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."

 

[PaulG]

Looking good @PaulG !!

It passes for good for the time being.
Heat is making things look a little rough
around the edges!

I had to google 100F. 38C for 4 more days, good you took precautions. We had 2 days of over 40C, and I was glad I was at home so I could move them around to keep them in the shade. I wish you good luck.

The shade cloth at least helps the plants
survive the hot spells. The 80’s and low 90’s
should be no problem for the plants after
this heat wave!
Never thought I’d see a string of 100F here
in the PNW.

Good luck with the heat. If we could just even it out a bit instead of the peaks and valleys that would sure be nice. We're supposed to peak around 95F up here, so not so bad.

That would be nice, for sure. 95F is still too hot!.

 

[Pepper Merchant]

The Tiger Jalapeño set a few pods awhile back,
but no new pods so far. The pods are a different
shape for Jalapeños, as well as being erect. This
pic from last week. The pod has already started
drying on the plant, but I don't think it is ripe.
Seed also from @Pepper Merchant.

You can see the erect pods in this pic. Hoping
this specimen picks up the pace of pod-setting.
The pod in the above pic is in the lower right corner.

Paul sorry for the late reply its been a busy summer!
The Tiger Jalapenos look on point compared to what we had last year and what is expected for the plant. As they ripen to red from purple some stripes appear. The pods that are on stems where there is heavy variegation will show more stripes on them.

Here are some photos from last year. All my pods started erect and fell as they became heavy late season.

 

[PaulG]

Thanks for that info, @Pepper Merchant

 

[PaulG]

Having a tough time finding places for the praetermissums
and galapagoense that doesn't get too much sun. Harden-
ing off has been impossible this season.

These praetermissum are in shade except tor some sun
in the late evening. Some of the wilds, like the c. flexuosum
wilt as soon as any sun hits them.


Added the c. galapagoense a few days later.

 

[PaulG]

Plants huddled in the shade during the heat waves.


Shelves on wheels make moving back and forth between
sun and shade easier.

 

[FGpepperguy]

Gah, not much to report....

 

[PaulG]

Don’t give up hope, Mr. @FGpepperguy. I am just
starting to see evidence of pods and berries. Even
with the heat waves, some of the wild plants have
been quietly busy, and now fruit is becoming evident.
Hoping the c. chinenses wake up soon. The Purple
Thunder F4 Mystery is the only chinense starting to
put out real pods.

What are the plants at the top of your grow space?
Also, what is the plant in the second pic? Looks like
a wild variety? All in all, I’d say your grow is looking
good.

Hang in there, my friend!

 

[PaulG]

The high temps in the 80’sF have really spurred
some accelerated growth. The Aji Amarillo 2016
and the Trippaul Threat v2 F4 orange are getting
huge. The hot sun makes then droopy in the after-
noon, but they are growing like crazy.

 

[PaulG]

Two Padrón peppers. They are liking the hot
weather and are setting pods right along.
Both in #15T containers, pic on 8/10.
H x W: 44” x 22” (110cm x 55cm) - both plants.

 

[PaulG]

The high temps in the 80’sF have really spurred
some accelerated growth. The Aji Amarillo 2016
and the Trippaul Threat v2 F4 orange are getting
huge. The hot sun makes then droopy in the after-
noon, but they are growing like crazy.

Untangled the big Aji Amarillo and the Trippaul
Threat v2 F4 orange. Also tied up a few more
branches after this pic.

Some nice pods on the Aji Amarillo 2016.

 

[FGpepperguy]

Don’t give up hope, Mr. @FGpepperguy. I am just
starting to see evidence of pods and berries. Even
with the heat waves, some of the wild plants have
been quietly busy, and now fruit is becoming evident.
Hoping the c. chinenses wake up soon. The Purple
Thunder F4 Mystery is the only chinense starting to
put out real pods.

What are the plants at the top of your grow space?
Also, what is the plant in the second pic? Looks like
a wild variety? All in all, I’d say your grow is looking
good.

Hang in there, my friend!

@PaulG looking good over your way. I hope the cooler weather helps my plants pod up. The plants in the back are tomato. The pepper you asked about it is a Chiltepin amarillo. I have a few CAP 1141's also.

Chiltepin amarillo

CAP 1141

 

[mcbob]

Here are a couple of pics of what's going on at my home in Lebanon OR. This is my first year growing any of the hotter peppers.
I have been growing Bells, jalapenos, serrano's for years though.
I am finding these more exotic varieties are a real challenge. I'm growing in fairly small pots and its been a job keeping things watered.
I have my fingers crossed some of these will ripen fully. I have a couple varieties that have just started to flower (Chiltepin,

7 pot Katie, Fatalii). My most productive so far are the (Sugar Rush varieties, Hydra Chocolate and Bolivian Bumpy Carmen)
I guess I have about another month and a possible week or two of summer weather to get it done?

 

[FGpepperguy]

@mcbob your plants look huge! I think I water and fertilize too much. That's gotta be it....

Closest I've been to Lebanon is off Ogle Rd. 25 mins away. A little ski lake tucked in there

 

[mcbob]

@mcbob your plants look huge! I think I water and fertilize too much. That's gotta be it....

Closest I've been to Lebanon is off Ogle Rd. 25 mins away. A little ski lake tucked in there

That looks like a awesome little ski lake. I have driven past it but didn't know it was there.
We have a nice spot along the South Santiam River. I get to see a lot of wildlife here. Our garden is under constant attack from the local deer though. One of the reasons the plants are up on the deck.

 

[PaulG]

I guess I have about another month and a possible week or two of summer weather to get it done?

Hopefully a nice Fall season will save our
bacon this year. Again. Seems like I have
been counting on October harvesting for
the last three years

 

[PaulG]

Here are a couple of pics of what's going on at my home in Lebanon OR. This is my first year growing any of the hotter peppers.
I have been growing Bells, jalapenos, serrano's for years though.
I am finding these more exotic varieties are a real challenge. I'm growing in fairly small pots and its been a job keeping things watered.
I have my fingers crossed some of these will ripen fully. I have a couple varieties that have just started to flower (Chiltepin,

7 pot Katie, Fatalii). My most productive so far are the (Sugar Rush varieties, Hydra Chocolate and Bolivian Bumpy Carmen)
I guess I have about another month and a possible week or two of summer weather to get it done?

Your plants look really good, @mcbob! Nice
and healthy with some awesome pods

Really beginning to see more pod-setting.
Be nice if they would produce during the
'cooler' spells and gnarl up during the
'heat waves'

 

[mcbob]

Paul, Do you have any tricks for getting things to ripen here with the climate we have? Things like leaf removal , less water, and things like that.
I do have a small greenhouse but it wouldn't be able to handle the larger plants. A couple of the varieties I have especially the fatalii has been very slow to flower of set pods. I was hoping for more from those plants as I heard good things about the taste. The Chiltepin variety I have is extremely slow to flower and is just now making some buds. Maybe I just need some different varieties to match our season?

 

[PaulG]

Paul, Do you have any tricks for getting things to ripen here with the climate we have? Things like leaf removal , less water, and things like that.
I do have a small greenhouse but it wouldn't be able to handle the larger plants. A couple of the varieties I have especially the fatalii has been very slow to flower of set pods. I was hoping for more from those plants as I heard good things about the taste. The Chiltepin variety I have is extremely slow to flower and is just now making some buds. Maybe I just need some different varieties to match our season?

Probably the most consistent thing I do is
trim off any branch tips or branches that don’t
terminate with a pod. Another thing is remove
any runts so the more mature pods can ripen.
Other than that, just have to depend on a nice
Fall season to give pods time to ripen. Gives
the term ‘patience’ new meaning

Good luck bringing in the harvest, @mcbob!

BTW I trim the plants back in mid-to-late Sept.
kind of keeping an eye on the long range fore-
cast. I want to trim about six weeks before frost.

 

[PaulG]

@FGpepperguy - Happy birthday, PNW brother!

 

[mcbob]

It looks like my Bolivian plants like it here. The Bolivian Bumpy Carman is showing some color. The Bolivian rainbow is just a neat plant.
I'm seeing lots of bees working the flowers. My seeds were from Texas Hot Peppers.