stc3248, 2013 Grow log, Season's Greetings and Season's End

Well here we go again! Those that saw my grow last year know that I was plagued by virus issues and many other problems, but I was still able to pull off the most amazing grow of my life. By season's end every plant was infected. Some keeled over, but others just kept right on trucking. I learned a ton, and hope to use it to pull off a season without that virus making a repeat appearance. It will be tough. I had huge numbers of pods, and many hit the ground and rotted, so there are sure to be some infected volunteers that show up. My grow this year will be MUCH smaller and focused on the varieties I liked best along with a couple new ones I really wanna try out.


First a couple of my money shots from last year...

I plan to use a similar grow setup to start with...here are a couple pics of how it looked...

My setup evolved as the season began. I started with a single t8 shoplight...the two shoplights and ended up with a single row of CFL's down the center hooked into a 4' power strip the the two shoplights angled in from the sides. The light from the sides really seemed to promote growth at the lower nodes...so for this year...

I bought some more CFL's Mix of 100w and 75w equivalents. The 100w eq were around $10 for 4 at HD and the 75w were $3 for 6 at COSTCO!!! Also bought some splitters for the sockets and here's what the power strip looks like now...

This thing feels like its giving you a sunburn from 6' away...I alternated 100/75 on each side all the way down...Instead of the mylar I am going with foil sided foam sheathing...

My "plan" with this stuff is to make the Shelf unit more of a grow tent type setup. Hoping I can use the lights and a small space heater to maintain a constant temp in the mid 80s. I am also going to "try" to use magnetic tape to attach this stuff so access will be easy. We shall see. May get too warm...but easy enough to vent if need be. I am going to try to keep them indoors much longer this year. I put them out to early last year, and some of the late starts that stayed inside until the night time temps were higher passed many of my early starts that were already in the ground.

My final dilemma is the wife says 20 plants...and I have all these awesome seeds! So I am going to see if the wife's # is sort of like the over the counter dosage...the full prescription strength is double, so I am aiming for 40. I will start almost twice that # though so if you're near SD be watching this glog around plant out, I will be getting rid of some plants...

Well here is the list for now...If something you sent didn't make it I still have them, and will get to them some day. Momma is already pissed!

Wilds
Tepin 15 (seed train 2012)
Pequin Chiapas (Griff87)
Bird Aji (Seed Train 2012)
Cumari (Romy6)
PI 438638 (Romy6)

Annuum
Jamaican Hot Yellow (My Seed)
Goat's Weed (My seed)
Explosive Ember (My seed)
Tri-color Variagata (Seed Train 2012)
Numex Centennial (the next seed train)

Pubescens
Ultra Pube PI 585266 (SocalChilehead)
Manzano (farmer's market)

Baccatum
Yellow Aji from Peru (Paul G)

Chinense
Giant Twisted Chocolate Hab (CMPMAN 1974 Via Pr0digal_son)
St Marteen Marigot Mkt Yellow Scotch Bonnet (Pic1)
Jamaica Scotch Bonnet (Pic1)
Belize City Scotch Bonnet (Pic1)
Fatalii (Pulpiteer)

The Supers
Yellow Billy Boy Douglah (SilverSurfer via Coheed via Romy6)
Yellow Cardi Scorpion (Romy6)
Yellow 7 Pot Brain Strain (Unknown Source probably the next seed train???)
Yellow 7 Pot (Pr0digal_son)
7 Pot Brain Strain (Romy6 Had some from Jamie and got some more from PaulG)
7 Pot Congo SR (CMPMAN 1974 via Pr0digal_son)
7 Pot White (SocalChilehead)
7 Pot Monster Infinity (gnslngr)
7 Pot Primo (MGold via PaulG)
Douglah (Pr0digal_son)
Trinidad Scorpion Moruga (Bakers Peppers)
Bhut Jolokia Indian Carbon (Pr0digal_son)

7 Pot Barrackpore (soon to arrive from DocNrock )
HP22B aka Carolina Reaper (soon to arrive from DocNrock )

Ummm...I count 32ish varieties. May scrub a couple off, but may not!!! Thinking I can get by with the Ornamentals and Wilds as long as I keep them small and Bonchi them to look perdy for Momma???

I think I will skip most all of the grocery store available varieties this year so I can grow more of the good stuff...That's if for now everybody! Hope you all have a great season!!!

Shane

 

[KiNGDeNNiZ]

Excellent. Will try my own blend. Just need to get the ones out of the freezer and Ito a smoker

I know...sucked watching you have to leave your grow last year, now it sucks watching you come back so late. HD should still have some Jals/Bells/Cayennes to plant while you watch the REAL peppers grow! I leave them in the smoker different times with different temps depending on what I am looking for. Most of the time its only 2-3 hours with temp near 200.

Matt they actually have a six pack serranos jals. Super chili Carib red. Habanero. And Thai long :Rolf:

 

[DesertChris]

Oh, those powders are making me hungry! LOL
Happy Mother's Day to your gal too.

 

[MGOLD86]

Now that looks great man. Perfect explanation and step by step process. Can't wait to try it!

 

[Spicegeist]

That looks fantastic, well done!

 

[wildseed57]

Looks like you have a great grow going on, Thats one tall Goatsweed I thought I had lost mind last year as none of the seeds came up after 3 long weeks they were given to me so I just through the soil in my great pot to help fill it up another two weeks whent by and I got to looking in the pot and there they were all six plants standing 1 foot tall. I like the flavor and not as oily as I expected, typical tall fuzzy with very small snow white flowers. What got me about them one I just stuck in a pot that had a old tropical bush in it over wintered while the others died from mealy bugs and a spider mite problem which killed two T.S. that I had cut back.
So I guess it was the most hardy over the others.
One reason I like wild ones so much.

 

[Trippa]

loving the powders bro ... and the plants of course.  I like your work.  What type of dehydrator have you got??  I have been looking at getting a Sunbeam (not sure if you have Sunbeam appliances over there??) one for $99 but reviews (and remembering our old one which was a Sunbeam) have said how loud it is ... typically the $199 dollar one of another brand is said to be quiet

 

[stc3248]

Trippa...I got a cheapo wally world Nesco dehydrator. Looking for a nicer once, but will have to wait a bit. At about $30 each they're hard to beat though. Only advice is get one with a fan (this one does have one). I figure I can buy 6 or 7 more of these for the price of one of the less expensive high end models...and hey its working!
 
I will post propper responses tomorrow once I get home and can do an update. Mama sent me some pics of red maters and some colorful pods...so I think it has begun!
 
Last...one of the Sailors that works for me joined today! Make him feel welcome y'all!
http://thehotpepper.com/topic/39231-indiana-guy-stuck-in-cali-growing-peppers-im-new/
 
 
Shane

 

[MGOLD86]

Last...one of the Sailors that works for me joined today! Make him feel welcome y'all!
http://thehotpepper.com/topic/39231-indiana-guy-stuck-in-cali-growing-peppers-im-new/
 
 
Shane

 
Done.

 

[WalkGood]

Trippa...I got a cheapo wally world Nesco dehydrator. Looking for a nicer once, but will have to wait a bit. At about $30 each they're hard to beat though. Only advice is get one with a fan (this one does have one). … …

While I’ve not bought from Walmart they have them from $30 up into the hundreds and I have seen them on sale there as low as $22.00 but think that’s on a store by store bases. Some stores don’t stock them and you have to order online but can do store pickup. That said, I agree with Shane, I wouldn’t consider one without a fan, good luck in the search ^_^

 

[StupidJerk]

Excellent. Will try my own blend. Just need to get the ones out of the freezer and Ito a smoker



Matt they actually have a six pack serranos jals. Super chili Carib red. Habanero. And Thai long :Rolf:

Look around your local nurseries too. One near me has Fataliis, Manzanos, Rocotos, Bhuts, Black Cobras, and a quite a few others. The only one I bought this year was a Red Rocoto. It's doing great and was a steal at $1.99, I would have bought more if I had room.

 

[Devv]

I have one of those Wally World units too, works fine.
 
The trays can go in the dishwasher for clean up too.

 

[StupidJerk]

loving the powders bro ... and the plants of course.  I like your work.  What type of dehydrator have you got??  I have been looking at getting a Sunbeam (not sure if you have Sunbeam appliances over there??) one for $99 but reviews (and remembering our old one which was a Sunbeam) have said how loud it is ... typically the $199 dollar one of another brand is said to be quiet

This is the one I use: http://www.nesco.com/products/Dehydrators/Dehydrators/FD-80-Snackmaster-Square-Dehydrator-and-Jerky-Maker/

I love it. It come with 4 trays, but you can buy 4 additional ones. It's compact, it's square(which I find easier to deal with storage wise) and it goes down to 95f(35c), so you can dry them without cooking and altering the flavor/color of the powder. I got it online for something like $50 or $60 US.

 

[stc3248]

Thanks errybody! Welcome to the party Wildseed! All this talk about dehydrators has me shopping!
 
SJ...my local nursery has those plus some supers...bhuts, scorpions, and I even picked up a Barrackpore there last year! I have been staying away because I am already giving away plants, and I would end up with more.
 
I came home to a few nice surprises!!!

How about a ripe Belize City Scotch Bonnet (Pic1)!!!
 
or...

a Yellow Billy Boy Douglah (SilverSurfer via Romy6) that's getting close!
 
or...

A Yellow Cardi Scorpion (Romy6) there were actually two RIPE pods plus a few that look like this guy!
 
or...

A couple Ripe Trinidad Scorpion Morugas!!!
 
or...

the First open Baccatum flower...Birgits Locoto see, I ain't pullin no buds! My plants are gonna win the grow down with no special attention!
 

Here is the money shot...There are a bunch of (not) PI438638s on there along with some (not) Spoon Tomatoes and the first two ripe Goat's Weeds that I didn't get a good pic of on the plant.
 

Close up of the Belize City Bonnet...
 

and the Yellow Cardis
 

Morugas
 

Finally the Goat's Weeds...
 
The Chinenses are all the small first pod type. No signs of disease so I will put away some seeds from any that have them. Just the start of a great weekend. My plants made a BIG move this week...I got some new varieties podding so check back for updates!
 
Happy Friday folks!!!
Shane

 

[WalkGood]

Up periscope Captain, there be pods at the Shane Estate … Whoa what a nice surprise to come home to, hope you enjoy the heat over the weekend ^_^
 
Don't forget you're on a diet
 
 
 

 

[Devv]

Wow! Glad to see you're harvesting some pods...and many more to follow.
 
As I've said before, you hit it just right this year.
 
Congrats on a fantastic grow this year! And you know we all learn just from reading, thanks for sharing.
 
Always looking forward to seeing more
 
Scott

 

[Sanarda]

beautiful Shane.  I demand some taste test vids     

 

[highalt]

 
 
Don't forget you're on a diet
 
 
 

 
Hey, no worries, peppers are low in calories!   

 

[KiNGDeNNiZ]

Look around your local nurseries too. One near me has Fataliis, Manzanos, Rocotos, Bhuts, Black Cobras, and a quite a few others. The only one I bought this year was a Red Rocoto. It's doing great and was a steal at $1.99, I would have bought more if I had room.

I went there and the scotch bonnets I had turned out to be Caribbean. Reds of some sort.

I did go to Shane's nursery but didn't have any supers at the time. I only saw tigers teeth that intrigued me.

Nursery about 45 mins away had bhuts last year but not this time. I ended up getting some manzanos there and some butch Ts.

Nice color changes Shane.

 

[StupidJerk]

Scotch Bonnets seem to be the most elusive pepper to find legit seeds for. Lots of fake ones get spread around and make people think they know what Scotch Bonnets are supposed to look like.

 

[stickman]

Nice work Shane! The rest of us'll catch up to you any month now...