tsurrie's 2024 glog

Let's play. I will not grow much more peppers this season than last one, but it's going to be fun like always Let's hope for a decent grow. Last year was pretty good even with just 10 main plants - mostly habaneros. They are my favorite and they will play the main part in this season grow also.

Current status: (sowed two weeks ago)

Most of them sprouted and soon they will need to be transplanted in solo pots.

Annums:
- Cherry bomb
- Pimienta (PLM)
- Kapija (paprika)
- another red bell pepper variety

Chinenses:
- Aji Jobito
- Purple Thunder
- Scotch Bonnet Papa Dreadie
- Scotch Bonnet Papa Joe's
- Scotch Bonnet MoA (from 2021 - hoping for some sprouts)
- Fatalii
- Red Savina Habanero
- Calita Red Habanero
- Chocolate Habanero (one pot with older seeds still no sprouts, the other one from last year's seeds very much alive)

 

[Marturo]

Now I know what they look like ... and where they live

Nuke um all!

 

[tsurrie]

Nuke um all!

I checked daily and picked about one to three a day. But they hide in the soil around the plant so if you gently go through the upper soil in the pot you'll slowly get most of them out. Each day for a good week or two... I bet there was around 20 caterpillars overall and I'm still checking when I water them.

 

[tsurrie]

Current look at the balcony

The size of those leafs is amazing - this one is chocolate habanero

Calita Red Habanero flower set at the fork

plenty of branches are forming, thumbs up they'll grow out and produce...

 

[tsurrie]

Pods are getting bigger, but there was an unpleasant surprise when I got to Papa Joe plant. Seems like a large family of stink bugs. Damn those little creatures. What do you recommend ? Spraying with neem ?

Not much sign on other plants, but I do keem them very close together.

 

[Marturo]

Seems like a large family of stink bugs. Damn those little creatures. What do you recommend ? Spraying with neem ?

Nice Pods.
STINK BUGS Damn them!!!
Next season I will be using this. I know It'$ a lot But it works without poisoning pepper eaters.

https://www.amazon.com/AzaGuard-Botanical-Insecticide-Nematicide-Concentrate/dp/B00C4PTIH0/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1CFHCTBVFC257&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.cBbTzsIGBQn3M51FEB-M90f3gjaf7wW8V6sMwowx7EwobF4L4oUwPUD4eB3CZVWt81rYEQYJNxzBWygef4pT-VSbK9RluLa7HbZrBQRj6MwyvAkfsGy5upCPZ1wT3MxB_c_Z-y9bKDuo6ivM_twHUeliZFduL1u1WrH3knw6JsBS4NNQXw2ai_K4WPC22_T1yMRtKmFoPfthdA7sxFeCBXhkyf4pxB48fZbs57g47pvP9jz_aLY7RHB8hyZ6n5Lxzrn9JFVfEbAEFsqN3rsHp8SHXHiQMuyFUGfyO7c_xlI.2Ha2v1ZbBu3NypLnts-JTjsSKtwFqRUaQdltdnKvMPM&dib_tag=se&keywords=azadirachtin&qid=1724101393&sprefix=azadracin%2Caps%2C177&sr=8-3&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0

 

[Bou]

Earwigs can also cause similar damage (a reply to post #16 but for some reason it appeared here!)

 

[tsurrie]

Well, those stink bugs were gone the next day after some neem treatment, so that worked. Just hoping I wont get a visit from bigger ones soon

Pods are ripening and it looks there is harvest coming pretty soon.

Habanero Chocolate

Aji Jobito

Red Savina Habanero

another Red Habanero

Papa Joe's Scotch Bonnet

Calita Red Habanero

Fatalii

Calita Red Habanero II

Papa Dreaddie Scotch Bonnet

another Papa Dreadie

 

[tsurrie]

First harvest is over. Most of pods got picked, I'd say a quarter of this quantity is still on the plants and slowly ripening because we suddenly got cold weather over here.

Some pics before and after the harvest (drying time)....

after....

 

[MarcV]

you wear gloves?

Very nice and colorful harvest!

 

[tsurrie]

Not on the other hand with which I washed my face later on and eyes too

No really, I learned the hard way and I do wear the glove on the hand that I remove the seeds with - from some of the pods. The hand I hold chilis while cutting is also the most exposed to the oil, so yeah, you can say that's a pussy move ... but I don't give a f@ck and the wife is not so scared also

 

[wiicek]

Wow! Looks wonderful! I hope those few next weeks of the season will be warmer. It was better today here in Poland after that weird dark and floody week.

What will you do with all those vibrant beauties?

No really, I learned the hard way and I do wear the glove on the hand that I remove the seeds with - from some of the pods.

I did not wear the gloves making my first big jar with dorset nagas and habaneros. I think I was sure I'm gonna be fine. Let's just say, the weirdly pleasurable and not pleasurable burn was there even 12 hours after and then stopped suddenly. And then begin every time I washed hands or made pressure to the skin for example holding something.
I can't say it was not interesting experience. Would I do it again? Maybe next year xD

 

[tsurrie]

What will you do with all those vibrant beauties?

When they're dry, I'll put them in a jar and grind them when needed. I usually make red, yellow and chocolate powder.

 

[wiicek]

Do those few plants make a lot of powder? I know chinenses produce like crazy but don't know anything about making powder from dried ones, it can't be enough to last full year... OR IS IT!?

 

[tsurrie]

Do those few plants make a lot of powder? I know chinenses produce like crazy but don't know anything about making powder from dried ones, it can't be enough to last full year... OR IS IT!?

It is enough for me and I usually give some powder to friends. So, if you take red habaneros from the pictures, I filled a larger jar with them. That fills about four to five smaller spice jars when grinded. I used to cook sauces, maybe I'll cook some this year. Same amount of scotch bonnets/fataliis.... a little less chocolate habaneros, but it will be enough. And there is another harvest coming - a smaller one, but it will add to amount.

 

[wiicek]

That's wonderful to hear, thank you It's so fun to see everyone enjoy their harvests, I'd even say sometimes similar fun as to enjoying picking them

 

[NJChilehead]

When they're dry, I'll put them in a jar and grind them when needed. I usually make red, yellow and chocolate powder.

That's something I'd like to try to do. I think my wife is planning on getting me a dehydrator for Christmas because I've mentioned my interest in the powder making (plus she's more addicted to spicy dishes than I am!).

 

[PaulG]

Plants really producing for you, Uros!
Beautiful photos, my friend!

 

[tsurrie]

Plants really producing for you, Uros!
Beautiful photos, my friend!

Yes Paul, they're good producers, can't complain.
I have a batch waiting to cut open and dry and another small harvest for the official season ending.

 

[tsurrie]

Season is officially over. I forgot to post pictures before - the peppers were picked (about two weeks ago) and a few days later dried and stashed.

Also picked butternut's and sweet potato about a week ago.

Now i need to prep the garden and protect the outdoor plants for the winter.

Have a peaceful winter everyone.

 

[Downriver]

Looks like you had a successful year, tsurrie! You're gonna have some good eats through the Winter. Congrats!