maxcaps 2014 grow: avoiding the freeze!

Hello All,
 
New here, but feeling right at home. I figured I'd go ahead and get my glog started, though I may wait a few weeks yet before starting anything.
 
I'm pretty new, not totally new. I had a small grow last year, mostly in containers, bringing up plants that I hoped would make cool overwinter bonsai's (bonchi's). I ordered a handful of different varieties from http://fataliiseeds.net, all  95% of which sprouted nicely, though something must have gone wrong because many never grew true leaves. I think my house was too cold... I've moved now and now have an excellent heating system. I also kept the seeds by a window that I think got too drafty. 
 
I did have a handful of chinenses survive, including a wonderful Red Habanero from fataliiseeds, and some chiero roxa plants that produced a handful of tasty purple pods. I purchased some local Scotch Bonnett starts from a small scale nursery, and grew jalapeños and serrano starts from a local nursery. It's safe to say I am now addicted, as all these fire worked its way into my family's weekly diet. I have a 12'X8' plot begging for plants, and I may do some extra in containers...
 
Enough background. Here's the plan. As jalapeños (salsa, roasted, and canned) are not a staple, I want to grow a handful of varieties. The chinenses have amazing flavors, so I'm going to branch out with two or three new varieties (though sadly I did not save any scotch bonnet seeds from the last season... what is wrong with me?). Last year I tried some super hot varieties... none lived. I am going to try again! I actually ordered most of these seeds before stumbling upon this wonderful community. In any event, here is the lineup:
 
Chinenses:
 
Red Habanero (seeds kept and OW bonchi (thanks fatalii)
Chiero Roxa (seeds kept, may use OW bonchi, haven't decided)
Scotch Bonnett (forgot to keep seeds, but I can replant OW bonchi)
White Habanero (seeds from Pepper Joe, should arrive soon...)
Chocolate Habanero (seeds from Pepper Joe, should also arrive soon)
Fatali (from pepperlover.com)
Big Sun Habernero (from pepperlover)
 
Superhot Chinenses:
 
Carolina Reaper (seeds from PuckerButt)
Naga Morich (seeds from PuckerButt)
Bhut Jolokia (seeds from PuckerButt)
Dorset Naga (seeds from PuckerButt)
7 pod (from pepperlover.com)
 
Other Superhot:
 
Tiepin (seeds from PuckerButt)
 
Annuums:
 
Poblanos (from Pepper Joe... growing to Acho's to use as powder base)
Giant Jalapeño (from Pepper Joe)
Early Jalapeño (from Pepper Joe)
Black Jalapeño (from Pepper Joe)
Purple Jalapeño (from Pepper Joe)
Fresno Pepper (from Pepper Joe)
 
Wish I had found you guys sooner, I'd have added some douglah's to the list. I am also on the fence about adding a couple more chinense varieties. 
 
Also growing some companions. Planning on putting in a couple tomato plants, garlic, cilantro, and carrots (had a lot of luck with tasty fat purple carrots... atomic purple I think they were called)
 
Will post some picks of my OW bonchi's tomorrow, and start going into techniques. On the fence about coffee-filter germination versus sowing in a tray.

 

[HillBilly Jeff]

Not sure what I'd do if we got half an inch of snow here 
 
Just messing with you.  Hope it pulls out.

 

[PaulG]

Your urban garden is very cool!
I'll bet you get more kale.
Unless it's the warm weather variety  

 

[Pinoy83]

garden looks cool and babies are coming along....

 

[maximumcapsicum]

Nice update.
 
That garden is a lot closer to the city that I thought. Looks almost like walking distance from downtown. Pretty cool.

 
Yup. Walking distance to the Golden Dome, in an abandoned lot. I love the operation, even if it limits my options. Grateful to be able to do any growing at all really.
 

It's sad to see all the carnage when it snows down south, they just don't have the experience driving in cold weather. I'm pretty sure it iced before it snowed making things worse. I won't go out when it's bad around here, don't need them meeting me by accident!
 
Congrats on the F Reaper! I haven't had any of mine germ yet   But I still have my OW, and so far she's doing well!
 
Stay warm and keep it green!

 
Thanks Scott! Can't wait to grow it out and see what I get!
 

Not sure what I'd do if we got half an inch of snow here 
 
Just messing with you.  Hope it pulls out.

 
Yeah, big overreaction and panic. Standard playbook down here.
 

Your urban garden is very cool!
I'll bet you get more kale.
Unless it's the warm weather variety  

 
Thanks Paul! I'm hoping. Sadly the pipes burst and I can't water the garden as easily as I used to. Got to haul buckets across the street. Still, they arent dead so maybe I'll get more kale! Got two more months before it's really pepper time...
 
2 more hooks... both redundant, giving me more surplus plants:
 

 

 
Mixed about a quarter teaspoon of Jason's powder in a pound of beef. Fried up some patty's in a pan with some onions, then topped it with some candied jalapenos from last season.
 
Heat level was perfect. My wife loved 'em... first time she has braved the superhot powder.
 

 
Also broccoli. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN KALE! DAM YOU SNOW!
 
On a critical note, put the first round of annuum seeds in to soak. Setting up most the annuums and tomatoes tomorrow!

 

[HillBilly Jeff]

Food looks awesome!!!

How did you do your candied jalapenos???

 

[Jeff H]

Great looking burger you have there. Needs more powder IMHO, but when cooking for the wife, I understand. Only medium hot annuums for my wife, and not to much...


Do tell about the candied 'penos. That sounds good.

 

[Devv]

+1 on 245 and 246.
 
Inquiring minds need to know

 

[maximumcapsicum]

Food looks awesome!!!

How did you do your candied jalapenos???

 
Thanks man! They are quite tasty. Last jar though... I am sad.
 

Great looking burger you have there. Needs more powder IMHO, but when cooking for the wife, I understand. Only medium hot annuums for my wife, and not to much...


Do tell about the candied 'penos. That sounds good.

 
I was surprised how far just a tad went. I actually put about 1/8 tsp on a single slice of pizza, so was thinking it wouldn't even be noticeable in the burger meat. But it did have quite a punch to it. Must cook well or something.
 

+1 on 245 and 246.
 
Inquiring minds need to know

 
Alright.
 
This was one of my first forays into canning, and am still far from an expert. Basically it's just pickled jalapenos in syrup. Here is the recipe I used:
 
http://www.loulousucreblog.com/2013/01/sweet-candied-jalapeno-peppers.html?m=1
 
I don't know if I'd use it again as its hard to keep track of nutritionally (I count my food, was overweight most of my life but managed to get 120 lbs off over the past couple years... peppers actually played a role in that...), but they are quite tasty. The sweetness complements the beef, the crunch of the jalapenos is amazing, and there's the heat. Of course the heat.
 
Anyway, will probably do a couple of cans of these this year too. Time will tell... have much more ambitious grow planned this year.

 

[stc3248]

That burger sounds amazing...and the candied Jals sound like the perfect match! Even those of us that much watch the scale can have our indulgences here and there. Sounds like you just need to keep track of ingredients next time and you should be able to get pretty close to figuring out the calorie count for a typical serving size to make sure you're not overdoing it!

 

[Jeff H]

Wow, 120 lbs. That is pretty amazing. After I quit smoking 5-6 years ago I quickly put on 25+ lbs. Loosing that was hard enough. Keeping it off while being surrounded by all the good food (and beer, can't forget beer) means me and the gym have regular visits. 

 

[HillBilly Jeff]

Thanks for the link to the recipe.  Going to be trying that this season.  

 

[maximumcapsicum]

Wasn't able to update this weekend, but did make a ton of progress. Bottom grow chamber is set up, Annuums and tomatoes are in pellets, had some more hooks, and decided to let a couple of the little guys show off. The only chinense variety I was really hoping for that hasn't made an appearance yet is the Naga Morich. Hopefully one of those guys will hook soon, but I've sowed them twice and nothing has happened yet.
 
On the upside, yesterday I had a Red Bhut hook! The 1/10 JA habs also hooked. Ironic that the original red bhut was the slowest to hook. Yellows and whites are going strong. Was worried I wasn't going to have any reds! Got to baby this one... Can't post the pics cuz I hit the limit!
 
Chinense shelf is full, so I had to get the annuum shelf up and rolling. Set up is the same as the chinese chamber. Runs about 80° on the grow shelves
 

 
Here's the whole chinese family:
 

 
Light is better on the right side of the shelf, so I am rotating the seedlings a little, especially if I see any bending. Got a couple of stubborn helmets that may not make it, but I am over capacity now so if a couple of babies croak I will survive.
 
The yellow bhut seedlings look fantastic, so I actually separated them out instead of culling. That's for the Jeff's. Kind of a traumatic process though... pretty sure I stripped the tap root of the seedling I repotted. Will end up culling one regardless, but left everything in place for now.
 
Chiletepin x Barrackpore is the star, already with three nodes! Must be that annuum DNA.
 

 
Giant White Hab is basically a perfect little chinense:
 

 
Brown eggs are growing at lightning speed... my second biggest plant right now:
 

 
GA Growhead's Not Cardi is a little wonky looking... twisted coty's, but the trues are looking great. Wondering if a rough emergence from the seed case leads to wonky coty's:
 

 
White Bhut is basically looking perfect:
 

 
Yellow Bhuts that I couldn't bear to cull:
 

 
I transplanted one of them into a new cup, almost as much to see how well it would work. Will probably give away the surplus if the transplant lives.
 
So progress is happening. Plants are growing much faster than they did last year, but I think I am good for an April 14th plantout give or take a week. I am 6 chinenses over capacity, but who knows what will survive to plant out. No more room on the top shelf for babies right now.
 
Here are the stats so far. Table includes 2 chinense sowings and most recent annuum and tomato plantings:
 

 
Here is the current plant list:
 

 
Thanks for perusing! Hope you enjoyed!
 
Happy growing!
 
*error on the spreadsheet dates... oops... speed data entry...*

 

[HillBilly Jeff]

Looking good.  Hope those ones finally hook for you.  I know how it is to have a stubborn seed variety.

 

[GA Growhead]

The list of current plants is awesome! Great selection there!
Hope those stubborn guy final pop for ya!

 

[Spicegeist]

very nice chiltepin x barrackpore!  Yellow Bhut is looking nice too.  I have 2 plants going myself this year...  was only planning on one but didn't have the heart to kill a perfectly great looking plant!

 

[Devv]

Looking good Adam!
 
I've not had any success germing the true reapers either, the Funky's are doing OK.
 
120lb's? That's outstanding! Losing weight and keeping it off is a lifestyle change. When I went from working in the 115° shops on cars to a desk, 40lb's came on right quick. I was ready  needed to buy 38" britches, but said NO! That was 14 years ago, still keeping it off. But like Shane said, "gotta splurge a little"!

 

[stc3248]

If I wanna splurge I pre-pay by putting in some miles out there. 
 
That is a crazy huge list you got there! Wow...you're gonna be one busy picker this summer! Little ones look stellar as well. Great start thus far!

 

[maximumcapsicum]

That burger sounds amazing...and the candied Jals sound like the perfect match! Even those of us that much watch the scale can have our indulgences here and there. Sounds like you just need to keep track of ingredients next time and you should be able to get pretty close to figuring out the calorie count for a typical serving size to make sure you're not overdoing it!

 
 

Wow, 120 lbs. That is pretty amazing. After I quit smoking 5-6 years ago I quickly put on 25+ lbs. Loosing that was hard enough. Keeping it off while being surrounded by all the good food (and beer, can't forget beer) means me and the gym have regular visits. 

 
 

Looking good Adam!
 
I've not had any success germing the true reapers either, the Funky's are doing OK.
 
120lb's? That's outstanding! Losing weight and keeping it off is a lifestyle change. When I went from working in the 115° shops on cars to a desk, 40lb's came on right quick. I was ready  needed to buy 38" britches, but said NO! That was 14 years ago, still keeping it off. But like Shane said, "gotta splurge a little"!

 
Thanks guys! Year it was a lot... took a lot of years too. Peppers are such an important ingredient to so many tasty healthy meals, I generally eat a serving or more a day. Just a bit dubious about the candied ones because if I counted the calories in the syrup (that you don't eat), they would be ridiculous. Hard to judge... maybe I should send some off for testing lol.
 

Thanks for the link to the recipe.  Going to be trying that this season.  

 
No problem man! Let me know how they work out!
 

Looking good.  Hope those ones finally hook for you.  I know how it is to have a stubborn seed variety.

 
Me too! No change today. 
 

The list of current plants is awesome! Great selection there!
Hope those stubborn guy final pop for ya!

 
Thanks Jason! About half of 'em are from you lol. Really hoping a Naga pops, otherwise that'll be the only superhot family absent from my plots. Not giving up on 'em yet though!
 

very nice chiltepin x barrackpore!  Yellow Bhut is looking nice too.  I have 2 plants going myself this year...  was only planning on one but didn't have the heart to kill a perfectly great looking plant!

 
Yeah it's growing very fast. Must be those annuum genes? I hate culling too, but I've also destroyed crops by trying to keep too many plants alive. It's a fine balance.
 

If I wanna splurge I pre-pay by putting in some miles out there. 
 
That is a crazy huge list you got there! Wow...you're gonna be one busy picker this summer! Little ones look stellar as well. Great start thus far!

 
Running is the best. Don't do it immediately after peppers though. Learned that last summer. Thanks for stopping by Shane!
 
Thanks for all the comments guys! Will keep the updates coming! Should probably do something to kick the bonchis into gear soon... they're kind of languishing under their single CFL.

 

[Vegas_Chili]

Very nice updates! I been trying read everyone's glog but I'm running most of the time. Lol I need to catch up pronto!

That Tepin X 7 pot, looks like other 4 I have. Seems quite odd or either something happened with pollination or I just got an odd ball. Only one of them looks chinense and all the rest look like tepins but with shiny leaves like a chinense and they're growing fast as heck!

I'll get some pics up later.

-Walt

 

[romy6]

  babies look superbliscious Adam !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!