Hi Guy's
My new Capsicum pubescens "Outdoor Scottish" trial has began
seeds sown today 
in commercial seed mix topped with vermiculite in heated propergater.
Having to grow hot and superhots in a Greenhouse here in Scotland space is at a premium so personally I won't "waste" space on mild species such as pubescens however anything hottish that will grow outdoors I see as a free bonus
however my journey into Rocotos has surprised me by how fond I've become of them 
they are truly one of the most beautiful chilli species you can grow if you haven't I'd highly recommend one or two as a side project but be warned they are highly addictive and rather tasty not to mention having a different burn making them seem hotter than they are on paper IMO
The objective of this trial is the same as last time find varieties that can ripen outdoors in Scotland
a tall order for most !
My last "Outdoor Scottish" Rocoto trial was back in 2023 comprised of 7 varieties and only 1 came out on top ! The rest while production may have been ok or good they simply ran out of time to ripen outdoors in our climate
The Winner of my 2023 Outdoor Scottish capsicum pubescens trial "Rocoto Long"
from seaspring seeds (Dorset Naga people) Please note captured in this rare photograph is the elusive Scottish summer sun 
Recap of 2023 trial:
1. Chocolate locoto - Realseeds
2. Alberto Locoto - Realseeds
3. Yellow traveller - Realseeds
4. Rocoto Long - Seaspring seeds
5. Turbo pubes - Semillas
6. Costa Rican red - Semillas
7. Aji Largo- ukchilli
Seaspring seeds Rocoto Long came out on top it is extremely similar to Aji Largo and I suspect a selection of this variety but it did way better than my Aji Largo......
Now back to my 2025 Scottish "Outdoor" Capsicum pubescens trial:
1. Rocoto Long - self saved
2. Rocoto Montufar - Semillas
3. Rocoto Peron - Fatallii seeds
4. Rocoto CAP 363 - Fatallii seeds
5. Rocoto CAP 867- Fatallii seeds
Only five runners this time of course one is a known entity and my current favourite so really only four contenders.
Apparently the Rocoto Peron is about as hot as is readily available to the enthusiast ? The two CAPs 363 and 867 apparently do well or better that other Rocoto in cooler climates ? That's see how they deal with Scottish summer
to be honest I can't quite remember why I added Rocoto Montufar to this grow ? But I must have had a reason when I ordered them.
Like last time once potted up to there final pots I will pretty much neglect them survival of the fittest kind of thing
However this coming season I'm toying with trying a Rocoto long outdoors in a kratky hydroponic set up .........I've toyed with the idea before but felt keeping all our rain from flooding the set up would be a bit of a faff
but I moved a 20 litre Krakty Ring of fire set up out of the greenhouse mid summer this year and without any special precautions the plants own foliage did a remarkable job.
So I see a kratky hydroponic Rocoto long in the mix too
Merry Christmas and a fruitful Rocoto season to you all
Stephen
My new Capsicum pubescens "Outdoor Scottish" trial has began
seeds sown today in commercial seed mix topped with vermiculite in heated propergater.Having to grow hot and superhots in a Greenhouse here in Scotland space is at a premium so personally I won't "waste" space on mild species such as pubescens however anything hottish that will grow outdoors I see as a free bonus
however my journey into Rocotos has surprised me by how fond I've become of them they are truly one of the most beautiful chilli species you can grow if you haven't I'd highly recommend one or two as a side project but be warned they are highly addictive and rather tasty not to mention having a different burn making them seem hotter than they are on paper IMOThe objective of this trial is the same as last time find varieties that can ripen outdoors in Scotland
a tall order for most !My last "Outdoor Scottish" Rocoto trial was back in 2023 comprised of 7 varieties and only 1 came out on top ! The rest while production may have been ok or good they simply ran out of time to ripen outdoors in our climate
The Winner of my 2023 Outdoor Scottish capsicum pubescens trial "Rocoto Long"
from seaspring seeds (Dorset Naga people) Please note captured in this rare photograph is the elusive Scottish summer sun Recap of 2023 trial:
1. Chocolate locoto - Realseeds
2. Alberto Locoto - Realseeds
3. Yellow traveller - Realseeds
4. Rocoto Long - Seaspring seeds
5. Turbo pubes - Semillas
6. Costa Rican red - Semillas
7. Aji Largo- ukchilli
Seaspring seeds Rocoto Long came out on top it is extremely similar to Aji Largo and I suspect a selection of this variety but it did way better than my Aji Largo......
Now back to my 2025 Scottish "Outdoor" Capsicum pubescens trial:
1. Rocoto Long - self saved
2. Rocoto Montufar - Semillas
3. Rocoto Peron - Fatallii seeds
4. Rocoto CAP 363 - Fatallii seeds
5. Rocoto CAP 867- Fatallii seeds
Only five runners this time of course one is a known entity and my current favourite so really only four contenders.
Apparently the Rocoto Peron is about as hot as is readily available to the enthusiast ? The two CAPs 363 and 867 apparently do well or better that other Rocoto in cooler climates ? That's see how they deal with Scottish summer
to be honest I can't quite remember why I added Rocoto Montufar to this grow ? But I must have had a reason when I ordered them.Like last time once potted up to there final pots I will pretty much neglect them survival of the fittest kind of thing
However this coming season I'm toying with trying a Rocoto long outdoors in a kratky hydroponic set up .........I've toyed with the idea before but felt keeping all our rain from flooding the set up would be a bit of a faff
but I moved a 20 litre Krakty Ring of fire set up out of the greenhouse mid summer this year and without any special precautions the plants own foliage did a remarkable job.So I see a kratky hydroponic Rocoto long in the mix too
Merry Christmas and a fruitful Rocoto season to you all
Stephen
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