Stickman's 2012 Gochu Pepper Glog

Well, here we go... Started about 35 Korean Gochu Peppers and a few Korean salad peppers, jalapenos and orange habs. All are mostly up today but the habs. I started them early last week in my heated grow tent down in my cellar on top of a grow mat, but didn't have the thermostat quite dialed in. When I left it it was 70 degrees f. in the tent. When I checked again the next morning it was 85 degrees, and I was afraid I'd cooked the seeds, so I moved them onto my kitchen windowsill on the grow mat and awaited developments. Looking much better now. I'll give the Habs until the weekend to pop, then move the flat down to the grow tent.

 

[highalt]

Looks like we've got similar first frost dates. Last year, we had a light frost (low lying areas) on Sept. 7, but our first hard freeze was Oct.7. Like you though, I think the third week of Sept. is our average, and anything beyond that is a bonus,

I really want to try the Manzano next year too. I'm thinking of starting it super early, like Nov. or Dec., otherwise I doubt very seriously I'd see any ripe pods before the season was over. I tried the Lemon Drop last year, and it was super productive, and though the pods were green when we had our first frost, they ripened after harvesting in a bowl on the kitchen counter. Could have been the seed source, but I didn't care for the flavor. The Aji Yellow I got from Ajijoe tasted way better.

 

[stickman]

Hi Bonnie!

Looks like we've got similar first frost dates. Last year, we had a light frost (low lying areas) on Sept. 7, but our first hard freeze was Oct.7. Like you though, I think the third week of Sept. is our average, and anything beyond that is a bonus,

I hear ya sister! Living in the colder latitudes/higher elevations can limit some of what we grow, but I wouldn't change it.


I really want to try the Manzano next year too. I'm thinking of starting it super early, like Nov. or Dec., otherwise I doubt very seriously I'd see any ripe pods before the season was over. I tried the Lemon Drop last year, and it was super productive, and though the pods were green when we had our first frost, they ripened after harvesting in a bowl on the kitchen counter. Could have been the seed source, but I didn't care for the flavor. The Aji Yellow I got from Ajijoe tasted way better.

Parallel grow? Cool! If it works for you we can start at the same time and each try different things and double the experience for growing in similar conditions..Thanks for weighing in on the Aji Lemon Drop... I'll scratch that one off the list.

 

[PaulG]

Hi Bonnie!

Looks like we've got similar first frost dates. Last year, we had a light frost (low lying areas) on Sept. 7, but our first hard freeze was Oct.7. Like you though, I think the third week of Sept. is our average, and anything beyond that is a bonus,

I hear ya sister! Living in the colder latitudes/higher elevations can limit some of what we grow, but I wouldn't change it.


I really want to try the Manzano next year too. I'm thinking of starting it super early, like Nov. or Dec., otherwise I doubt very seriously I'd see any ripe pods before the season was over. I tried the Lemon Drop last year, and it was super productive, and though the pods were green when we had our first frost, they ripened after harvesting in a bowl on the kitchen counter. Could have been the seed source, but I didn't care for the flavor. The Aji Yellow I got from Ajijoe tasted way better.

Parallel grow? Cool! If it works for you we can start at the same time and each try different things and double the experience for growing in similar conditions..Thanks for weighing in on the Aji Lemon Drop... I'll scratch that one off the list.

Just chiming in. I started my pubescens (or. rocoto from beth @ peppermania) on 1/22.
It was under lights and then in the greenhouse, with some outside hardening every day
I could get to it. Planted out a week or so ago. Now there are about dozen flowers on
it, two open. I'm surprised it is not dropping them, yet. Maybe they really don't mind this
weather so much!

 

[HillBilly Jeff]

Looking good man. Glad my frost is generally late October.

 

[stickman]

Hi Bodeen, Thanks for dropping by. Out of curiousity... what's the elevation in your area? Any luck Turkey hunting this spring?

Went out to water the garden this morning and see that the Mat Jang Gochu I got from BootsieB is flowering in the left foreground.

I really don't mind looking under my chiles in the morning and finding some dropped skirts...

Some Corno de Toro sweet peppers I got at a local nursery when I got some Tomatillo Verde plants. Quite the color contrast eh?

Hope you all have a great weekend. I've got In-laws coming and a five pound filet of Salmon to grill...

 

[stc3248]

and though the pods were green when we had our first frost, they ripened after harvesting in a bowl on the kitchen counter.

Next time if you're not trying to overwinter them, you can pull the plant and hang it upside down and they'll ripen with better flavor!

Rick! You got all them ladies dropping skirts already brother! Mine almost all like to keep theirs on...drives me crazy! I leave them on most of my chinenses because it may help with tail development, but I try to pull them from all my others. In-laws huh? I'd be willing to bet along with that salmon you got some more crazy good stuff planned for the kitchen!

 

[stickman]

and though the pods were green when we had our first frost, they ripened after harvesting in a bowl on the kitchen counter.

Next time if you're not trying to overwinter them, you can pull the plant and hang it upside down and they'll ripen with better flavor!

Good to know... Thanks Shane

Rick! You got all them ladies dropping skirts already brother! Mine almost all like to keep theirs on...drives me crazy! I leave them on most of my chinenses because it may help with tail development, but I try to pull them from all my others.

My wife probably wouldn't be amused by the turn of phrase, but like Eddie Vedder says... I'm still alive!

In-laws huh? I'd be willing to bet along with that salmon you got some more crazy good stuff planned for the kitchen!

Oh, fer suuure! Gotta dial the rheostat back on the heat though... My wife is the only one in her family that likes it. Cheers

 

[stickman]

Looking through the chiles this morning I thought I'd take some pics of the flowers.

Korea Winner Gochu flower

Chimayo flower

Long Green pod

 

[stickman]

Not much happening this weekend since we were visited by my In-laws... Mum, brother and family, and sister the sister. My wife's sister is with the of the Sisters of Charity of St Paul order. I am most emphatically not Catholic, but they're decent people and we get along well. They're Canadian... From New Brunswick. My Mom was there too, and took a shot of me with my "pepper hedge".

Chiles continue to grow and the Gochus are kickin' a#@ and takin' names...I have a few pods that have reached full size, and many more coming along behind. When I get a dozen at full size I'll make some Gochu Jeon and post pics. In another three weeks or so they should be getting red ripe and I'll start picking and drying them for powder.

 

[stickman]

My wife left today to drive her Mum back to New Brunswick, Canada and she took the digital camera with her. Sorry guys and gals... no more pics until she gets back in a week and a half. Everything in the garden is well established, and mulched where appropriate. I'll be in and out of THP, but this looks like a good time to get some fishing in. Cheers!

 

[PaulG]

My wife left today to drive her Mum back to New Brunswick, Canada and she took the digital camera with her. Sorry guys and gals... no more pics until she gets back in a week and a half. Everything in the garden is well established, and mulched where appropriate. I'll be in and out of THP, but this looks like a good time to get some fishing in. Cheers!

That's a great pic of you with the pepper plants, Rick. Looks like a nice neighborhood.
the peppers in all the pics look very content. Good luck fishing!

 

[Pinoy83]

Im jelaous with your gochu peppers,i just hope the ones I transplanted doing ok and hopefully they alive

 

[Trippa]

My wife left today to drive her Mum back to New Brunswick, Canada and she took the digital camera with her. Sorry guys and gals... no more pics until she gets back in a week and a half. Everything in the garden is well established, and mulched where appropriate. I'll be in and out of THP, but this looks like a good time to get some fishing in. Cheers!

Well instead of seeing this as a loss how about seeing it as an opportunity?? I for one would love to see a charcoal drawing or even a water-colour or oil painting of your plants flowers and pods ... even an abstract ??

Well your last updates were looking good in the flowering stakes so your next ones should be full of baby pods I am sure. Best of luck with the following week and a half. And good fishing to you sir!! Enjoy your Bachelor break

 

[stickman]

Well instead of seeing this as a loss how about seeing it as an opportunity?? I for one would love to see a charcoal drawing or even a water-colour or oil painting of your plants flowers and pods ... even an abstract ??

Well your last updates were looking good in the flowering stakes so your next ones should be full of baby pods I am sure. Best of luck with the following week and a half. And good fishing to you sir!! Enjoy your Bachelor break

I love to paint! Why I did the whole living room in a weekend... Two coats! Thanks Trip... I'm gonna break out the fly rod and float tube and do a little lake fishing. It's kind of like floating around in an easy chair and pushing yourself with your feet while you fish with your hands. Cheers

 

[Trippa]

I love to paint! Why I did the whole living room in a weekend... Two coats! Thanks Trip... I'm gonna break out the fly rod and float tube and do a little lake fishing. It's kind of like floating around in an easy chair and pushing yourself with your feet while you fish with your hands. Cheers

Any room on it for some beers?? Sounds like a tough way to spend a few days

 

[stickman]

Any room on it for some beers?? Sounds like a tough way to spend a few days

I could carry 3 or 4 but fishing isn't an excuse for me to drink... I'm pretty focused. The beers come when I'm relaxing at home.

Checked in on the plants this morning and see that I have some gochus around a meter tall. Chimayo chiles are really starting to kick in... I counted about 28 pods set on one plant... some almost three inches long. Gwari Put, Pepperoncini, Jalapenos and Poblanos are beginning to kick in with blossoms and pods. Holy Mole hybrids and Orange Habs are starting to blossom. The Big Jim Heritage chiles are big, sprawling plants... I have one that is taking up about a one meter circle of space on the ground and it's nearly as tall. Just beginning to put out flower buds, but it's covered with them! Chilaca has lots of buds and should begin to flower in the next few days with the Serranos right behind them.

 

[stc3248]

I could carry 3 or 4 but fishing isn't an excuse for me to drink... I'm pretty focused. The beers come when I'm relaxing at home.

I learned long ago...you can fish well, or drink well, but you can't do both well at the same time!

 

[stickman]

I learned long ago...you can fish well, or drink well, but you can't do both well at the same time!

I only fish well. I like a beer or two at the end of the day but I found out in my teens that I have no real stomach for boozing. Neither did my Dad, so I guess it runs in the family. It reminds me of a funny story though... Dad used to have a Gravely hand tractor that he used to mow the lawn, blow snow and till the garden. His buddy from work, Giacomo Pizzoni, asked him to till his vegetable garden one spring and Dad agreed. When he went over to the house to do the job, Giacomo called him in and gave him a small glass of grappa, I guess to fortify him for the job. Dad said afterwards that after that half a glass of hooch on an empty stomach he couldn't have plowed a straight furrow to save his life...

 

[Pinoy83]

i have to plant new gochus, the one i transplanted doesn't show any signs of growth

 

[stickman]

Sorry to hear that, but if you have to, you have to. They'll probably get a fast start from your aerogarden too. Good luck!