PaulG
eXtreme
I have two pubescens growing. One is a late start, and hasn't flowered yet.
The other is a seed from Beth at Peppermania, an Orange Rocoto. That one
is the subject of this post.
The plant has been tempermental since it was a seedling.
It always seemed difficult to get the watering and lighting
just right when it was under the lights (6500K T12). Once
outside, it wound up in a sunny spot, and the sun has made
life hard for it. Next year, I will keep it in a more dappled
shade area. The plant set three pods in Early summer,
but once temps increased, it stopped setting pods, but
kept flowering. When the weather cooled a bit the last
couple of weeks, it finally set some more pods, and now
has over a dozen. The original three are ripening. This
plant is in a 10 gallon container.
The original three pods. One had a severe sunburn during a
stretch of really hot days.
Recently, there have been more pods setting:
Hope this is helpful. I'm optimistic that I will get some ripe pods for seeds
and sampling this year. Will definitely try to grow them next year, as well.
- What is your latitude, and northern or southern hemisphere? (Southern hemisphere has more water than northern, so that may be a factor.)
Just above 45th parallel. Elevation 200feet (61m). USDA hardiness zone 8-9, Sunset climate Zone 6 (Warmer summers and cooler winters distinguish Zone 6 from coastal Zone 5. Tucked between the Coast Range and the Cascades, Zone 6 includes the Willamette Valley in Oregon, the Columbia River Valley between Vancouver and Longview, and the Cowlitz drainage from Longview to Toledo.
The Coast Range buffers the impact of Pacific storms, but Zone 6 is still a maritime climate,with a long growing season (from 155 days at Cottage Grove to 280 days in Portland neighborhoods) and 40 to 55 inches of annual precipitation most places. The continental influence is felt two to four times each winter when chilly interior air flows west through the Columbia Gorge and produces wind and freezing rain clear to the Portland airport. In spite of this, Portland is among the mildest parts of Zone 6—a great place to experiment with borderline plants like eucalyptus, acacias, and oleanders. Summer temperatures in Zone 6 average 10 to 15°F (5 to 8°C) higher than those along the coast, while winters are cold enough to trigger good fruit set. Ten-year extremes average 0 to 10°F (–18 to –12°C). Warm summers and chilly winters make the Willamette Valley one of the West’s best-known growing areas for berries, hazelnuts, roses, flowering fruit trees, and broadleafed evergreens.)
- Average temps over the last month, by week.
night: 41-65, mostly in low 50's. Nights starting to cool off, now
day: 74-105, mostly in high 70's to 80's
- In ground or in pots?
One in 10 gallon container, another in a 7 gallon root pouch
- What ferts?
Alaska Fish Fertilizer and Alaska Mor Bloom every 2-3 weeks
Foliar Kelp once in a while
- What soil and what soil conditions?
1/3 each peat, compost, horticultural pumice. Bone Meal added to soil several weeks before plant out. Mycos/humic added at plant out time, and at each potting up.
drip irrigation with 1/4" (6-7mm) soaker rings - 25psi low pressure system.
- When did you either pot up to final pot size or put in the ground?
first week of June
- What pH?
not sure
- When did you start seeds, if you did?
Jan 22nd 2012
- First-year or 2nd year (etc.) plant(s)?
Both first year
- Hours of direct sunlight/day?
Noon until sunset direct sun, very hot some days
- Average humidity?
Relative humidity is highest during early morning hours, and is generally 80-100 percent throughout the year. Humidity is generally lowest during the afternoon, ranging from 70-80 percent during January to 30-50 percent during summer.
The other is a seed from Beth at Peppermania, an Orange Rocoto. That one
is the subject of this post.
The plant has been tempermental since it was a seedling.
It always seemed difficult to get the watering and lighting
just right when it was under the lights (6500K T12). Once
outside, it wound up in a sunny spot, and the sun has made
life hard for it. Next year, I will keep it in a more dappled
shade area. The plant set three pods in Early summer,
but once temps increased, it stopped setting pods, but
kept flowering. When the weather cooled a bit the last
couple of weeks, it finally set some more pods, and now
has over a dozen. The original three are ripening. This
plant is in a 10 gallon container.
The original three pods. One had a severe sunburn during a
stretch of really hot days.
Recently, there have been more pods setting:
Hope this is helpful. I'm optimistic that I will get some ripe pods for seeds
and sampling this year. Will definitely try to grow them next year, as well.
- What is your latitude, and northern or southern hemisphere? (Southern hemisphere has more water than northern, so that may be a factor.)
Just above 45th parallel. Elevation 200feet (61m). USDA hardiness zone 8-9, Sunset climate Zone 6 (Warmer summers and cooler winters distinguish Zone 6 from coastal Zone 5. Tucked between the Coast Range and the Cascades, Zone 6 includes the Willamette Valley in Oregon, the Columbia River Valley between Vancouver and Longview, and the Cowlitz drainage from Longview to Toledo.
The Coast Range buffers the impact of Pacific storms, but Zone 6 is still a maritime climate,with a long growing season (from 155 days at Cottage Grove to 280 days in Portland neighborhoods) and 40 to 55 inches of annual precipitation most places. The continental influence is felt two to four times each winter when chilly interior air flows west through the Columbia Gorge and produces wind and freezing rain clear to the Portland airport. In spite of this, Portland is among the mildest parts of Zone 6—a great place to experiment with borderline plants like eucalyptus, acacias, and oleanders. Summer temperatures in Zone 6 average 10 to 15°F (5 to 8°C) higher than those along the coast, while winters are cold enough to trigger good fruit set. Ten-year extremes average 0 to 10°F (–18 to –12°C). Warm summers and chilly winters make the Willamette Valley one of the West’s best-known growing areas for berries, hazelnuts, roses, flowering fruit trees, and broadleafed evergreens.)
- Average temps over the last month, by week.
night: 41-65, mostly in low 50's. Nights starting to cool off, now
day: 74-105, mostly in high 70's to 80's
- In ground or in pots?
One in 10 gallon container, another in a 7 gallon root pouch
- What ferts?
Alaska Fish Fertilizer and Alaska Mor Bloom every 2-3 weeks
Foliar Kelp once in a while
- What soil and what soil conditions?
1/3 each peat, compost, horticultural pumice. Bone Meal added to soil several weeks before plant out. Mycos/humic added at plant out time, and at each potting up.
drip irrigation with 1/4" (6-7mm) soaker rings - 25psi low pressure system.
- When did you either pot up to final pot size or put in the ground?
first week of June
- What pH?
not sure
- When did you start seeds, if you did?
Jan 22nd 2012
- First-year or 2nd year (etc.) plant(s)?
Both first year
- Hours of direct sunlight/day?
Noon until sunset direct sun, very hot some days
- Average humidity?
Relative humidity is highest during early morning hours, and is generally 80-100 percent throughout the year. Humidity is generally lowest during the afternoon, ranging from 70-80 percent during January to 30-50 percent during summer.
