Wicked Mike's 2015 Growlog

Hawaiianero · Dec 9, 2014

Dang, I didn't even realize more than half of those you listed even existed. That's still a lot of super hots you're planting so I'm thinking you expect to sell a fair amount of them. Being that you are in the Miami area, are you using greenhouse w/ shadecloth or right outside? On benches/tables or on weed block on the ground? Sorry for all the questions but i'm still trying to visualize 3000 plants.

Wicked Mike · Dec 9, 2014

SL3 said:
Sounds like you will be well prepared to mix up some nice spices and sauces this coming year.

A lot of what I'm working on is thanks to that ridiculous envelope of seeds you sent me. Hope everything's going well out your way. When does your season start?

Especially stoked about the Pitanga Laranha and "Not" Fatalii Red, after they way you talked about them.

MeatHead1313 · Dec 9, 2014

Love the couple of DBZ references in here!
That being said, best of luck for 2015! Thats one hell of a list, and a ton of plants. Also, if it does indeed turn out to be a great year for passion fruit I'll be in for some purchases of fruit if you have some available for us. Love me some passion fruit!

SL3 · Dec 10, 2014

Wicked Mike said:
A lot of what I'm working on is thanks to that ridiculous envelope of seeds you sent me. Hope everything's going well out your way. When does your season start?

Especially stoked about the Pitanga Laranha and "Not" Fatalii Red, after they way you talked about them.

I won’t start germinating until right after Christmas. I can’t wait to get started myself and I will be growing many of your seeds as well.

I sure hope you’re not going to get so busy that you can’t continue work on those sauces and spices. We had that first batch of spice added to a batch of steamed carrots last night and it really did wonders to liven them up. Heck, we ate more carrots than the main course. It’s become the best all around spice in our rack, but you need to give those spices a name Mike.

I will be looking forward to watching your next big endeavor here. Good luck my friend.

rank78 · Dec 11, 2014

Holy..... LOL

Imagining myself among all those plants makes me think about Scrooge McDuck diving into his vault.

Good luck on the season. The list is a nice reference for exploring new peppers to try. Need to put my chef brother and mother to work on some new hot sauce concoctions soon. :dance:

Wicked Mike · Dec 11, 2014

Chilima said:
For sure they will, they have wider target groups and uses than superhots. Keep us updated Mike i like how you do this for a living on a huge scale. Interested in after logistics like finding buyers and distribution and alike after the growing is done.

Yep. As far as selling them goes, I'm not too worried about it. In the short term, there are a few local garden centers that are VERY interested in moving my stuff, and three different farmers' markets that are held on three different days of the week.

Chilima · Dec 11, 2014

So it seems you are covered distribution wise

Now I demand pictures of your pepper fields

Wicked Mike · Dec 11, 2014

Hawaiianero said:
Dang, I didn't even realize more than half of those you listed even existed. That's still a lot of super hots you're planting so I'm thinking you expect to sell a fair amount of them. Being that you are in the Miami area, are you using greenhouse w/ shadecloth or right outside? On benches/tables or on weed block on the ground? Sorry for all the questions but i'm still trying to visualize 3000 plants.

Three thousand is just an estimate; I really do need to find the time to get an accurate count. It doesn't look anywhere near as impressive as it sounds, as most of them are still pretty small.

The mature plants are in full sun; the smaller ones are in partial shade. The ones down at the nursery are in a shade house on a raised bench, but it's very light shade. I was a little concerned at first that the sun would be intense, especially for seedlings, but they seem to be coming along nicely.

MeatHead1313 said:
Love the couple of DBZ references in here!
That being said, best of luck for 2015! Thats one hell of a list, and a ton of plants. Also, if it does indeed turn out to be a great year for passion fruit I'll be in for some purchases of fruit if you have some available for us. Love me some passion fruit!

I haven't forgotten those pods you sent me way back when and that I was planning on getting something out to you. I'm with you on the passion fruit; the juice really doesn't compare to the fresh fruit.

SL3 said:
I won’t start germinating until right after Christmas. I can’t wait to get started myself and I will be growing many of your seeds as well.

I sure hope you’re not going to get so busy that you can’t continue work on those sauces and spices. We had that first batch of spice added to a batch of steamed carrots last night and it really did wonders to liven them up. Heck, we ate more carrots than the main course. It’s become the best all around spice in our rack, but you need to give those spices a name Mike.

I will be looking forward to watching your next big endeavor here. Good luck my friend.

Funny you mention it. I really haven't had much time for it lately, but recently turned out "Wicked Mike's Sunshine State," which I'm thinking I need to make again. It's one of the best pepper-based things I've ever made.

Glad you're digging the powder. I've got a few ideas for new ones percolating that I think are going to be pretty cool.

Chilima said:
So it seems you are covered distribution wise Now I demand pictures of your pepper fields

It's not "fields" so much as "anywhere on the property that I can cram a plant." Scrambling to get everything more organized while simultaneously transplanting, pruning, running pest control, watching nutes, planning crosses, surfing NOAA for forecasts, keeping the post office in business, co-authoring a paper on capsicum propagation in South Florida to be published by UF IFAS, developing contacts in the industry, etc. Daunting, but I'm making progress, and my plants look pretty clean and robust, even if they're small yet.

coachspencerxc · Dec 11, 2014

rank78 said:
Imagining myself among all those plants makes me think about Scrooge McDuck diving into his vault.

First THP post & there's a Scrooge McDuck reference. I like it.

Wicked Mike · Dec 11, 2014

coachspencerxc said:
First THP post & there's a Scrooge McDuck reference. I like it.

I'm pretty sure that's the same person as Donald Trump.

ronaldo_fanbelt · Dec 11, 2014

Just plain awesome! Best of luck with this season.

Runescape · Dec 11, 2014

Wicked Mike said:

Quit teasin, we want to see the jungle lol

charlesquik · Dec 12, 2014

Omg I definitely love your name runescape. Took a huge chunk of my childhood haha

Runescape · Dec 12, 2014

charlesquik said:
Omg I definitely love your name runescape. Took a huge chunk of my childhood haha

Lol yeah, im sure a lot of people can relate.

Devil Created Pods · Dec 13, 2014

Looking good Mike!

RocketMan · Dec 14, 2014

We need pics Mike!

Great list of peppers. Best wishes in your first years endeavor!

sirex · Dec 14, 2014

I just want to be able to come pick your fields and be charged a rate like at my local nursery!

Pulpiteer · Dec 15, 2014

Wicked Mike said:
Yep. As far as selling them goes, I'm not too worried about it. In the short term, there are a few local garden centers that are VERY interested in moving my stuff, and three different farmers' markets that are held on three different days of the week.

That's such a crazy list of different varieties that you can't just find anywhere. I wonder what their market will be for those. Some places have just begun selling Red Bhuts up here, and some of those look suspect. It's cool to see markets developing for some of these other peppers.

mecdave · Dec 23, 2014

Wicked Mike said:
Three thousand is just an estimate; I really do need to find the time to get an accurate count. It doesn't look anywhere near as impressive as it sounds, as most of them are still pretty small.

They're so cute at that age. This glog is so going to get me motivated, I can tell already. ;-)

Wicked Mike · Jan 6, 2015

Planted a bunch more stuff, and updated the list.