Sawyer '14 - Seed Offer

A new season begins.  It's a work in progress, but here's my 2014 grow list as it now stands.  It will certainly have some additions as I'm still expecting some more acquisitions.  I hope it will have some deletions, too, because it's just too ridiculously long as it is now.  My hope is/was to grow at least 10 of each variety I grew and saved seeds from in 2013, in order to characterize the extent of cross pollination.  I may have to cut that back to 5 each, at least for some varieties.  Without further ado, here are the contenders:
 
2014:
7 Pots:
(3)Barrackpore
Brain Strain Yellow
Brain Strain Red
Brown (3 types)
Burgundy
Caramel
(3)Chocolate Barrackpore (2 types)
Congo SR Gigantic
(1,12)Douglah
Jonah
Large Red
Large Yellow
"not Red" (a serrano-/Inca Red Drop-shaped "not")
(5)Original Red
Peach
(5)Primo
(12)Red
(1,12)Yellow
(3,8,11)White

Trinidad Scorpions:
(5)Brown Moruga
(3,9)BubbleGum (2 types)
Butch T
CARDI
(6)Chocolate
(1,12)Red
Red Moruga/Moruga Blend
(3)Sweet
(5,12)Yellow Moruga/Moruga Blend
Yellow Original

Jolokias:
(12)Assam
(8)Black Naga
(3)BOC
Brown Bhut
(8) Giant Bhut
Naga King
(1,12)Naga Morich
"not white" Yellow Bhut
Orange Bhut
(8)Purple Bhut
Red Bhut
White Bhut
(1,12)Yellow Bhut

Crosses:
(8)D'Bhut (7P Douglah x BJ)
(4)Elysium Oxide Bonnet
(3,8)Jay's Peach Ghost Scorpion
(3)Jay's Red Ghost Scorpion
(1,6)FG Jigsaw
(1,7)Funky Reaper
(3)Madballz
(1,6,7)Reaper
(8)Sepia Serpent
Long Smooth Red
Spicy Bell

Manzano/Rocoto/Locoto:
(8)Manzano Amarillo
(2)Orange Manzano (2 types)
(2)Orange Locoto
Red Manzano
Yellow Manzano
(11)Giant Mexican Rocoto

Bonnets/Habaneros:
(2,3)Bahamian Goat
(2,3)Bonda Ma Jacques
Brown SB
Brown Congo
(9)Freeport Orange SB (Bahamian Goat?)
Giant White Hab
(12)JA Hot Choc Hab
Large Yellow-orange Hab (not GWH)
MoA SB
Orange Hab
(8)Snow White
Yellow Hab
White Bullet Hab

Other:
Datil
Yellow Fatalii
(8)White Fatalii
(3,8)White Devil's Tongue

Jalapeños:
(9)Ciclón
(9)Colima
Early
Pinata
(9)Tajin

Hatch-style:
(10)Heritage Big Jim
(10)Heritage 6-4

Miscellaneous:
Alma Paprika
Amarillo Chiltepin
(3)Blonde
(3)Brown Egg
(9)Chimayo
(9)Devil Serrano
(9)Fish
(3)GA Black
(3)Hungarian Hot Cherry
Large Red Hot Cherry
Pimenta de Neyde
(1,3)Tobago Treasure
(3)Trinidad Cherry
Trinidad Seasoning
(4)Tepin
(11)Orchid/Bishop's Crown
(4,11)Goat's Weed
(11)Brazilian Starfish
(11)Mako Akokasrade
(11)Bull's Heart

Ornamentals:
(10)NuMex Twilight
Chilly Chilli (F2)

Seeds from:
(1) - My own 2013 Grow (as are all otherwise unmarked entries)
(2) - PaulG
(3) - GA. Growhead
(4) - capsidadburn
(5) - PepperLover
(6) - Baker Creek
(7) - Devv
(8) - gnslngr
(9) - meatfreak
(10) - CPI
(11) - PL
(12) - MGOLD86
 
By my count, that's around 75 82 varieties, not counting the TBDs and expected new acquisitions.   I have more space available for in-grounds in the garden now, and also plan to expand the potted plant grow area.  I plan to add some enhancements this year, in terms of custom lighting for stage 2 growth (3.5" square pots), isolation techniques, cap-based repellents, and more.  Stay tuned to see what actually happens.
 
Edited list 1/5/14.
Edited list 1/19/14
Edited list 3/2/14, additions=blue, deletions=strike-through

 

[JoeFish]

Looking good Sawyer. You are still my Hero.

 

[Sawyer]

Glad to see things moving along color-wise, John.
 
Awesome Scorpion specimen, bro - that pod is HUGE!
 
I should have some pics up of pods from your seeds very soon.
They are some of the most productive in my grow this year,
especially the yellow Bhut and 7 Pot Burgundy.  There were some
nice pods on the Reapers, red and peach, but some of the plants
from the first round were small for some reason, the Reapers included.
 
Have fun harvesting, buddy!

 
Thanks, Paul.  That one Scorpion plant has more pods of similar size and pheno.  I'll be saving seeds from that one.
 
I look forward to seeing your pics.  My 7 Pots and Bhuts are just now starting to ripen en masse.  I've got Reapers from both my own seeds and Scott's and so far, I haven't noticed any true to type.  My plants are planted too close and for most of the season, it's been too cool and wet, so that may be screwing with the pheno.
 

 
Mine came in today from both companies, and all of them are sprouting, except the "bonus" root cuttings. I put them in 1 gallon pots until I can get in the garden, it poured here last night

 
My first round of root cuttings, I just put them in the ground and it got too dry and hot, I guess.  I dug them all up after a couple of weeks and found one that wasn't complete mush.  I managed to get it to sprout some tiny leaves in a pot, but then let it dry out too much (apparently).  The root crowns seem to be bullet-proof, but the cuttings need more TLC. 
 
It poured here on Wednesday, too, 2.5".  Too much to even get in the garden yesterday, but it sure made for some easy weeding today (and hopefully, tomorrow).
 

Large Scorpion you got there.  Must be on the roids
 
What exactly is comfrey, and what does it do?

 
Yeah, I don't know about that Scorp, but I'm for sure saving seeds.
 
Comfrey, where to begin?  It has a long history as a medicinal, for both internal and external uses.  Recent analyses, though, have consistently shown it to contain high levels of hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), so internal use is now discouraged.  It also contains allantoin, a compound linked to external healing, as well as growth stimulation in plants.  Comfrey is used in healing creams and it's also suggested to put a leaf in the bottom of transplant holes.  It sends down very deep roots, to bring up minerals from the subsoil.  It is alleged to be a very strong nitrogen accumulator and also to produce prodigious amounts of biomass.  Both of these characteristics lend support to its value as a mulch and compost producer, which is the main reason we THPers are growing it.  I don't think I've read this anywhere else, but I think of it as a kind of seaweed substitute for us land-locked growers.  Having said all that, this is my first year growing it, so, for me, it remains to be seen if it lives up to the hype.  One thing I can say, with absolute certainty, is that the wild rabbits around here love it.  Fortunately, it's a vigorous enough grower that they haven't killed any of the plants, yet; it just keeps growing back.  (And I'm soon going to find out to what extent it flavors rabbit stew.)
 
It does have a reputation for being invasive and can spread easily from seed.  Individual plants will spread through root growth, but that's a much slower process than seed dispersal.  So a lot a people grow only the sterile Bocking hybrids, of which there are two common cultivars, #4 and #14 (I have both).  Considering the massive problems I have with entirely useless (IMO) weeds like Johnson grass, pigweed, crabgrass, wild lettuce, lamb's quarters, and others, I'm not too worried about introducing a useful invasive, so I also have seeds for the regular variety, but I haven't started them yet.
 

Looking good Sawyer. You are still my Hero.

 
Thanks for that, Justin, but in my experience, heros will always let you down (Marvel and D.C. notwithstanding).  We're all equals here, and everybody can learn something from everyone.
 
I scouted the patch today and I really need to pick some pods.  Tomorrow is game day, so I'm not sure how much I'll get done then.  And Sunday will probably be a recovery day.  But I've got probably close to 3 or 4 gallons of pods out there ready to go.  Starting to lose some to over-ripeness and BER (especially on the Jals).  Time to shift into gear on the harvesting and processing.

 

[Jeff H]

 
 
What exactly is comfrey, and what does it do?

 
Uh oh. Sawyer, after H Jeff read your reply,  I predict we will have another comfrey convert in our midst. Good old Coe should be grateful to THP for all the business.

 

[Seacowboy]

Just ordered 10 crowns from Coe's. What was the other source you got them from?

 

[Sawyer]

Just ordered 10 crowns from Coe's. What was the other source you got them from?

 
Got the #14 from Horizon Herbs.  They have different quantities than linked (if you're looking for more or less) and there are also different vendors out there.  Just google Bocking comfrey and you'll see.

 

[Sawyer]

BTW, I wanted to mention, Trade Winds Fruit has just put a bunch of seeds on sale at 50¢/pack.  The list includes several varieties of peppers.
 
Disclaimer:  I have no affiliation with TWF, except as a satisfied customer.

 

[Devv]

 
Uh oh. Sawyer, after H Jeff read your reply,  I predict we will have another comfrey convert in our midst. Good old Coe should be grateful to THP for all the business.

 LOL, and the CD's will be a flowing...

 

[Jeff H]

BTW, I wanted to mention, Trade Winds Fruit has just put a bunch of seeds on sale at 50¢/pack.  The list includes several varieties of peppers.
 
Disclaimer:  I have no affiliation with TWF, except as a satisfied customer.
 

 
TWF does a pretty good job but they do have a couple bad seed packs. Scotch bonnets are actually Jamacian mushrooms, and the bhuts I ordered 2 years ago were habs. Everything else was fine.

 

[Devv]

 
TWF does a pretty good job but they do have a couple bad seed packs. Scotch bonnets are actually Jamacian mushrooms, and the bhuts I ordered 2 years ago were habs. Everything else was fine.

 
I bought "scotch Bonnets" from a seed company (I forget who) and they were Jamaican Mushrooms, and the White Habs were Orange...LOL

 

[Sawyer]

Seems like the Scotch Bonnet/Mushroom confusion is not isolated to TWF.  And I'm always skeptical of anything "white" until it grows true in my own garden.  And really, the only truly white peppers I've grown have been some White Bullet Habs from... I forget, and the White Bhuts from Judy.  Some others have been beautiful peppers, but were at best a creamy color, not true white.

 

[JJJessee]

Thanks for the heads up on the seed sale at TWF. I found a a few non-pepper items that struck my fancy. 

 

[KiNGDeNNiZ]

Devv. I've got some comfrey rus 14 as well. If you need I can send you some. Got them from my class this past spring
Playing with mantee:

You can see the comfrey in the background. .. as mentioned. The crowns will kick arse
Comfrey Russian 14:

This was taken in my class.

 

[Sawyer]

Thanks for the heads up on the seed sale at TWF. I found a a few non-pepper items that struck my fancy. 

 
You're welcome, JJJ.  I ordered 38 of those 50¢ packs, only a few of which are peppers.  TWF has become one of my top go to places, along with Baker's Creek and Horizon Herbs.
 

Devv. I've got some comfrey rus 14 as well. If you need I can send you some. Got them from my class this past spring
Playing with mantee:

You can see the comfrey in the background. .. as mentioned. The crowns will kick arse
Comfrey Russian 14:

This was taken in my class.

 
Thanks for videos, DeNNiZ.  There's some useful stuff in those.  (I think I saw more than comfrey in that first one. )

 

[Devv]

 
Thanks for videos, DeNNiZ.  There's some useful stuff in those.  (I think I saw more than comfrey in that first one. )

 
+1 on that!
 
Thanks for the offer Denniz, but I already bought Bocking4 and 14...wish I had waited. Hope it likes Tejas! It's really nice to know just how easy it is to propagate.

 

[ronniedeb]

On the subject of Comfrey's medicinal problem, the Irish for it is Meacna Leonta, which translates to Sprain Root. If you have a joint sprain it's typical to shave or peel wafer thin sections of the root and to apply it as a poultice with some saran wrap.
For the garden, I make a tea with the leaves in the spring and summer, put it in the shed overwinter and apply it to my peppers diluted the following year. It stinks like raw sewage by then. Good stuff.
 
Great growlog sawyer!

 

[gnslngr]

Hey John -
Guess who's playing catch up? I'm heading inbound to Galveston on the Polar Queen, a few days of demobe, a day or so in Houston, then head east to New Iberia.
The patch was recovering from August and aphid hell last trip in, managed a few pods from the Douglah x Butch T's, and a few NWYB(smaller ones-from a mite ridden plant)but all else starting to throw blossoms again, and have pods forming, so I should get lucky this time.
 
I really liked the Devil's Tongue Whites, which I didn't grow, as I was expecting overwinters when I planted seeds this year.They will go into the dirt again come Dec Jan, as I'm not going to be late next grow- June July makes for murderous plant out time, especially when you can't mind the flock for the most part.
 
Those MOA's look to be calenders girls !
 
Have a good one-
DJ

 

[Sawyer]

Well, I certainly dropped the ball on this glog.  I'll take a post or two to wrap this up and then move on to a new 2015 glog.  Hopefully I'll do better with that one.  I see a lot of the regular crowd have already started their 2015 glogs and I'll try to stop in on those.  Hope to at least glance at the ends of the glogs I followed last year.
 
Overall, my 2014 gardening year was a disaster (animals), except for the pepper grow, and even that was somewhat disappointing, given I had 250-300 plants in the ground.  That was far short of the 1000 I had targeted at the start of the year.  Anyway, I harvested roughly 100 pounds of mostly super hots, some hab-level heat, and maybe another 10 pounds or so of Hatch-style chiles and about that much jalapenos.  I have about 4 pounds of roasted, peeled, and seeded Hatch in the freezer awaiting inspiration, along with a few Peach and Yellow somethings for which I already have some ideas. 
 
Almost all the rest of the harvest was dehydrated.  There was no way I was going to keep up with things with the three little electric dehydrators I have, so I ended up using the gas kitchen oven.  I wound up with around 10 pounds of dried peppers  As I didn't properly clean the peppers before drying, and some were starting to go bad, the entire 10 pounds will be used for repellents and capsaicinoid extraction.  A solar dehydrator with a gas-fired burner for supplemental heat is on the list of things to build for this year.
 
The most interesting thing I observed, genetics-wise, is that one of my Brown 7 Pots produced mustard-colored pods.  At least I think that's the case.  I had to pull the pods sooner than I would have liked, due to a coming hard freeze, but the seeds look mature.  Here's a picture; you folks tell me, do I have a Mustard 7 Pot?

 
I intended to make post-harvest notes for every variety I grew, but dropped the ball on that, too.  Here are the random observations I did make:
 
NWYB (not white yellow bhut) - I had four plants produce; all produced yellow, somewhat bhutish pods, but none of mine had the banana odor I was looking for.  (Some growers did have that, so the quest for the Banana Bhut is still alive.)  The pods didn't hold well on the plants after the first light frost at all.

Mike's EOB (Elysium Oxide Bonnet) - a definite keeper, productive, good flavor, holds well on the plant.  I sure hope I saved some seeds from these.  Again, my end of season peformance was erratic.

Brown Moruga - another keeper, has a massive placenta, possibly the hottest pepper I grew.

MoA - a real treasure, one of the earliest to mature, and I'm pretty sure I saved seeds from some "A" pods.  (If not, I still have some from last year.)  Thanks again to Steve for introducing this gem to THP.

BJ Brown - one of my favorites, but not a real good keeper.

Scotts Funky Reaper - extremely prolific and hot, two to three pods per node most common.  This one and the White Devil's Tongue probably are tied for most prolific.

Arkansas Reaper - Productive and hot.  Larger than Funky Reaper, but not as prolific.  Holds well on vine.  This is one I started calling Funky Reaper in '13, because in pictures it looked a lot like Scott's FR.  Growing side-by-side, they are not at all alike, so it got a new name.

Arkansas Peach - a peach variant of the AR Reaper.  This one has a very small, tight seed cluster that makes it very easy to process (relatively speaking).  Paul had an AR Reaper that produced peach pods, too, so this may be something able to be isolated and stabilized.

7 Pot Brown (normal) - excellent variety, holds well, very hot, several pods per node.  This is one of my overall favorites.  "Normal" is a stereotypical 7 Pot shape and stands in contrast to one that has a somewhat naga shape and one that has a somewhat congo shape.  Of those two, the naga-shape produced true to type this year.  I don't recall about the congo.

7 Pot Mustard? (see above) - a variant of the 7PB? or just not ripe?, small seed cluster, holds on plant well, somewhat frost tolerant.

White Devil's Tongue - best-keeping variety of all.  First to ripen, hangs on plant forever.  Short squat plants, extremely productive.

Pinata jalapeno - very weak plants.  Two years in a row, these plants just did not perform well at all.  I wanted them for the multicolored pods, but I guess I'll just grow individual varieties for different colors.

Wild bean - I have either Phaseolus polystachios or Strophostyles helvola, both a native wild bean, that I let grow through the pepper patch. The vines are very strong and didn't tend to over top the pepper plants.  They worked very well for holding branches together.  Where the beans grew, I had no broken limbs or fallen over plants and both of those issues were a problem elsewhere.  Not the final word, but I'll certainly be trying this again this year.
 
I've got some errands to run, but I'll post again soon.

 

[Devv]

Good to see you John!
 
Sometimes life just takes over, so don't worry about "slacking"   I try and get on, but so many things are going on around here, I never did get in the wood shop, but did get a whole bunch of wood cut and split. There's only so many hours in a day
 
Glad the Funky's did well for you too!
 
I be looking forward to your 2015 season!

 

[PaulG]

Yeah, John, we are just glad to see you in the grow log forum this season!
 
Best of luck, my friend!

 

[Pulpiteer]

Good to see you again!  And yeah, those look mustard.  Cool. Are you growing them out again?