Eephus Man's 2012 March to Hell and Back (Grow Log)

capsidadburn · Jun 8, 2012

Eric, I have started seeds this late before. If the intent is to bring a more mature plant into 2013, then any time in the next few months. For production this year of course should just be annuums. My late starts have always been some cool new variety I got that I just could'nt stand to wait.

I know what you mean about approaching the "sour" point in regard to your better half. I am pretty sure I have gone past on many occaisions if not perpetually beyond in regards to peppers or any hobby I obsess over.

Cheers Mike

Eephus Man · Jun 8, 2012

BigCedar said:
WOW, amazing glog!
I caught up on the last 5 or so pages, lookin great man!
I reallllllly need to stop looking at glogs from Texas and Florida.. You guys are killin me with your weather and fresh pods!! lol.
You have one of the best assortments of chiles growing on the site if I do say so myself. Nice heat range and varieties.
That yellow super looks mean! Good luck chompin on the that.
Btw, a video review sounds like a pretty good idea.

Good to read up on your glog Eric. Hope all is well with you.
Brandon

Thanks, BC! Thanks for dropping by. And I may do a little taste testing on video here in the next few weeks. I have a few varieties I've never tried before, so that'll be interesting in and of itself.

Lilly said:
Nice yellow fellow! Could be a good one for a trip to hell... don't forget to come back! We like more pepper porn

I'm overdue for good pics! More this weekend!

That is a 2nd-year Yellow Bhut. Although the morphology is a little different than my NMSU/CPI Yellow Bhuts growing in my raised beds.

PaulG said:
Lilly said:

Nice yellow fellow! Could be a good one for a trip to hell... don't forget to come back! We like more pepper porn

Click to expand...

+1 - we expect a full report!

I'll definitely let you know how it was! Last year they were hot, but not excruciating. My Chocolate Habs took the crown for hottest last year. This year I'm growing four kinds of Bhuts, a TS, and a 7-Pot, though. We'll see...

capsidadburn said:
Eric, I have started seeds this late before. If the intent is to bring a more mature plant into 2013, then any time in the next few months. For production this year of course should just be annuums. My late starts have always been some cool new variety I got that I just could'nt stand to wait.

I know what you mean about approaching the "sour" point in regard to your better half. I am pretty sure I have gone past on many occaisions if not perpetually beyond in regards to peppers or any hobby I obsess over.

Cheers Mike

Thanks, Mike. Do you overwinter in a greenhouse, or indoors?

I have room for 5-7 plants each year. Be interesting to see about starting some now for next year. Never thought of that.

And yeah, my wife is a sweetheart. I used my son's bedroom as a grow room this winter. But next year, he's not going to be in a crib in our room, so its going to be interesting to figure out where I'm gonna be starting peppers.

Eephus Man · Jun 8, 2012

Well, the Yellow Bhut is warm. Hotter than last year, but not quite as hot as the Chocolate Habs. About 10 minutes in right now and I've got some pretty epic hiccups. Have some tears down the face, surprisingly little snot production, and a TON of saliva output. It seems to be affecting the underside of my tongue the most, followed by the back top of my mouth where it meets my throat.

What's interesting (to me) is that it takes awhile to hit hard. Probably a good 30 seconds. Upon first bite, it seemed pretty weak compared to the mild lil' Hinkelhatz I had the other night (which again, had quite a kick). But now, it has proven it's pedigree. I'd give it a 7/10 on heat and a 8/10 on sustained heat. Now twelve minutes in and fading but still with me (still have the stinkin' hiccups, which I hate).

Last year's Chocolate Habs would sustain for almost a full half-hour and still be with me almost an hour later. Insane.

This is actually really nice. A good punch, but a fairly quick denouement. Kind of like a pop song.

Nice thing is that it had a little more flavor this year. And that's the nice thing about the delayed heat, too. You can really taste it. It was kind of a weak lemon rind flavor. Not bad at all.

Heat has now moved to the back of the tongue only fourteen minutes in.

Have a great weekend, y'all! Hopefully I'll have more pics for you soon.

Eephus Man · Jun 10, 2012

Some decent corking. It'll be my first try of a Billy Biker. Given a few away already, but none for myself. Some of those on my other plant are literally three times this size. Insane.

Also of note...my Hinkelhatz do NOT keep long at all (MAYBE two days), so I decided to throw them in the oven with part of the 20 pounds (no, that's not hyperbole) of tomatoes my wife got at the farmer's market and dry them.

They are AWESOME. Both the heat and the sugars are concentrated, so its like candied pepper jerky, These things are seriously hot. Love it!

Chewi · Jul 16, 2012

So you eat all those peppers yet? I thought I read a few pages back you had a Scorpion but hadn't read how it tasted!
Edit: if only my wife would let me have that many peppers on my porch!!!

Eephus Man · Jul 16, 2012

I can't believe it has been over a month. I have been both busy and lazy lately. Thanks for the prod, Chewi.

Scorps are *just now* ripening up. Probably ready in the next few days along with my White 7-Pods. I think the last two varieties I haven't tried this year.

BTW, in my book, the Peppadews are worth the hype. VERY sweet and also with some decent bite. If they wouldn't put so much sugar in the commercially pickled ones, IMO they'd be much better.

Anyway...I need to take some post-rain photos and get 'em up.

I can't believe it has been over a month. I have been both busy and lazy lately. Thanks for the prod, Chewi.

Scorps are *just now* ripening up. Probably ready in the next few days along with my White 7-Pods. I think the last two varieties I haven't tried this year.

BTW, in my book, the Peppadews are worth the hype. VERY sweet and also with some decent bite. If they wouldn't put so much sugar in the commercially pickled ones, IMO they'd be much better.

Anyway...I need to take some post-rain photos and get 'em up.

capsidadburn · Jul 16, 2012

Hey Eric, I've heard a lot the name peppadew, but know nothing about it. Sounds like it needs to be tried out.

The rain has definitly made it easy to be lazy!

Mike

Eephus Man · Jul 17, 2012

I'm really impressed with it, Mike. Not really hot, but a little kick (probably kind of like a semi-hot annum), but tons of sugars.

And yes, I still had standing water in my yard yesterday near the back garden. Crazy.

Here are a few less than stellar photos of what I've got going on. It's funny, I thought only tomatoes cracked with too much water, but some of my peppers are doing it,too, including the scorpions you gave me and the trinidad congos. The larger fruited peppers, mainly.

Okay...some trinidad congos to start off here.

Yellow bhuts from a second-year plant

Mustard habaneros

The aforementioned Peppadews

Criolla Sellas

Datils

Chocolate Habaneros from third-year (or fourth, can't remember) plant

Presumed Cachucha

Goat's Weed

Hoja Santa

I'll post some more after responses.

capsidadburn · Jul 17, 2012

They look great Eric! Keep on going.

Eephus Man · Jul 17, 2012

Thanks, Mike.

Your CARDI Scorpions. You can see some of the cracking as dark lines in the fruit. I'm gonna strip it today or tomorrow and hope most of the ripe fruit still viable.

Another shot of an unusually shaped one (upper left) that I like.

Poona Kheera cucumber

NOT Yellow Bhut. Interestingly, from CPI. Uh oh!! lol.

And the plant, which is growing in my backyard garden, is in a double-stacked cinder block hole. That's it. Amazing how large it is for that.

The shot of the backyard raised bed. Its a hodge podge because I'm trying to suck some nitrogen out of the soil, which appears to oversaturated with it.

Here's what the pepper leaves on several plants look like

And here's a Hinkelhatz plants back there that is HUGE, but has constant flower drop and a little leaf curl.

Chocolate Bhuts. Not in love with the flavor, but they are plenty warm.

BAC593605

I have just a few more...

windchicken · Jul 17, 2012

Very, very nice Eric! Those Congo pods look like art! I'm also digging the Mustard Habs and Datils. How do you like the Datils? From the few pods I've tasted, they are like yummy candy....I'm seriously thinking about doing a "Little Chinense" theme next year, along with Cheiro Recife, Cumari do Para, etc., and that one is a prime candidate (no pun intended).

I caught your hollaback on Mike's blog yesterday...I'm glad you like the Birgit's. There's only a few baccatum that I'm real wild about, and that's one of them...And I'm proud that Congo will make your new, more stringent cut next year. If I could only grow one red chinense, Congo Trinidad would be it for sure...

In answer to your question about rain...Yeah! Like 6-8 inches in 10 days. It was actually a little over much, because now I'm dealing with BLS and some leaf yellowing. Nothing serious—I just jacked up the nitrogen a little and they should shake it off in a couple weeks...

Gary

Eephus Man · Jul 17, 2012

Thanks, Gary. Honestly? The Datils have let me down a little this year. After hearing about them for years and about how fruity and sweet they were, I'm finding that they have little flavor compared to, say, your CTs or the Fatalii X that I have growing this year. Even less than my Yellow Bhuts. They're plenty hot, for sure. Also, all my stock is from CPI/NMSU, so maybe I should try some other sources for next year, because I don't want to give up on them just yet. They are insanely productive and very robust plants that grow well even in very small areas/containers.

I did the same with the N levels on my pots. When I know rain is coming, I usually spoon out a little bird guano or tomato/pepper food and let the rain bring it in gradually. Works well and is a very "natural" way to do it, IMO.

Okay, last of the pics...

White 7-Pot

Barro do Robiero. Really enjoying these this year, too. A touch small/seedy, but sweet and hot. Plus cool looking in both shape and color changes.

Couple of full deck garden shots. This one has my Zinnias on steroids going on the right side.

A lower shot.

And finally, Mike's Bih Jolokia is truly ape. Hard to tell in this shot but this is only about 2/3 of the production on a HUGE sprawling plant.

capsidadburn · Jul 17, 2012

Good to see all of these Eric! My yellow Scorpion CARDI's are cracking as well. The pod you mentioned does have a fine shape.

I had to make powders with the Chocolate bhuts which seems to be my avenue with high heat and less than great flavor.

Have you tasted the "presumed Cachuca" yet? Curious.

Later Mike

romy6 · Jul 17, 2012

Very nice grow you got going Eric. Your dehydrator is gonnna be working overtime. I agree with mike. The chocolate bhut's do make a much better powder. Keep the updates coming por favor :fireball:

windchicken · Jul 17, 2012

I'm growing Cachucha, too—7 plants, all lush and bushy. Only green pods so far...

Eephus Man · Jul 18, 2012

capsidadburn said:
Have you tasted the "presumed Cachuca" yet? Curious.

Just remembered this! Yes, I have, Mike. It's an odd flavor. Not typically chinense. No heat whatsoever. Actually, pretty bland. I only had the first pod on the plant, and was unclear about whether it was fully ripe. If the taste profile changes after I try some more, I'll post back up with an update.

They look *really* cool, though. Pondering an ornamental section of the yard next year with Fish, Chiero do Norte, Cachucha and maybe a spare omnicolor/other multi-color plant. With the exception of the omnicolor, which is fantastic, the others are so-so to my palate. But they look awesome.

Eephus Man · Jul 22, 2012

300g of Chocolate Habs and Chocolate Bhuts ready for some smoked powder

And just over 300g of Yellow Scorpions, Yellow Bhuts, Mustard Habaneros, Datils, and a splash of yellow baccatums for a puree.

We'll see what I can get done today. Probably only the powder.

SocalChilehead · Jul 22, 2012

Great harvest and the garden looks amazing. Have you had the opportunity to try one of your white 7 pot what is the flavor like.

Eephus Man · Jul 22, 2012

SocalChilehead said:
Great harvest and the garden looks amazing. Have you had the opportunity to try one of your white 7 pot what is the flavor like.

Thank you, and YES! I finally tasted a White 7. After hearing less than stellar reports, I have to say that I actually quite like them. They remind me of a pineapple Lifesaver. Of course, not exactly, but that same kind of green/sweet/tart kind of taste, of course with some heat. They aren't nearly as hot as most of my other very/superhots, but they have plenty of kick.

I'd recommend them, and they will be one of a limited few that will make next year's grow list for me.

Eephus Man · Jul 26, 2012

Got my powder done. Got about an ounce out of about 275g.

Very smoky. VERY hot.