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....

 

[Geonerd]

Haha!!
 
Here in Aridzona, the pods tend to shrivel once they pass the 'creamsicle' phase, so I pick them.  Your doesn't-feel-like-hell-in-October climate may well allow them to ripen further w/o worry.  
 
Yea, I really like the things.  Good flavor and enough heat for my liking.  Add a few chopped pods to grocery salsa, or make a modestly hot home-brew with the tomatoes and other goodies from your farm.  Another good thing about them - they are fairly prolific!  150+ pods sounds grand!  Please post a pic of this monster plant when you get a chance.

 

[stettoman]

 Please post a pic of this monster plant when you get a chance.

 
Here ya go, Greg--
 
It's not a monstrously tall plant, but the pods have it with legs a-kimbo, there's just so many. And yes, more ripening going on....
 

 

 

 
 
Like I said, this plant came out of the ground makin' fruit!
 
Oh, while I was out there this afternoon I found that one of the three former Mystery Peppers, now tagged Aji Limo, has begun to ripen up more than just one pod at a time. Really gets a guy prayin' for a long Indian Summer...
 

 

[stettoman]

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.....

 

[Devv]

A couple of things to do before a killer frost. You can pull the plants and hang them upside down in a warmer area. Or, use the banana trick. 
 
Paul's the man to ask

 

[stettoman]

 
 
Here in Aridzona, the pods tend to shrivel once they pass the 'creamsicle' phase, so I pick them.  Your doesn't-feel-like-hell-in-October climate may well allow them to ripen further w/o worry.  
 
 

 
Funny, they get soft and shrivel-y once past that here too. Might be a flaw in the breeding, dunno.
 
I like 'em though, and there's a lot of 'em.
 

 
Most will get powdered.
 
 
I discovered that my Trinidad Moruga Scorps are starting to ripen. I got no idea what to do with them. Beyond my threshold of heat.

 

[stettoman]

A couple of things to do before a killer frost. You can pull the plants and hang them upside down in a warmer area. Or, use the banana trick. 
 
Paul's the man to ask

 
I didn't have any bananas so I tried a ripe tomato (supposedly the same) with a couple of green pods. After 3 days they are still very green, and getting very soft. I guess there has to be some little bit of ripening to begin with, doesn't there....
 
It's ok, the season won't be a total loss, there are paprikas, aji limos, some aji amarillos, CAP 267 and the only NOT ripening peppers on the deck (potted) are the rocoto amarillos, but they can come in for a finish.
 
The season does continue, they aren't even trying to predict the next frost yet. I WILL get more peppers, and a HUGE education has already been tucked snuggly under my belt, along with more than a few new friendships!

 

[karoo]

Every year is a new education.
My biggest mistake last season , giving up to early !

 

[Malarky]

 
Funny, they get soft and shrivel-y once past that here too. Might be a flaw in the breeding, dunno.
 
I like 'em though, and there's a lot of 'em.
 
 
 
Most will get powdered.

are those baccatums?
 
if you have an abundance, maybe try your hand at a puree or paste for experimentation. 
Similar to the Amarillo and Panca Pastes used in our friend Dale's South American Cuisine.
 
powder seems like a last ditch effort to use them up.
 
i'd definitely powder the scorps, then you can use just a pinch if you want to

 

[stettoman]

Every year is a new education.
My biggest mistake last season , giving up to early !

 
Well Jacque, I don't do a lot of giving up, but if you knew zone 3 like I know zone 3....I doubt you have one in SA though....
 

are those baccatums?
 
if you have an abundance, maybe try your hand at a puree or paste for experimentation. 
Similar to the Amarillo and Panca Pastes used in our friend Dale's South American Cuisine.
 
powder seems like a last ditch effort to use them up.
 
i'd definitely powder the scorps, then you can use just a pinch if you want to

 
Yeah Matt, the CAP267 is baccatum, darn sweet too. As far as pasting goes, may be a good idea, I'll have to learn up on ingredients, seeding or no, etc.
 
I made a Papa Dreadie puree today, a precursor to jelly production next week.
 

 
I love powders though. I can add what the family can't palate to my own plate. I'm even making two jellies, one with, one without. The Darlin' Bride claims to love hot food, but when given the option she pretty much always goes with the bland white sauce. She will deny this to her dying day, but I speak truth....

 

[Malarky]

This is what I'm researching now
AJ's Puree Recipe
Seems to be one of the classics threads here
 
edit: Sure looks like Sunshine in a mason jar!
looks like the Dreadie gremlin dropped a SFRB in your mailbox

 

[stettoman]

This is what I'm researching now
AJ's Puree Recipe
Seems to be one of the classics threads here
 
edit: Sure looks like Sunshine in a mason jar!
looks like the Dreadie gremlin dropped a SFRB in your mailbox

 
That recipe looks great, Matt. I'll use it for the CAP267s, maybe aji Amarillo if I get enough to ripen. The Dreadies I used lemon juice sparingly, gonna need a kick of acidity to get setting action going.
 
Yes, the Dreadfie Gremlin popped in. I saved every. Single. Seed.....
 

 

[Devv]

I still hoping the harvests come in buddy!
 
As for the puree recipe, it's a great one! Been using it for some time now; I have one change I made, add Pineapple juice instead of so much vinegar. It helps knock the vinegar taste down while keeping the ph low. It's just a better tasting acid product. I always use the electronic ph meter I bought several years ago to make sure I'm at the right level. ph too high add more Pineapple juice and cook the liquid away. One of the best sauces I make and get a lot requests for is the kitchen sink sauce with a mix of everything from supers to sweet peppers like the Jimmy Nardello. I don't make it a burn your face off sauce so it appeals to a wider audience, bhut it is hot

 

[stettoman]

I woke to 1 & 3/4 inches in the rain gauge and a number of rocoto amarillos starting to ripen!!

Color me a-twitter!

 

[stettoman]

Fall continues to hover, but no new frost in sight. That's good, the peppers in the 8th acre are green-green-green, but for the Aji Limo/Mystery Peppers, the Paprika and a couple Urfa Bibers. Oh, and there are about 20 Trinidad Moruga Scorpions ready to pick....
 
But the pot-bound plants are coming along nicely. My Rocoto Amarillos have begun to ripen!
 

 
And the Aji Mangos continue.
 

 
The abundance of Dreadie-Mahala is ridiculous. I've harvested this many already.
 

 
And there are even a couple Aji Amarillos getting ripe. These are slow slow slow, the 8th acre has a bunch, I swear a couple of them over a pound, but I'll be pickin' 'em green if the current trend continues.
 

 
The weather is behaving, except that we're getting an inch of rain every other day. Hmmmm.
 

 

[Devv]

Hope the weather holds for ya bro!
 
We finally got some rain tonight .9"s in about 8 minutes, then it stopped. They say.... "more is on the way".

 

[stettoman]

The Dreadie-Mahala cross has an almost stable looking pheno, no?
 
 
 

 
I'm really loving these Aji Mangoes. They're just packed with seeds too. I'm going to plant a few of these next year.
 

 

[Devv]

Glad to see the coloring up bro!

 

[stettoman]

Glad to see the coloring up bro!

 
 
Me too Scott, there are a bunch that I just don't see making it if they aren't starting N=O=W.
 
.........however.........
 
I took a mudwalk this evening and decided to bring a few things in.
 
Some more CAP267 (there are countless pods still a raw yellow that is NOT creamsicle), the bulk of my ripened and ripening Trinidad Moruga Scorpions (thanks JeffContonio!), and one, count 'em, one (1)....
 
Ramirez Stinger, from seed I got from Mpicante.
 

 
A little closer look at the Stinger, what I can only assume, without further research and a definite fear of biting into, a superhot.
 

 
I'd love to say that this is the start of a beautiful thing, but a hard frost is forecast for tomorrow night. I'll do what I can to save what I can, but in zone 3 October 1 is about the best we can hope for without a continuous barrage of killing temps. Next season adjustments will be made and such, but there are breeds that I just won't justify growing without portable potting or a greenhouse.
 
Wish us well guys, we're goin' in.....

 

[Devv]

Eric, you did very well this season. A gold star grow! (I work for a school district, remember gold stars?)
 
I don't know if you have the resources to grow the plants larger before dirt day. But that's your only option to extend your season without a greenhouse. That and have a look what Stickman does in the spring. He simply has it down for growing in Ma.
 
He keeps it small garden wise but always gets darned good results.
 
I'm hoping for a late October pull here. Plenty of flowers....
 
 

 

[Genetikx]

I come here just to look at your yard

Great season with peppers too, congratulations