Tomato and Chilli Growing 2014

clapham_gull · Jan 13, 2014

Yes a bit early, but I'll be starting off my chillies soon.

I've got a raised bed in an area that gets full sun but not for the full day. It's at the side of the house.

Never had much success in it although things will grow albeit slowly.

Any ideas ? Alpine Strawberries ? Potatoes ?

Papa Lazarou · Jan 17, 2014

I've just recieved in the post a pack of 10 Apache seeds, and 20 Bird Eye / Demon seeds.

I'll be starting some early this year.

Tony Towner's Fridge · Jan 17, 2014

Chillie seeds given to me for Christmas. Will be in the conservatoire mid march when the weather improves a tad here in Glasgow.

TNBA

TTG

Papa Lazarou · Jan 17, 2014

Tony Towner's Fridge said:
Chillie seeds given to me for Christmas. Will be in the conservatoire mid march when the weather improves a tad here in Glasgow.

TNBA

TTG

I have a heated propogator, so I'll try some early, in case we get a mild spring (unlike last year).

Cold Gettin Dumb · Jan 17, 2014

I'm going for it this year...
Already bought a nice selection of seeds:
Fatalii
White habanero
Aci sivri (Turkish chillies you find in kebabs!)
Santa Fe grande
Super chilli f1
Numex red suave (almost heatless habanero, but with the full flavour)
Numex twilight

Just about to purchase a propagator, and getting a polytunnel, or greenhouse in the next month or two.

Muzzy · Jan 17, 2014

My chilli and tomato seeds shall be started off in the propagator next week. My show onions were started about a month ago but I'm working away this week and keeping my fingers crossed that they survive until my return on Sunday.
Beef tomatoes are on my list for the show bench this year.
Had a fab season last year and look forward to getting into my GYO again this time.

clapham_gull · Jan 17, 2014

Papa Lazarou said:
I have a heated propogator, so I'll try some early, in case we get a mild spring (unlike last year).

I have the same.Grown chillies for the last 4 years and I'm convinced the key is to start them off early.

Especially if growing outside without a greenhouse.

By far the best is the F1 Super Chillie. Never fails.

Billy the Fish · Jan 17, 2014

Has anyone got over wintered chillies from last year? I planted mine too late so didn't get much fruit, but I cut them to stumps and I think most of them are still alive. I'm not entirely sure what I'm supposed to do now, is there a method to get them growing again?

sully · Jan 17, 2014

Mine are still growing from last year. Only got half a dozen chillies and hoping that they do a bit better this year.
Do any of the more experienced growers have any advice about keeping plants for more than one summer? Everyone else seems to start from seeds each year.

vegster · Jan 17, 2014

Billy the Fish said:
Has anyone got over wintered chillies from last year? I planted mine too late so didn't get much fruit, but I cut them to stumps and I think most of them are still alive. I'm not entirely sure what I'm supposed to do now, is there a method to get them growing again?

I managed to keep a Goat's Horn chilli alive over winter last year and a sweet pepper. You have to cut back the plant but still give a little water and they will survive in acold greenhouse or an outhouse/conservatory. this year its looking really good, so far managed to keep two Birds Eye chilli plants going plus overwintered 3 late sown Birds Eyes that are about 6 inches high. Also have about 6 Jalapeno Peppers that are surviving too. Give them just a little water each week and when the time is right , if the main stems are still green, they will spring back in to life.. good luck !

Willy Dangle · Jan 17, 2014

I just buy them

Cold Gettin Dumb · Jan 18, 2014

Billy the Fish said:
Has anyone got over wintered chillies from last year? I planted mine too late so didn't get much fruit, but I cut them to stumps and I think most of them are still alive. I'm not entirely sure what I'm supposed to do now, is there a method to get them growing again?

It'll kick back to life in the spring. Just lightly water it once a month in the meantime.
If u are unsure, just google 'over wintering chillies'.

Cold Gettin Dumb · Jan 18, 2014

sully said:
Mine are still growing from last year. Only got half a dozen chillies and hoping that they do a bit better this year.
Do any of the more experienced growers have any advice about keeping plants for more than one summer? Everyone else seems to start from seeds each year.

Just as Billy the fish mentions above, brutally cut your plant back to it basic stem structure, so that it looks bare and stumpy.
In the spring it'll burst back into life and bear much more foliage and fruit than the previous season.
The reason for doing this, is to allow the plant to build up energy again.
You can keep the plant going without this technique, but it soon gets exhausted, and will find it harder to set fruit.

sully · Jan 18, 2014

Cold Gettin Dumb said:
Just as Billy the fish mentions above, brutally cut your plant back to it basic stem structure, so that it looks bare and stumpy.
In the spring it'll burst back into life and bear much more foliage and fruit than the previous season.
The reason for doing this, is to allow the plant to build up energy again.
You can keep the plant going without this technique, but it soon gets exhausted, and will find it harder to set fruit.

Thanks. They're quite small a way, but will be getting a severe haircut shortly!

Tom Hark Preston Park · Jan 18, 2014

I overwatered mine last year, so the plants grew to about two meters without producing a single chilli :dunce:

Billy the Fish · Jan 18, 2014

I just checked the ones in the shed and most of them are dead!! :facepalm:

I had them in one of those plastic greenhouse things and they were mostly very soft and wet so I think they've all been covered in condensation and rotted. Two looked ok so I brought them indoors. Seeds are on the way, start again and do it properly I think! I had kept a few indoors on the windowsills and they are all fine so that looks like the way forward. You live and Learn!

vegster · Jan 18, 2014

Tom Hark said:
I overwatered mine last year, so the plants grew to about two meters without producing a single chilli

That can happen if you feed with too much nitrogen, however, if you cut them back and over wintered them and fed them with a more specialist flower/fruit feed you should get fruit. It's Potassium and a bit of Potash that you need to feed them with. But don't give up.

Cheshire Cat · Jan 18, 2014

The plants I tried to overwinter in an unheated greenhouse all rotted and died. Those I kept on a windowsill indoors above a radiator, and heavily cut back, seem to have survived so far, and I even have a very small chillie on one now.

Do yields decline with age?

vegster · Jan 18, 2014

Cheshire Cat said:
The plants I tried to overwinter in an unheated greenhouse all rotted and died. Those I kept on a windowsill indoors above a radiator, and heavily cut back, seem to have survived so far, and I even have a very small chillie on one now.

Do yields decline with age?

I think that you can get 2-4 years out of them with luck. Each year it's best to put the plant in to a slightly larger pot with about 1/2-1 " of fresh John Innes 2 or 3 . Yields should get good by year 2 and should remain good til the end.

brakespear · Jan 18, 2014

Need to go and get chilli and tomato seeds for this year, thanks for the reminder

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Tomato and Chilli Growing 2014

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