PaulG 2019

No grow log for the 2018 season other than the Pimenta de Neyde x Bonda Ma Jacques
thread dedicated to Trippa's cross. That one is an ongoing community project going into
second year and a test of the F7 generation. I imagine I will mention it once-in-a-while in
this thread, but the details of its progress will be in the dedicated thread.
 
I am deciding on a grow list for the 2019 season after growing only Trippa's cross this
season (2018). I definitely have some old favorites that will comprise the great majority
of the grow. I have limited space, so I'm counting on nature to help me make the final
decision. I'll probably start lots of seeds since I'm gun-shy from the poor germination
rates the past couple of seasons.
 
Here's the pool. Would be nice to be able to grow a bunch of all of them!  I think my
neighbor will shelter the overflow in his yard, but we'll see what to plant and how many
based on what might germinate 
 
c. chinese - 10 varieties: 

• PdN x BMJ, F7, white and violet varieties, Trippa's cross
• Fatali, F2 of seed from Pepper Joe's
• 7 Pot Burgundy, brown phenotype, pecan shape from 2017 F2 of the 7PB from Windchicken 
• Scotch Bonnet, MoA, F2 of seeds from John/Sim, not high production, but some nice pods
• JA Red Habanero, F5 of seed from Walk Good/Devv
• Yellow Scorpion, F7 aka Yellow Trinidad Moruga Scorpion and CARDI Scorpion, from Spankycolts plant 2012
• Bhut Jolokia, Red, F4, from Spankycolts plant 2012
• Bhut Jolokia, Chocolate, F3 of seed from Georgia Growhead
• Bhut Jolokia, hybrid, F2 - I believe it is a  (BJred) x (Pdn x BMJ F1 or F2)
• Yellow 7 Pot, F2 of seed from Trippa 2013

c. annuum - 4 varieties:

• JA Red Mushroom, F3, brown phenotype, seed from Refining Fire
• Pimenta de Padron - Spanish seed, fry up while small and green, throw on some salt
• Pimenta del Piquillo - Spanish seed, sweet, very flavorful, small stuffers
• Guindilla - Spanish seed, spicy heat, great pickled, long and skinny

c. frutescens - 2 varieties:

• Nagahari from Tezpur, India, supposedly very, very hot freebie from Pepper Joe's 2017
• Chili Costa Rica, F2 (2014) from Hippy Seed Company seed, 2012

c. pubescens - 1 variety:

• Red Rocoto, F3 of Peruvian Market seed, 2016

That about does it. Seeding time will be here before we know it!
 
 

 

[PaulG]

Yup
 

 
Do you do anything special here, Paul?  Just cut off the branch and hang it upside down?  Tonight's my last night and I've got pods I'd save if I could.

That's it. I cut these stalks just below the fork,
and  I cut off any foliage and twigs not connected
to a pod just to create more air flow.
 
 
 
 
 

 

[PaulG]

The hanging JA Mushrooms are ripening up nicely.
Compare today to Oct. 30, 4 days ago:

I have already picked 9 pods off the plants,
so will get a total of about 40 pods from the
two plants.

 

[PtMD989]

What’s the temperature where you have them hanging?


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[PaulG]

What’s the temperature where you have them hanging?


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Low to mid- 60's. Pretty consistent.
A bit cooler at night, but not a lot.

 

[CaneDog]

Those JA Mushrooms are great looking pods.  Good to see they're ripening up!

 

[PaulG]

Those JA Mushrooms are great looking pods.  Good to see they're ripening up!

Yeah, very pleased at their progress. They seem
to be holding up well, also, not too much softening,
yet.
 
I do have some of the seeds drying out. Just sayin'.

 

[PaulG]

The dreaded year-end update. Will post some pics from my
iPad first, then come back to my computer to enter some text
and summary notes on a decent keyboard.
 
Don't recommend putting jars in the sun, but wanted to show
the bright colors resulting from low temperature (95-105˚F)
dehydration.
 
Dried pods, quart jars (946 ml):
 
Bottom two rows: various red/orange Purple Thunder mixed
together; top jar, JA Red Habaneros:

 
Bottom row: Yellow Scorpions; Scotch Bonnet MoA
and Beth Boyd; Purple thunder, BJh-2. Top row: 7 Pot
Pecan; Sri Lanka, true phenotype and small, upright
Mr. Sausage pods:

 
PdN x BMJ, mixed violet pods:

 
Dried pods, pint jars (473 ml):
 
Bottom row: Guindilla (Spain); more Sri Lanka true
pheno; Costeño Amarillo. Top row: more JA Red
Habanero; Bhut Jolokia, chocolate; more BJh-2
Purple thunder:

 
Goat's Weed, Yellow BrainStrain, JA Mushroom:

 
In all 17 quarts of dried pods, so far. (Still 30 JA Mushroom
pods to pick and dry.) I think that translates
to roughly 102 quarts of fresh at a 6:1 ratio.

 

[PtMD989]

Well done Sir[emoji106]


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[BDASPNY]

i see you'll be grinding all winter too! lol

the color of all those pods look great. ive been going the lower temp route as well. takes forever but the colors are worth it.

what equipment do you use for grinding. any preference between flakes vs powder?

 

[PaulG]

i see you'll be grinding all winter too! lol
​Not something I look forward to. I still have 3 quarts of
dried white PdN x BMJ pods from 2018 I haven't ground, yet! 
the color of all those pods look great. ive been going the lower temp route as well. takes forever but the colors are worth it.

what equipment do you use for grinding. any preference between flakes vs powder?

 
I use a little coffee grinder for just a little grind, and I
have an old blender I use for larger amounts. Not perfect,
but works okay. I sift the grinds to make the powders finer,
and use the coarser bits for flakes. I think there is a bit more
flavor in the flakes, just because the pieces are larger, but the
heat/quantity is easier to control with the fine powder - just a
sprinkle, or really load it up.
 
About the only thing I use the flakes for is pizza. I don't really 
like the coarse flakes getting stuck in my teeth : )

 

[PaulG]

Well done Sir[emoji106]


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Thanks, Bryan. Good to have this part of the season wrapped up.

 

[BDASPNY]

I use a little coffee grinder for just a little grind, and I
have an old blender I use for larger amounts. Not perfect,
but works okay. I sift the grinds to make the powders finer,
and use the coarser bits for flakes. I think there is a bit more
flavor in the flakes, just because the pieces are larger, but the
heat/quantity is easier to control with the fine powder - just a
sprinkle, or really load it up.
 
About the only thing I use the flakes for is pizza. I don't really 
like the coarse flakes getting stuck in my teeth : )

that's pretty close to what I do. only difference is I use a small food processor for flakes then into coffee grinder.

 

[CaneDog]

Wow Paul, very impressive.  Must be great to look on the shelf and see all those jars of brightly colored goodness.
 
And painter's tape huh?  I may try that now as often the masking tape sticks and leaves a residue to scrub off.

 

[PaulG]

Wow Paul, very impressive.  Must be great to look on the shelf and see all those jars of brightly colored goodness.
 
And painter's tape huh?  I may try that now as often the masking tape sticks and leaves a residue to scrub off.

I wish those pods tasted as good as they look!

The painters tape even lasts the season on my
outdoor plant name tags, so I can use them again.
3M brand seems to work best on the outdoor stuff.

 

[PaulG]

Got a couple of nice hits in the mail:

Thanks to Mr. Joe (top) and bpiela for the awesome
selections. There are going to be some tough decisions
come January !

 

[PaulG]

Picked about 60% of the pods on the hanging
JA Mushroom plants. Only a couple had a soft
spot. The pods left on the plants are all close,
and mostly still firm:

Put four trays in the dehydrator. Fortunately,
these dry pretty fast, comparatively. Thought
I was done drying pods. Sigh :

You might have noticed that some pods have
two lobes, and others three. Some of the later,
smaller ones have four, but not many of those.

The next trays of the Mushrooms will surely be the
last, right? Oh, I just remembered, I will be getting a
bunch of c. chacoense pods sometime in the near future

 

[CaneDog]

Well, at least chacoense pods dry fast!  Those mushrooms look like they could take a while. 
 
What's your take on the mushrooms?  Have you used them fresh at all versus dried?

 

[Devv]

Sad to see your grow come to a close, and I do know about the huge "sigh" when it's over.
 
Great job this season! Plenty of killer plants and pods. You certainly make the best of the weather that's handed to you..

 

[PaulG]

Well, at least chacoense pods dry fast!  Those mushrooms look like they could take a while. 
 
What's your take on the mushrooms?  Have you used them fresh at all versus dried?

Actually, being more thin- walled, they dry more
quickly than many of the chinense pods. I was sur-
prized by this the first time I dried some.

As I was cutting these today, I ate slivers off a number of pods.
The flavor is bomb, sweet with just a bit of tang. The heat varied,
sort of like with jalapeños, but never more than a little tongue burn.
Perhaps a whole pod might pack more of a punch, but I think this
is an excellent pod. Should be great for powder or ferment, maybe
toss in a Habanero or three just to add some kick. Also would make
awesome stuffers if the top is cut out like a jack-o-lantern.

Bonus. Easy to de-seed, dry or fresh. Seeds packed like a Rocoto.

Maybe I will just keep the last dozen, still a on the plant, to eat
fresh for awhile!

Also thinking about growing three of these next season in three
gallon pots. Three of these and three Padrons would make for
some great eatin!

 

[PaulG]

Sad to see your grow come to a close, and I do know about the huge "sigh" when it's over.
 
Great job this season! Plenty of killer plants and pods. You certainly make the best of the weather that's handed to you..

Thanks, Scott. Definitely had my share of luck
this season. Have just got to learn to cope with
the ‘new’ weather normal.

Hoping you have avoided freezing, and see
some nice pods in the future.