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

 

[dennish]

Great glog. I really like your technique. I'm learning a bit on greenhouse gardening. I will get my feet wet next season. Building a Hoophouse as we speak. I may also build a smaller structure for some year round experiments. Congrats on the harvest.

Thanks for the nice comments, appreciated.
 
For me greenhouse gardening is all about maximising the use of space available and defying the elements at the same time.  This year I've grown 20+ types of chillies, 4 cherry tomato plants, 1 cucumber and a mex sour gherkin to fully productive yields in and 6'x8' space.  A little tight getting in there at times, but that is a nice problem to have!  The trick is careful planning of your layout I've found and carefully placed supports to keep the plants in check.  
 
Temps are falling fast as autumn kicks in here in the UK, but I've still got a GH packed to the rafters with chillies, happy days!

 

[OCD Chilehead]

Thanks for the nice comments, appreciated.
 
For me greenhouse gardening is all about maximising the use of space available and defying the elements at the same time.  This year I've grown 20+ types of chillies, 4 cherry tomato plants, 1 cucumber and a mex sour gherkin to fully productive yields in and 6'x8' space.  A little tight getting in there at times, but that is a nice problem to have!  The trick is careful planning of your layout I've found and carefully placed supports to keep the plants in check.  
 
Temps are falling fast as autumn kicks in here in the UK, but I've still got a GH packed to the rafters with chillies, happy days!

Wow! That's amazing. I'm trying to plan out my garden. It's a 12x18ft space. Most of the plants will be in the ground. I'm thinking of keeping a few containers. Of course, I want to put as many as I can in that space. I want to be able to walk in there and foilar feed. I suppose I could set up supports, drip irrigation, and some sort of sprinkler system. Maybe I just put the container right down the middle. That way I can move them if need be.

 

[dennish]

Wow! That's amazing. I'm trying to plan out my garden. It's a 12x18ft space. Most of the plants will be in the ground. I'm thinking of keeping a few containers. Of course, I want to put as many as I can in that space. I want to be able to walk in there and foilar feed. I suppose I could set up supports, drip irrigation, and some sort of sprinkler system. Maybe I just put the container right down the middle. That way I can move them if need be.

Sounds great, I can but dream of that much space.
Still lots happening in the GH, despite dipping night temps and the fact that I left the GH door open last night, DOH!

Bucket of baccas still pumping out buckets of pods, TDW is the star performer.

Finally Aji Mango ripening, plenty on too

Had some giant Nepalese Bell stuffed with mature Cheddar and roasted tonight, absolutely delicious and enjoyed by the whole family, only a slight tingle of heat but really tasty and a special treat. Still quite a few on the plant and loads of Brazilian starfish which are stubbornly green in the main

Madam Jeanette x Goronogong extremely twisty tangled pods

 

[OCD Chilehead]

Great looking pics. My temps are dipping as well. Your plants still look amazing. Keep it up.

 

[dennish]

Great looking pics. My temps are dipping as well. Your plants still look amazing. Keep it up.

Thanks Chuck!  I'll keep it up as long as I can, my GH is not heated and as the sun gets lower in the sky certain trees around my garden come into play and it doesnt get half as much sunlight.  I've already seen quite a bit of grey mould creeping in with the damp conditions.  I hope I can eke it out until the end of the month.

 

[dennish]

Orange Blob, c.chinense, lovely big pumpkin shaped chillies! Really enjoying these - sweet fruity and hot, but not insanely so (similar heat to a hab or bonnet).

 

[OCD Chilehead]

Nice color. Sounds like a good one.

Great pics.

 

[PaulG]

Awesome grow log, Dennis!  Your greenhouse set-up is awesome;
how do you keep it from overheating in the summer?  I am impressed
by the 5 year - great production from an older plant.  All-in-all, looks
like you had (are having) a great season.  Your garden is beautiful in general!

 

[dennish]

Awesome grow log, Dennis!  Your greenhouse set-up is awesome;
how do you keep it from overheating in the summer?  I am impressed
by the 5 year - great production from an older plant.  All-in-all, looks
like you had (are having) a great season.  Your garden is beautiful in general!

Thanks for taking the time to read my glog and the comments Paul, appreciated!  It's been a good season so far, my self watering set-up is quite a bit of work to set-up but then pretty low maintenance for the main part of the season which suits me well and means I can leave the plants for up to a week at a time without worrying about watering/feeding.
 
I tend to cram things in, and my yields aren't what you would call optimum due to the plants competing for space, but still decent and allows me to grow lots of different varieties. 
 
I have two roof vents fitted to the GH which open and close automatically depending on the temps which work OK.  I also resort to just opening the doors if it gets really warm.
 
My 5 year old CARDI looks set for another year hopefully!  I see you also have a 5 year old plant, your bonchi Fatalii is awesome!

 

[dennish]

Today I cut down the bucket of baccas which has been blocking entry to the middle of the GH in an attempt to improve airflow...

 
Still lots happening and temps holding reasonably well, I will gradually start to pick and cull over the next few weeks.

 
The elusive Yellow Starfish ripening at last

 
Aji Mango storming along

 
Big Jim podding gamely, not sure any of these will beat my current LOTG entry

 
Bhut Orange Copenhagen in a 15l AirPot has been a big success

 
Today's pickings

 
Trepidiera Do Werner, super productive baccatum, super tasty thick crunchy walled pods with a respectable heat... Ripening white>orange>red. Made some special pickles the other day!

 

[Trident chilli]

Still got a lot of colour in the greenhouse Dennis ... rain this weekend so more cloud cover I don't mind that as long as we get a spell of sun. Judging by all those pods you have had a great season ... thumbs up as well for the airports I have a P.Dreadie in one and its pushing out pods like no business ....

 

[Malarky]

Lots of picking to do still! I'm gonna have to check out the TDW.

 

[dennish]

Nepalese Bell, Brazilian Starfish Yellow and Red... Special stuffed peppers on the menu tonight!

 

[PaulG]

Hard to describe your plants and pods other
than over-the-top beautiful, Dennis!
 
That first greenhouse pic is money!

 

[dennish]

Hard to describe your plants and pods other
than over-the-top beautiful, Dennis!
 
That first greenhouse pic is money!

Cheers Paul!
Here are today's pickings, all of the ripe pods in the GH... too lazy to do separate shots of each variety!

Bhut Orange Copenhagen produced really well for a super hot and nice big pods!

Temps dipping fast now perhaps one more harvest before I call it a day!

 

[PaulG]

Super selection there, Dennis!
The Orange Bhuts look awesome.

 

[Trident chilli]

Great to see the BOC ... but I must tap you up for some Orange Blob seed ... I feel we have only a few weeks left of this season .. and you are further north than me ... I know it's getting cooler as her indoors is always turning the heat up

 

[Plantguy76]

Orange Blob, c.chinense, lovely big pumpkin shaped chillies! Really enjoying these - sweet fruity and hot, but not insanely so (similar heat to a hab or bonnet).

The orange blob is looking very bonnet like Dennis
They do remind me of those ornamental small pumpkins
Looks like you have had a great year wishing you the same next season

 

[OCD Chilehead]

Awesome harvest. That BOC plant looks amazing. I'm growing them next year. Great flavor and decent heat.

 

[dennish]

This week made my final harvest from the greenhouse and cut down the majority of plants...
 
Quite a decent final haul, over 2KG.

 
Big Jim

 
Jalapeno Bargas

 
Aji Bodysnatcher 

 
Yellow Brazilian Pumpkin

 
Some rather special peppers stuffed with cheese and roasted, delicious. 

 
And in quite exciting developments... Aji Bodysnatcher F2 now ripening, two generations in a season has been hard work but hopefully shortened the length of time before I can release this new variety to the world 8) 

 
Also this year's cross, The Yorkshire Barghest, looks like it will come off, fingers and toes crossed!