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.

 

[maximumcapsicum]

Plants are looking good Adam. I'm amazed at how big they are. 
 
I like your isolating, but you should bag the blossom after you pollinate it to keep other pollen out of it in case yours didn't take.

 
Thanks Jeff! The Bhuts are the top performers, though the Jamaican Yellow Mushroom is giving them a run for their money. I hope to get out there today and get another round of picks. I got a pack of nylon organza bags to put over a branch of blossoms. Should take less time than hand pollinating and ensure good results. Need to decide which plants to isolate!
 

Your plants are looking sweet.  I need to do a better job of getting them used to the sun so they don't burn so much.

 
Thanks HJeff. I sunburned a couple about to death. The Not Cardi never bounced back. It's just a twig with a couple of leaves till this day. Didn't harden off properly, though it fooled me good before i planted it. Hardening is tricky... it's always been the hardest step for me.
 

Seriously! That brown egg is going off!

 
YES! I hope the pods taste as good as they look. They good for stuffin?
 

Very nice Adam!
 
Glad to see all those pods setting. That brown egg is loading up!
 
 
Have a great week!

 
YES! You too Scott! Love checkin in on your pepper forest every afternoon.
 

Hi Adam,
 
Once again, impressive pictures! It is good to see the pods on those monsters, I can't wait to see them ripening!
 
Balázs

 
Thanks Balázs! I make 'em look better through selective posting, lol. I am having a heck of a time with hoppers this year, and still got aphids in the maters, but the plants seem to be thriving without action on my part so I am riding it out. I love some of the varieties you and Rick have going. I bet they grill up nice.
 
Will try to post another round of picks later if the weather clears. Got more pods to show off.
 
Happy growin everyone!

 

[GA Growhead]

Adam, I ended up eating them fresh. Don't think they lasted long enough to do anything else with them. Treated them like fresh fruit. You will see what I mean.

 

[maximumcapsicum]

Pods everywhere! Most of the chinenses have at least set pods by now, and some are getting close. I think the white bhuts will be ripening any day now.
 
Still haven't addressed the pests. So far I've seen worms, mites, aphids, and hoppers. Hoppers are doing the worst damage, but again none of the plants have really slowed down so I am riding it out. I think the ladybugs have been munching the mites, though they are apparently letting the aphids have their way with the maters. Something is has tiny holes into a couple of jalapeno pods. If I find too many more pods on the ground I'll need to take action. 

Speaking of jals, will be doing another pull toward the end of the week. Need more salsa!
 
 

 
Jason's Tobago treasures are coming along nicely
 

 
Jamaican Yellow Mushrooms, also from Jason, have set fruit.
 

 
Habanero big sun has set pods.
 

 
JA Habs from Scott.
 

 
Blondie flower. These guys have nice flowers.
 

 
First Funky Reaper Pod has set. It's looking quite funky. This looking right Scott?
 

 
White Hab has set... a little close to the ground for my liking, but the habit on this plant is quite odd. Will post some plant pics later this week.
 

 
2nd Gen Chiero Roxa is going like a beast. Pods are looking like they're going to stay true. May ripen faster than the other chinenses.
 
I believe all of the plants have started flowering at least by this point. No 7 pots have set fruit, but they are flowering. Now that the first big wave of flowers is almost complete, I may spread a cup or two of tomato tone on the beds to keep everything in order. Hit a couple of the weaker plants with some fish emulsion.
 
Realized that my pics were formatted a little large for forum posts. Hopefully the new size loads a little more smoothly.
 
Thanks for readin! Next round of pics will show plants. Hopefully the Chuncho starts catching up soon...

 

[JoynersHotPeppers]

Looking good!

 

[GA Growhead]

Images loaded quicker. Success there.
Plants look amazing! More success there!
The Tobago treasures look great along with the others! Jamaican mushrooms via Jason via Jamison

 

[Sawyer]

Your plants are looking great.  I especially like that Blondie flower.

 

[tctenten]

Everything looks great. Enjoy them.

 

[HillBilly Jeff]

All is looking good man.

 

[Devv]

Your plants are looking superb Adam!
 
I feel they're podding up better than mine, hope I get some more set real soon!
 
The F Reaper looks just like mine did last year. Maybe it's more stable than the Carolina Reaper
 
Keep doing what you're doing!

 

[stickman]

Very nice pod porn Adam! I'd say you're poised at the edge of a great season.   Continued success!

 

[OCD Chilehead]

Thanks for the pics. Plants are kicking A$$. Thanks for sharing.

 

[maximumcapsicum]

Thanks for the pics. Plants are kicking A$$. Thanks for sharing.

 
Hey man, thanks. Things are looking pretty good on your end too! Still working through it but I like your setup.
 

Very nice pod porn Adam! I'd say you're poised at the edge of a great season.   Continued success!

 
Thanks Rick! Today is going to be plant porn. Itchin for some chinenses to ripen, but alas they sure take their time.
 

Your plants are looking superb Adam!
 
I feel they're podding up better than mine, hope I get some more set real soon!
 
The F Reaper looks just like mine did last year. Maybe it's more stable than the Carolina Reaper
 
Keep doing what you're doing!

 
Thanks Scott! I got a couple that are podding very well (white and yellow bhut anyone?) and some that are coming at it slow. None of the 7pots have really done much yet. I think the Datil and Fatalii may like the humidity.
 
That said I've been keepin up over on your glog, and everything is looking pretty great. You're pullin a handful of ripe pods each time. Very nice work.
 

All is looking good man.

 
Thanks HJeff! I love your raised beds... can't wait till I can set something like that up for myself.
 

Everything looks great. Enjoy them.

 
Hey Terry welcome to THP! You got any peppers growin this year?
 

Your plants are looking great.  I especially like that Blondie flower.

 
Thanks man. Yeah the Blondies are very photogenic. Got lucky with that photo though. I need to actually let a pod ripen to give it a taste.
 

Images loaded quicker. Success there.
Plants look amazing! More success there!
The Tobago treasures look great along with the others! Jamaican mushrooms via Jason via Jamison

 
Good to hear. Hate some mites or big aphids (looked like mites but ants were herding them) hit the treasures sadly. Pinched off a couple of branches and they seem to have disappeared. Still got some nice pods on the plant though. Bugs can be rough down here.
 

Looking good!

 
Thanks man! Can't complain. This is my first real grow, just trying to absorb all the lessons THP can teach me.
 
No garden work today as we're getting a little rain. I did get some plant photos yesterday I thought I would share.
 

 
Fatalii may be in the running for my most beautiful plant now. Like the bhuts, the plant is great at shading its pods. They are hidden in there. This fatalii is living proof that keeping them in solos till they're root bound as hell doesn't have to slow you down too much once you're in the ground. Really loving watching this guy develop.
 

 
All in a row. First is red bhut, then white, then yellow in the back. You can see I've covered some of the nodes with organza bags to isolate seed. I ran out of time hand-pollinating and I'm following Jeff's advice. I bagged most of the flowers I hand pollinated, and will keep the bags in place until the other flowers open and close. Should get some nice isolated seeds from some of these. Best I can do this season anyway.
 

 
Bags weren't big enough to cover all of the flowers I hand pollinated, but the ones I left out of the bags have for the most part set. So woot! If any of the once I hand pollinated and bagged set I'll definitely have some isolates, but surely these are the next best thing.
 

 
Charles' Yellow Bhut getting it on with itself.
 

 
Datil is getting huge now too. A very handsome plant to be sure, but something is bugging me. Many of the top leaves have little brown patches in them... slight discoloration. There is a little curling too, but the plant sure is growing fast. Any idea what causes this? Nute imbalance? Sadly you can also see the little holes caused by the grasshoppers.
 

 
Here is the aforementioned Tobago Treasure. Unfortunately it got hit by some kind of black mite-like bug. I cut a couple of stunted branches, covered with the mites and ants, and the problem seems to be under control now. They didn't look like aphids, but they probably were. You can also see the hopper damage here. The plant is putting out pods so I don't think its too concerned.
 

 
This is slightly more annoying. I've been picking these up lately. Something is boring into my baby jals. Hit a couple brown eggs too. Time for neem? Bt? 
 

 
The second bed. First row is bonnets and habs. The plant with the organza bag is one of Jamison's MoA's. Figured I'd try to isolate some seed there to send out to THPers next season. Behind them are the 7pots. Remember what they looked like after that surprise April frost? I'd be lying if I said they didn't slow down a little, but wow have they recovered. I bet they'd be doing even better if I could shake the grasshoppers.
 

 
Here is the yellow 7pot. The worse off of the bunch, but he's chugging right along.  Here is what the 7pots looked like after the freeze. They dropped all their leaves after that.
 

 
Here are most the pots. Here the situation is almost reverse of the raised beds. The 7pots are doing great, as are the reapers, but the bhuts aren't likin the pots too much. The Goat's Weed really isn't thriving in the pot. Makes me sad. I tried giving them some nutes to see what will happen... maybe that will perk them up.
 
Tomorrow I am going to hit the garden up for another pull of green jals. Going to grab giants, purples, and cracked. Then I'm gonna roast 'em on the common grill and chop 'em up with some maters and onions.
 
Also planning on getting some airlocks to ferment the chintexle/barrackpore/tiepin pepper from Charles. I bet it is going to make a good sauce. What peppers do you guys generally like to ferment, sauce, and eat fresh?
 
Most of the supers are destined for sauces and powders, though I am still assembling plans. Don't want to do too much egg counting right now.
 
Thanks for reading!

 

[tctenten]

Thank you Adam. I have some plants in the ground and some in fabric pots(first time using fabric pots). Picking up many tips and ideas here. Thanks for the great posts.

 

[Jeff H]

Nice update Adam.
 
Isolated flowers look good.
 
Plants look like they are very happy.
 

 
Also planning on getting some airlocks to ferment the chintexle/barrackpore/tiepin pepper from Charles. I bet it is going to make a good sauce. What peppers do you guys generally like to ferment, sauce, and eat fresh?
 

 
I don't ferment a lot, but I do a few.
Best pod that I have fermented so far is tabasco. It is rather harsh fresh or pickled but really has a nice taste after it ages for a month or 6. I don't remember if you are growing any of these, but they make a great aged sauce that beats the heck out of their namesake hot sauce. Got a batch going on 5 months right now but I have so much hot sauce already that I think I'll just let it continue to age.
 
Supers get powdered and most annuums are eaten or pickled. The pubes get used in pico because they are just awesome.
 
Have a great weekend.

 

[Devv]

OK, I posted here earlier, and it went away with 17 hours of posting
 
Ever write a paper and lose it? The rewrite is never the same.
 
The holes in the pods: Grasshoppers or worms? Have you done a dissection to look?
 
I have a few things going on in my garden. Grasshoppers, something else I have yet to determine. And I guess coons, eating the Kurts as they ripen. I mean they chomp them!
 
Have a great weekend!

 

[maximumcapsicum]

Last day of minimester is over. The students have all taken their finals... nothing left but to grade and get crackin' on my own research. Looking forward to a tad more flexibility when it comes to visiting the garden plots. This time of year is fantastic... plants make huge changes from day to day and the big DOOM events are fewer and farer between.
 

Thank you Adam. I have some plants in the ground and some in fabric pots(first time using fabric pots). Picking up many tips and ideas here. Thanks for the great posts.

 
Awesome man! I'd love to see some pics, and I know I'm not the only one.
 

Nice update Adam.
 
Isolated flowers look good.
 
Plants look like they are very happy.
 
 
I don't ferment a lot, but I do a few.
Best pod that I have fermented so far is tabasco. It is rather harsh fresh or pickled but really has a nice taste after it ages for a month or 6. I don't remember if you are growing any of these, but they make a great aged sauce that beats the heck out of their namesake hot sauce. Got a batch going on 5 months right now but I have so much hot sauce already that I think I'll just let it continue to age.
 
Supers get powdered and most annuums are eaten or pickled. The pubes get used in pico because they are just awesome.
 
Have a great weekend.

 
Thanks for the tips Jeff. I'll tell ya, way more of the pods I hand-pollinated set than the ones in bags. So far I'm getting alot of flower drop in the bags. Of course there's no guarantee that the hand pollinated flowers actually pollinated, so I am still placing most my hope on the bags.
 
Jals are getting ate fresh or roasted in salsa. Not sure if I'm going to produce enough for satisfying pickling, but if I do I am going to make some candy and jams. Planning on saucing most the supers, though I am shopping around for a dehydrator and smoker box for my grill. The powders you guys sent me are out of this world... hoping to bring my own style to the game.
 
Still thinking about the germents.
 

OK, I posted here earlier, and it went away with 17 hours of posting
 
Ever write a paper and lose it? The rewrite is never the same.
 
The holes in the pods: Grasshoppers or worms? Have you done a dissection to look?
 
I have a few things going on in my garden. Grasshoppers, something else I have yet to determine. And I guess coons, eating the Kurts as they ripen. I mean they chomp them!
 
Have a great weekend!

 
Yes. I've written papers, rewritten papers, lost papers, what have you. It sucks. I think I lost a handful of posts actually. A shame but the peppers do keep growin.
 
Had a nice visit to the garden plots today to check up on everything. Yesterday I applied about 4 cups of tomato tone to the annuum bed. Most the plants there are fruiting and setting their second wave of flowers, so I decided to give them another gentle hit of nutrients. Sprayed the weaker looking plants with epsom salts in case there is a mag difficiency. Well, they greened up well so I guess it helped.
 
The thought occurred to me that I hadn't really posted any more numbers since germ times. Didn't even post my overall plant and germ counts. As it seems goofy to now, I think I'll save it for the end of the year while I plan next year's grow. But I did decide to share some numbers.
 
I am tracking my pulls for each variety. So far I'm only pulled jals, save for those unripe blondies. Here are the stats:
 

 
In two pulls I have taken 678g of jals. Organic jals would have cost about $9 so far. Going to keep tracking the numbers for fun and I will update periodically. By the end of the season I should have a pretty clear picture of yield for each plant type, as well as average weights for different kinds of pods. I do this for fun... I'm not actually trying to make my gardening budget back, though I should mention that last year the kale beds paid for themselves and then some. I have a feeling peppers would do the same if there was any logical way to calculate the price per weight of some of the supers... this isn't to speak at all of the kinds you can't actually buy at the store (90% of my grow... Thanks THP!)
 
Alright, now that that's out of the way, let's have a look at some pods...
 
Tons of habs and bonnets are setting, and man are they lookin' good. 
 

 
Hab Big Sun. The plant is a little pale... I am planning to hit it with some epsom salts tomorrow now that I've tested it (1 tbs to gallon, foliar feed).
 

 
White Habs. This variety is small and smooth. I got it from pepperjoe. Looks to be growing true.
 

 
JA Habs from Scott. Man these are going to be beastly. They got this big in about a week. Growing very fast and very tasty looking... king of my hab patch so far.
 

 
Brown Eggs from Jason. My mouth is watering...
 

 
Yellow Fatalii has slowed down a little, but still a nice looking pod. The plant is absolutely gorgeous.
 

 
White Bhuts from Judy. HOLY COW! This guy is setting tons of pods, a bit of variety in the shape. The structure of the plant is great... the pods are set close to one another and are shaded by the orientation of the leaves on the nodes. From the top and side, you wouldn't know this plant has pods. Great way to protect them from the sun. The density is great... in the running for the best chinense in terms of potential yield. Can't wait till one of these ripens... she is taking her time on that.
 

 
Roxa pods are turning pink. I'm looking forward to trying this generation too. Also a great looking plant.
 

 
Goat's Weed (from Jamison) pods are also taking their time to mature. That's cool... I can wait.
 

 
That's not a pepper!
 
Unfortunately something took a bite out of one of my green yellow bhut pods. It snapped off the plant easily, I broke it open, but no evidence of what took the bite. I did, however, take a bite out of the pod. Weird, I know, but I was curious. Now, it wasn't ripe, but the heat was there. I was struck by how sweet it was. Can't wait to taste one of these guys once one ripens.
 
Thanks for stoppin by!

 

[Spicegeist]

Too bad about the yellow bhut... weird.  Maybe a crow?

 

[Jeff H]

The thought occurred to me that I hadn't really posted any more numbers since germ times. Didn't even post my overall plant and germ counts. As it seems goofy to now, I think I'll save it for the end of the year while I plan next year's grow. But I did decide to share some numbers.
 
I am tracking my pulls for each variety. So far I'm only pulled jals, save for those unripe blondies. Here are the stats:
 

 
Now that is a little more record keeping then I would care (or be organized enough) to do. I'll read along with yours though.
 
Are Jals really that much down in Atlanta? I don't know about organic, but regular jals are only about $2.00/lb up here.
 
Update looks great though. Plants look healthy and they are putting out lots of pods.

 

[maximumcapsicum]

 
Now that is a little more record keeping then I would care (or be organized enough) to do. I'll read along with yours though.
 
Are Jals really that much down in Atlanta? I don't know about organic, but regular jals are only about $2.00/lb up here.
 
Update looks great though. Plants look healthy and they are putting out lots of pods.

 
Looks like double the price at Trader Joe's, they are typically $1.99 per 8 oz for conventional jals. They are much fresher than the ones available at Kroger, which may be cheaper. Garden veggies taste better than both by a huge margin, and are organic. I actually need to double check the price on that though... not sure off the top of my head.
 
It was nice to have kale pay for the plots last season.
 
Thanks for stopping by Jeff!

 

[capsidadburn]

Adam, congratulations on rocking the pods in GA!  Look great!
 
Mike