While I'm still getting flower drop on my plants in wine barrels, they are haning onto more pods than my normal potted chilies.Rainman said:I'm seeing little change over the past 2-3 weeks. I must be doing something intrinsically wrong as my plants seem healthy enough until they get to about 50-60 cm tall, nice forks, plenty of decent leaves, lots of flowers....
Then BANG... flowers drop off continuously... the lower, bigger leaves turn yellow and drop off. Then I'm left with a plant that has nice growth up top, grows some more leaves, then repeats the cycle of flowers dropping and some leaves yellow then fall.
To mix things up, I've moved some to the front of the house so they get all morning sun only (after midday they are in shade). Wondering if the heat out back in the afternoon sun is causing the flower drop? Waiting to see what happens as the temperatures even out. I'm sure this constant 28-30 then 38-40, then back down to 28-30 cant be good for them.
My chocolate habanero is looking nice and healthy - it was a slow starter - so I'm really hopeful that it will set some pods.
I have 2 x Fatali and 1 x Douglah, that while small, they did set pods before I potted them up, so in fear I might not get to eat a fresh superhot this year, I've let them grow the pods rather than pinching them off. The plants are not growing as all the energy is growing the pods (as expected) but I'm cool with that as I want to have at least one of each chilli to eat.
So in summary: Becoming a little disheartened, but hanging in there and hoping for the best. Will probably post some photos next weekend.
Super David said:While I'm still getting flower drop on my plants in wine barrels, they are haning onto more pods than my normal potted chilies.
I'm starting to think its very important to let the chili spread its roots as much as they can and to also keep the root temperature down.
The difference between my half wine barrel chilies and my pot chilies even though they are in big pots is massive.
megamoo said:During this time of summer they don't put on lots of growth. They mostly try to survive the heat. Once it starts cooling down they will grow more. Autumn is the big harvest time.
All my problems with blossom end rot and mites are getting me down too. I've still got a lot of seedlings that need to be put in the ground, but first I've got to rip up grass and prepare the bed etc.
nemspy said:Moo, are mites the little white/green things that sit on the underside of leaves? I am getting a few of those. They aren't aphids... rounder than those.
Rainman, what colour are your pots? It doesn't get super hot on my balcony but I reckon the black ones get hotter.
I'm having a lot of similar issues to you this season (my second); however, Megamoo is right - I remember this time last year my plants were doing nothing. I was posting here constantly about it. Then, the heat drops a bit and WHAM - off they go.
I don't think so. Take a photo if you can. Mites are too small to see so you've probably got something else. Aphids can come in different sizes and colours.nemspy said:Moo, are mites the little white/green things that sit on the underside of leaves? I am getting a few of those. They aren't aphids... rounder than those.
Rainman, what colour are your pots? It doesn't get super hot on my balcony but I reckon the black ones get hotter.
I'm having a lot of similar issues to you this season (my second); however, Megamoo is right - I remember this time last year my plants were doing nothing. I was posting here constantly about it. Then, the heat drops a bit and WHAM - off they go.
Micca302 said:Like Moo said during summer it gets pretty hot and the plants will slow down alot, specially if they are in pots.
we are really only trying to keep the alive and kicking for when the cooler months kick in.
The weather has cooled down a bit at the moment and you might see some growth come on them with the cooler nights.
Summer always tests us but we seem to come back for more punishment, that's part of Chilli growing.
My pots have slowed right down too but now alot of my plants have been devoed by rats and huge Grasshoppers.
They came through and devoured alot of Chilli/plants! I will post some picks sometime.
Ahhh the fun!
Micca
I pickle mine but I just went for straight vinegar. After that I used the vinegar to make sauceAndy21 said:Any of you guys pickle your chillies? I've been looking for brining salt everywhere and can't find any, what could I use instead? Maybe white wine vinegar or similar? I was thinking that would be too bitter though?