TBG's First Chilli Blitz! (2017-18)

G'day G'day!

Welcome to my very first glog, I hope you like it:
 
This is my first time growing peppers seriously. Last season was my first; I grew 3 Jalapenos, 3 Habaneros,  a Naga Viper, Thai Hot, Cap Mushroom Red and an Ebony Fire, all bought from the store at various maturities.
And then I found TheHotPepper around March this year, and if my grow last year sparked my interest, THP nuked it! I've been super keen for this season, and now its started!
 
I started a few seeds of Aji Amarillo for the SHGDTD on the 22nd June, and currently have 2 seedlings, awaiting the third and final to pop.
 
This year, I'm thinking that I'm attempting to kinda try to limit my grow to roughly three dozen plants (even I'm not convinced), but we'll see what happens.
I don't really have much of a grow list, just a list of varieties that I have at the moment and I'd like to grow. 
So here's something that resembles a Grow List, its not set in stone; I'll end up not growing some on here, and I'll end up growing some that aren't on here.
 
-- The Grow List --
 
- Aji Amarillo
- Carolina Reaper
- Naga Viper Purple
- Aji Lemon
- Brazilian Starfish
- Jay's Peach Ghost Scorpion
- MoA Scotch Bonnet
- Scotch Brain
- Aji Jobito X BBG7 Choc (Shorerider's)
- Choc 7 Pot
- Malih-helow
- Peter Pepper Yellow
- Rocoto
- Bahamian Goat Pepper
- Cayenne X Bhut (Shorerider's)
- Red/Green Bell
- Habanero Mix (Red Savina & Tiger Paw)
- Prik Kee Nu Suan
- Bhut Jolokia Red
- Corno Di Toro Rosso
- Aji Pineapple
- Trinidad Scorpion CARDI
- Jalapeno
- Trinidad Perfume
- Trinidad Moruga Scorpion
- Tabasco
- 7 Pot Jonah Red
- Bishop's Hat
- Cap Mushroom Red
- Sugar Rush Peach
- Yellow Bell
- Goat's Weed
- Rocoto Aji Largo
- Trinidad Scorpion Butch-T
 
So yeah, that 36 plant limit is very dubious.
 
But before I go on, I'd like to send out a HUGE THANK YOU to Blitz527, as well as everyone who got on board the Aussie Seed Train, my grow is substantially due to your generosity!
So THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
And now its time to get down to business, The Grow!
 
I started 9 varieties on Saturday (1st July), giving them a chamomile bath and then into the paper towel in the incubator (which only fits 9 varieties)
 
The Bath Tub:


 
The Incubator:




 
 



So the first batch for this season is:
- Naga Viper Purple
- Scotch Brain
- Aji Jobito X BBG7 Choc 
- Choc 7 Pot
- Carolina Reaper
- Jay's Peach Ghost Scorpion
- MoA Scotch Bonnet
- Bahamian Goat Pepper
- Bhut Jolokia Red
 
And not forgetting the Aji Amarillo that have already started.


 
You'll notice a few other seedlings in the background, they're from seed I kept from last season's grow, but they all got mixed up. So I decided to sow some of the mixed up stuff back in April to make sure that they were all okay and would actually grow. Three of them have purple foliage, so they must be Ebony Fire. The rest are either Jalapeno or Thai Hot. (There's 6 all up)
I've had them slowly growing on a windowsill since April, but I got my growbox set up yesterday (writing this on the 4th July) and chucked them into it. They're looking happier already!

 
But anyway,
When this lot pops, I'll start the next, and so on and so forth till I declare that I have sufficient Varieties!
 
Here's to hoping for a great season and a great glog, I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I will!!!
 

Thanks for stopping by, I'm looking forward  to sharing my progress with you, I'm aiming for at least weekly.
 
4/7/17 EDIT: Replaced the dodgy photo links, and added some info about some seedlings I've already started.
 

 

[Walchit]

How's the Borg?

 

[karoo]

Mega post.
Great stuff.

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

 

[ThatBlondGuy101]

How's the Borg?

 
I'll get a picture for ya! So far so good, lost a couple of leaves because I hardened it off a bit quicker than I probably should've, but it's looking healthy. I think I'll put it in one of my 40L pots rather than in-ground, to try to stretch its season out a bit. Its a lot easier to keep the pots out the the frost than it is to keep the frost off the ground!
 
 

Mega post.
Great stuff.

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

 
 
Cheers Jacques! Mega Post for what feels to me like a mega grow! I'm not gonna be bored this summer for sure!

 

[KAOS]

Nice update TBG
 
I'm looking forward to the season end photos where your bare patch of garden is just a sea of green and pods.
 
Good work so far and nice going on all the buddage

 

[ThatBlondGuy101]

Nice update TBG
 
I'm looking forward to the season end photos where your bare patch of garden is just a sea of green and pods.
 
Good work so far and nice going on all the buddage

 
Thanks, here's to hoping that it comes to that!

 

[qandeel]

Things looking very good TBG. Keep it up.

I see you mentioning a pepper plant with the name Malih-Helow. Thats definitely an Arabic name which means Salty-Sweet but it is the first time I hear about it. Interesting.

Any more info about it? Many thanks.

And seeing as we're back in the Patch, the newly-improved half bed is now home to another 10 plants.
 

DSCN2323.JPG
 
Clockwise from top left we have:
 
Carolina Reaper
White Fatalii
Trinidad Perfume
D3's El Scorponero
D3's 7 Pot Burgundy X CGN 21500
D3's Aji Painapple
Jalapeno
Albanian Red Hot
Malih-Helow
Tabasco
 
 
 

 

[mrwrx]

Things looking very good TBG. Keep it up.

I see you mentioning a pepper plant with the name Malih-Helow. Thats definitely an Arabic name which means Salty-Sweet but it is the first time I hear about it. Interesting.

Any more info about it? Many thanks.

 
 
You can find info here
 
http://pepperlover.com/pepper-seeds/pepper-species/capsicum-annuum/malih-helow-detail
 
 

I grew it in 2015. I thought it was pretty good. I didn't really taste the saltiness that Judy describes; instead I would describe the flavor as both tangy and sweet. It started off sweet and got more tangy while you chewed, IIRC. About Jalapeno heat level.

 

[ThatBlondGuy101]

Things looking very good TBG. Keep it up.

I see you mentioning a pepper plant with the name Malih-Helow. Thats definitely an Arabic name which means Salty-Sweet but it is the first time I hear about it. Interesting.

Any more info about it? Many thanks.
 

 
Cheers! See below!
 
 

 
 
You can find info here
 
http://pepperlover.com/pepper-seeds/pepper-species/capsicum-annuum/malih-helow-detail
 
 

 
Beat me to it! But just to put something directly here, it is meant to be -surprise, surprise - salty and sweet! This is my first time growing it, and hopefully it turns out good! Meant to be a bit towards the "rare/exotic" end of the spectrum, so is got a bit of "ooooh!" factor.
 
Thanks both for stopping by!

 

[ThatBlondGuy101]

Another update! Already!
 
As promised, made some salsa with a Habanero, and I was pretty pleased with it.
 

 
Didn't measure anything, but a rough recipe:
 
- 1.5 tomatoes
- 1 mini cucumber
- 1 Habanero (duh)
- pinches of salt & pepper
- juice of 1 lemon
- drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
- a slice of onion (about 10mm thick)
 
Dice the tomato, cucumber, onion.
De-seed and finely chop Habanero
Mix all ingredients in bowl, cover and sit for about 30 minutes.
Refrigerate afterwards. 
 
Pretty simple, I'll be refining it over time until I strike gold.
 
Had some on crackers, and made a weird grilled cheese thing, which was bloody tasty.
 

 
But back outside!
 
As promised, a Bleeding Borg 9, proudly brought to you by Walchit.
 

 
Plants been getting some sun lately.
 

 
And finally put in stakes, very conservatively. Should be interesting how the minimalist-staking pans out.
 

 
Today went into town to buy some more compost, but got cow-manure-compost-blend instead. Seems like it'll be good, appears to be smelly compost, but obviously with an extra kick. Applied that to the other half of the middle Patch bed, and the raised bed that will house the non-pepper plants. So 10 more chillies will meet the dirt soon! 
 
 
Had to rush that a bit, but hope it goes down all right.
 
Have a good week everyone! (or what's left of it anyway)
 
                                                                                                          TBG
 

 

[Trident chilli]

Great fresh looking salsa just shows simple is best .... plants and patch first class .. wishing you a fruitful season down there

 

[mrwrx]

Looking at that salsa is making my mouth water.

 

[ThatBlondGuy101]

Great fresh looking salsa just shows simple is best .... plants and patch first class .. wishing you a fruitful season down there

 

Looking at that salsa is making my mouth water.

 
Thanks and thanks!

 

[qandeel]

Thank you very much guys. Very interesting indeed. A pity that its out of stock.

 
Cheers! See below!
 
 
 
Beat me to it! But just to put something directly here, it is meant to be -surprise, surprise - salty and sweet! This is my first time growing it, and hopefully it turns out good! Meant to be a bit towards the "rare/exotic" end of the spectrum, so is got a bit of "ooooh!" factor.
 
Thanks both for stopping by!

 

[ThatBlondGuy101]

Took a few photos today, so figured I should put em up here before they get outdated.
 
More pics, less talk for this update.
 
 
 
Aji Amarillo No.1
 

 
Side-growth is notably thick.
 

 
Herbs cruising along.
 

 
Shot of plants on shelf, I'm pretty pleased with how they're going, quite healthy.
 

 
Pricked out beans into pots before they hit the garden bed.
 

 
Tomato is cruising.
 


 

That Aji Lemon is not an Aji Lemon, its a Peter Pepper Yellow, but still love the triple stem regardless. 
 

 
Flower bud on Cayenne X Bhut 
 


 

The other Cayenne X Bhut is being protected.
 


 

Aji Jobito X BBG7
 


 

Trinidad Scorpion CARDI
 


 

D3's 7 Pot Burgundy X CGN 21500
 


 
This will serve as a comparison shot in a few months time. I'll take another from the same spot in the future.
 


 
Rainy and stormy last couple of days, and meant to continue for another 4. So no planting out into the newly prepared beds yet...
 
 
Thanks for joining me on this adventure!
 
                                                                                   TBG.

 

 
 
 
 

 

[KAOS]

Some great photos there TBG and plants all looking great.
 
I see you battling with hosting again ... me too.
 
Trying this one now - https://cubeupload.com/

 

[Swamptrout]

Hey tbg cant remember if you u covered it in earlier pages but where did u get the shade house grow tent? Bunnings job?

 

[Swamptrout]

Things are lookin sweet by the way

 

[ThatBlondGuy101]

Some great photos there TBG and plants all looking great.
 
I see you battling with hosting again ... me too.
 
Trying this one now - https://cubeupload.com/

 
Yeah haha, thanks once again! iforce is good, but the pics are so damn big, it makes loading the threads a nightmare! I'll give this one a go.
 
 

Hey tbg cant remember if you u covered it in earlier pages but where did u get the shade house grow tent? Bunnings job?

 

Things are lookin sweet by the way

 
Cheers! Yeah, got it from bunnings, this would be it:
 
https://www.bunnings.com.au/naturallife-140-x-70-x-200cm-walk-in-greenhouse_p3321454
 
Overall I'm pretty happy with it, the size is good, although I had to add a few shelves when I had all the plants in there, it also holds up pretty well in the weather, considering we've had a hailstorm and its still intact, and it hasn't gotten blown away in the wind since I first put it up, but that would be due to the old tent ropes I attached.  Temperature wise, it doesn't hold warmth too well, but it does multiply the warmth when its in the sun; on a 20-25 day, temps in there (door closed) get around 45, probably would get higher if I let them. On a nice warm, 25ish day with the door open, its usually 30-35ish inside, unless there's a breeze. But then on an overcast, cooler day, its only marginally warmer, or the same temp as outside. 
 
But, it does the job I want it too, and it looks like it'll last long enough to get at least two seasons of use out of it! Don't think it'll be very useful in winter though...
 
 
 
 
Thanks all for stopping by!
 
Still been raining, so no progress in the ground as of yet.

 

[PaulG]

Hey, TBG, looking very nice down there!
 
Had a great time catching up on your grow.  Glad you discovered
the drainage thing with the solo cups.  I'm with Karoo - I use a box
knife to cut 3 or four openings in the bottom lip of the cup.  So much
easier than drilling, which I did once before deciding it was a pain in
the heinie!  Then use another uncut cup for a sleeve, which I remove
the day after every watering to avoid roots circling into the sleeve cup.
Thus, no need for trays.
 
I got a kick out of your formula.  Since the branches fork into two branches
usually, your formula for the number of forks above the first fork could be 2n, at each 'level', 
where n is the number of forks. If you count the first fork as 'zero node', for the
first fork, 20 = 1, for the second, 21 = 2, and the third, 22 = 4, etc. The number
of forks so far would then be 1 + 2 + 4 = 7.  The total would then be a series,
 
[20 + 21 + 22 + 23 + ... + 2(n)], a sum of the powers of 2, or  2(n+1) - 1
 
For the 6th 'forking',  1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 + 32,   2(n+1) - 1 =  2(6+1) - 1 =  27 - 1 = 64 -1 = 63
For the tenth: 2(n+1) - 1 = 211 - 1 = 1024 - 1 = 1023.  That's a lot of nodes where buds can form!
 
That gives you the number of forks where buds can form.  However some plants
have more than one bud at a fork node, so number of buds would be higher, 
in that case.
 
Just having some math fun 
 
You mentioned that you are staking minimally.  Have you thought about a french weave?  
I've seen some examples of that on the forum.
 
 

 

[ThatBlondGuy101]

Hey, TBG, looking very nice down there!
 
Had a great time catching up on your grow.  Glad you discovered
the drainage thing with the solo cups.  I'm with Karoo - I use a box
knife to cut 3 or four openings in the bottom lip of the cup.  So much
easier than drilling, which I did once before deciding it was a pain in
the heinie!  Then use another uncut cup for a sleeve, which I remove
the day after every watering to avoid roots circling into the sleeve cup.
Thus, no need for trays.
 
I got a kick out of your formula.  Since the branches fork into two branches
usually, your formula for the number of forks above the first fork could be 2n, at each 'level', 
where n is the number of forks. If you count the first fork as 'zero node', for the
first fork, 20 = 1, for the second, 21 = 2, and the third, 22 = 4, etc. The number
of forks so far would then be 1 + 2 + 4 = 7.  The total would then be a series,
 
[20 + 21 + 22 + 23 + ... + 2(n)], a sum of the powers of 2, or  2(n+1) - 1
 
For the 6th 'forking',  1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 + 32,   2(n+1) - 1 =  2(6+1) - 1 =  27 - 1 = 64 -1 = 63
For the tenth: 2(n+1) - 1 = 211 - 1 = 1024 - 1 = 1023.  That's a lot of nodes where buds can form!
 
That gives you the number of forks where buds can form.  However some plants
have more than one bud at a fork node, so number of buds would be higher, 
in that case.
 
Just having some math fun 
 
You mentioned that you are staking minimally.  Have you thought about a french weave?  
I've seen some examples of that on the forum.
 
 

 
Thanks for dropping in Paul, glad I could offer some entertainment.
 
French weave? I'm going to go look that up right now, haven't heard of it before. Cheers!