PaulG 2014

maximumcapsicum · Jan 28, 2014

You got to get some more garden space man.

But yeah, I hear ya, deciding exactly which plants should fill those 50 spots is virtually impossible. That's why I'm casting a wide net this year.

PaulG · Jan 28, 2014

maximumcapsicum said:
You got to get some more garden space man.

But yeah, I hear ya, deciding exactly which plants should fill those 50 spots is virtually impossible. That's why I'm casting a wide net this year.

Since this is my third season into this, I have an idea of several or maybe a handful of
varieties I know I'd like to grow out. I hope after this season to be able to make a
determination for a list that included heat and flavor as well as good growth habits
for the situation my plants have to survive in.

Of course, I always want to leave room for a couple of new varieties each season

Just to keep the interest factor up

stc3248 · Jan 29, 2014

I know the Gala's are notoriously slow germers...I am unsure about the Rocopicas but would assume the same. How is that helmet coming? sure hope you get that baby's hat off!

KiNGDeNNiZ · Jan 29, 2014

Looking good ...
FYI I also germ in jiffy and then once they start true leaves I pull and put in the aero plug (cut in it in half. And then put te seedling)
So you can get rapid growth

Capsicum Select · Jan 29, 2014

PaulG said:
Thanks, Jeff; have been fortunate thus far!

In a way, it's good that I don't have more usable-for-pepper-plants space, so I
have to max out at 40-50 plants. That still means too much hand watering. I
really want to get down to 8-10 varieties that I really like and grow well here so
I can grow more than one of each type and not have to depend on one plant.
We may be taking a trip Summer 2015, so the garden will have to be totally on
automatic irrigation. That may be a blessing in disguise!

Good growin', buddy!

Auto irrigation definitely would be! The majority of my growing requires pots for the excessive amount of plants I always end up with. I think I am going to make a drip system this year that attaches to the hose to make watering faster.

maximumcapsicum · Jan 29, 2014

PaulG said:
Since this is my third season into this, I have an idea of several or maybe a handful of
varieties I know I'd like to grow out. I hope after this season to be able to make a
determination for a list that included heat and flavor as well as good growth habits
for the situation my plants have to survive in.

Of course, I always want to leave room for a couple of new varieties each season

Just to keep the interest factor up

This makes me think we should shoot for a THP wikia. Was going to keep some stats on my plants... ease of start, growth habit, productivity, etc. Would be nice to have a place to input all that info. There's alot of knowledge floating around these boards.

PaulG · Jan 29, 2014

stc3248 said:
I know the Gala's are notoriously slow germers...I am unsure about the Rocopicas but would assume the same. How is that helmet coming? sure hope you get that baby's hat off!

I'll wait until the cows come home for them to germ if I have to!

I managed to snip the top edge off the helmet, and crack the seam
open a bit. Now just to have to wait and see if the plant can force it
off. I'm afraid to mess with it much more for fear of killing the seedling.
It will be touch and go as it is. Will try for a pic in a day or two.

Capsicum Select said:
Auto irrigation definitely would be! The majority of my growing requires pots for the excessive amount of plants I always end up with. I think I am going to make a drip system this year that attaches to the hose to make watering faster.

Good luck with the drip system, buddy!

KiNGDeNNiZ said:
Looking good ...
FYI I also germ in jiffy and then once they start true leaves I pull and put in the aero plug (cut in it in half. And then put te seedling)
So you can get rapid growth

Great tip, Denniz. Sounds like the aero can be used a lot of different ways.
I can see why you can use more than one!

maximumcapsicum said:
This makes me think we should shoot for a THP wikia. Was going to keep some stats on my plants... ease of start, growth habit, productivity, etc. Would be nice to have a place to input all that info. There's alot of knowledge floating around these boards.

That would be a great resource, indeed!

stc3248 · Jan 29, 2014

You keep that helmet head moist...and I'll keep my fingers crossed!

PaulG · Jan 30, 2014

stc3248 said:
You keep that helmet head moist...and I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Thanks, bud that ought to do the trick!

I have been putting a little water on the seed cap several
times a day. Maybe we'll get lucky!

PaulG · Jan 31, 2014

Update time. But first what passes for a foodie around here. A little salmon scramble
with onions, asparagus and tomato. and some awesome Hot Papaya! Great sauce,
Greg! thanks a million my friend:

The aftermath:

Time to pot up the party cups into 2-liter pots (5"x5"x6") to make room for the round two starts and those yet
to come. I potted up all the round one plants. As I said before they are using about 3 oz. of water every other
day, and some a bit more. I didn't water this morning so I could pot up, so a couple are sort of limp. I
decided to lighten up my Happy Frog/Ocean Forest blend a little with some coco fiber amendment. It made
the mix a lot lighter; mixed 1:1. The HF/OF is mixed 4:3. I think it will be a great mix:

Here are the plants in their new containers:

I have a few more after a bumpity bump

Trippa · Jan 31, 2014

Bump bump Mr G ... Looking awesome

PaulG · Jan 31, 2014

Thanks, Tristen! I put both the F2 and F1 sprouts in party cups over the past two days. They are looking good!

Here's the rest of the pot-ups:

Dang. I just realized I didn't get a pic of the Yellow Bhut Jolokia from Sawyer. Guess you'll
have to trust me on that one! It looks great

All these plants went out to the cold hard world of the greenhouse to do battle with aphids and
temps mostly in the 50's and 60's. At least they got off to a great start under the T5HOs! I still
have 25 round two and three plants in party cups on the grow shelf, and 6 more Jiffy pellets
in the germinating tray, along with the 7 (5 sprouted) in the aerogarden. That would make a
total of 53 plants if all survive to plant out. Will have to be creative to find that many spaces!

stickman · Jan 31, 2014

Nice OB report Paul, round one is looking stellar in their new pots!

JJJessee · Jan 31, 2014

Plants look awesome, Paul.
Good work!

HillBilly Jeff · Jan 31, 2014

Love the look of those plants. Does that greenhouse hold enough heat during the day to keep temps in 50s-60s or is that the outside temp? I was looking at a greenhouse at TSC and was wondering if that would work to get them out of the grow room a month early.

Hope all 53 make it to the dirt for you.

Pinoy83 · Jan 31, 2014

your babies are growing so fast...keep up the good work....and your aerogarden you gonna end up sowing more after you transplant... :dance:

PaulG · Jan 31, 2014

stickman said:
Nice OB report Paul, round one is looking stellar in their new pots!

Thanks, Rick. You know I'm just trying to catch up to the Rickmachine!

JJJessee said:
Plants look awesome, Paul.
Good work!

Thanks, Jesse. I noticed the stems are really stout, even with no fan.
Below the cotyledons, they were already lignified. Good ol' T5HO; I'm
a believer!

HillBilly Jeff said:
Love the look of those plants. Does that greenhouse hold enough heat during the day to keep temps in 50s-60s or is that the outside temp? I was looking at a greenhouse at TSC and was wondering if that would work to get them out of the grow room a month early.

Hope all 53 make it to the dirt for you. Thanks, buddy!

I have the space heater set so the temps stay in low 50's or above at night.
During the day, the ambient temp can bump it up to the 60's even on an
overcast day. On sunny afternoons, even now, the temps can hit mid-70's.
Our ambient temps are running from the mid 30's at night to the 40's during
the day. We have another stretch of cool weather (high 20's nights) in the forecast
for several days starting Saturday night. The cold temperatures are usually
accompanied by sunny skies this time of year. Warmer temps mean cloudy and rainy.

I got this greenhouse kit at Harbor Freight. I replaced the panels with thicker, tighter
fitting ones when the first set wore out, so it's a bit tighter and holds heat better.

Pinoy83 said:
your babies are growing so fast...keep up the good work....and your aerogarden you gonna end up sowing more after you transplant...

Oh, say it ain't so, Jericson! I still have some annuums to
sow which I forgot about last post :rofl:

5-7 varieties or so.

Devv · Jan 31, 2014

Transplants are looking stellar Paul!

I see you keep your greenhouse at 50°, I've been chunking the plants outside when overnight's are 45° and see no problems. Am I bad?

Keep doing what you're doing!

PaulG · Feb 1, 2014

Nah, you're good. I could go to 45˚F but my heater doesn't have a very
precise thermostat. I should be going down a skosh every so often to
get ready for hardening off, but that doesn't really happen until late March
or April.

Your plants don't seem to mind the 45˚, so keep up the good work!

PaulG · Feb 1, 2014

The c. exile chacoense has finally shed its seed cap. The cotys are shriveled but there is noticeable
growth the first true leaves over the last 36 hours: