Dennish 2016 - Bacca to the Future

No specific theme this year, as although I enjoyed sourcing and growing Fataliis last season I did find this a little limiting for other things I wanted to grow.  So this year I return to my usual eclectic mix of old favourites and new varieties I'm itching to try!
 
Current list updated 16/01:

 
I’ve decided to go heavy on c.baccatum this season, I just can’t get enough of the beautiful flavours and mid-range heat.
 
I’ve also been careful to limit my super hots and generally turned down the SHU wick a bit this year too, as to be honest I only have limited use for the face melters.
 
I’m growing out my own Lemon Drop x Aji White Fantasy cross… can’t wait to see what Lemon Drop Fantasy will bring and very excited about this, hoping for something special. 
 
The mysterious and uniquely shaped Death Cap hybrid will also make an appearance, will the F2 yield the same blistering heat and pod shape?  On the subject of hybrids, I'm the lucky recipient (thanks John!) of the Madame Jeanette x Goronong cross all the way from Holland.
 
So far I've had great germination rates including my Lemon Drop Fantasy crosses which are flying, I'm going to have to pot them up soon and cull a few as had multiple loops in each pellet...

 
Meanwhile, my overwinters doing very nicely, TS CARDI veteran looking positively perky after hard cutback root and branch for the 5th time (Year 5)!

 

 

 

 

 
Hope 2016 is a decent year weather wise here in the UK!  Good luck for a great season all.
 
Cheers,

Dennish

 

[OCD Chilehead]

I was reading up on crossing. http://www.thechileman.org/guide_crossing_peppers.php

F2 is when characteristics really start to appear. Depending on how stable the Aji White Fantasy x Lemondrop plants were. Still all new to me. Learning along the way.

Either way both pod's look great.

 

[dennish]

I was reading up on crossing. http://www.thechileman.org/guide_crossing_peppers.php

F2 is when characteristics really start to appear. Depending on how stable the Aji White Fantasy x Lemondrop plants were. Still all new to me. Learning along the way.

Either way both pod's look great.

 
Great article OCD, thanks for sharing.  Kinda confirms what I already know... F1 pods should be identical, where the parent strains are stable.  So, either the two pod shapes I've seen at F1 were down to an early/immature pod shape or instability in the parent strains.  As you say, worth saving seed from both.  I now have seedings on the go from the first pod shape (germination rate 90%+), and am waiting for the second pod shape to ripen.

 

[Geonerd]

Awesome growage you've got going!  

 

[dennish]

I’ve been away for just under a week and pleased to report all continues to look good on my return.  My self-watering pots and drippers performed as expected which was a relief as I didn’t have anyone looking in on them whilst I was away.
 
Here is the usual GH door shot, I shunt the plants around in the middle row to get in and get to where I need to be. 

Focus on my chinenses this week… all doing well and with pods with the exception of SB MOA which is bringing up the rear in terms of development.

 
Orange Blob and it’s hairy leaves, lots of small pods and a few ripe ones which are smooth and hab like, hoping the bigger pods achieve the desired crinkly pumpkin shape.

Peach Congo is loaded with small pods, with a few ripe ones… looks like this will be a very productive plant.

SB MOA in danger of being crowded out by it’s neighbours, now putting on good growth and flowering so hopeful of a decent yield despite the early setbacks.

 
Fatalii x Cleo’s Dragon Yellow growing strongly, lots of small pods set, some ripe… and the right yellow colour as per the seeds kindly provided by the variation discovered by Heefy on this cross last season.

 
Bhut Orange Copenhagen in the 15l AirPot a really great looking plant, flowering like mad but not setting pods at yet, very strongly branched with massive potential.

CGN 21500 with it’s unusual mottled foliage and brimming with promise, growing strongly with a ton of tiddler sized pods and a few ripe too.

 
SBJ7 again flying now in terms of growth, one smallish sized pod set so far

 
MJ x Goronogong doing OK, a few tiny pods set now.  This plant occupying perhaps the most disadvantaged spot in the line-up due to shading.

Tiddlers on parade!  Fatalii x Cleo’s Dragon Yellow on the back row, Peach Congo and Orange Blob in the middle… CGN 21500 at the bottom.

 

 

[dennish]

Update continued...
 
The behemoth that is BIG JIM, now leaning slightly alarmingly against the single support cane I have in place… next job bolster support for this giant and it’s large number of massive pods!

 
BIG JIM Imposter has been officially ousted from the GH.  I won’t cull, but can no longer justify the floorspace.  A bit annoyed to have wasted the time and energy on this one, was supposed to be Big Jim Heritage with seeds direct from source – the Chile Pepper Institute! 

 
My bucket of baccas doing really well, TDW has set a mass of white pods.

 
Aji Bodysnatcher cross lovely spikey pods…

 
Aji Bodysnatcher F2, hope to progress 2nd generation this year!

 
Toms all ripening first trusses now 

 
Mexican Sour Gherkin has gone crazy, a mass of fine vines and leaves spreading everywhere.  So far, fruit setting has been very disappointing… the GH floor is littered with hundreds of tiny fruit.  I’ve spotted a couple of bigger ones on the plant, hope this is a sign of things to come!

 
And finally, TS CARDI veteran now storming on with some trademark big ‘uns!

 

[Chilidude]

Nice to see others trying the airpots for growing chilis. 10 litre airpot seems to be the good size for growing chilis and doesnt take ages for the roots to grow to fill the container. It feels like the chilis like to fill the container first with roots before they start to grow fast and produce plenty of pods.

 

[dennish]

Nice to see others trying the airpots for growing chilis. 10 litre airpot seems to be the good size for growing chilis and doesnt take ages for the roots to grow to fill the container. It feels like the chilis like to fill the container first with roots before they start to grow fast and produce plenty of pods.

I'm using 15l AirPots and to be honest, although results are promising to date, the jury is still out.
 
I have to say I agree 100% about pot size vs speed of plant growth and fruit set.  The greenhouse sensation chilligrows I use are only 6l pots for exactly this reason, and are very quick to set fruit compared to larger container sizes.  You have to decide what you want from the plant in terms of size, yield and speed of growth/fruit set when choosing pot sizes.  I use a mix of 6l, 11l, 15l and a few bigger 26l pots, the majority of which are wick fed or self-watering type pots.  

 

[Chilidude]

Just like your said, the pot size have to be selected according to the growing environment and for personal needs.
 
I tried airpot sized:
 
6 litres: Good results for the size of the pot, but the soil dry out too fast in that one for my growing tastes.
 
7-8 litres: Good middle ground for growing most smaller chilis, the soil in the pot doesnt dry out too fast.
 
10 litres: Very good size for not trying out too fast between waterings and still get a huge chili plants in a shorter growing season i have in my country.
 

 
This chili should have been a Brainstrain yellow, but the pods it is producing is not anything like the pictures i have seen.
 
But anyway, this one is growing in a 10 litre airpot and didnt seems to do anything, but produce flowers until the magical number of over 15 degrees of celsius in the night time hit my place of growing and now it is producing pods like they are candy. C.chinenses are known to be very finnicky with their growing habits before they are mature and happy enough for the pod production to really start.
 
So your plant in the airpot should soon start doing more than flowering, when the plant is happy enough to do so...So be prepared for some serious pod production.

 

[D3monic]

As far as I know the Genetics on f1 are 50/50 from parents, so while there's not a lot of variation there not 100% i'm seeing variation in my f1's

 

[dennish]

A quick update of key movers and shakers this week...
 
Firstly, BOC in the AirPot now starting to set pods, hurrah!

 
 
Brazillian Starfish setting a few trademark pods

 
Napalese Bell following suit

 
Aji Omnicolour 

 
Madre Vejea

 
Latest Orange Blob pods are fatter and crinklier, which is the desired pheno

 
Latest Fatalii x Cleo's Dragon Yellow pods are elongated and more in line with the desired pheno

 
Jalapeno Barajas and Padron stuffed full of pods

 
Picking of Big Jims due to branch snappage and also removing some of the smaller fruit to allow the plant to re-focus it's energy on the bigger pods.

 
The cucumber I'm training along one side of the GH is romping along and very productive

 
Meanwhile elsewhere in the garden... Peas podding up nicely now too

 
I'm growing a pumpkin plant up a 5ft high ladder type support against a wall which I made myself out of old bits of wood, situated in a place where otherwise it wouldn't get any sun, seems to be doing OK... it's 'Invincible' an improved Crown Prince type.

 

[Trident chilli]

Great update Dennis the weather we are having is certainly helping our jungles ... great plants and pods .. your CARDI get better each year

 

[dennish]

Quick update from me, will be the last for a couple of weeks due to holidays fast approaching...
 
Plants continue to grow strongly, baccas hitting the roof on the left hand side and the 'bucket of baccas' in the middle of the GH threatening to get out of hand!  Here you can see the view from the door and also with the bacca bucket shoved to one side for access.

 
Here is a shot underneath the canopy, can't wait to try TDW, first pod has now started to turn!

 
The first of the 2nd wave pimply Aji Bodysnatcher pods has started to ripen, I'll be leaving this on the plant for a while to ensure viability of seed.  The pods seem to form in nice bunches, which is pleasing on the eye.

 
F2s motoring along, time for potting up soon...
 
Decent picking today of mainly baccas, Aji Omnicolour, Massive Lemon Drop (or is it, this is the LD x AWF F1 cross - I had assumed it was growing out as a standard Lemon Drop, but the latest pods are twice as big as I've seen before), Madre Vejea (ripening orange as opposed to the desired yellow), a shed load of Aji Melocoton, and some tiddler/midi chinense pods at the bottom for good measure.

 
And last, but by no means least 5 year old veteran TS CARDI ripening up some trademark whoppers!

 

[Trident chilli]

Great update Dennis ....

 

[dennish]

Back from a week away and no casualties which is a relief...
 
GH door shot for usual comparison

 
Bucket of Baccas, a huge success, TDW looks like a world beater at the moment, massively productive and tasty thick walled and juicy heart shaped pods

 
Things motoring along, I've had to introduce additional supports to try and keep the plants from shading each other.

 
BOC really flying now and becoming rammed full of menacing looking pods, AirPot looks to be a winner.

 
Peach Congo

 
Fatalii x Cleo's Dragon Yellow

 
Lots of lovley ripe toms and Mex Sour Gherkin ready for picking

 
Ripe Big Jims and Jals, pickle time as soon as I can get around to it!

 
Orange Blob

 
Meanwhile inside I now have buds on the Aji Bodysnatcher F2!

 

[Malarky]

just 3 f2's?
glad to have you back

 

[dennish]

just 3 f2's?
glad to have you back

I have 6 F2 plants, we'll see what variants I get... Space very limited for this secondary grow.

 

[dennish]

Picked a load of pods and made a big batch of pickled hot peppers today... these should keep me going for a while!

 

[dragonsfire]

lol, like your Hogwarts box, need to put your hot sauces in their, great looking batch of peppers

 

[Malarky]

recipe? fridge or shelf?

 

[dennish]

lol, like your Hogwarts box, need to put your hot sauces in their, great looking batch of peppers

Thanks for the kind words, yes need to put the hogwarts box to good use! Lol

recipe? fridge or shelf?

http://www.theyummylife.com/Pickled_Jalapeno_Peppers

Used this recipe a few times with good results.

Didn't bother with canning they don't last long enough!