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PeriPeri's Grow 13/14/15/2016: South African

Welcome to PeriPeri's Grow 13/14/15/2016: South Africa
 
If you would like to see the 2012/2013 Grow, you can see it Here

First a little info about our country:

South Africa is situated at the very southern tip of the African continent. Our country ranges a divers spectrum of cultures and religions and of course habitats. Our country is flanked by the Atlantic on the SW coast line and the Indian Ocean on the NE coast line. Our diverse habitats range from tropical to sub saharan and even desert up north. One thing is for sure, the high summer temperatures and generally mild winter temperatures mean that our country does offer a great opportunity to grow chillies (among other things). To those who are not familiar with our country, Africa probably conjurs up images of harsh barren landscapes with dry baked un-fertile soil and wild animals roaming all over the place. South Africa is probably one of the most established african countries with a large farming sector and loads of fertile soil.

The locality of where this grow will take place is largely situated inland near Pretoria. Altitude here is about 4000ft above sea level. We are talking mild winters with some frost early mornings (temperatures drop at night due to altitude). Daytime temps in winter are round about 21ºC and night time temps can drop as low as -4ºC on a very cold night. There is no rain on the "Highveldt" as we call it in winter. As a rule of thumb all months of the year without an "R" do not have rain. These are our dry months, which go from May till August. Our summer is also our rainy season. This goes from September till April. Temperatures in Pretoria in Summer vary 30ºC - 40ºC daytime to a low of 17ºC on average at night. While there is often long dry spells without rain, rains usually accumulate as huge thunderstorms that bring flash floods, hail and sever lightning.

The farm has a borehole which provides water for the garden. Although at present there is no irrigation system. One of my projects for this year.

Animal wise, we have loads of insects, snakes, scorpions, spiders, primates (Baboons and Vervet Monkeys) as well as Carnivores such as Jackals, Rooicats (mountain lion) and other smaller wild cats. But as far as chillies go, the monkeys and baboons are the biggest problem as they do eat the milder chillies and destroy plants while foraging. There are no traps big enough for monkeys and generally they are very clever to get around most deterrents, so full enclosure with shade netting is the best way.

Other than this, I would say that while there has been much bad publicity about the country in the press, our country is a beautiful country with diversity everywhere, the land, the people, the cultures and the religions. Hence our country is called the rainbow nation. Most famous person is probably Nelson Mandella who established our new democracy in the New South Africa after the apartheit era. Our country is a young democracy in the making - but most of all, our country is a diverse and beautiful country with much to offer and of course home of the Big 5, Blue Whale and Great White Shark... and much much more. Just a quick and very narrow snapshot of what our wonderful country is about!

Last years experience has given me a better understanding of growing at the farm and these are the pitfalls from my exercise last year.

Generally last year was a great season. Great weather - hot and dry. Lots of mistakes made, but things that will not be repeated. Last year we had about 78 different varieties of chillies. We had an estimated 1000 plants in the soil. Last season was our first season growing in the soil and based on previous experiences with growing in pots... I will say adieu to pots and hello soil.

1) Watering. As mentioned there is no irrigation. Water is available a plenty, but regular watering in these hot climates is a must. So for me, I will be looking closely at getting some sort of a watering system up and running. Added problem is that the farm is located about 1 hour from where I live, so watering every day during the week was reliant on staff at the farm watering ever second day during the week. Staffing issues resulted in the loss of quite a few plants due to non watering. So irrigation and a computer will be priority.

2) Season. Last year we started planting seedlings late October/Early November. This year we aim to be in the soil early October. Germination started earlier this season beginning July. I have also acquired a green house which I will use for the seedlings.

3) Planting. Last year planting got into a big muddle. This year I will be more methodical. Also, we planted too close. We found that this becomes a problem when harvesting. We did not feel that last years approach of planting two seedlings together being a problem. We did not notice any significant lower yield with plants that had been planted together as opposed to individually. And found that the cohabitation of plants together (in pairs) actually helped in areas where seedlings were exposed to direct sun. In fact, cohabitation resulted in better growth and larger plants.

4) Spacing. Last year we planted seedlings approx 45cm apart. We would like to extend this to 60cm as we found 45cm to be too dense. We were happy with using channels and rows which helped retain water for approx two - three days between watering and helped channel any run off out of the field. Also, there was no pooling or puddling which was better I think.

5) Insects/monkeys/Snails. Mostly cutworm issues with small seedlings. We will tackle this by using (Stickman's stick method) and through pellets - if need be. Pepper maggots: We suffered quite extensively with Pepper Maggots. We will implement sacrificial boundary plants, fly tapes and beer traps (not for me but the wasps). Monkeys: Plant inside enclosures only. We will be looking at extending the current shade net enclosure, but will need to raise funding for this. Giant African Land Snail: Amazing buggers these. We found lots but only a few that had dug into the plants root system to suck the minerals from plant roots. Not much of a threat as these were just removed by hand, but the enclosure goes a long way to preventing them from getting in.

6) Weeds. Last year we had a problem with weeds. Weeds were time consuming at the start of the season and probably brought about by the application of horse manure. We will try and look at applying some kind of ground cover to reduce weeds, but this will be advised at a later stage.

7) Planting. Last year we took young seedlings and planted them in a nursery. Once big enough we transplanted them densely in the inside enclosed garden (which has 40% shade cloth) and then transplanted the young plants to the open fields once about 15 - 20cm in size. We would like to cut out all the extra work and transplanting, which we found to just delay growth. Every time you transplant, the plant growth is set back... so we will be planting directly into the plants final destination. This means we will be waiting for the pants to get to 15-20cm in size before planting in the soil. Last season we planted seedlings in the soil when they were very small and this also resulted in losses through cutworm.

8) Fertilizers. Nothing hectic. The soil at the farm is incredibly rich and fertile soil. But we found last year that Seaweed and Fish fertilizers to be brilliant and totally harmless. So we will definitely be sticking with this recipe. Out of time constraint, last season, pellets were applied to the surface as opposed to mixing the pellets into the soil around the base of the plant, so this season we will try and do this properly. We alo will pay particular attention to maintaining the mounds around the root base and regularly loosening the soil. With our flash floods and heavy downpours the mounds do flatten and the soil becomes compacted. This results in roots being exposed, water running off the soil as opposed to into the soil and ultimately impacting on the plants optimal growth.

9) Support. Last year we added support as the plants became bigger. Not knowing how big some of the plants would get. We have a better idea this year and will be implementing supports at the beginning. We have two types of bamboo on the farm and will be using the harder thinner bamboo as this does not disturb the roots as much.

10) Drink. More beer. Last year we did not have nearly enough beer to get us through the backbreaking work... so there will have to be more beer for sure :) Just one more thing on that, Nature is an amazing process. Trust in nature. Everything has its place and jumping to intervene (which we always want to do) is sometimes the worst thing that we can do. Plants are very forgiving once established and a lot more resilient than we give them credit for. So chill. Have a beer when the nerves are frayed and you want to reach for the napalm. Nature is amazing most of the time and things in nature have survived a million times over. For aphids there are ladybirds. For insects there are the birds... if you napalm the aphids, the ladybirds will go... just chill and have a beer :) This is my theory and I am sticking to it lol

Ok, lots on the cards this year. plenty to do and arrange and it will be kicking off shortly. The plants from last year are still in the garden and field. I only over wintered the special plants. Of these there are 100 mature plants that I rescued from the winter frost. The other 900 plants are still in the soil. It looks like armageddon in the fields. Some plants have been taken by the frost for sure, but others are showing signs of life. I plan to go this week to weed out the dead plants from the survivors and prune dead wood. I am planning to rearrange things somewhat, so once I have established the survivors, I will be transplanting those plants to get order back into the fields. This will allow me to get the vacant land ready for new plants.

As mentioned germination is well under way. Propagator has been fired up now for month and a bit and seedlings are coming along just great. First week of October will be my D-Day for planting.

Loads of exciting new chillies on the go this season. I had intended to cut down on the number of plants this year... but guess what :D

Grow List 2013/2014

Aji Lemon
Angkor Sunrise
Anheim
Antilaise Caribbean
Avenir
Baby Belle Pimento
Bahamian Goat
Bali Long
Bali Naga
Bhut Jolokia
Bhut Jolokia Cappuccino
Bhut Jolokia Chocolate
Bhut Jolokia Peach
Bhut Jolokia X Habanero Giant White
Big Jim
Bile Bile (Zimbabwean PeriPeri)
Biquinho
Bishops Crown
Black Pearl
Blondie
Bonda Ma Jacques
Boriya Mirch
Cabe Merah
Calapeño Thunder
California Wonder Golden
Calypso
CARDI Red
Carolina Reaper
Cayenne
Joe's Long Cayenne
Cherry Sweet
Cherry Bomb
Cheyenne
Cheyenne X Thai
Condom (Aji Verde)
Datil
Devil's Tongue Brown
Devil's Tongue White
Ecuadorian Sweet
Explosive Embers
Facing Heaven
Fatalii Red
Fatalii White
Fatalii Yellow
Fidalga Roxa
Fish Pepper
Goronong Cili
Habanero Big Sun
Habanero Champagne
Habanero Gambia
Habanero Golden
Habanero Paper Lantern
Habanero Peach Long
Habanero Red
Habanero Large White
Habanero White Jellybean
Hong Kong
Hot Pixies
Hungarian Hot Wax
Hungarian Sweet Wax
Hungarian White Apple
Ignite
Jalapeño
Jalapeño El Jefe
Jamaican Gold
Jawala
Long Thai
Madballz7
Makulu Peri
Malaguetta
Manzano Orange
Mata Frade
Morango
Naga King Jolokia
Naga Morich (European)
Naga Morich (Indian)
Naga Viper
NagaBon
Nagalah
Orange Blob
Pasilla Bajio
Pata Pario
PeriPeri (Mozambique)
PeriPeri (Malawi)
PeriPeri (SA)
Phuli Jiyoti
Pimenta de Neyde
Purple Tiger
Red Savina
Ring of Fire
Rocotillo
Rodo
CARDI Yellow Scorpion
Scarlet Lantern
Scotch Bonnet
Scotch Bonnet Peach Long
Serrano
Sikanya
Tabasco
Thai Dragon
Thaibo
Trinidad 7 Pot Barrakpore
Trinidad 7 Pot Jonah X Trinidad Scorpion ButchT
Trinidad 7 Pot Primo
Trinidad 7 Pot Brainstrain
Trinidad 7 Pot Burgundy
Trinidad 7 Pot Douglah
Trinidad 7 Pot Jonah
Trinidad 7 Pot Red
Trinidad 7 Pot White
Trinidad Scorpion ButchT
Trinidad Scorpion Moruga
Trinidad Perfume
Trinidad Scorpion ButchT X Bhut Jolokia
Trinidad Scorpion ButchT X Trinidad 7 Pot Primo
Trinidad Scorpion ButchT X Moruga
Trinidad Scorpion CARDI Yellow X Bhut Jolokia
Trinidad Scorpion Long Tail
Trinidad Scorpion Moruga Chocolate
Trinidad Scorpion Sunrise
Trinidad Scorpion Yellow FG
Tuscan Frgitello (Pepperoncini)
 
122 different types - I hope that will be it :D
 
Thank you to Stickman for the seeds. Thank you to Conor for his seeds and thank you to Meatfreak for the amazing selection he sent. I am still hoping that Walkgood's package will arrive - so thanks for those in advance my friend!
 
 
 
Lourens,
Congrats on the start to a new season.
 
Huge grow list.........liking it !
 
I like your 10 step approach to fine tuning this yrs process........it only gets easier, with age.......experience
 
Greg 
 
PIC 1 said:
Lourens,
Congrats on the start to a new season.
 
Huge grow list.........liking it !
 
I like your 10 step approach to fine tuning this yrs process........it only gets easier, with age.......experience
 
Greg 
Hey Greg - thank you my friend. The best part is having a community with experienced guys like yourself that we can ask questions :D
 
OMW!!!!!!!!!!FINALY cant wait!!!!! Hope your season 8s a success my friend,thanks for the seeds,may God bless your season
Ps. You are not theonly one growing in sa,hoping to start my glog soon,just need to figure out how to build a propogator
 
chilli whisperer said:
OMW!!!!!!!!!!FINALY cant wait!!!!! Hope your season 8s a success my friend,thanks for the seeds,may God bless your season
Ps. You are not theonly one growing in sa,hoping to start my glog soon,just need to figure out how to build a propogator
lol great stuff! Propagators can be as simple or as complicated as you want them to be. I made mine out of bits and bobs and it can germinated 700 seed cells and runs off just four low energy globes... works a charm!
 
Yaotzin said:
Cool great list man I can't wait to see how you get on!
Thank you - I said I would cut down this season... but that just wasn't ever going to happen now was it? lol
 
Stefan_W said:
That is quite the grow list, Lourens! I look forward to seeing things as they progress into a full grown jungle :)
Hey Stefan, compliments on your achievements this season my friend! You made the near impossible possible - well done. Going to be frantic this season!
 
jedisushi06 said:
nice list.
Thanks man - never enough though lol
 
Hi Lourens,
 
Ambitious grow you have planned!
 
Now that you're seasoned grower and have all that knowledge to bank on, things should really rock this year!
 
Looking forward to seeing how things progress this year, Good luck!
 
jedisushi06 said:
Can't wait to see some pictures this winter when i can't grow my own!
A well deserved res for you chilliheads in the North!
Devv said:
Hi Lourens,
 
Ambitious grow you have planned!
 
Now that you're seasoned grower and have all that knowledge to bank on, things should really rock this year!
 
Looking forward to seeing how things progress this year, Good luck!
Thank you Scott - lots of chillies this year. I hope I will manage to sort out the irrigation!
 
Woot da new glog has begun!!!
 
Lourens, I’m so happy you got a new glog going so I can hang up my hat, stop dealing with bugs, hot weather, dis & dat, now I can sit in the AC behind my lappy and live vicariously thru your grow … brethren don’t forget da foodie ;)
 
Dam what an impressive list \o/ dis will be another great year mon!
 
On another note I’m very sad my seeds did not reach you or I’m sure I’d see a MoA, JA Hab and White Bhut on your list. I will have to resend a different way soon and this time try the birthday card trick, hopefully your chiliHead postal worker or mine will show some sympathy, lol.
 
Here’s to you having another great year mon :cheers:
 
And we are off and racing!! On you grow lourens best of luck bro. Great list ... On a quick scan down it one thing caught my attention .. Calapeno thunder?? Seems like a name for a strain of another type of plant ;)
 
Best of luck with your new season, Lourens. I like your approach, it's very similar in how I start my new season. I also make a list now during season of things I run across or experience so I won't forget at the end of the season ;) Love your growlist and I hope they all germinate well for you! I like to give my thoughts on points 3 and 4. This season I also tested with having more plants together on 1 spot and experienced the same results as you describe. I have spots with 1, 2 or 3 plants and found the ones with 3 plants performed just as good if not better. Also the branches of the plants supports each other, unless the crowns got to heavy I still had to trellis them :lol: The yield is of course a lot higher because there's 3 plants on one spot. I for one will do the same next season with all my varieties. This season I kept a spacing of 60cm between the rows and already again I'm experiencing troubles with getting through ;) For next season I'm thinking of 2 rows with 60cm spacing, then a path of 1 meter and 2 rows of plants again. Over and over. Unless you don't have the space for it it's not an option but since you have more plants on a spot it creates more "space" to do this :) These are just thoughts of mine, not saying you have to do it but maybe it gives you some new ideas or something :lol:
 
Hi Lourens,
   Wishing you the best of luck in your coming season. You've got great growing skills, so I know you'll do well if the weather and the critters cooperate. I wonder if you can teach the Vervet Monkeys to eat the Giant Snails instead of your sweet peppers... ;)
 
Best wishes for another super hot successful season, Lourens.
 
That list of 10 is very good to reflect on. I need to do a more intensive evaluation myself, "a write it down to make it stick" type guide line. Great idea!
 
Can't wait to see some new peppers in the ground.
 
WalkGood said:
Woot da new glog has begun!!!
 
Lourens, I’m so happy you got a new glog going so I can hang up my hat, stop dealing with bugs, hot weather, dis & dat, now I can sit in the AC behind my lappy and live vicariously thru your grow … brethren don’t forget da foodie ;)
 
Dam what an impressive list \o/ dis will be another great year mon!
 
On another note I’m very sad my seeds did not reach you or I’m sure I’d see a MoA, JA Hab and White Bhut on your list. I will have to resend a different way soon and this time try the birthday card trick, hopefully your chiliHead postal worker or mine will show some sympathy, lol.
 
Here’s to you having another great year mon :cheers:
Thank you Ramon. No slacking off on my account my friend - you still have loads of sunshine your side lol I was really looking forward to your envelope - damn thieves I tell ya! Those chillies of yours looked mighty fine. Well, a drink to drown my sorrows!
 
Trippa said:
And we are off and racing!! On you grow lourens best of luck bro. Great list ... On a quick scan down it one thing caught my attention .. Calapeno thunder?? Seems like a name for a strain of another type of plant ;)
Thank you Trippa - you too my friend! How are the Reapers doing? Calapeno Thunder = California Wonder X Jalapeno :) Found some hybrids in my field and hopefully I will have some more this year - who knows!
 
meatfreak said:
Best of luck with your new season, Lourens. I like your approach, it's very similar in how I start my new season. I also make a list now during season of things I run across or experience so I won't forget at the end of the season ;) Love your growlist and I hope they all germinate well for you! I like to give my thoughts on points 3 and 4. This season I also tested with having more plants together on 1 spot and experienced the same results as you describe. I have spots with 1, 2 or 3 plants and found the ones with 3 plants performed just as good if not better. Also the branches of the plants supports each other, unless the crowns got to heavy I still had to trellis them :lol: The yield is of course a lot higher because there's 3 plants on one spot. I for one will do the same next season with all my varieties. This season I kept a spacing of 60cm between the rows and already again I'm experiencing troubles with getting through ;) For next season I'm thinking of 2 rows with 60cm spacing, then a path of 1 meter and 2 rows of plants again. Over and over. Unless you don't have the space for it it's not an option but since you have more plants on a spot it creates more "space" to do this :) These are just thoughts of mine, not saying you have to do it but maybe it gives you some new ideas or something :lol:
Hey Stefan - you know, the African sun is a killer. It just fries little plants in seconds... so the theory was that through cohabitation thry would give one another shelter and support. I think it does work. The initial concept was to pull one once big enough... but I just couldn't do it - I'm not a chilli killer lol I like your feedback on the spacing. I too have been considering this and actually used this inside in the enclosed area. This worked very well indeed. I hate trampling and snapping off branches when they are too dense. All very valid points - thank you - I will definitely be doing that!
 
stickman said:
Hi Lourens,
   Wishing you the best of luck in your coming season. You've got great growing skills, so I know you'll do well if the weather and the critters cooperate. I wonder if you can teach the Vervet Monkeys to eat the Giant Snails instead of your sweet peppers... ;)
lol ooooh dem monkeys - or I could teach the Giant Land Snails to eat monkeys??
 
JJJessee said:
Best wishes for another super hot successful season, Lourens.
 
That list of 10 is very good to reflect on. I need to do a more intensive evaluation myself, "a write it down to make it stick" type guide line. Great idea!
 
Can't wait to see some new peppers in the ground.
Thank you JJJessee! All still hooks and small seedlings at the mo. We have all seen to many of those! But loads of pics will come for sure! Stay tuned...
chilli whisperer said:
Lol just those plain energy saving bulbs??? Or the round ones?
I use those twisted energy saving ones. They work great for me. Depending on the construction, you can use a couple. The conventional old fashioned bulbs get too hot I think and use much more electricity. I'll drop you a line shortly on making that Propagator!
 
YAYYYYY! I'm excited fr this years Peri Peri grow. I can't wait for all those wonderful pics and hopefully vids. Good luck and I'm sure this will be epic like last year
 
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