ronniedeb's 2014 season

stickman · Oct 8, 2014

Lots of nice color on your chiles Ronan... you get to pick into November!? Okay... I'm officially jealous!

As far north as you are, and dealing with the cold wind off the North Sea, I'd say you've got your technique nailed guy! :dance:

ronniedeb · Oct 9, 2014

stickman said:
Lots of nice color on your chiles Ronan... you get to pick into November!? Okay... I'm officially jealous! As far north as you are, and dealing with the cold wind off the North Sea, I'd say you've got your technique nailed guy!

Haha. I pick in November with the help of a greenhouse, a thermostat heater to keep things frost free and some supplemental light from next week on. Saying that, our Autumns are usually mild enough. Usually doesn't get much below freezing until December-January. Despite our Northern Latitude, the Gulf Stream keeps winters mild (and summers cool).

ronniedeb · Oct 20, 2014

Season gradually coming to a close. No more nutrients going in the reservoirs. Turning the light on for a couple of hours in the evening starting tonight hopefully.

This week's harvest:

2 of only 4 ripe pubescens from 5 plants so far. These are Rocoto Montufar (PI 585273):

Chocolate Primo?? Meant to be regular 7 Pod Primo

Bonda Ma Jacques. They smell so good when cut open.

PIC 1 · Oct 20, 2014

Wow....Ronan that harvest is really impressive for this time in the year.......how many of those do you take to the local pub ?........

I agree the Bonda Ma Jacques has an awesome smell when cut open.....those are the perfect shape..that's how they look at the open air markets on St Lucia.

Devv · Oct 20, 2014

Glad to see you're still pulling and putting that greenhouse to good use

ronniedeb · Oct 21, 2014

PIC 1 said:
Wow....Ronan that harvest is really impressive for this time in the year.......how many of those do you take to the local pub ?........

I agree the Bonda Ma Jacques has an awesome smell when cut open.....those are the perfect shape..that's how they look at the open air markets on St Lucia.

Thanks Greg! Dont go to the pub that often, Homebrew usually. As it happens though, I am going to the pub tomorrow for the soccer match, so may bring a few half time nibbles!!!

Yeah, those pods were from an overwintered Bonda. Definitely a variety I will grow again.

Devv said:
Glad to see you're still pulling and putting that greenhouse to good use

Thanks Devv! The greenhouse is definitely used. Full to the brim at the moment!

stickman · Oct 25, 2014

That Rocoto Montufar looks impressive... is it fairly slow growing like the Manzano? What are your impressions of the flavor and heat? The rest is looking excellent for the time of season. Keep up the ~~good~~ great work!

ronniedeb · Oct 25, 2014

stickman said:
That Rocoto Montufar looks impressive... is it fairly slow growing like the Manzano? What are your impressions of the flavor and heat? The rest is looking excellent for the time of season. Keep up the ~~good~~ great work!

Thanks Rick. I'm not the right man to ask about pubescens. I have no luck with them, and hence little valuable experience. This year I've managed about 6 pods from 4 plants. I read recently that they are more sensitive to changes in soil temperature. Next year I will plant some in the ground instead of in containers, see if that makes a difference. The Montufar tastes good to me though. It's also meant to be faster to produce than other pubescens.

This weeks harvest:

Pulled some annuum plants that were going mouldy. Serrano, Chimayo and India Jwala, hence the green pods.

30 varieties:

Katie Pods.

Dulce Dolor, so slow to ripen.

A few Katie pods left to harvest as well.

stickman · Oct 25, 2014

ronniedeb said:
Thanks Rick. I'm not the right man to ask about pubescens. I have no luck with them, and hence little valuable experience. This year I've managed about 6 pods from 4 plants. I read recently that they are more sensitive to changes in soil temperature. Next year I will plant some in the ground instead of in containers, see if that makes a difference. The Montufar tastes good to me though. It's also meant to be faster to produce than other pubescens.

Very cool! The part about being sensitive to variations in soil temperature makes sense... I've only ever planted Manzanos in-ground for pod production, and pot them up to keep them alive indoors through the winter. You've got me wondering though... I always put down infra-red transparent plastic mulch that uses sunlight to passively warm the soil. This works great in spring and fall, but the plants drop blossoms like crazy during the hottest part of the summer, so next year I'm going to have to experiment with putting reflective mulch (like shredded white paper) on top of the IRT during the "dog days" and see if it helps with the flower drop. Then, when things start to cool off around labor day, I can remove the reflective mulch and let the IRT go back to warming the soil and extending the season on the other side.

Spicegeist · Oct 25, 2014

Good looking peppers. The brown primo looks like it crossed with a choco hab...

ronniedeb · Oct 25, 2014

Spicegeist said:
Good looking peppers. The brown primo looks like it crossed with a choco hab...

Thanks Spicegeist!

stickman said:
Very cool! The part about being sensitive to variations in soil temperature makes sense... I've only ever planted Manzanos in-ground for pod production, and pot them up to keep them alive indoors through the winter. You've got me wondering though... I always put down infra-red transparent plastic mulch that uses sunlight to passively warm the soil. This works great in spring and fall, but the plants drop blossoms like crazy during the hottest part of the summer, so next year I'm going to have to experiment with putting reflective mulch (like shredded white paper) on top of the IRT during the "dog days" and see if it helps with the flower drop. Then, when things start to cool off around labor day, I can remove the reflective mulch and let the IRT go back to warming the soil and extending the season on the other side.

Interesting stuff Rick. I will have to see if I can get some of this IRT mulch.

caveman · Oct 25, 2014

Read the thread really like what is going on here. Are you going to go.with a larger sized greenhouse next year?

Devv · Oct 25, 2014

Very nice Ronnie!

How long are you going to keep em running?

ronniedeb · Oct 25, 2014

caveman said:
Read the thread really like what is going on here. Are you going to go.with a larger sized greenhouse next year?

Thanks! If I could I would. Would need more land though!

Devv said:
Very nice Ronnie!

How long are you going to keep em running?

Thanks Devv. Probably for another 3 weeks or so.

stickman · Oct 26, 2014

ronniedeb said:
Interesting stuff Rick. I will have to see if I can get some of this IRT mulch.

North Carolina has different growing conditions than you do, but this is a generally useful article for background information... http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/hil/hil-8033.html

Here's a pretty good description of the different types of plastic mulches available and what they're good for... http://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/factsheets/plasticprimer.html

This is the type I use for my tomatoes, peppers, squash and cucumbers... http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-5448-solar-mulch-4-x-50.aspx#

Cheers!

ronniedeb · Oct 26, 2014

stickman said:
North Carolina has different growing conditions than you do, but this is a generally useful article for background information... http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/hil/hil-8033.html

Here's a pretty good description of the different types of plastic mulches available and what they're good for... http://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/factsheets/plasticprimer.html

This is the type I use for my tomatoes, peppers, squash and cucumbers... http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-5448-solar-mulch-4-x-50.aspx#

Cheers!

Cheers to you Rick. That's some good info there.

PIC 1 · Oct 28, 2014

Nice photos especially the shot with the 30 varieties.

Another 3 weeks of growing is fantastic !
You'll probably have a slow steady flow of ripening pods......which sure beats getting whacked all at once with a big harvest.

ronniedeb · Oct 28, 2014

PIC 1 said:
Nice photos especially the shot with the 30 varieties.

Another 3 weeks of growing is fantastic !
You'll probably have a slow steady flow of ripening pods......which sure beats getting whacked all at once with a big harvest.

Thanks. Yeah Greg, you're right. Harvest has slowed significantly this week. I have some tender garden plants I need to put in the greenhouse, so hope the peppers ripen soon!

ronniedeb · Nov 6, 2014

This week's harvest:

Nice Katie harvest this week. Some more left on plant as well

The Inca Berry pods are just starting to ripen really. My last harvest will be full of green baccatums by the look of it.

Faria has been a great variety this year. Very productive.

Malagueta has been poor, although these pods are more like the size they should be.

Think these are Alberto's Rocoto, from an overwintered and unlabelled plant.

"7 Pod Primo" showing a variety of colours. The redder one was in deep shade.

The award for pepper variety most enjoyed by species other than homo sapiens goes to....... Habanero Brown Large. Seriously, it's been unreal the amount of pods taken by what I presume are slugs and snails. I would guess about 30-40 at this stage. About the same as I've harvested.

stickman · Nov 6, 2014

Nice looking pods Ronan!

Have you sampled that powder yet?