Growing in the Pacific NorthWest Community GrowLog

There have been several yearly PNW grow logs, the last in 2017,
so @FGpepperguy and I thought it might be a good idea to start
an on-going glog for the PNW. This is a community glog, so anyone
is free to post here, whether in the PNW or not. Hopefully, this forum
thread will provide for some information sharing particular to growing
in our crazy, unpredictable weather.

So, that being said, welcome all. Don't be strangers!

"Yes, we can grow chili peppers in the
Pacific NorthWest! Usually."

 

[MarcV]

That's sort of like a sacrilege. Right?

It's like collecting stamps. You have them becaue you want to have them but they are not of any use...

 

[FGpepperguy]

I raised my SF-2000 as I was having trouble keeping them compact.

 

[PaulG]

Wow, that is a tent full, @FGpepperguy!
Can't wait to see them loaded with pods.

 

[PaulG]

Garage grow table getting full.


Grow shelf at maximum occupancy.

 

[PaulG]

Finally got a couple of c. flexuosum to germinate
after putting some seeds in the AeroGarden. Time
to add some nutrients to the water.

Later - added Rapid Start, 2.5 ml to the tank.

 

[PaulG]

The volunteer Red Pequin Chihuahua on
the grow shelf is into a flowering cycle.

 

[PaulG]

The 2016 and 2017 Aji Amarillo starts both have a
funny anomaly. The one on the left grew a leaf at
the cotyledon, and the one on the right has a fasciated
leaf and main stem.

The seed from 2019 produced a true-to-form seedling.

Lit by a little sun peeking theough the garage window.

 

[Hawaiianero]

The 2016 and 2017 Aji Amarillo starts both have a
funny anomaly. The one on the left grew a leaf at
the cotyledon, and the one on the right has a fasciated
leaf and main stem.

The seed from 2019 produced a true-to-form seedling.

Lit by a little sun peeking theough the garage window.

Aji Amarillo's are one of my favorite peppers. They got up to about 5 feet tall and just as wide in my old garden in Hawaii. This is my first year in Washington so it's going to be a learning season for me this year.

 

[PaulG]

Aji Amarillo's are one of my favorite peppers. They got up to about 5 feet tall and just as wide in my old garden in Hawaii. This is my first year in Washington so it's going to be a learning season for me this year.

The Aji Amarillo should do well for you. Main thing in this climate
is plenty of time to grow. I start my Aji A's at the same time as my
chinenses, end of December or Jan. 1 at latest. They take a while
to ripen here, but will flower and set pods like crazy all Summer,
even in the heat. The downside is that I leave a lot of green ones
on the plants in the late Fall. I have had success bringing them into
the greenhouse to extend the season, when they are in smaller #3-#5
gallon pots.

Yes, they can get big. I have had seven-foot plants in the past, but
have selected my strain for a smaller growth habit. I'm growing the
2019 seed plant in a #15NC this season, so we will see how that
works. I had them in 18-gallon tubs when they hit the 7' mark.
They will climb up hedges and into trees, being almost like a vine.

Are you growing the AA this season?

 

[Hawaiianero]

Nice to know they will handle the weather here. I don't have any seeds started yet which is a bummer since the AA take a long time to germinate and start growing. I won't be ready to do anything til around the end of Feb or early March so it looks like I'm falling behind already. No worries though, I'll do what I can and be happy for whatever I get.

 

[FGpepperguy]

Bahamian Goat on its 3rd round of fruit. This is the best photo I could get.

 

[PaulG]

Right on, @FGpepperguy!

Great variety. Great plant. Great production!

 

[PaulG]

Greenhouse getting good use.
Just added a tray of chinenses, center.

 

[PaulG]

Looks like nighttime temps will be 40˚F and above
going forward. Probably a chance of some 39's in
the next month.

Decided to put a couple of OWs out under the deck
canopy to see if they will be okay. If so, I will put all
five of the 3-gallon OWs out to make room in the green-
house. Even if nights are cool, they are out of the rain
and partially protected from the wind. Hopefully
these mature wild specimens will be able to take
the cooler temps in stride.

Pequin Rojo Chihuahua in flower, fourth year
Chiltepin Rojo Chilli Pepper Institute, New
Mexico State University..

 

[PaulG]

The OW wild specimens in the last post have been okay outside
under the canopy, so I put the rest of the 3-gallon OWs and the
2021 volunteer wilds (In #2NC containers) out, as well.


Greenhouse re-shuffle again, now that there is (was) more space.
All these will be planted into containers ranging from #2NC to 15
to 18 gallon, come plant-out time in early June (I hope).


Twenty-five plants in the greenhouse, eight on the canopy table.

 

[PaulG]

Outdoor wilds handling the cool weather so far. Lots of
new growth and flowering. Some berries setting on the
Pequin Rojo 'Chihuahua' and the Cumari annuum as well.


Pequin Rojo 'Chihuahua'.


Cumari annuum.


One of the ripe berries on the volunteer Pequin Rojo
'Chihuahua’.

 

[PaulG]

Gotta love Spring in the PNW!

 

[PaulG]

New round of plants out under the deck canopy.
Hopefully last chill night (40˚F), then night temps
trending up a few degrees. Hopefully plant-out in
two weeks.

Back Row: c. chacoense, CAP 500 c. eximium, c. tovari, 4th year Chiltepin rojo CPI.
Front Row: CAP 524 c. chacoense, Dwarf Chiltepin, Tepin pshngo, c. flexuosum x 2.

 

[PaulG]

Some plants out for better or worse in there final spots. Hopefully
we are beyond the below-40 nights. General plant-out will start
around fourth week of May, maybe earlier if weather looks decent.

Volunteer Yellow Pequin, Wild Cumari annuum, Chiltepín Rojo
CPI 4th year, OW Chiltepín ‘Seguin‘, OW Pequin Rojo Chihuahua,
volunteer Pequin Rojo Chihuahua.


Different view of the volunteer Yellow Pequin, Cumari annuum,
Chiltepin Rojo fourth year.


View from greenhouse side.

 

[PaulG]

Rare sun breaks the past few days, but this was one today.