The Howster's 2012 Season

Last year was my first year growing chilli's seriously and was my first time with superhots. As I didn't produce a grow log I'll start with a quick recap

I grew the following varieties:

7 Pot Jonah
Aji Limon
Bih Jolokia
Bhut Jolokia
Indian PC-1
Naga Morich
Orange Habanero
Red Devils Tongue
Red Scotch Bonnet
Trinidad Scorpion
Trinidad Scorpion Morouga Blend

Of these I chose to put 3 each of Bih Jolokia, 7 Pot Jonah, Naga Morich and Trinidad Scorpion Morouga Blend in the ground in the greenhouse (limited space). The rest either went in to 11 litre pots initially in the greenhouse, in the ground outside, or were sold.


Germination:

Some windowsill time:

Ready for plant up:

The greenhouse in the beginning:

Pots head to the garden:

Greenhouse catches up:

Full swing and lush:

Fruits of my labour:

Bih Jolokia

7 Pot Jonah

A nasty pair of Morougas

I learnt that superhots do poorly outside and in small pots during a rubbish english summer however Aji Limons couldnt care less. I also learnt that superhots while cool are stupid to grow in large amounts as they must be used sparingly. Given that I have loads of frozen pods, home made powders, pickled pods and homemade hot sauces and chutneys to last me a good while, I plan to grow milder varieties in 2012.

 

[Mamsoth]

Great pics Howie, I grew several bhut plants last year which did suprisingly well despite our $%*! weather I'm on course to have more superhots than I know what to do with this year as well, thankfully I got a thick chilli themed cookbook for christmas so I'll be working my way steadily through that.
How did your aji lemons get on, Im going to try them this year and was wondering how many pods you could expect to get per plant?

 

[The Howster]

This years grow list:

Yellow Fatalii
Chocolate Habanero
Trinidad Scorpion Morouga Blend
Aji Limon
Hungarian Hot Wax
Jalapeno Early
Santa Fe Grande
Numex Heritage Big Jim
Joes Long Cayenne

Had to have Fatalii's after reading all the good press last year.
Wanted to give a chocolate variety a go whilst avoiding superhots so picked the habs.
I had to see if my own seed stock was viable, plus I wanted to see the offspring of that evil Morouga so popped a few of these.

Chinense germination:

Same little grow cupboard as last year only this year I have a 30w 6500k cfl rather than an 18w tropical t8:

Jiffy Pellets I had around

I've gone for 3 of each although double up on the Morouga's. First soaked in peroxide solution for an hour before going in at 80-85F
Started on 16/01/2012.
Up so far:

Fatalii 2/3
Choc Hab 2/3
Scorpion Morouga 2/6

The hab and scorpions yet to hook have popped out roots so just a matter of waiting now.

I'm starting everything else today.

 

[S.S.Tupperware]

Looks nice, the fatalli won't disappont...

 

[The Howster]

Great pics Howie, I grew several bhut plants last year which did suprisingly well despite our $%*! weather I'm on course to have more superhots than I know what to do with this year as well, thankfully I got a thick chilli themed cookbook for christmas so I'll be working my way steadily through that.
How did your aji lemons get on, Im going to try them this year and was wondering how many pods you could expect to get per plant?

You get much better weather down South.

Kingmysid provided me with the Aji Limon Seeds. I got started a little late with those, probably germinating end of April, so they didn't get a good shot. They did grow despite the weather and although small plants I'd say I got at least half a dozen full sized pods off the 3 plants I had. I left everything in the ground out over winter and despite the frosts I recently discovered the Limons were still green and alive (no leaves though). I've dug the largest up and I'm now trying to bring it back.

Looks nice, the fatalli won't disappont...

Looking forward to it.

I also forgot to mention I have an Orange Hab which never left my windowsill and is still producing the odd pod at the moment. I'm planning to give it proper growing conditions this year and see what it does.

 

[Mamsoth]

Good luck with the revival, hopefully you'll ressurrect it to full life again. What were they like to eat, I hear tell they are delicious

 

[The Howster]

As it was pretty late in the year that they formed I had to pick them unripe as the temps just weren't high enough to ripen them. I did manage to turn them in paper bags but they went slightly soft. I did try one and it was hotter than I expected although it did have that citrusy flavour. I pickled or cooked with the rest.

 

[Mamsoth]

hotter than I expected

Thats always good . Just ordered 20 of the little brutes so I'll keep my fingers crossed they do well

 

[roper2008]

That's a really nice little greenhouse. I see tomatoes! Yum!!

 

[The Howster]

Current Progress:

16/02/2012

The milder varieties up

Chinenses chugging along

23/02/2012

Hopeful overwintered AJI Limon looks to be a goner (This hard proon has only just happened)

My overwintered Orange Hab still fighting on. Its never been out of this pot or off this window sill (produced a fair few pods mind), this year its heading for the greenhouse.

The Hab producing lots of shoots after a prune of its growth tips.

Chinense seedlings

Non Chinense

29/02/2012

Current Progress

I've had 0 germination on my Aji Limon seeds and Hungarian Hot Wax, shame as I was looking forward to giving the Limons the treatment they deserved this year.

My approximate potting mix for any interested:

40% Coco Coir
40% Westlands Young Plant Compost with added John Innes
10% Vermiculite
10% Perlite

I have discovered that leaving a diluted mix of biobizz fish mix on standby ready for feeding produces a fermented concoction that smells like the well used urinals of a dirty old pub. I intend to only use what I need when I need it from now on.

I also promise to stop being so lazy, using my phone to take pics, and get the good camera charged up.

John

 

[The Howster]

More Progress

05/03/2012

07/03/2012

Today 12/03/2012
Decided to pot up one of the Chocolate Habanero's
The Victim

Some potting mix I made up yesterday, 50% recycled soil from last years pots (most of the roots removed), 30% coco coir, 10% perlite, 10% vermiculite, a couple of handfuls of bonemeal and same of composted chicken manure pellets.

In she goes

Everything else doing well

 

[Pr0digal_son]

Nice Howie... What size is that light and is it the only one you are using? When are you able to start moving things to the greenhouse?

 

[The Howster]

Hey J.B. Thats a 30watt 6500k cfl. Its not alot but the plants have been doing well so far. Its alot more than the 15watt t8 I used last year to get started although I am a month or two ahead this season. I do have a daylight desklamp I am currently using to supplement sunlight on an overwintered hab so as I pot up they will spend half and half between both locations. By then I will probably have the cfl out of the cupboard and mounted in way to light a few large plants. The amount of sunlight we get each day is also picking up quickly, just got to muddle through this difficult phase.

I think I started germinating around the same time as you and I think we have similar progress which is nice to know.

Last year I think it was mid May they went out. This year I'm hoping earlier but it all depends on the forecasts for night time temps, otherwise they will be going in a plastic cloche during the day and back in the house at night for a while. I haven't got the best setup but it's easy on the bills and improves year on year. Next year may see a considerable jump.

 

[The Howster]

Being the fool I am and spending some time looking over the great selection Semillas La Palma have I figured I didn't have quite enough variety this year (especially with 0 germination on Aji Limon and Hungarian Hot Wax) so have ordered some more seeds. I know it's late although around the time I started last year, so if the order comes through quickly I'll pick a few of the varieties, avoiding the longest season, and get them started ASAP leaving the rest for next year. Here is what I ordered:

Aji Pineapple
7pot Orange-Yellow
Bonda Ma Jacque
Blondy
Beni Highlands
Chocolate Bhut jolokia
Goronong
Limón
Habanero Hot Lemon
Lemon Drop
Habanero St. Martin
Royal Black
Trinidad Scorpion Orange
Trinidad Scorpion Yellow CARDI

It kind of works out because I'll be moving the older plants out of the germination and start area shortly as its now packed out so it will be freed up for these.

 

[The Howster]

Had a busy day starting more seeds and potting up yesterday.

Took a few pictures along the way and got the TZ10 out.

Last years orange hab doing well

My first pot up, chocolate hab doing well

Still under lights but not for long

Choc hab

Fatalii

Recent pot ups in the sun

Fatalii

TS Morugas

 

[Pr0digal_son]

Congrats on the contest seeds Howster. How is the weather there? Getting stuff into the greenhouse yet?

 

[The Howster]

A couple of packages which kept me busy

From Semillas La Palma

My Prize from Pepper Joe's naming competition

Salsa Box

Garden Box

I'm really impressed with how professionally packaged everything is and I was really surprised how much extra stuff I received, Kudos Pepper Joe. Rapid arrival for Trans Atlantic post too.

Getting some seeds started

Equal measures of the above and coco coir plus some perlite and vermiculite goes into this

Regards
John

Congrats on the contest seeds Howster. How is the weather there? Getting stuff into the greenhouse yet?

Thanks for posting, helped me get my post in order lol.

Really chuffed that I won something, I rarely win anything, and the prizes are great.

The weather has been gorgeous for the past week and should last a few more days. We are getting into the low 20s most days although dropping below 10 at night (temps in Celcius), well above average for this time of year. Due to head back to the norms this weekend with freezing conditions overnight.

I'd love to be back in the greenhouse but that won't be until May as I don't heat it and night time temps will be too cool till then.

 

[PaulG]

All your plants look great, big and small, howster!
Nice little greenhouse!

 

[SocalChilehead]

Plants look great and awesome packages and varieties you got in the mail

 

[The Howster]

Cheers fellas, this year is going much better than expected. Got a couple of extra plastic greenhouses, 5' tall and should hold 3 plants each, should help out a bit. I was chuffed with the seeds I received, Ive decided to give tomatoes a go this year, something I usually leave to my Dad.

I've been away recently and was impressed with how much things grew while I was away. So to update:

My windowsill from left to right - Organic Jalapeno, Overwintered Orange Hab, Fatalii, Choc Hab

Fatalii & Choc Hab, have been pinching out but will let them go now as they are getting big.

Orange Hab really took off, hope this will be a bushy monster once it hits the greenhouse.

Last seedlings for the year

Tomatoes (most courtesy of Pepper Joe's prize)

Last Chilli seedlings, most from Semillas with a couple from Pepper Joe. (one Bonda Ma Jacque is poking up after 3 weeks)

As the weather in the UK has gone downhill for a while everything is stuck inside. I give you the dining room.

Flowering plants for baskets and borders, 200 more of these suckers to come

Onto the more interesting plants

Thats it for now