JCW's 2015 Glog

jcw10tc · Oct 25, 2015

Runescape said:
Care to elaborate?

Btw, how where those chocolate bhutlahs, and who was your seed source?

Awesome pods, plants and pics.

Well, I like big blockier shaped pods. I also like them to be at least habanero level in heat and up, even though I can't eat one straight up, I like to season with them. If one pod isn't enough to make a small batch of salsa hot, just not for me. But I planted several annums, most of which I just don't care for. I like baccatums ok, but I have picked probably over 1000 pods from my aji lemon drop and pineapple, and while I know this might upset some who didn't have that good forturne, I just get tired of pulling so many pods, would rather have a plant with 50 - 100 bigger pods than these. I had white fatalii, black fatalli, white devil's tongue, habanero orange apple, etc. while OK, just not my type. Part of it though is to weed out what I don't like, still a little new to this new world of peppers I found last year after about a 7 year break. In 2006 hardly any of todays varieties were available or well known at least. I also didn't like yellows back then, now they are among my favorites. What I don't like are really floral / bitter red and chocolate supers. For example I hated red and chocolate morugas, but love chocolate and red bbg7. I suppose really though a lot of my disappointments were more due to NOTs or anomlies, something that I will have again as probably no way to avoid that 100%.

The choc bhutlahs were OK. Big pods, definitely not just choc bhuts, they were very unique tasting, not bad, but not my favorite. Had a taste different than any other superhot I have tried, and something I really can't describe in any meaningful way other than it was different and very unique. Not sure how this cross ends up milder than the parents, but I believe that it was. I made small batches of salsa with those chocolates above, each having a single pod of each of those in it. I used the biggest choc bhutlah pod there and another batch had one of the choc bbg7. For as big as that pod was with a big placenta, the salsa was not as hot as the choc bbg7 batch even though the pepper was at least 2x the size. Not sure if I will grow it again this year as I have so many new ones I want to try. Its a good pepper though, but no where near as hot as I would have expected. Pretty sure a chocolate bhut is hotter. The original seeds for this one was the Pepperlover strain of bhutlah.

Next years grow is going to be about 2/3 supers probably with the rest being habaneros and a lot of scotch bonnets. There will be 4 or 5 baccatums probably. I think I have found 4 or 5 big variety baccatums to hopefully avoid the pain of picking 500+ pods a week from just the few baccatum plants I had. I did have ahi ahuachapan this year which was a big 4 - 6" one and was great. I probably will grow it again.

I will still have some bhuts, but more selective. Peach bhut and peach ghost scorpion for sure, but no red bhuts or nagas as I just don't care for those. I had red bhut, red monster naga, bombay morich, black naga, peach naga this year and didn't like them at all. I also only slightly cared for red nagabrains which I picked about 800 of but tried friend chocolate and yellow nagabrains both of which I loved. I guess everyones different, just particular about what I like and don't. Found some favorites though, still looking for more for some reason.

Runescape · Oct 25, 2015

jcw10tc said:
Well, I like big blockier shaped pods. I also like them to be at least habanero level in heat and up, even though I can't eat one straight up, I like to season with them. If one pod isn't enough to make a small batch of salsa hot, just not for me. But I planted several annums, most of which I just don't care for. I like baccatums ok, but I have picked probably over 1000 pods from my aji lemon drop and pineapple, and while I know this might upset some who didn't have that good forturne, I just get tired of pulling so many pods, would rather have a plant with 50 - 100 bigger pods than these. I had white fatalii, black fatalli, white devil's tongue, habanero orange apple, etc. while OK, just not my type. Part of it though is to weed out what I don't like, still a little new to this new world of peppers I found last year after about a 7 year break.

Great write up, sir. Very informative and you clearly outlined your case. I could see how annuums and bacs might not fit your bill.

Thanks for the pod reviews as well.

jcw10tc · Nov 9, 2015

The longest pepper season ever in central IL finally ends.

fiogga · Nov 9, 2015

Thanks for your glog, photos and information Justin, very nice, great looking garden you got there. I'm feeling a bit melancholy that growing is also done for Indiana, well we can plan for 2016.

D3monic · Nov 9, 2015

yours lasted much longer than mine did. I still need to get out into the garden and pull everything though... almost time to start the seedlings. :party:

Genetikx · Nov 9, 2015

Really great glog Justin. Looking forward to seeing what you've got up your sleeve in 2016

jcw10tc · Nov 9, 2015

fiogga said:
Thanks for your glog, photos and information Justin, very nice, great looking garden you got there. I'm feeling a bit melancholy that growing is also done for Indiana, well we can plan for 2016.

Yes, too much planning. Last year at this time I had checked out. And thank you for your generosity with everything. Looking forward to growing a few of those peppers you sent me.

D3monic said:
yours lasted much longer than mine did. I still need to get out into the garden and pull everything though... almost time to start the seedlings.

Yeah, I don't know how but seemed to dodge all the freezes in Oct. Heck even people in KY were freezing. Every cold night they got a little damage, dropped some more leaves but pods never froze and kept ripening slowly. But last night did it in, and I am so happy, need some time off. Didn't even think of putting any in the garage this time, wanted them all gone.

Genetikx said:
Really great glog Justin. Looking forward to seeing what you've got up your sleeve in 2016

Thanks. I am trying hard to limit myself next year, but I am very afraid of what might happen. Could be even more ridiculous. Probably put up a rough draft in the next month or so.

Comptine · Nov 10, 2015

Wow, it's a sad day when the growing season is over.

I'm looking forward to following your progress next year as well. When do you normally start germinating seeds again?

dragonsfire · Nov 11, 2015

I find its hard to let go of my plants.

Ozzy2001 · Nov 11, 2015

I need to get to pulling mine too. I did cover a few of them. I had my first frost earlier this week. Crazy late time for here. But like D3 said, it's close to seedling time. Just need to plan exactly what I want to grow.

dragonsfire said:
I find its hard to let go of my plants.

Very.

Plantguy76 · Nov 12, 2015

You had a great glog this year Justin !
I still need to clear the garden out/clean up as well
My plants are still hanging on especially the Brazilian Starfish
I already have my list for next year down might be a few tweaks but that's it if any.
Hope next season turns out just as good as this seasons has !
You deserve a rest time to enjoy the harvest

jcw10tc · Nov 16, 2015

From the beginning to the end in the main pepper patch this season. Probably 25 - 35 thousand pods from these plants.

P2015.06.14-14.50.26-478212922-408658_zpsfgpoia1f.jpg

Guatemalan Insanity Pepper · Nov 16, 2015

nicely done :onfire:

i enjoyed following your Glog as well as tasting many of your pods
Thanks again

excellent work

:cheers:

G.I.P.

jcw10tc · Nov 16, 2015

Guatemalan Insanity Pepper said:
nicely done

i enjoyed following your Glog as well as tasting many of your pods
Thanks again

excellent work

G.I.P.

Your welcome. I'll send you up some next year if all goes well.

Comptine · Nov 17, 2015

I love the progress photos. I look forward to following you next year as well. Will you be doing the same set up in your garden?

Sawyer · Nov 17, 2015

Awesome job, Justin. At only 5 grams a pod, you'd be pushing 350 pounds. Does that sound about right? Too low? And please refresh my memory, how many plants did you have?

I really like the post-holes in sod, covered with plastic. I think I'll do a version of that in my front yard next year. Now that you have the sod killed in those areas, are you going to use that technique again, or are you going to amend and till?

Aerial · Nov 17, 2015

Wow, beautiful recap. Love it. I'm ready to (again) follow your 2016 glog. (:

jcw10tc said:
From the beginning to the end in the main pepper patch this season. Probably 25 - 35 thousand pods from these plants.

jcw10tc · Nov 17, 2015

Sawyer said:
Awesome job, Justin. At only 5 grams a pod, you'd be pushing 350 pounds. Does that sound about right? Too low? And please refresh my memory, how many plants did you have?

I really like the post-holes in sod, covered with plastic. I think I'll do a version of that in my front yard next year. Now that you have the sod killed in those areas, are you going to use that technique again, or are you going to amend and till?

Thanks, I don't know about weight, but it was a lot. I don't even know the count for sure, but had to be at least that I think. Some plants had hundreds, some only a few dozen. The 2 nagabrains plants had to put out 600 - 800 between them at least. This count doesn't include the 1000s of baccatums I picked off of a handful of plants on the other side of the yard.

I am probably going to use this technique again. I can't imagine tilling this stuff. In the spring its so sticky. I supposed if I could dump enough dry peat, eventually could till, but since I don't own one and would have to borrow just don't bother. The soil here is really aweful. Probably worst in central IL. My property was a low area back in the 60s when house was built and what looks like 1000 truckloads of fill were brought in. Maybe after a few more years of post holes filled with mix I will have a high enough ratio to think about tilling. My old house was in an old part of town and the dirt there was beyond most of our dreams. I didn't realize how good it was at the time. Rich soil, not sticky, probably didn't even need to feed there it was so good.

Comptine said:
I love the progress photos. I look forward to following you next year as well. Will you be doing the same set up in your garden?

Probably similar setup, will change the rows a bit. This year had 3 close rows and a big gap as you can see. Next year thinking will have 4 sets of 2 close rows and 3 big gaps. I hate to say it but the smaller section of garden which was 5 x 20', thinking about making it 10 x 20'. Since the expansion will take it towards the back of the property I think I can get away with it and won't really be noticeable.

Aerial said:
Wow, beautiful recap. Love it. I'm ready to (again) follow your 2016 glog. (:

Thanks, might start a new glog soon. Did a rough draft grow list last night.

Ozzy2001 · Nov 18, 2015

After digging up some of my plants to overwinter, I realized I'm going to have to do some serious amending and/or use your porthole technique. The clay ridden soil in Southern IL is bad too. A lot of my plants weren't able to spread their roots very well. The ones that did were my best producers (no surprise). I tilled everything and even forked over the whole plot last season and it still wasn't enough. I'm contemplating doing raised beds instead next year.
I would have to get a truck load of gypsum, sand, and compost to do it right.

romy6 · Nov 18, 2015

Banner year brother. :dance:

Master gardener and most generous pepper guy .

Thanks for calling me a friend :fireball: