Karoo 2017/2018 glog

New season, new things.
My biggest challenges growing peppers in our climate are heat , drought and birds eating peppers and plants.
Biggest advantages are heat and a longer season and good soil and homemade compost.
So I have devised a plan , an all in one raised beds , drip irrigation, shade net and birdproof pepper patch.

Extensive planning have led to this.

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[DontPanic]

Wow! You guys drink a lot of coffee!!

 

[karoo]

Wow! You guys drink a lot of coffee!!

Yes lots of coffee, good to be friends with the owner of the local coffee shop.

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[stickman]

I love what you have going Jaques! Sub-watering and having a water reserve for your climate makes a lot of sense for the plants you have out in the open. Another approach is to plant chiles under "nurse trees" that provide dappled shade. In the desert environment of the American southwest the natives do that and build shallow walls around the plants to keep off the dessication due to dry winds.
Good luck with your grow this coming season!

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[karoo]

I love what you have going Jaques! Sub-watering and having a water reserve for your climate makes a lot of sense for the plants you have out in the open. Another approach is to plant chiles under "nurse trees" that provide dappled shade. In the desert environment of the American southwest the natives do that and build shallow walls around the plants to keep off the dessication due to dry winds.
Good luck with your grow this coming season!

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Thank you,
I will be covering with a 40-60% shadecloth , for shade and to keep out birds .

 

[karoo]

Almost done with the raised beds.
Filled it with compost and dirt. First plants in will be the overwintered peppers .
Still to be done , irrigation and then much later , shade net.
 
 2 Big raised beds
5 meters x 1.2 meter each , with 0.8 meter walkway
0.7meter deep.
 
Pointer for size reference.

 
Mostly baccatums . will post a full list later .
Aji Lemon , piquant , aji mango , aji colorado , aji bubba , sugar rush peach , and the best grower my own cross , Malawi Piquant(peppedew) X Aji lemon

 
The whole aji panca debate has me very excited on this one
Aji Colorado.

 
 
 

 

[karoo]

New season pepper list

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[karoo]

Raised beds are up and running. The first in are the overwintered plants , some more healthy than others . The best by far Choopetinho , already blooming .
 
Overwintered only in a wooden garden shed with a few windows and no lights.
 

 

 
Seedlings enjoying late winter sunshine.

 
 
 
 
 

 

[stickman]

Raised beds are up and running. The first in are the overwintered plants , some more healthy than others . The best by far Choopetinho , already blooming .
 
Overwintered only in a wooden garden shed with a few windows and no lights.
 

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Seedlings enjoying late winter sunshine.

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Nice list Jacques, and raised bed plants looking happy! Keep up the good work!

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[karoo]

My raised beds are almost full  . Every thing is in place except the shade netting that will be added as it gets hotter towards November .
At the moment I have about 20 pepper plants in the ground as well as tomatoes , beets , eggplants , spaghetti squash and spinach .
 

 

 
The overwintered plants have shed al their leaves from last season and are all looking good filling in with new leaves.
Third season Choc Habanero and Trinidad Scorpion in one pot and a third season Malawi Piquant already 5 feet high.
 

 

 
 
 

 

[MNXR250R]

Impressive     If I'm correct, you are getting into your "summer" in the next months. I don't know where you are exactly... somewhere in South Africa 
 
Anyway, I looked up some weather info on Johannesburg SA. The summer time high temps don't get much above 80 degF (26degC).
 
You said you will use a shade cloth.  Can you tell me why ?  Are you in a different climate that Johannesburg ?
 
Just curious and interested !
 
Jeff
 
 

 

[karoo]

Thank you Jeff ,
No, far away from Johannesburg , a small to medium size rural town called Oudsthoorn , with it's own unique micro climate.
Johannesburg is quite high above sealevel , I think above 2000 meters and we are about 330 meters above sea level .
Peak summer months of December to February can have Temps of 36-45 degrees Celsius for days and weeks.
 
But , the main reason for the netting is to keep out the birds. I had a big problem with the chili eating birds last season .
 
 
 

 

[stickman]

Looking fantastic Jacques! You've got some monster OW chiles

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[karoo]

Looking fantastic Jacques! You've got some monster OW chiles

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Thank you,
those OW plants are real stars and those in the pics were not transplanted at all , so they are still in the same pots with the same roots as last season . They are putting out new leaves every day .

 

[stettoman]

Your grow space is like a fairgrounds Jacques! I would consider donating a limb to never have to bend down again!!​

 

[MikeUSMC]

Absolutely beautiful setup, Karoo!

 

[karoo]

 

Your grow space is like a fairgrounds Jacques! I would consider donating a limb to never have to bend down again!!​

 

 
 

Absolutely beautiful setup, Karoo!

 
 
Thank you ,
what you see there took months of planning, preparing and building (myself).
I have been told that I sometimes take things a bit too far, but hey life is too short to hold back.

 

[Gonzo]

Lekke jacques! Raised beds are so much better. The soil is warmer at night and no bending all the time.

I phoned sashade yesterday because i also need some,the 20% or 40% was R33 p/m it is 3m wide. Its a agriculture shade net,if you ever need something this side for you gardening that you cant find, i travel often to the city so i can get it and courier for you,you can pm me anytime.

My peppers are also coming along,slugs got 2 of them(busy hardening them off) Damn slugs!


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[karoo]

Lekke jacques! Raised beds are so much better. The soil is warmer at night and no bending all the time.

I phoned sashade yesterday because i also need some,the 20% or 40% was R33 p/m it is 3m wide. Its a agriculture shade net,if you ever need something this side for you gardening that you cant find, i travel often to the city so i can get it and courier for you,you can pm me anytime.

My peppers are also coming along,slugs got 2 of them(busy hardening them off) Damn slugs!


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 Thank you for the offer , the net is bought , ready and waiting .
I am just stupidly committed to doing it all myself , so it takes time.
 
 
I have had my Growdown Aji Amarillos, in the sun by day and under the lights (T5 CFL's ) by night and they seem to love it . I have never had so many side shoots and such big leaves .
 
This is 41 days after the first hooks appeared .

 

 

[KAOS]

You smashing it Jaques.
 
Those look great and I predict you'll have some flowers on those by day 80. Great big leaves as well.

 

[MikeUSMC]

Thank you ,
what you see there took months of planning, preparing and building (myself).

Yeah, I've been following your progress. I really hope all of your hard work pays off. You've certainly earned it, haha. Excellent job