Uknow 2018 - The Heat is On!

Hey all!

Just a quick sneak peak. I planned on dirt day being January 1st this year, but it ended up being today (yesterday), January 18th. Still about 2 weeks earlier than my first set last year. As long as I don't have any major setbacks like last season, I should crush it this year! *Knock on wood*

So I finally got the grow box/tent, lights and heat mat set up in my unfinished rec room downstairs of the new house. The room is about 6' x 9'. Had to cut about 4 inches off one side of my table, it's a tight fit, but I didn't want to go lengthwise, lol.

I planted 4 trays of Chinense only so far. Heat mat is set to 83f. I learned my lesson last year with planting Annuum's and baccatum's too early. Not doing that again! I'll wait at least another month before I start them.

I didn't put together my official grow list yet, but you can see most of the varieties in the pics. Mostly the same as last year, I didn't order any new seeds. I'm missing a few varieties though due to not getting any pods from a few that the deer mowed down last season. (I'm looking for Chocolate Bhut, JPGS and a couple others if anyone wants to trade some seeds)

Also, of the 22 plants I tried to overwinter, 10 survived the aphids and neglect from me. Only watered twice since October, oops, haha. 5 I think have some life left in them, and 7 were completely toast. I'll get a list of the survivors tomorrow when I do my grow list.

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

 

[U)<now]

Nice work Troy!
 
I see pods in the making, it's going to be a hot year!

Thanks Scott! It's coming along... It's been a great season with only a couple minor hiccups so far. I'm about 2 weeks behind getting them all potted up, but that's ok, at least they're outside and we have nice weather. Going to be low 80's for the next 2 week's. Supposed to be almost 100 this Saturday though, that worries me a bit.

 

[U)<now]

Quick update with some pod pics and stuff..

Plant label pic should be before each set of plant/pod pics. If not, I'll edit on PC in the morning to correct.
Some are obviously crossed or off pheno early pods yet.
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
These have an elongated shape so far...
 

This one below is a BTR, no label pic for it.

 
 
 
This is the hairy "CPR" that sprouted from seeds from last years not a CPR that we dubbed the CPR Red Grenade, It's putting out two different pod shapes so far...
 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 

 

[U)<now]

More pics since not all would fit in that last post...
 
Overwintered PNV...

 

 
 
 
Overwintered Reaper in 15gal pot, bushing out like crazy, I think this ones going to be a monster, even when I put it outside in direct sun for the season, it wasn't even phased, no leaf burn or anything. The others all had a bit of leaf burn from the sun.
 

 

 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

[Devv]

Well done Troy!
 
I wish my summers were 10° cooler here so I could get these kinds of pods

 

[U)<now]

Well done Troy!
 
I wish my summers were 10° cooler here so I could get these kinds of pods

Thank you sir! I like it warm, but not as hot as the weather you get. Low 80's is about perfect summer weather I think!

 

[U)<now]

So it looks like my Purple Reaper was crossed with my Fidalga Preto. I didn't catch it with those first two small pods,but they go orange before red, and the only purple plant I have that does that is the Fidalga Preto. Which, like I said before, was next to my reaper plant last year.

So the pod color goes Purple > Green > Orange > Red, still pretty neat though. Hopefully the full size pods have some heat, some of those are starting to ripen now.


You can see two orange and two red pods here, these are all early small pods...

Closer shot here...

The larger purple/green pod near the top of this pic has a nice shape too it with a small tail.

Some larger pods...

One of the bigger ones turning orange...

This is what normal Fildaga Preto pods look like. This is not full size, but much different shape than the above pics

 

[U)<now]

Bad Brains also putting out some cool pods

 

[karoo]

All beautiful pics and pods.
How are those purple Reapers.?

Sent from my FIG-LX1 using Tapatalk

 

[U)<now]

All beautiful pics and pods.
How are those purple Reapers.?

Sent from my FIG-LX1 using Tapatalk

I haven't tried one yet, waiting for a full size pod :-)

 

[Devv]

You may have a very special cross going on there. It looks awesome!
 
Let us know how you like it

 

[U)<now]

You may have a very special cross going on there. It looks awesome!
 
Let us know how you like it

Will do. I'm going to isolate some flower buds today also for all my plants, including that one.

 

[U)<now]

Talk about ripening fast... I posted this pic earlier today right after I took it...

And took this pic just now, so maybe 7 hours apart...

 

[U)<now]

The difference between the normal PNV (red) pods and the chocolate PNV that showed up last year is just so cool. The chocolate pods are almost black...



Original PNV...

Chocolate PNV...

 

[U)<now]

M.A. Wartryx "Hand Grenade" pheno, but these look like normal M.A. Wartryx, so the pheno on the plant these seeds came from must have been just that one plant or I wasn't lucky with the keepers I chose this season. Regardless, this was on my wishlist for about for a year or so now, so I'm still excited!

 

[U)<now]

Anybody know what these two bugs are? Lots of both in the garden this season...

 

[U)<now]

Isolating some buds finally. Bought 3 yards of this mesh fabric from Wally world for $9 total.

 

[U)<now]

Decided to try gluing some flowers again this year. Covering the branches with the mesh is a PITA! If I had mesh bags it would be easier, like the paint bags some people use,but their a bit pricey for how many I would need.

When it looks like the bud is just about to open, like the day before, I just put a drop of glue on a popsicle stick and dip the tip of the flower bud in it.

Then I take the twist ties and take about 2 inch long pieces, make a loop and bend the end at a 90* angle. The angle helps hold it over the branch and supports the twist ties so it's not hanging from the bud causing extra stress on it... Slide the bud through the loop, then pinch the loop part closed just a bit. So if it does fall off the branch, it'll at least catch on the bud.

Then I come out daily and tap on the buds a bit to hopefully get the pollin floating around inside there. It worked on a few last year, so I'm banking on it again this year, plus it guarantees 99.9% isolation. No wind or bugs are getting into the bud.


Tools needed...

Make a bunch of twist ties loops like this one...

Put a drop or two on the stick, and dip just the tip... :Rofl: ... Into the glue...

Slide your twist tie on and pinch the loop part closed a bit without pulling on or damaging the bud...

Put the hooked part over the branch...

And in a day or two, it will look like this one, that you can see is trying to open, but can't because the tip is glued shut. Gently tap on the bud(s) once a day to get the pollin floating around in there...

That's all there is to it!

 

[Trident chilli]

That is bl**dy mavelous thank you for posting

 

[U)<now]

That is bl**dy mavelous thank you for posting

You're welcome! It's not my original idea, I found it online and I know others here have used similar methods as well. I just figured I'd make a quick how to guide for anyone who'd like to try it.

I could crosspost to the growing sub also so more people can see it too. Might be helpful to some others.

 

[DontPanic]

Thanks for the tutorial.
 
I need to start figuring out isolation techniques, so it's helpful to see the pictures.