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! 

 

[Mildfruit]

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? 
 
Thanks! Well, it did good, I had lots of fruits that where extremely sweet, to the point we had to eat them a little immature, but really a delicious tomato. However, I had to prune and change water so frequently that it became a hassle   So ended up killing it. So I now have a spare tent I plan to do some experiments with, more on that later
 
Am I reading between the lines the autopot setup might come your way??
Haha that's correct! I've been in contact with a seller, and I plan to start my next grow that way, so fingers crossed I can copy some of your success 
 
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!
 
I was a bit disappointed with the soapy flavor, but if the pepper is used In paste or as powder it shouldn't be so pronounced. If it ends of being to much I'll be happy to send you the PGA seeds for a non-soapy baccatum.  

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!
 I really hope you are correct! its the last thing im missing this season as I've never tasted this family of peppers before, you've grown them last year, any pubescents you can recommend? 
 

 

[Mildfruit]

Update and unfortunately a taste test  
 
 

I didn't have a banana, but I hope this pack of stimorol is international enough 
 

Rather thick walled. 

Some oil drops 
 
Review: 
The smell is rather musky, sweet, with chinense overtunes when you smell it you are not immediately waned that this is a mistanke. Rather you get a bit curious because of that seducing musky sweet smell. This is how it fools its pray. 
 
I cut maybe a bit less than 1/3 of the pepper and thought well, "remember to focus on the taste rather than its heat".
In the mouth it goes, first flavor I detect is this faint chinense taste, then this sweet musky smell reveals the classical ghost taste, with just a touch of floral taste. Then first wave hits - to much joy for my GF. And this seems to be how the heat strikes, in waves.
 
All in all, this pepper is not something I would recommend for taste, I prefer the more fruity chinenses, over the floral ones as this. However if you enjoy ghosts, I think this could make a fine addition in your grow.  
 
 
Lastly a quick update on my Costa Rican Red.

Fingers and toes are double crossed for these to keep growing. It would be a major milestone in my pepper grow to produce a C. pubescent

 

[dragonsfire]

Look Great

 

[Mildfruit]

To the experiment I was talking about earlier. 
As previously mentioned my tomato tent is now empty- and I plan to do some experiments. 
Im currently working on a setup, in home assistant (very much inspired by LEDGarden) to automate my setup even further. I will update this in the future, for now I only have an empty tent and a raspberry pi. 
 
What to grow in the new tent tho? I recently made an order on White hot peppers, and Justin just doubled my order: 

I payed for the peppers on the left, all the seeds on the right are bonuses. Lots of interesting varieties making my decision even harder. What a problem to have  

 

[PaulG]

Can't wait to see your new experiment, Rasmus.
 
Justin hooked you up, alright! That will be a fun
decision when you get to it!
 
the Costa Rica Red is looking good. The c. pubescens
are some of my favorites.

 

[Siv]

Every time I stumble upon a glog and get immersed, I end up spending money. Antep Aci Dolma seeds ordered!

 

[Mr.joe]

Justin at white hot peppers always seems to send some freebies, sure makes it tough for guys like me that just wanna grow them all. Everything is looking good from here

 

[Mildfruit]

Can't wait to see your new experiment, Rasmus.
 
Justin hooked you up, alright! That will be a fun
decision when you get to it!
 
the Costa Rica Red is looking good. The c. pubescens
are some of my favorites.

 
I've read a lot of people describing a less intense burn and more "round" in the c. pubescens family. How would you describe it? 
I know deep down im going to choose more than one pepper  
 

Every time I stumble upon a glog and get immersed, I end up spending money. Antep Aci Dolma seeds ordered!

 
Hahah I've been there! Well im still there actually, but im glad my review have been useful, and you cant go wrong with the Aci dolma what an excellent pepper! I wish you a great grow with it!
 

Justin at white hot peppers always seems to send some freebies, sure makes it tough for guys like me that just wanna grow them all. Everything is looking good from here

 
Haha I knew right when I placed that order that he usually put in freebies and that would be problematic   Well im not going to complain, some day I'll try them all anyway. 

 

[PaulG]

 
I've read a lot of people describing a less intense burn and more "round" in the c. pubescens family. How would you describe it? 
I know deep down im going to choose more than one pepper  

The heat varies widely among the various
varieties of c. pubescens. I have had some
that were quire hot, and some not so much.
But, all have good flavor and complement
food very well. They are some of the best
stuffing peppers around. Also very good just
roasted with oil and salt and served with rice
and some kind of meat or fowl.
 
I am looking forward to trying out some of
these varieties I haven't grown before this
season.

 

[Mildfruit]

The heat varies widely among the various
varieties of c. pubescens. I have had some
that were quire hot, and some not so much.
But, all have good flavor and complement
food very well. They are some of the best
stuffing peppers around. Also very good just
roasted with oil and salt and served with rice
and some kind of meat or fowl.
 
I am looking forward to trying out some of
these varieties I haven't grown before this
season.

 
Sounds like a perfect variety! I've read the stuffing part, due to the general thick walls. I cant wait to try it out, the weather in the last week have been phenomenal and now a lot of pods are starting to grow out. Im so excited! Reminds me of the feeling when I started this hobby. 
So far I have learned that my LED work wonders for some types of peppers, but Chinense and pubescents need the real deal, at least in my environment. So I learn something every season. 

 

[Mildfruit]

Quick update on my Pimentos de pardron x Lemon spice. Roughly 50% of the leaves are fused together. The next wave of leafs do however not show this trend, but it was fun to watch. I've replanted it into its final kratky container to speed up the process of my very first cross! 
 

Orange Spice have been replanted to a bigger grodan cube. Growing fast now

Heres a close up of my c. galapagoense. The first pod are starting to ripe! Heard these have lots of heat so looking forward to the taste test! 
 
Im still waiting for the cappuccino tepin to ripen up, lots of green pods but no rip yet. 

 

[Devv]

Impressive grow MF
 
I'm having trouble keeping up with all the great glogs this season, and I like what I see in yours.
 
Kudos for eating a nice chunk of the Brown Bhut, they sure are hot!

 

[PaulG]

Hey, friend! Congrats on the Padron x Lemon Spice.
Can’t wait to see those pods!
 
And a c. Galapagoense pod, to boot!


Hope that Capuccinno Chiltepin gets it in gear.
Mine is just starting to come out of the aphid/
June Suck. Hope it looks decent in a few weeks.
 
 

 

[Mildfruit]

Impressive grow MF
 
I'm having trouble keeping up with all the great glogs this season, and I like what I see in yours.
 
Kudos for eating a nice chunk of the Brown Bhut, they sure are hot!

There sure is a lot of great content at the moment with the peak of the season for most of us ! 
Yea that was a mistake    I mailed a box with a few of them to my brother, he often do these challenges with his friends, so I guess the pepper will spread some joy elsewhere
 

Hey, friend! Congrats on the Padron x Lemon Spice.
Can’t wait to see those pods!
 
And a c. Galapagoense pod, to boot!

Hope that Capuccinno Chiltepin gets it in gear.
Mine is just starting to come out of the aphid/
June Suck. Hope it looks decent in a few weeks.
 
 

Me too! The small kratky setup worked wonders for some of the other peppers, and for speeding up the process its perfect. 
The tepin sure are a pepper to test ones patience, 28days to germinate and last in the house to ripen up. Fingers crossed we both get some enjoyment out of it! 
Yea I saw, it seems like you have got it under control for now, maybe a greenhouse and some beneficial insects will help ease the infestation 

 

[Mildfruit]

I finally got some time for my peppers, did a good cleaning and trimmed them down. I had two plastic bags filled with unripe peppers and leaves. It feels wrong to cut so much, but they where starting to take over the tent. 
 
Heres a after photo. 

 
And a shot from under the Aci Dolma, which is doing MUCH better in this second wave of pods, so many, I couldn't get them all in this shot, but it gives you an idea

Thanks again CaneDog for the seeds, one of the seasons highlights for sure! 

 

[lespaulde]

Looks so clean, MF, well done on a proper round of trimming, I'm sure it'll pay off in the long run! How's the Costa Rica plant doing outside? Appreciate the recent rains and getting ready for more sunshine next week with pods?

Sent from my LYA-L29 using Tapatalk

 

[PaulG]

Good work, Rasmus! The Antep Aci Dolma
is really cranking out the pods! Do I see a
little color on one of them  ?

 

[Mildfruit]

Looks so clean, MF, well done on a proper round of trimming, I'm sure it'll pay off in the long run! How's the Costa Rica plant doing outside? Appreciate the recent rains and getting ready for more sunshine next week with pods?

Sent from my LYA-L29 using Tapatalk

 
Its doing very well thank you! Theres around 15-20 small pods 1-3cm so far. It does grow rather slow, but I guess thats normal for a c. pubescent?    

 

[Mildfruit]

Good work, Rasmus! The Antep Aci Dolma
is really cranking out the pods! Do I see a
little color on one of them  ?

Good eye Paul! One of them is indeed starting to get ripe. I think my watering schedule fixed the previous case of BER, as none of them seem affected yet in this second wave !

 

[Mildfruit]

Quick taste test and a progress picture!
 

First open flower on my orange spice Jalapeño! Not much else to report, the leaves no longer suffer from crackling fortunately.
 
Now onto the C. Galapagoense !
First of all, I didn't really expect it to take off kratky style, but nevertheless here we are. 

Very small pod as you can see here. 

Very little else than seeds inside    
This was an interesting pepper, the flavor was nearly non-existent. I couldn't detect a flavor I can describe at least, the most honest answer would be flavor less. The heat was present, not a stingy burn but almost. Very pleasant burn. This was a very fun pepper to grow. And while I won't grow another plant next season, its genes will be present in my  Cappuccino Tepin x C. Galapagoense cross. 
 
Speaking of the Tepin, I accidentally knocked a half ripe pod off last night, curious as I am, I sliced it in half and licked it to get a feeling of the burn. Holy moly what a kick that little bugger threw at me. Thats a taste test I won't look forward to