Sawyer's 2013 Glog - Last Harvest/First Sauce

WalkGood · Sep 16, 2013

Great looking plants, pods and froggy, hehe. Nice to have a great vacation in da wild and the pics are wonderful!

Sawyer · Sep 20, 2013

Thanks for stopping by guys. Got some nice pod porn shots below for you.

Bodeen said:
Love the frog picture and the nature shots. Just screaming fish me fish me!!!!

Yeah, Jeff, I didn't carry any fishing tackle with me this year (weight reduction is important and bears are around), but was regretting it by the end of the trip. Around 2pm every day, the mayflies would start hatching. There is a big boulder that juts out into the creek just behind the campsite. I would sit there and watch the cutthroats rising to the flies, mere inches from my feet. Sometimes there would be six or more at the surface at once, mostly smaller fish, but a few would probably reach 16" or more.

WalkGood said:
Great looking plants, pods and froggy, hehe. Nice to have a great vacation in da wild and the pics are wonderful!

Hey, Ramon, welcome to the top of page 30!

Now for some pics. I've got quite a few "nots" in these pictures, but I'm not complaining. Some of them are real keepers. First up is a not Orange BJ. Not sure about its "keepability" yet.

Here is a not White BJ:

A White BJ more true to form:

A not Giant White Habanero:

This GWH hasn't started ripening yet, but I hope it will actually be white:

A not red 7P original:

And another (I like this one):

Both of those plants were going to be part of an experiment where I treated two nearly identical plants nearly the same, feeding one with my basic regimen and supplementing the other with something expected to enhance the heat level. Needless to say, that experiment has gone nowhere.

This is one of my OWs and I thought it was a Naga Morich, but the pods indicate otherwise. If you recall my rat problems last winter, I think the labels may have gotten mixed up as a result. It could be a 7P Jonah. Does that seem reasonable?

This yellow TS original is definitely on my grow list for next year. Very vigorous plants and reasonably prolific.

And while they aren't turning yet and the early ones don't show the preferred lobing, at least I have some MoA pods!

I think I need a bump (a first?) Can someone help me, please?

capsidadburn · Sep 20, 2013

Bumpity do!

Sawyer · Sep 20, 2013

Thanks, Mike.

Hate to start with an out-of-focus shot, but here's what my Jigsaw is doing. I'll get a better photo when things dry out a little (big rain last night/this morning).

My reapers are podding up. I've got plants from each of the three primary vendors and for the most part, they look like they are supposed to look.

That last one is a little strange, but I'm not sure it's the same as Scott's "funky reaper". I like it regardless.

Fataliis are starting to ripen:

Seems a little more orange than I was expecting, but it's my first time growing these, so what do I know?

Ok, not pod porn, but you may remember this plant. It was the first in-ground to get eaten by a deer way back in the spring. It's still behind on pod production but has surpassed everything else in the garden in terms of height. It's close to 6' tall now. It's podding up heavily, too, and the purple stems make it a real standout. It's supposed to be a 7P Brown, but you can see how it towers over it's fellow 7P browns on either side. I'll be watching this one closely.

This Brainstrain isn't really looking all that brainy. The first pod I got off this plant, some time ago, looked more true to type than these. It's prolific, though, so no complaints.

It's closest neighbor is much more brainy.

Here's another not, not 7P Burgundy. It is extremely prolific.

I'm tempted to cut it back, though, because it's getting in the way of this next one.

Another not 7P Burgundy. The picture doesn't do the color justice, but to me it looks like what everyone calls "peach". I'll try to get a better color rendition soon. In any case, it's loaded up and is far and away my favorite "not".

Not all the 7P Burgundies are "nots". This next one is true to type and another favorite of mine.

Oops, guess I need another bump, please.

capsidadburn · Sep 20, 2013

Great looking pods and plants John! Very nice reapers, brains and fatalii's.

Sawyer · Sep 20, 2013

Thanks, again, Mike. BTW, of all the seeds you sent me earlier this year, a single Amarillo plant is all that made it. (I only planted some of the seed, passed some on to (Desert)Chris, and have some in reserve for next year.) The Amarillo is doing quite well and is loading up with pods. Hopefully they will be true yellow.

Anyway, as I was saying, not all the 7P Burgundies are "nots". This next one is true to type and another favorite of mine.

I have three or four Alma Paprika plants. They kind of forgot to grow before just loading up with pods. Poor little plants aren't really equipped to support all the peppers.

Likewise with the Pinata Jalapenos. Plants are short and not particularly healthy-looking, but I've never seen a plant so thick with pods. This one definitely makes it onto next year's grow list.

Now I know I've been holding out on introducing you guys to the garden. I finally got the weeds somewhat under control and as it's not likely to get any better than this, meet the garden. Looking to the west, slightly north:

You've seen this part before, the early in-grounds. Note how the CPI Moruga Scorpions have outgrown their isolation cage. They have recovered from the aphid infestation and are setting pods like crazy (late frost, please let there be a late frost). Also note the tall purple 7P Brown mutant at the right of the picture.

This is from the west end looking back toward the east. I'm missing two or three rows in the immediate foreground.

And this is from the same position looking NE, a small section of GWH, Pimenta de Neyde, White BJ, PL TMS, and one of the spice Trinidads, Treasure, Perfume, I forget at the moment.

Whew. Th-th-that's all folks!

DesertChris · Sep 20, 2013

Wow, looking awesome out your way!!!

Devv · Sep 20, 2013

Looking very nice John!

Loads of pods even if some are nots, what really matters is how well you like the taste.

Hope the weather holds and you get the harvest you're wanting!

Have a great weekend!

GA Growhead · Sep 20, 2013

That last not 7 burg looks interesting! Mustardery peach brown tan? might have ask you for that one with the 7 browns later on. Too cool looking.
Garden is quite impressive! jelly of all that space. I'm all crammed together.

Durham Bull · Sep 21, 2013

great garden Sawyer... green & everything's loaded with pods.

I see you have lots of bamboo.

WalkGood · Sep 21, 2013

John, I see that Scott isn’t the only one with a beautiful jungle, awesome job mon!

I can just envision you sitting on the porch enjoying a neat gray goose martini while devouring garlic shrimp hors d'oeuvres topped with some of your Burgundy powder made from your beautiful pods … oh to dream the impossible dream, heck dat’s no dream that can be enjoyed dis weekend …
Are the white looking pods Alma Paprikas? They look awesome!
The rest of the pictures are spot on, keep up the great grow …

Have a great weekend brethren!

stickman · Sep 21, 2013

Wow! Nice Vacay and pod pics Buzz! It looks like your chiles are finally coming into their own at last! Your experience with the Deer-eaten 7Pot Brown reminds me of SpicyChicken's method of pruning his seedlings early in the season (when the light levels are the most intense) to stimulate growth. He ends up with twice to three times the branches and pods, and the plants are nearly full-sized. That might be what you're seeing now. In any case, great job!

Sawyer · Sep 21, 2013

I'm all outta likes, so I'll have to come back whenever the new allotment starts.

DesertChris said:
Wow, looking awesome out your way!!!

Thanks, Chris. It's been a long time coming, with the late spring and travel at just the wrong time. I'm hopeful for a bountiful run into fall. Will be posting harvest pics soon.

Devv said:
Looking very nice John!

Loads of pods even if some are nots, what really matters is how well you like the taste.

Hope the weather holds and you get the harvest you're wanting!

Have a great weekend!

Thanks, Scott. If the weather holds, I may get more than I know what to do with. Canning puree and drying are my top two options at the moment. Taste is, of course, important, but I'm also looking at maximizing production per unit area. For example, I'm leaning toward eliminating the yellow Brainstrain next year, in favor of a regular yellow 7 since the BS aren't producing as much or as early. ("Leaning", no hasty decisions made yet.)

GA Growhead said:
That last not 7 burg looks interesting! Mustardery peach brown tan? might have ask you for that one with the 7 browns later on. Too cool looking.
Garden is quite impressive! jelly of all that space. I'm all crammed together.

Yes it does, GA. Like I said, that photo really doesn't do justice for the color. I'll try to get a better rendition up soon. And you're definitely on the trade list for this fall. I really let the garden get away from me last year. The actual tillable space is about twice what's in peppers now. The rest is soon to be rescued, too, and planted to late fall/winter veggies. Then everything will be back on track for next year (with a new load of grass/weed seeds, darn it).

Durham Bull said:
great garden Sawyer... green & everything's loaded with pods.

I see you have lots of bamboo.

Thanks, Sy. Yeah, too much bamboo. It was here when I bought the place and I thought it was our native river cane, so I let it grow. Come to find out, it's golden bamboo, a highly invasive alien species. D'oh! It's useful stuff to have around, but enough is enough. I'm planning to start work soon on a system similar to Scott's to turn excess bamboo into charcoal and/or biochar.

WalkGood said:
John, I see that Scott isn’t the only one with a beautiful jungle, awesome job mon!

I can just envision you sitting on the porch enjoying a neat gray goose martini while devouring garlic shrimp hors d'oeuvres topped with some of your Burgundy powder made from your beautiful pods … oh to dream the impossible dream, heck dat’s no dream that can be enjoyed dis weekend …

Are the white looking pods Alma Paprikas? They look awesome!

The rest of the pictures are spot on, keep up the great grow …

Have a great weekend brethren!

Thanks, Ramon. That martini and shrimp sound pretty good. If you're talking about the big round peppers, yes those are Alma Paprika. They are taking forever to ripen. I couldn't wait and ate one a week ago. It was pretty mild, both in flavor and heat. Almost no heat at first, but by the time I finished it, I was getting a little burn. Hopefully it will be more impressive (flavor-wise) once it ripens. If it is, it will earn a place on next year's list. You have a great rest of weekend, too!

stickman said:
Wow! Nice Vacay and pod pics Buzz! It looks like your chiles are finally coming into their own at last! Your experience with the Deer-eaten 7Pot Brown reminds me of SpicyChicken's method of pruning his seedlings early in the season when the light levels are the most intense to stimulate growth. He ends up with twice to three times the branches and pods, and the plants are nearly full-sized. That might be what you're seeing now. In any case, great job!

Thanks, Rick. It took awhile, but things are coming together now. You may be right about the 7PBr; I hadn't thought of that. In any case, it's definitely different from the regular 7PBrs, with the purple stems and all. I'm anxious to see what the pods ripen to. Hopefully they will be purplish brown.

Here's the forecast for the coming week:

I just checked the rain gauge and I got just under 2" Thursday night/Friday morning. Together with the mild temperatures, I think this is just about perfect pepper growing weather for the next week or so.

Sawyer · Sep 21, 2013

PS - Today is the last day of our local Bikes, Blues, and BBQ (aka, Bikes, Babes, and Booze) Motorcycle Rally. I'm heading down there with a bag o' peppers. This could turn out really well or really badly.

JoynersHotPeppers · Sep 21, 2013

Based on how this looks it might be a white, all my whites start like this. Also, your 7 pot burgundy pods look very similar to mine before they ripen. Have any of yours fully ripened yet?

wahlee76 · Sep 22, 2013

Even with the 'nots' a great update with a lot of great pods

Sawyer · Sep 22, 2013

JoynersHotPeppers said:
Based on how this looks it might be a white, all my whites start like this. Also, your 7 pot burgundy pods look very similar to mine before they ripen. Have any of yours fully ripened yet?

Yeah, Chris, I think it will be. I noticed today some of those are starting to turn and they have the same look as other whites at that stage. I pulled some 7P Burgundies today. Check out the photo below. They are noticeably a darker red than others, at least when compared side by side.

wahlee76 said:
Even with the 'nots' a great update with a lot of great pods

Thanks, Wally. It's been a long time coming, but things are ramping up now.

Now for some harvest shots. Here's an overview of today's pull. Some of the red bhuts and 7P Congo SR Gigantics were picked Friday.

7PCSRG in the upper right, not 7P Burgundy to the lower left of them. Big pile of red bhuts on the left, with a few brown bhuts to the right of them. The other browns are both 7P Brown, but two different plants. The yellows are diagonally from lower left, not Giant White Habanero, TS Original, and not 7P Large Red. Guess I'll call that last one 7P Large Yellow. The jalapenos are off a plant that suddenly died, no apparent cause. To the right of the jals are atypical Brainstrain, 7P Burgundy, and typical Brainstrain. Above the Brainstrains are some not 7P Burgundy that I guess I'll call 7P Peach, unless someone objects.

Closer shot of the typical Brains. (Tasted one yesterday... HOT!)

7 Pot Peach. These are really almost translucent.

A couple of the 7 Pot Browns:

I like the color in the second photo better, but the first looks more 7Pish.

7P Pot Large Yellow(?):

The 7 Pot Congo SR Gigantic is starting to live up to the term "gigantic":

I didn't notice the odd structure of this yellow Brain until I looked at the pictures on my computer. I'll have to take a closer look at this tomorrow.

Found some damaged ghost pods and found the culprit inside. Anyone know what these turn into?

I'm ashamed to say I let it get away. Maybe a bird or lizard got it, I hope. It was there, then it wasn't.

JoynersHotPeppers · Sep 22, 2013

Super nice pull man! Enjoy the heat!!!!!!

GA Growhead · Sep 22, 2013

Sizeable harvest! And a killer selection.
The peach nots are awesome looking. Let us (me

) know how that one taste.
The not large 7 reds look similar to the 7 yel larges from pepperlover that i have grown for two seasons now. Excellent pods! More hab structure than 7pot, but great 7 yel flavor.
Cool yel brain pod too. I deseeded a pile of them last night before dehydrating and i always love their smell. Like tropical heaven when you cut one open. The last couple i ate have put many red pods to shame! They were :hot:

Sawyer · Sep 22, 2013

JoynersHotPeppers said:
Super nice pull man! Enjoy the heat!!!!!!

Thanks, Chris. I hope I can enjoy the heat. I seem to have lost some ground lately in building up my tolerance. Either that or the peppers are getting hotter.

GA Growhead said:
Sizeable harvest! And a killer selection.
The peach nots are awesome looking. Let us (me ) know how that one taste.
The not large 7 reds look similar to the 7 yel larges from pepperlover that i have grown for two seasons now. Excellent pods! More hab structure than 7pot, but great 7 yel flavor.
Cool yel brain pod too. I deseeded a pile of them last night before dehydrating and i always love their smell. Like tropical heaven when you cut one open. The last couple i ate have put many red pods to shame! They were

I'm going to try tasting one of those peaches tomorrow, GA. Will report forthwith, if it doesn't kill me. I meant to mention before, seven of the peach pods came from a single node. That plant is a prodigious beast. It's in-ground, but I will be potting it up to try to over-winter, plus taking some cuttings to try to root. Just in case none of the seeds breed true (and I certainly wouldn't expect them all to do so, even if it the plant were isolated, which it isn't).

Now that I think about it, the yellow not 7 Red Large, may in fact be a 7 Yellow Large. I remember now that I had a mix up with labeling some plants simply 7 Pot Large, with no color identifier. And the seed came from pepperlover, so it's a plausible scenario. The other not 7 Large, though, doesn't submit to such an easy explanation. They look a lot like, possibly identical to the bullet-shaped not 7 Burgundy in the picture above. Nothing I have should look like those. Those are deceptive little buggers, too, because they don't look like they should be all that hot, but boy, they're right up there with the rest of them.