HotandHeavy's Modest Grow Log 2016

Hi all,
 
It's my third year growing peppers. I grow on my east/south facing back deck here in Toronto, Canada. As such, I don't have a lot of room to grow, although I do grow a few other veggies so I suppose I could grow more peppers than I do now...
 
Varieties I'm growing this year.
 
1) Brazilian Starfish  (thanks to Wolf1888 for the seeds!!)
2) Carolina Reaper (seeds from last year's grow)
3) Trinidad Scorpion (seeds from last year's grow)
4) Red Naglah (thanks to Valleyman for the seeds!!)
5) Mystery Ecuadoran Pepper (sent by my mom from the Andean region [Cotacachi] of Ecuador)
 
I sought to germinate my seeds in wet paper towel placed within ziploc bags. I started in mid-April but I'll start earlier next year.  My starfish and Naglah's both went 5 for 5 after 7-9 days. The Trini's and Reapers didn't germinate (aside from 1 T.S. which died in a cat related accident)  but I planted a couple of C.R. that looked close and healthy anyway. No germination from the mystery seeds, I planted the healthiest looking one alone and three others together. Then I sought to germinate more seeds.) As it stands now, I have 5 sprouted B.S. 5 sprouted Naglah, 1 T.S. (a latter one) 1 C.R. (a tricot, it's one of the seeds I planted before germination occured) and 1 Mystery Ecuadoran (the one I planted by itself that hadn't germinated). I'm waiting on another T.S. and C.R. to hook (germinated a few days ago).
 
I still have T.S., C.R. and mystery seeds germinating. I have room for about 10-12 plants and will likely give away a couple of the starfish and Naglahs to friends.

 
 
 
 
I started the seeds in Pro-Mix Seed starting mix, within Coconut Coir starter pots. They are under 2 Verilux compact fluorescent bulbs presently.  
 

 
Reaper tricot. I understand this happens a lot with the Reaper...
 
I'll be looking for help to identify the Ecuadoran strain later in the season.
 
Wish me luck!!

 

[HotandHeavy]

I think this is the Ecuadorian pepper I'm growing although I was mailed a dried, segment of pepper rather than a whole pod. The seeds were black and large (compared to Scorpion seeds) . The pods are finger sized. After extensive googling, this seems the closest to what I received. The photo is from a town 15 minutes from where my parents live. (Sent this photo to my mom and she thinks this is the pepper...) Time will tell I suppose.
 

 

[Thegreenchilemonster]

I think this is the Ecuadorian pepper I'm growing although I was mailed a dried, segment of pepper rather than a whole pod. The seeds were black and large (compared to Scorpion seeds) . The pods are finger sized. After extensive googling, this seems the closest to what I received. The photo is from a town 15 minutes from where my parents live. (Sent this photo to my mom and she thinks this is the pepper...) Time will tell I suppose.
 

If the seeds are black and large, they are most likely a Capsicum Pubescens. I'm growing a couple of Pubescens varieties from Ecuador this year. I'm looking forward to seeing how yours turn out. Good luck with your season!

 

[az1000]

I think your mystery is Pubescens.
I'm very interested to see how will be. Take a picture with your mystery seedling.
Good luck.

 

[HotandHeavy]

Hey, thanks so much for the thoughts on my mystery pepper's identity! The plant is still a cotyledon but I'll definitely post photos when there is more to see.
 
Also I had a surprise this morning. The scorpion that I thought was dead, sprouted after all, as did the other scorpion. So I'm expecting only a final reaper to shoot now. 
 
If I can, I'll be growing more than 1 of the mystery seeds so here's hoping at least one of the final four seeds germinate (or I gets sprouts from any of the three I planted together).
 
edit: I'm reading now that Pubescens can take 3-4 weeks to germinate. I will be patient.

 

[mpicante]

Good luck on your grow.

 

[az1000]

My Pubescens varieties germinated in 9-15days.
I have 56 varieties .

 

[HotandHeavy]

Hey hey,
 
Just a brief update. I'm hardening off the peppers now. 18 of 19 are doing alright. I had one Brazilian Starfish with a hooked cotyledon and I don't think it's going to make it. Growth is retarded, the cotyledons have withered and just one stunted true leaf remains.
 
Some of my plants went purple with sunburn under the compact fluorescents. (i've since raised the lights.)
 
My non-pepper plants are all planted. Ground cherry, sweet millions tomatoes, beans, peas, corn, carrots, golden beets. Within the next few days I'll get the peppers outside and into pots. It's interesting to see early differences in the Starfish and mystery pubes compared to the others. Longer. skinnier, I can see that the starfish have a vine like quality already.
 
I've mixed together, last year's soil with some fresh promix topsoil, earthworm castings, sheep and cow manure and some bonemeal.
 
Next year I will start seedlings in early March. I started too late this year.   Having said that, the weather has just gotten nice now for pepper plants. Last year we had a great April and early May and my plants had a month's start compared to this year.
 
p.s. mystery Ecuadoran seeds all germinated in soil. I have 4 presently. 18 plants and room for 12 max. I have friends who are interested in the extras...

 

[Wolf1888]

Are your plants outside yet?

 

[HotandHeavy]

Are your plants outside yet?

Heya Wolf! Sorry for the delayed reply. My plants went out on the May 24 weekend. They're doing quite well. The Brazilian Starfish are tall and purdy! Decent size and some budding on pretty much all of them now.
 
The mystery Ecuadoran peppers are lovely plants. A darker green than all my others and I finally have a flower shot to post. Still looking for a more definite identification.
 
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipN__Jr3zYHJmNWDEbO4caOB0KPC_91hgD5OJl5U
 
Beautiful purple flowers.
 
My plants as of one week ago...
 
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNCj4sFJlOtNryd2vDSgFncYkQmdCVEUoOGjtyj

 

[Wolf1888]

I sadly cant open the images, it says "404. That’s an error. The requested URL was not found on this server. That’s all we know."
But it looks like your plants are doing well! My Brazilian Starfish was very productive last year, I hope yours will be too!

 

[lobo]

Hello man,
 
Your topic is intersting. The most interesting for me is your Mystery Rocoto.
 
Last year I grew many varieties of Pubescenc and I have a lot of pods but missed ripen and winter was come to soon. This year I have only two plants of Rocotos Equadorian Red but I know about rocotos that they are Long-standing plants so this year I want to OW this two plant.
 
So good luck ! I will watch your Topic. .-)

 

[HotandHeavy]

Hey, thanks lobo! I'll try not to neglect this blog from here on out...
 
Well things are finally interesting... pods and flowers, the plants seem to be doing well...
 
Here is a picture from July 8th to contrast the photos which I've just taken.
 

 
The flower of the mystery pube... (taken July18th)

 
July 30th

 
As of today, I have two of these beauties and they both have lots of purdy flowers but no pods yet...
 

 
One of my brazilian starfish is about a week ahead of the other in terms of podding. Both seem thirstier than my other plants. It's been pretty hot and a very sunny summer. I have to water most of my peppers pretty much every day now it seems.

 
Beautiful BIG pod but is it the red naglah that it's supposed to be? Both of my naglahs are podding like this it seems... hmmm...

 
Also confusing, one of my reapers is producing pods that look like ghosts although now some reaper-ish looking pods are appearing. Could this be a cross?

 
I have one huge Trinidad Scorpion that isn't podding yet and 2 smaller ones which are. These are from seeds of my 'not trinidad scorpion' which I grew last year. The pods already look much more like scorpion than last year's ever did. Not surprised that they came out T.S. as the heat from last year's pods blew my ghosts out of the water.

 
Cluster of reaper pods...

 
My three big boys in big boy pots... (bonus ground cherry on the right)

 
 
Thanks for having a look. Feel free to comment if you see any issues with growth etc. and I'd love to hear from anyone who has an idea of what specifically the Ecuadorian pube is.

 

[HotandHeavy]

Hello man,
 
Your topic is intersting. The most interesting for me is your Mystery Rocoto.
 
Last year I grew many varieties of Pubescenc and I have a lot of pods but missed ripen and winter was come to soon. This year I have only two plants of Rocotos Equadorian Red but I know about rocotos that they are Long-standing plants so this year I want to OW this two plant.
 
So good luck ! I will watch your Topic. .-)

I wonder if the flowers on your Rocotos Equadorian Red are similar to the purple flower in my last post?
 
cheers, Brian

 

[az1000]

Your plants are looking great!
I hope you will get some Rocoto pods.

 

[Wolf1888]

Wow! Looking great, man! Any harvest yet?

 

[mrgrowguy]

 
The flower of the mystery pube... (taken July18th)

 
July 30th
 
 
As of today, I have... One... BIG... red naglah.. it seems... hmmm...
 
Also... I have... three big boys... having a look. Feel free to... love... Ecuadorian pube... s.

 
 
I'm reading between the lines here... and this is all I see.
 
You should stop playing with your Ecuadorian pubes, or you'll go blind!
 
 
 
 
j/p - bored at work... Great job on those pubes plants!!
 
 
.

 

[HotandHeavy]

Wow! Looking great, man! Any harvest yet?

Not yet, everything is still green. Getting there though. I'm stoked.

 

[lobo]

I wonder if the flowers on your Rocotos Equadorian Red are similar to the purple flower in my last post?
 
cheers, Brian

 
 
Hello Brian, I am so sorry for my late response.
 
Yes My rocotos Eequadorian Red has same flowers as your Mystery Rocoto. As I know all Pubesecenc varieties has same color of flowers.
There is few pictures of my lasty year plant. I have 10 plants and lot of matured pods but unfortunately mornnig freeze goes so much early and kill all plants so my rocotos no ripened .