Mildfruits 2020 hydroponic

Hi all! 
 
This is my second grow blog. You can find the first one here. 
I bought a lot of new equipment enough to warrant a new grow blog. 
Quick intro: Due to lack of outdoor growing space I've had to get creative with indoor growing without soil. 
 
I grow mainly with grodan blocks with automatic watering, from a nutrient tank using masterblend. 
 
Things that have changed from my last glog: 
I have bought another tent and light. 
I have started growing tomatoes indoor. 
New seeds! 
Also not mentioned in my last glog, but my lights and fans are controlled by a device called Shelly. Useful in everyday home automation, controllable from your phone with timers and monitoring. 
 
Lets get started with some pictures! 

Heres my new tomato light a quantum board from HLG called 100V2. A little brother to my pepper light (quantum board HLG 260W)

And here's my tomato tent with the light installed. 

Heres my two tomatoes, Sugar lump and Muddy waters. Both are indeterminate, meaning they grow forever, so pruning will be necessary.
 
And now to the interesting part! 
A quick before and after of my pepper tent: 

Seeds: 
This year I have been so lucky to receive some wilds from CaneDog! Lots of cool varieties, more than I can grow unfortunately, but maybe some day! 
 
I also participated in a european seed exchange witch included some seeds from the US, so I also got seeds from Yekanfam Farms also a THP member. 
 
Seeds started: 
De Arbol (Fatalliseeds)
Aci Dolma (CaneDog)
Tepin Cappuccino (CaneDog)
C. Flexuosum (CaneDog)
Aji Amarillo (Fatalliseeds) 
Pimientos De Gernika (Fatalliseeds)
Rocoto Costa Rica (Fatalliseeds)
Rocoto San Pedro, Orange (Fatalliseeds)
Lemon Starrburst (Yekanfam Farms)
C. Galapagoense
 
This years theme is challenge. Previously I failed growing Aji Amarillo and C. pubescens varieties, this year I hope to change that! 
My list needs to be cut down to 6 so this is not my final list. 
 
I wish everyone a happy grow in 2020! 

 

[podz]

Perhaps its just me, but I see mostly unboxing videos, but the testing videos usually follow right after so I'll have to keep a close eye to his channel. 
I bought mine from https://www.todogrowled.com/ which is located in spain i think. Where did you get yours? 

 
Bought mine in person from a local indoor grow shop - https://www.helsinginpuutarhatarvike.fi

 

[lespaulde]

Awesome update MF, and those Aji Amarillos look amazing! And pretty freakin' huge, depending of course what size banana you are referring to LOL!

I'm extremely curious to hear your taste review, as I remember you saying that you find Baccatums to often have a soapy taste, which is exactly what I've noticed too and puts me off a bit, except when they've been dehydrated or thoroughly cooked. The only one I cannot taste it in fresh is the SRP so far, but I'm also growing the Amarillo this year to see how it matches my palate.

How are the tomatoes BTW? Nice and sweet from all that light heaven they're getting I reckon?

Sent from my LYA-L29 using Tapatalk

 

[Mildfruit]

Awesome update MF, and those Aji Amarillos look amazing! And pretty freakin' huge, depending of course what size banana you are referring to LOL!

I'm extremely curious to hear your taste review, as I remember you saying that you find Baccatums to often have a soapy taste, which is exactly what I've noticed too and puts me off a bit, except when they've been dehydrated or thoroughly cooked. The only one I cannot taste it in fresh is the SRP so far, but I'm also growing the Amarillo this year to see how it matches my palate.

How are the tomatoes BTW? Nice and sweet from all that light heaven they're getting I reckon?

Sent from my LYA-L29 using Tapatalk

Haha they are pretty damn huge! Funny enough the SRP i reviewed last season had the same ability to not taste soapy! Only two baccatums I've encountered so far that didnt. The SRP and the peruvian giallo arancio which was a type of smaller Aji amarillo - so my hopes are up! 
 
They are extremely sweet, to the point that we eat them before they are fully ripe, but really delicious I have to upload a photo of them in the next update! 

 

[Mildfruit]

Aci Dolma, blended with onions and spices 

Heres the blend mixed with black beans and various other ingrediens. 

Heres the final result, a quick and spicy veggie burger   Very tasty
 

My first harvest of the KGS LB, unfortunately without tail. Hopefully the next set of pods will show a tail. 
 

My Costa Rican red loves the outdoors! The flowers are soaking in pollen, now I patiently wait for it to turn into pods! 

 

[podz]

Aci Dolma, blended with onions and spices 

Heres the blend mixed with black beans and various other ingrediens. 

Heres the final result, a quick and spicy veggie burger   Very tasty
 

My first harvest of the KGS LB, unfortunately without tail. Hopefully the next set of pods will show a tail. 
 

My Costa Rican red loves the outdoors! The flowers are soaking in pollen, now I patiently wait for it to turn into pods! 

 
I think I'll put mine outside now. Was gonna do it earlier today but got busy with the pup.

 

[Mildfruit]

 
I think I'll put mine outside now. Was gonna do it earlier today but got busy with the pup.

Great idea, hopefully it will respond like mine!

 

[Mildfruit]

Double post

 

[Mildfruit]

Taste test day!
 

Aji Amarillo pods from fataliiseeds. First impressions, the plant is a massive beast like most aji Amarillos and this pod showed here is nowhere near the biggest on the plant, there are some very meaty and big pods on this plant. Unfortunately looks don't get many points in my testing, only taste does
 

Fairly thick-walled pepper I would say, with lots of seeds, that's easily removed. When I describe my test, keep in mind that last year I grew a somewhat similar pepper the Peruvian Giallo Arancio, with I have a detailed review of here http://thehotpepper....yday/?p=1665592 that im going to compare this pepper with. 
In term of looks this pepper is certainly bigger, about twice the size. 
 
Taste: 
When I first bite into this pepper im reminded of carrot, quickly fading into a more mellow fruitiness. Lastly, and unfortunately, it does have some soapy undertones as some buccatums have (the PGA did NOT). Its not a bad flavor by any means, I guess im just a bit disappointed, and I preferred the taste profile of PGA as this Amarillo is more mellow or even bland. It does have something the PGA didn't, and that's HEAT!
My own scale from 1-12 where the 10-12 are all superhots and 1 is zero heat I would mark the PGA as a 5, where this hits 7. 
 
All in all, a fine pepper. Not a favorite, but im sure I'll enjoy it anyhow. 
 

I added the pepper fresh into a blend with 2cloves of garlic and one shallot. Mixed together creating an excellent flavor. 

I used the paste on the inside of this, and it gave a perfect amount of heat and taste. 
A shame I don't have the PGA to cross it with, perhaps I should start a plant?  
 

 

[CaneDog]

Taste test day!
 
A shame I don't have the PGA to cross it with, perhaps I should start a plant?  

 
Good review, MF!   I think the same thought occurred to me as I was reading through your post - hmm, heat of AA; flavor of PGA; size/ripening/production somewhere in-between would be fine...

 

[Mildfruit]

 
Good review, MF!   I think the same thought occurred to me as I was reading through your post - hmm, heat of AA; flavor of PGA; size/ripening/production somewhere in-between would be fine...

 
Im really tempted, im planning the next grow in coco choir, so perhaps I'll make room for some cross attempts ! 

 

[Mildfruit]

Picture heavy post inc. 
 
Its been awhile since my last update so here is some progress: 

My harvest from a few days ago, a lot of aji Amarillo is also ready, but there a limit to my consumption  
 

Lovely De Arbol powder <3 
 

My little tree Costa Rica red still no fruits, but lets wait and see, not much choice tho 
 

Sprawling with Aji Amarillo fruits
 

Heres my two new plants, Jalapeño Orange spice and to the right, my F1 Cross from last season Padron pepper x Lemon spice. Hopefully it will make a spicier lemon spice as they had near zero heat. 
 

The Cappuccino Tepin and Chocolate ghost are doing just fine in the window. 

Starting to ripe  

 

[dragonsfire]

Great looking Fruit and plants

 

[CaneDog]

Looking good MF!  The bright red in the first pic with AAD and Arbol looks fantastic.  Solid harvest.  Looks like more harvests following soon, too.  
 
I see a little crinkling on the orange spice. I noticed that too when they were young and in small pots.  It went away when they were potted up and got bigger, but it caught my eye at first.
 
Gotta say that the chocolate ghost pods look mean.  I'm looking forward to the video of you taste-testing a whole pod and telling us how it was   
 
Seriously though, looks like you have things really dialed in and it's good to see you reaping the benefits.    

 

[PaulG]

Looks like the Grodan rockwool is treating your
plants right, MF! Especially the Costa Rica Red
and the awesomely producing Brown Bhut!
 
Looking forward to more cool stuff from your
grow this season    

 

[Mildfruit]

Great looking (Mild)Fruit and plants

 
Thanks DF! 
 

Looking good MF!  The bright red in the first pic with AAD and Arbol looks fantastic.  Solid harvest.  Looks like more harvests following soon, too.  
 
I see a little crinkling on the orange spice. I noticed that too when they were young and in small pots.  It went away when they were potted up and got bigger, but it caught my eye at first.
 
Gotta say that the chocolate ghost pods look mean.  I'm looking forward to the video of you taste-testing a whole pod and telling us how it was   
 
Seriously though, looks like you have things really dialed in and it's good to see you reaping the benefits.    

 
I sure hope so, been talking lots about the Arbol to friends and family, and most seem to desire the lesser hot varieties  
Hahah! Im still not sure what im going to do with them, I planted them mainly to cross with the LB, but Ill keep the video suggestion in mind 
Im glad you had the same experience with the orange spice, as Ive been looking for bugs because I thought that was the reason for the crinkling, now im more at ease  
 
Thanks! I cant wait to start like a beginner again soon with a new media, but gotta keep things fresh 
 

Looks like the Grodan rockwool is treating your
plants right, MF! Especially the Costa Rica Red
and the awesomely producing Brown Bhut!
 
Looking forward to more cool stuff from your
grow this season    

 
At this point it just works, very easy to work with, the only thing I dont like is the price, but cant have it all it seems  
Thanks! Im considering showing pictures of your rocotos to my plant, to make it produce  . Perhaps the description "Needs a long season" was right all along when I bought the seeds

 

[Mildfruit]

 

Both my two new plants have a mixed leaf. I've seen it before online, but it never occurred for me before. At first I thought my F1 was extra special till I saw the Jalapeño orange spice had the same "defect" . 
The "defect" is however more present on the F1 with multiple leaves that resembles the first picture. Just a fun thing I thought to share 

 

[CaneDog]

I've found those cool as well when they've popped up.  It would be something if you had a variety that for whatever reason produced a high enough concentration of them that the plant took its overall look from them.

 

[Mildfruit]

I've found those cool as well when they've popped up.  It would be something if you had a variety that for whatever reason produced a high enough concentration of them that the plant took its overall look from them.

So far quite a few leafs share this pattern, guess I will have to see if it sticks could be a nice surprise. 
 
Im starting to get quite nervous from all the chocolate in my window. 

 

[PaulG]

Nice looking pods, MF.
 
They are just a tad scary!

 

[lespaulde]

Great updates MF, been fun to follow along, and all those mouthwatering pictures of food and pod tastings are getting my excitement for this summer even higher - life's good in the tents! How have the tomatoes been doing btw? 
 

Im really tempted, im planning the next grow in coco choir, so perhaps I'll make room for some cross attempts !

 
Am I reading between the lines the autopot setup might come your way??
 

Taste test day!
 
Taste: 
When I first bite into this pepper im reminded of carrot, quickly fading into a more mellow fruitiness. Lastly, and unfortunately, it does have some soapy undertones as some buccatums have (the PGA did NOT). Its not a bad flavor by any means, I guess im just a bit disappointed, and I preferred the taste profile of PGA as this Amarillo is more mellow or even bland. It does have something the PGA didn't, and that's HEAT!
My own scale from 1-12 where the 10-12 are all superhots and 1 is zero heat I would mark the PGA as a 5, where this hits 7. 
 
All in all, a fine pepper. Not a favorite, but im sure I'll enjoy it anyhow.

Awesome taste test, thanks for the details. First year I'm growing the AA as well, and the hopes are high. Hope the 'soapy' flavor will be minimal as it sounds from your description, as it's unfortunately also one of my issues with several of the baccatums. But wow it looks delicious and mine has just opened its first flower, so it will still be some months before I can try. That PGA / AA cross definitely sounds like it would be a winner though, let us know if you do end up going for it and need help with growing out!
 

My Costa Rican red loves the outdoors! The flowers are soaking in pollen, now I patiently wait for it to turn into pods! 

That plant is INSANE! Wow, what a specimen! Must be loving the outdoors and the grodan blocks and the treatment it receives; the sheer size is impressive and it looks super healthy with lots of flowers. You should be swimming in pods come a month or two I'm sure!
 
 

So far quite a few leafs share this pattern, guess I will have to see if it sticks could be a nice surprise. 
 
Im starting to get quite nervous from all the chocolate in my window. 

Crazy hybrid somehow, will be interesting to see whether it truly is a phenotype or just a temporary growth thingy... And those BJ Chocolates? Scary sh*t and agree with Paul, a tasting video never (truly) hurt anyone right? Cool stuff man!