Stetto's First Winter Grow ('16-'17)

Well, here we gro, October 14 and the setup has begun.
 

 
My heat mat is unregulated, no thermostat, but measures (without sunlight) @ 87.5F. As can be seen, the 20+ inch deep mat is folded up at the window sill, which should help in deflecting any winter chill getting through the glass. This window will one day be a garden window extending around 9 inches out from the house, to facilitate all manner of horticultural misdeeds...But that's another story...
 
The lil' ziplock box in the photo is the start of my winter experiment, some Trinidad Moruga Scorpion seed obtained through the good graces of Jeff Contonio. My other seed is in transit from Australia:
 
Aji Amarillo
 
Jalapeno Tormenta
 
Bert the Chilli
 
I've been trying to grow Aji Amarillo for some years but have never been able to get seed to germinate. I've blamed the seed (innocuous Amazon purchases) up till now, but I have a lot more faith this time around since finding a reputable vendor. Note that only one superhot is being planted----For now.
 
After germination I intend on sowing into Solo cups (I've heard a wive's tale that you use the red ones for more than just the song), and eventually into 1.5 gallon pots. Even though I brag about the growing strength of the local soil (primordial ooze), I think I'll either hybrid it with non-soil potting mix or not use dirt from the garden at all.
 
I expect to do quite a bit of pruning, hopefully to encourage bushyness and to promote production in smaller accomodations. I'm sure I can find plety of input on that subject in these pages...
 
This is my first inside grow, let's see what happens. Any advice/pointers/warnings/pokes/prods/words of encouragement are welcome....But ya doesn't has to call me Johnson....

 

[stettoman]

Awesome job, Eric! Best of luck with your overwintering. I highly suggest you invest in some Neem oil, if you haven't already

 
 

Hey Eric,
 
Below is a copy/paste that I saved from Pic1. He lives in Chicago, a most excellent grower.
 
###
I don't have any issues with aphids on my OW plants. I cut my plants down to the trunk, get rid of all foliage, and uproot them. I use a water hose, and spray all of the soil from the roots, and trim them down to a little ball. I then dunk the plant in a dish soap water mixture, completely submerging the plant for a few minutes. Then I pot up the plant in a 1 gallon pot, fresh soil, and bring it inside.
###
 
Now I'm not suggesting you do this by any means. I just want to present the information. Here in the deep south an OW to me is moving them into the garage a few times when it wants to frost 3 or 4 times over the winter. He (Pic1) essentially put them to sleep for the duration of the winter.
 
Mike's comment regarding Neem is all about bringing them inside, with the passengers
 
Glad to see the nice pulls Eric!

 
Mike, Scott, thanks for the info. Yes on the neem. I don't get aphids, but we had a plague of mealy bugs on our bay laurel last winter, I had to about kill it to get rid of the critters.
 
But if you don't give 'em anything to eat, they don't threaten so much, do they....I'm going to let these plants give up what they will for pods, then cut 'em way back.

 

[Malarky]

I don't have any issues with aphids on my OW plants. I cut my plants down to the trunk, get rid of all foliage, and uproot them. I use a water hose, and spray all of the soil from the roots, and trim them down to a little ball. I then dunk the plant in a dish soap water mixture, completely submerging the plant for a few minutes. Then I pot up the plant in a 1 gallon pot, fresh soil, and bring it in.

This is exactly what I did last winter. Worked great. I'll probably do it again the same way. Just go really light on the fertilizer.

 

[stettoman]

Next season the bulk of my grow is going into buckets, especially the long breathers like Aji Amarillo and Brazillian Starfish and the Thais. I brought the potted Aji Amarillo and the Aji Mango in around a week ago, the Mangos are almost all picked now, and the Aji Amarillos are doing this...
 

 
This is wonderful. I picked the green Amarillos in the 8th acre, a small handful actually started to ripen, but they all puckered and spoiled really fast, some over night.
 
But this works. I just have to convince the cats to CUT IT OUT!!
 
 

 

[stettoman]

Yes, that's a ghost.

 

[Malarky]

I'm going to save whatever green pods I have left for A green baccatum sauce

 

[stettoman]

I'm going to save whatever green pods I have left for A green baccatum sauce.

 
Y'know, I pretty much picked all of mine with the same intent, but I spent too much time trying to get them to ripen.
 
It's ok, I'm going to have plenty, and my dehydrator has been going nonstop for weeks already.
 
Besides, I picked up a wealth of information to utilize next season!

 

[Devv]

Well said Eric!
 
We just keep learning.....

 

[stettoman]

Obviously no more "updates", but Zone 3 is still at it. Besides my Growdown plant I still have an Aji Mango, Aji Amarillo and a Rocoto Amarillo alive and threatened by cats. All but the Aji Lemon Drop will be a year old before Christmas...
 
The Rocoto is doing especially well (for Zone 3 in November).
 

 
I have ziplock bags full of Rocoto Amarillo, Mini Rocoto Rojo and Aji Oro, these I think are going fresh into the Dale/GreenChileMonster Rocoto jelly jar.
 
My dehydrator has been working nonstop for many weeks, one of the last loads went in this morning. Via the banana-in-a-bag trick I actually have enough Large Orange Thai for a couple tablespoons of powder. A larger harvest of those is a goal for next year. The Aji Mango is slated for a haircut and overwintering, perhaps the Aji Amarillo as well.
 
You guys rock. 'Nuff sed.

 

[stettoman]

Time to process some Rocotos. These just now came out of the bath.
 

 
 
I was curious how Dale was getting that beautiful translucent amber when he made the Rocoto jelly, funny how that works. This is really nummy stuff! 
 
 

 

[Thegreenchilemonster]

Looking good! Rocoto jelly is some tasty stuff.

 

[stettoman]

The Darlin' Bride has endowed me with a new nickname.
 
She never could get hers to set. I quit the Sure-Jel. Mrs. Wages kicks it's ass....jes' sayin'......
 

 

[stettoman]

I had a better harvest than I expected, got lucky with some of these right at the end. Not a lot of vine ripened, but beggars can't be choosers.
 
I envy you guys who have long enough seasons to enjoy more of these peppers fresh. But I'm not complaining, I got some yummies! 
 
Most are being dried
 

 
There's a large bag in the upper left corner labeled "Bert". These are peppers from Hippy Seed, I was intrigued and bought some, but I also grew an Aji Angelo, seed from Geonerd. I couldn't tell the difference between the pods, though Geo's plant grew a good foot and a half taller and podded up a little sooner. Heat's the same, pheno the same, flavor, everything. Not sure what to conclude, so I conclude nothing.
 
I've used Aji Mango in a few basic Mexican recipes. Wunnerful! The Aji Amarillo is dedicated to chilis and my Texas bean recipe. So far I've also ground a bottle's worth of Urfa Biber, which I haven't used yet, and a bunch of the Paprika. Got my work cut out, what with a little 'lectric coffee grinder...
 
I did pick up a boxful of spice bottles, though. A trick I found on the interweb is to drop a couple of dry beans in with the powder to prevent caking. So far so good.
 

 
I've read that some like using the powders more than fresh for making hot sauces. I'll have to look for recipes. Right now I'm getting mighty fat spreading pepper jelly on everything. I just got a whitetail back from the processor, going to try a jerk with some chops and the Papa Dreadie chokecherry jelly....MmmmmmmmmmmmmmmBOY!

 

[Devv]

Ohhh, you just have to make some dried sausage from that deer!
 
Powders look great!
 
I say a job well done this season

 

[PaulG]

+1 Scott.  Really great season for you, Eric.  Those Aji Amarillo
in the above indoor pic look awesome!  Now to relax for the
winter and enjoy the fruits of your labors!

 

[PaulG]

deleted repeated post

 

[stettoman]

Ohhh, you just have to make some dried sausage from that deer!
 
Powders look great!
 
I say a job well done this season

 
 

+1 Scott.  Really great season for you, Eric.  Those Aji Amarillo
in the above indoor pic look awesome!  Now to relax for the
winter and enjoy the fruits of your labors!

 
You guys were a huge help this season, thanks!!
 
I don't understand that Aji Amarillo. It's not flowering anymore, but the leaves are full and lush, there are a dozen 4 inch pods still in one stage of ripening or another. I've cut my Aji Mango down to 7" tall, no leaves, kept in the dark end of the office, and it's trying to grow leaves....
 

 
I haven't pulled it from the pot for a root trim and replant yet, once I do it should go into a comfortable induced coma til Spring. That Amarillo will get the same as soon as it finishes with existing pods. I love the Aji Amarillo, but if I learned anything from this last season, it's that Zone 3 is potted plant territory for them--Just too short a season for them in the dirt.
 
Actually, most of my grow next year will likely be potted.

 

[Devv]

Unless your climate is really suited for all the pepper varieties you wish to grow, then containers are the way to go. You can certainly control their environment a bit easier

 

[PaulG]

+1 Scottie  

 

[bpiela]

 
 
 
You guys were a huge help this season, thanks!!
 
I don't understand that Aji Amarillo. It's not flowering anymore, but the leaves are full and lush, there are a dozen 4 inch pods still in one stage of ripening or another. I've cut my Aji Mango down to 7" tall, no leaves, kept in the dark end of the office, and it's trying to grow leaves....
 
I haven't pulled it from the pot for a root trim and replant yet, once I do it should go into a comfortable induced coma til Spring. That Amarillo will get the same as soon as it finishes with existing pods. I love the Aji Amarillo, but if I learned anything from this last season, it's that Zone 3 is potted plant territory for them--Just too short a season for them in the dirt.
 
Actually, most of my grow next year will likely be potted.

 
I think you still need to give it light or it will die.  I don't believe the OW'd pepper plants act like cacti and can go dormant and live in darkness.  They still need some kind of light.

 

[thoms]

For grins, another time-lapse....
 
Joo-ly 31
 

 
August 10
 

 
And finally, Sept. 15
 

 
These plants, for the most part, have gotten massive, and some have a bumper crop hanging from them. They need to turn ripe. There are a few I fear I don't have length-of-season for.
 
For instance, the Large Orange Thai. Took forever to flower, just recently got into that gear. The plant is over 5 feet tall. There are a few pods on it, here's hoping!
 

 
Aji Amarillo, feels like it weighs a full pound. These in the 8th acre did start to pick up a tad, but again, ripen!
 

 
As you can see, there are some pods, not too scrawny either. But every single Amarillo plant in the garden got eaten down to nuthin' by the Dammed Deer Babies from Hell, so I should be ecstatic that they even came back, right?
 

 
There's not much else to report on the 8th acre. The plants continue to thrive and most are producing pods, but if they don't start to trigger a ripening frenzy I'm not sure what I'll do with green ones. Weather-wise we're in a decent patch of good warm Fall, no end in sight, though I've seen a 70 degree forecast turn to a 40 degree one in a matter of hours, so fingers are crossed. This is a nerve wracking time of year in good ol' Zone 3.....

woooww ... very good growth chili. what fertilizer you use generativ period

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