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.

 

[capsidadburn]

Adam you have been quite busy I see!  Nice seed score too.  Jamison has very nice penmanship that I wish I had. Kudos for giving up the work space to your wife!
 
Have a great week!

 

[spysee]

Your grow is looking great.
 

Unfortunately I was watching my actual baby while moving the pepper babies, and in a moment of chaos, five of the solo cups took a tumble and hit the floor.

 
No matter how careful I am, this happens to me at least once EVERY time I grow..

 

[Jeff H]

Looking good Adam. I can certainly see how real babies can distract you enough to drop peppers. Mine could have driven a person crazy from time to time. They are older now and we have a whole different set of issues. 
 
 
Double leaves are cool, the mis-shaped leaf could just be a weird thing or could be bugs. Keep an eye out for damage to other plants. 

 

[Penny]

Nice!!

 

[HillBilly Jeff]

Everything is looking nice.  What ten plants are you going to plant next?

 

[maximumcapsicum]

Ten more Plants, Did I hear? Sweet!

 
Don't tempt me...
 

Adam you have been quite busy I see!  Nice seed score too.  Jamison has very nice penmanship that I wish I had. Kudos for giving up the work space to your wife!
 
Have a great week!

 
Yeah man! Can't wait till they start popping... won't be long! 
 
Both my wife and I do about half of our work from home. This is concurrent with childcare most of them time. Just have to finish these projects haha!
 

Your grow is looking great.
 
 
 
 
No matter how careful I am, this happens to me at least once EVERY time I grow..

 
Yeah... plants don't seem to have missed a beat though, even if the carpet is stained.
 

Looking good Adam. I can certainly see how real babies can distract you enough to drop peppers. Mine could have driven a person crazy from time to time. They are older now and we have a whole different set of issues. 
 
 
Double leaves are cool, the mis-shaped leaf could just be a weird thing or could be bugs. Keep an eye out for damage to other plants. 

 
Hope there aren't bugs. I'd cry. Maybe. Sure does look like it just grew that way, even though I know aphid-spread viruses can cause the same effect. I do have some small black bugs in the OW's. They don't seem to be doing any damage but they are annoying. No idea what they are. Not gnats, mites, or aphids.
 

Nice!!

 
Thanks!
 

Everything is looking nice.  What ten plants are you going to plant next?

 
You know, I could over-plant my boxes some more, couldn't I!
 
Germination has slowed down. That's for sure. I think the germ box worked better under lights, but the lights are needed for the starts so the pellets have to make do with the dim window. After Jamison's annuums pop I may do one more round of planting, but I think I am nearing the end here. Moreover I'll have a bit more space when I surprise my mom with some tomato starts next week. Those things grow fast.
 
Happy growin!

 

[maximumcapsicum]

Gah! Was potting up some of the jalapenos today and noticed that one of my bulbs is out. Must have been the brownouts we have been experiencing lately. Hopefully everyone stays healthy in the meantime... we're down ~1600 lumens, but they still have access to 4800 and whatever comes through the window. Won't be able to make it to the store for the better part of the week. Tomatoes are reaching though.

 

[HillBilly Jeff]

AKSOH!!!!!!!

 

[Jeff H]

Did you ever figure out what those black hopping bugs were? Very few indoor bugs are beneficial.
 
 
I'm guessing the out of meat problem is due to the new storm headed that way? How you guys holding out down there?

 

[maximumcapsicum]

Did you ever figure out what those black hopping bugs were? Very few indoor bugs are beneficial.
 
 
I'm guessing the out of meat problem is due to the new storm headed that way? How you guys holding out down there?

 
Hey Jeff. Yeah the grocery stores are cleaned out due to the impending winter weather. Atlanta is overpreparing now. Been pretty funny given its 40° and raining.
 
I'm having trouble identifying the little guys. Also I couldn't find any today. They're too small to get a good photo of, pinpoint sized. They are black, hop, and have long snouts, like a weevil. They seem to be coming from the potting soil I used on the bonchis (grrr), and they don't seem to be having an obvious deterimental effect on the plants, but its hard to say. A soap nuke will probably kill them for awhile but I suspect they're in the dirt... very hard to get rid of.
 
Will let you know if I have any luck. Just got to be careful about keeping the babies away from the old farts.

 

[HillBilly Jeff]

OH NO.....Georgia State of Emergency
 
 

 

[Devv]

OH NO.....Georgia State of Emergency
 
 

LOL!
 
I needed that!
 
Adam!
 
I've been slacking, so much going on here and to catch up on.
 
Your plants look really good! They can hang in those solo's for a few weeks more. Just because the roots come out the bottom doesn't mean they're bound up. Several I transplanted that were 4"s still did not have enough roots to hold the dirt together.
 
Keep doing what you're doing, except the dropping part    I'm good at that too!

 

[maximumcapsicum]

Snow day, writing complete. Time for an update!
 
The grow shelves are getting pretty full. I've been moving hooks into solos for weeks, and I'm at 60 total plants today, right at capacity. I am sending the surplus tomato starts home with my mom this weekend, culling a couple that had helmet issues, and starting to look for homes for some of the surplus starts. I'm going to put them up for adoption at the community garden first. I'd love to offer them to THPer but I'm worried the seedlings wouldn't survive a mailing.
 
Here are the current germination stats. I'm sure Jamison's seeds are going to put out more sprouts, this is just based on a current count. 
 

 
The only superhots that didn't sprout are the Naga Morich from PBC. I've started them three times now... no dice. Out of seeds now. I wrote to PBC and they offered to send more seeds, so I may try again with them next year. Kind of a shame I won't have a Naga rep (unless one of the pellets sprouts, but at 29 days I'm dubious). A Tiepin came up, but never lost its seed coat. It started turning brown today, so it's probably done for. Will cull it for a surplus plant if it doesn't shape up soon. So there is a little space on the grow shelves after all...
 
HOOKS! I haven't been posting all of them, sorry about that but they have an image limit per post! Crazy.
 
Cracked Ja from Jamisonl:

 
Numex Jaquero Jal from Jamison:

 
Giant Jal and Goat's Weed from Jamison:

 
My wife made some wonderful slow cooker chicken avocado soup to carry us through the second Atlanta freezing!
 

 
She even put a pinch of Jamison's 7 pot primo powder in it! Was wonderful.
 
Happy growin!

 

[Jeff H]

 
The only superhots that didn't sprout are the Naga Morich from PBC. I've started them three times now... no dice. Out of seeds now. I wrote to PBC and they offered to send more seeds, so I may try again with them next year. Kind of a shame I won't have a Naga rep (unless one of the pellets sprouts, but at 29 days I'm dubious). A Tiepin came up, but never lost its seed coat. It started turning brown today, so it's probably done for. Will cull it for a surplus plant if it doesn't shape up soon. So there is a little space on the grow shelves after all...
 

 
Soup looks great. That is just what you need on a cold day in Atlanta. Finally starting to warm up here. Was 4 degrees this morning and 30 now. Sorry to hear about your Naga Morarch not sprouting. I have some extra seeds from Judy, if you want to try and germinate them one more time, PM me your address.
 
By the way, you do actually have a naga representative though. Bhut Jolokai is a Naga.

 

[HillBilly Jeff]

Gotta love a nice warm soup on those bone chilling 40 degree days     
 
Plants are popping pretty good for you.  Not sure how delicate the postal service would be on boxes that say this end up.  I know they shipped live plants to Matt last year and I think I remember them all making it there fine.  Perhaps ask Matt how they were shipped?  Soup does look really nice!!!  Doing a chicken lemon rice today.

 

[GA Growhead]

After seeing that... told the wife I wanted avocado chicken soup for dinner. She started naming off the ingredients we already had! Thanks Adam!
Still spitting ice here. Starting to melt under the ice which will refreeze later. Yay! We got lucky that the majority of the heavy precipitation went south of Atlanta. We could have had 5" or so.
And... a nice warm trend by the beginning if next week! Spring is right around the corner.
Didn't start any morichs yet myself or I would write your name on one. Bhuts of all kinds and colors though. Don't give up on them yet. 30 days is nothing.

 

[maximumcapsicum]

 
Soup looks great. That is just what you need on a cold day in Atlanta. Finally starting to warm up here. Was 4 degrees this morning and 30 now. Sorry to hear about your Naga Morarch not sprouting. I have some extra seeds from Judy, if you want to try and germinate them one more time, PM me your address.
 
By the way, you do actually have a naga representative though. Bhut Jolokai is a Naga.

 
Haha, this time is more severe. These ice storms knock down the trees and take out the power. Roads are basically unpassable outside my building.
 
Didn't realize how closely the Nagas and Bhuts were related. I knew they hail from around the same Eastern part of India. Naga is generally the name for the tribal folks who live close to the Eastern border. Bhut Jolokia sounds much more Northern... I'll have to look up the info on the name. Good to know I'm not completely missing out on the Naga train. I'm debating giving it one more shot with new seeds though.
 

LOL!
 
I needed that!
 
Adam!
 
I've been slacking, so much going on here and to catch up on.
 
Your plants look really good! They can hang in those solo's for a few weeks more. Just because the roots come out the bottom doesn't mean they're bound up. Several I transplanted that were 4"s still did not have enough roots to hold the dirt together.
 
Keep doing what you're doing, except the dropping part    I'm good at that too!

 
Thanks Scott! You have been slacking! Been a while since we've seen all the team together! Hopefully they can last in the solos till plant out, just a month or so away by the farmer's almanac projections.
 
Thanks for dropping by!
 

Gotta love a nice warm soup on those bone chilling 40 degree days     
 
Plants are popping pretty good for you.  Not sure how delicate the postal service would be on boxes that say this end up.  I know they shipped live plants to Matt last year and I think I remember them all making it there fine.  Perhaps ask Matt how they were shipped?  Soup does look really nice!!!  Doing a chicken lemon rice today.

 
40° is no joke down here. I've seen blizzards when I lived in NYC that do much less damage. It's crazy. Which THPer is Matt?
 

After seeing that... told the wife I wanted avocado chicken soup for dinner. She started naming off the ingredients we already had! Thanks Adam!
Still spitting ice here. Starting to melt under the ice which will refreeze later. Yay! We got lucky that the majority of the heavy precipitation went south of Atlanta. We could have had 5" or so.
And... a nice warm trend by the beginning if next week! Spring is right around the corner.
Didn't start any morichs yet myself or I would write your name on one. Bhuts of all kinds and colors though. Don't give up on them yet. 30 days is nothing.

 
YAY! Yeah, sheet of icicles coming down out there, but I think next week is the start of the month or so clim out of this. Don't worry, I'm not throwing any pellets away... probably going to end up with 6 Naga Morich if I keep trying to get them started!

 

[HillBilly Jeff]

MGOLD

 

[Sawyer]

That's one of the better C. annuum lists I've seen.  Not to mention a killer chinense list.  Keep warm, and safe.

 

[maximumcapsicum]

That's one of the better C. annuum lists I've seen.  Not to mention a killer chinense list.  Keep warm, and safe.

 
Thanks Sawyer! Never really was a risk of getting cold. More of getting crashed into by one of the nuts on the road.
 
Jeez, another snow day. This is crazy. Hasn't happened for ages. Going stir crazy in our 1 bedroom apartment. But life goes on.
 
Three more hooks to report:
 

 

 

 
All from Jamison. I have a couple doubles on the cull list. Tonight I scratched the helmet head tiepin. It was turning brown, never coming lose of its helmet. Biker Billy got his spot. No room for slackers in the thunder dome grow shelf.
 
I am officially out of space until I send the tomatoes out to their new homes on saturday. Then I'll pot up the last couple of annuums and the 7 pots and Moruga. I have a heck of a variety going... and I've planted more than I have room for, so some of these guys will definitely have to go in buckets. Once I clear out the doubles its not so bad though. Good to be insulated against losses.
 
This is an exploratory grow... I've gone for maximum variety, with an emphasis on habs on bonnets... those I ate the most of last year... and I've tried to do a superhot from each main family but it looks like I'm getting just a huge round of bhuts. Is it just me or do they grow noticably faster than the other superhots?
 
Going to try a surplus MoA plant in a container on my balcony, even though its shaded. Even indirect sunlight is still way more sunlight than the CFL's, so maybe I'll just get a very low yield from it. Definitely going to have a crowded couple of plots though.
 
Will do another round of photos next time I pull them all out to rotate them.
 
Happy growing!