, Guatemalan Long
Chiltepe, Guatemalan Cone
Chiltepin x Reaper
Cinnamon Bell
Condor's Beak
Congo, Chocolate
Congo, Peach
Cumari do Para
Datil
Devil's Tongue, White
Dulcetta, Orange
Ethiopian Berbere
Fatalii x TSMB, Yellow
Fatalii, Black
Fatalii, Chocolate
Fatalii, Peach
Fatalii, Peach cross
Fatalii, Red
Fatalii, White
Fatalii, Yellow
Fish
Goat's Weed
Golden Treasure
Goronong
Grif 9304- Colombian Lightning
Habanero, Bolivian Bumpy Yellow
Habanero, Carolina Yellow
Habanero, Chocolate
Habanero, Dominican Huge Orange
Habanero, Galapagos- Isabel
Habanero, Large Red Belize Market
Habanero, Mustard Lightning
Habanero, Orange
Habanero, Paper Lantern
Habanero, Peach
Habanero, Red Savina
Habanero, St. Bart's
Hair
Hungarian Yellow Wax (mild)
Jalapeno, Biker Billy
Jalapeno, Early
Jalapeno, Long
Jalapeno, Purple
Jalapeno, Yellow x 7 Pot Bubblegum
Jamaican Mushroom, Yellow
Japones
Jay's Peach Ghost Scorpion
Jay's Red Ghost Scorpion
Jwala
Manzano, Caballo Amarillo 
Naga Morich
Naga, Black
Nagabrain, Chocolate
Peach Wasp
Pepperoncini, Greek
Pepperoncini, Italian
Peruvian Serlano
PI 199506- Aji Guyana
PI 281424- PR Mushroom
Pimenta Leopard
Prik Chi Faa
Purple Flash
Rainforest
Red Hot Cherry
Red Savina x Fatalii Red
Red Savina x Fatalii Yellow
Red Savina x Fatalii, Chocolate
Rocoto, Orange
Rocoto, Red
Rooster Spur
SB7J (mushroom pheno)
Scotch Bonnet x Naga Morich
Scotch Bonnet, Burkina Yellow
Scotch Bonnet, Cappuccino
Scotch Bonnet, Chocolate
Scotch Bonnet, MoA red
Scotch Bonnet, MoA yellow
Serrano
Shishito
Shumenski Rotund
Star of Turkey
Stuffed Red Giant
Sukari
Sulu Adana
Superhot Cross, Yellow
Tabasco
Tepin x Lemon Drop
Thai, Large Orange
Trinidad Beans
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, Brown
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, Red
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, Yellow
Trinidad Scorpion Butch T
Trinidad Scorpion CARDI, Red
Trinidad Scorpion CARDI, Yellow
Trinidad Scorpion Sweet
Trinidad Scorpion, Chocolate
Unidentified Brain Strain Cross, Red
Wiri Wiri
Xalapa
Yalova Charleston

I've got a 3 shelf, 70"x48"x24" unit as my main indoor system. Being in North Carolina, I can put plants into the ground in mid-April. I've got other shelves to use when needed.
 
INTRO
I coach high school Cross Country & Track.
I teach AP Psychology. People say psychology majors are the people who need help the most. I was a History major, but people who spend a lot of time thinking about psychology may self-diagnose at times. Maybe. No one's ever told me I'm OCD. I'm super messy, but I do have a major "all or nothing" theme in my life. I run 100 mile races. I haven't washed my car or had it washed since 1991. I only wear 3 colors of shirts- black, navy & green (& only green because it's a school color). Maybe I have a problem. Why would peppers be any different?
 
I've always had gardens of some size- even if just 6-8 tomato plants & a couple of squash. In 2014, I expanded my garden exponentially. Still have a lot of fall/winter crops. I've never grown peppers or tomatoes from seed & only grew jalapenos, habaneros, bells, cayenne & tabasco. In mid-October, I only had 5 varieties of pepper seeds. Two months, later, I have 220, thanks to stumbling across this site & benefiting from the generosity of the folks on this site. Expanded my seed stockpile through giveaways, trades, harvesting from pods, and buying just a few. Incredibly generosity here. I've paid forward some of that, though my stock is limited to 5-10 seeds for most varieties minus what I have or will grow this season.
 
I've had a ton of questions & I've made a lot of mistakes so far. Hopefully this will evolve into more of voice of experience in a few months, but now, I suppose the glog is more a consolidation of advice seeking.
 
HISTORY TO DATE
The plan is to plant a total of six 1020 flats with 48 cells in each & to spread it out roughtly a month apart- two Nov. 1, two Dec. 1 & two Jan. 1.
 
I started germinating some seeds in bags October 26 but followed up 10 days later with seeds in soil. I didn't notice a difference in germination rates or speed between the two methods so I won't use bags in the future. I was a little impatient with germination, but after planting 2 seeds in each of 96 cells, I ended up with 88 seeds that popped. Not quite 50%, but it's a learning process. Almost all of the last set of seeds I planted sprouted. Problems were:
* Planted too deep
* Compacted soil too much
* Not ideal mix of soil. Used a mix of 3 store bought mixes with added Vermiculite. The one I used most heavily had too much mulchy compost. Have since improved with finer soil & Perlite.
* Temperature wasn't that consistent early on. 
 
I have all of that worked out for later germination.
 
I will complete the last of the 2nd wave of planting this week. 
 
OTHER PROBLEMS
BUGS
About 3 weeks ago, I came home to little tiny orange bugs on the underside of the cotyledons & tiny gray flying bugs- fewer of the gray ones. I sprayed insecticidal soap and the orange guys didn't last long. The tiny gray ones are still around but not in great numbers. I see one flying around a few times a day. 
 
YELLOWING
I've had about 6-8 seedlings die after yellowing. I'm positive I overwatered a little early. Last week, nearly ALL of my seedlings were looking a little yellow. I have watered very sparingly in the past 3-4 weeks. Every couple of days, some shrivel up & I give them a tiny bit of water. A few hours later, they bounce back. Besides that, I haven't really watered in the past 2 weeks. I changed my lighting around 3 days ago & have seen some changes... Was using one set of two 4" T8 lights with two 23w/1600 lumen CFLs on a clip & one 65w/950 lumen light for some heat. T8s were probably too far from the plants- maybe 16". 3 days ago, I added a second T8 fixture & ditched the other lights. I dropped the T8s to about 6" from the plants. The leaves seemed to have darken up a bit in the 3 days since. Today, I added some reflective insulation. I've had the lights on 18 hours/day. Temps have been a steady 82 degrees when they're on & 70 when they're off.
 
 
LIGHT BURN?
One of the reasons I got rid of the CFLs is because I couldn't put them anywhere except very close to the plants & noticed some darkened leaves in places where I left a CFL for several hours. Since then & since putting the four T8s on them 3 days ago, I've seen some dark spots form on the leaves that I don't remember being there before. 

Sorry you'll have to tilt your head. Several leaves are spotty like this after moving T8s down to about 5-6" from seedlings. A few were very dark after being very close to CFLs.
NO REAL LEAVES YET??
I only have ONE seedling with anything but cotyledons. That one has had it for 2 weeks but hasn't really grown since. There are a few other seedlings that are developing other leaves but they haven't fully developed yet. Should this be a concern since some of these seedlings sprouted a month ago?

                                             

My only true leaves. Notice leaves aren't very dark. Yellow Fatalii.      Yellow daying seedlings. About 6-8 have died.
 
I know this is a wordy post but just trying to establish some background.
Seeds started between October 26-November 7 that sprouted & are still alive:
7 Pot Primo, Red
7 Pot White
Aji Pineapple
Bahamian Goat
Bhut Jolokia, Peach
CGN 21500
Cinnamon Bell
Datil
Fatalii, Black
Fatalii, Chocolate
Fatalii, White
Fatalii, Yellow
Habanero, Galapagos- Isabel
Habanero, White Bullet
Peach Wasp
Rainforest
Rocoto, Red
Scotch Bonnet, MoA red
Scotch Bonnet, MoA yellow
Thai, Large Orange
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, Brown
Trinidad Scorpion Sweet
 
Seeds started between December 2-8. A few more planned this week & then a 3rd wave around January 1.
7 Pot Bubblegum, Red
7 Pot Chaguanas
7 Pot Jonah x PN, F3
7 Pot Jonah, Red
Aji Amarillo
Aji Bolivian Long
Aji Brazilian Starfish
Aji Colorado
Aji Lemon Drop
Aji Melocoton
Bad Brains
Bhut Jolokia, Red
Carolina Reaper
Dystopia (7 Pot Bubblegum variant)
Fatalii, Peach
Goronong
Habanero, Black
Habanero, Bolivian Bumpy Yellow
Habanero, Chocolate
Habanero, Mustard Lightning
Habanero, Paper Lantern
Habanero, Pastel Orange
Habanero, Peach
Jalapeno, Biker Billy
Jalapeno, Early
Jay's Peach Ghost Scorpion
Manzano, Yellow
Pimenta Leopard
Red Savina x Fatalii Red
Red Savina x Fatalii Yellow
Scotch Bonnet x 7 Pot Jonah yellow
Scotch Bonnet, Chocolate
Star of Turkey
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, Red
Trinidad Scorpion Butch T
Trinidad Scorpion CARDI, Red
Trinidad Scorpion CARDI, Yellow
Yellow Jal x 7 Pot Bubblegum
 
Still working on the list for the last 35 or so varieties. Most annuums will go in the last round of planting.

 

[coachspencerxc]

Good luck on the hardening process. I might have missed it. How are you going to water. Drip irrigation or by hand?

Thanks for sharing

Thanks. Watering by hand. Taking forever & being careful not to damage the plants. Keep in mind i have a 1/4 acre garden, not just a bunch of peppers. Today was 90 degrees & I planted about 65 plants 2 days ago. Looked great last night. Today at 2pm, the ones planted over the weekend & uncovered were super wilty- worse than I've ever seen them. I moved the cover (I'm using a 10x10' tarp & moving it around) over & watered the base of all plants. By 5pm, couldn't tell any of them had been wilty. No new sunburn.

one of my choco bonnets turned totally white(toast) from not hardening off! i didn't give up on it and it's starting to sprout new growth. the roots are so far along that i'll still probably get to harvest a few pods from it.

I pulled the one out. No leaves. The others that were rough looking are shown vigorous new growth like after topping.

 

[coachspencerxc]

I don't know why I thought moving & starting a 1/4 acre garden was going to go more quickly than it did, but I am finished with the peppers! 255 in the ground. There are 28 more that I started very late that aren't ready to plant out now. I thought I had 325 total but 283 will work.

Still have more non-pepper stuff to plant but have about 50 tomatoes on the ground, a bunch of beans, squash, watermelons, collards, lettuce, kale, cabbage, etc.

Pics soon.

 

[tctenten]

Nice work getting them into the ground. Can't wait to see some pics.

 

[OCD Chilehead]

I don't know why I thought moving & starting a 1/4 acre garden was going to go more quickly than it did, but I am finished with the peppers! 255 in the ground. There are 28 more that I started very late that aren't ready to plant out now. I thought I had 325 total but 283 will work.
Still have more non-pepper stuff to plant but have about 50 tomatoes on the ground, a bunch of beans, squash, watermelons, collards, lettuce, kale, cabbage, etc.
Pics soon.

Great job Rick. I bet your back is feeling it. LOL. Good luck on the rest of your planting. 283 plants is amazing.

 

[moruga welder]

my back is killing me with 60 ! lol good luck my friend !  

 

[coachspencerxc]

Great job Rick. I bet your back is feeling it. LOL. Good luck on the rest of your planting. 283 plants is amazing.

Thanks. Full disclosure- of the 255, my 11 year old daughter probably put 80 in the ground & staked & tied probably 175. I dug all of the holes & filled all holes with compost/topsoil. Nice to have a helper.

 

[OCD Chilehead]

Thanks. Full disclosure- of the 255, my 11 year old daughter probably put 80 in the ground & staked & tied probably 175. I dug all of the holes & filled all holes with compost/topsoil. Nice to have a helper.

That's still a lot. I have a 9 year old son. HMMMMM Ive got an idea. LOL. Compost/topsoil sounds good. Can't wait to see those plants in a couple months.

 

[coachspencerxc]

That's still a lot. I have a 9 year old son. HMMMMM Ive got an idea. LOL. Compost/topsoil sounds good. Can't wait to see those plants in a couple months.

Yeah, I know a lot of people get very technical about their soil & nutrients, but I think I did enough to end up with some decent yields (barring pests & disease) without having to worry about it... 
 
When planting out, I tilled the new garden & dug holes for the plants big enough to fit 3-4 shovelfuls of what is supposed to be a "50/50" mix of topsoil & compost I bought. I got 8 cubic yards dumped in my driveway. Put a small handful of a product called "Chickity Doo Doo" & dolomitic limestone in, put the plant in & cross fingers. Sheet mulch with grass clippings as the season progresses. My garden to yard ratio makes that a slow process now as there aren't enough clippings.
 
Thanks.

 

[coachspencerxc]

I've been meaning to stop & take some pictures but have never gotten around to it. Here are two garden shots. It's divided up into 9 smaller plots & what you're seeing here is 5 of those. First shot is about 150 of the peppers.

Second picture is tomatoes in the foreground, then beans (each row is about 50') & then a few hills of watermelons & peppers in the way back:

 

[jcw10tc]

Looking good.  Lots of work this summer to keep up with that field.

 

[coachspencerxc]

And now some green pods...
 
First one is Wes Lane's Yellow Jalapeno x Bubblegum 7 Pot. F1.
I was told not to share seeds, AND I planted the few I had, so the answer is no.  Sorry.

Sukari. I've had some of these that ripened. Not as unbelievably sweet as I expected. They're good but not great.

Red Savina on a plant that was pretty severely sunburned 6 weeks ago. Did a nice job of bouncing back, huh?

Speaking of sunburn- is that what's going on with this Aji Amarillo pod? I have a few pods on 2-3 plants (all baccatum) like this.

 

[OCD Chilehead]

Thanks for sharing the pics. It's going to be a maze come October. Best of luck and lovin the pod pics. That's a cool Jal cross you've got. You'll have to tell us how it tastes when the time comes. Savina looks great. That used to be one of my favorites for salsa.

Have a good week.

 

[coachspencerxc]

Thanks for sharing the pics. It's going to be a maze come October. Best of luck and lovin the pod pics. That's a cool Jal cross you've got. You'll have to tell us how it tastes when the time comes. Savina looks great. That used to be one of my favorites for salsa.

Have a good week.

Thanks. I planted the first 40-50 pretty far apart. After that, I planted them about 18-24" apart. 2 rows together 2' apart & then a walking row between. Still though, it won't be enough room for some of them, I know. I'll be chomping into the Yellow Jalapeno x BBG pretty soon by the looks of it. Took forever to start to ripen. Thanks again. 

 

[ribbedturtleneck]

That sounds like a fascinating cross. Be sure and post a review.

 

[coachspencerxc]

Bunch of baccatums... sorry about the photo quality. 
 
Aji Pineapple

 
Aji Fantasy

 
Brazilian Starfish

Aji Guyana

 
Aji Omnicolor

 
Rainforest (Not nearly as wide as the pods they came from, but they're small still. May just need to fill out.)

 

[Trident chilli]

Great pictures thank you for sharing ... If you get a chance would love to see your Bonnet x Naga Morich ... thank you in anticipation

 

[windchicken]

Very good-looking grow, Rick! You will be busy this season...

 

[coachspencerxc]

Great pictures thank you for sharing ... If you get a chance would love to see your Bonnet x Naga Morich ... thank you in anticipation

Will do. Thanks!

Very good-looking grow, Rick! You will be busy this season...

You're telling me. ...and peppers are just part of it. Lot of beans, tomatoes & other junk. Thanks!

 

[Pulpiteer]

Wow that's looking great!
I've had Aji Lemons get sunburned too - they'll have dark purpleish spots on them over the yellow. It didn't really affect the pod as far as taste or anything at all.

 

[tsurrie]

You sir, are having a huge garden and fine looking plants. Good for you they're pushing out pods already.
Keep posting, it's good to see pods while my plants are still slowly preparing to bloom...