Chillies, Toms & Sweet Pepper Growing 2012

[Jack Straw]

Can recommend the Black Cherry toms that Jevs mentions.
He gave me a load he grew last summer, and I must say they taste superb.
They look weird, a sort of browny, mauvey colour, but they taste wonderful.

 

[Eggmundo]

Have sown:
Tokyo Hot
Demon Red
Prairie Fire
Heat Wave (?)

Started about 4 weeks ago and got quite disheartened as nothing happened...now they're sprouting up everywhere!

Bets kept indoors still though (courtesy of my next door neighbour who runs the local allotment.)

 

[clapham_gull]

Grown 5 varieties of Tomatoes this year...all cherry toms

Ilde (hundreds...and i mean hundreds, of marble size sweet yellow cherry toms)

Grew one of those last year, but a different variety red.

Called "millions" or something, upside down in a couple of hanging baskets I wired together.

Lovely taste, really concentrated. But could I be bothered to pick em this year, could I b*llocks. !

So I looked for something else this year that bigger tomatoes but cropped extensively. It's called Lizznno.

Got a number on the go, looking quite good. So will report back.

 

[vegster]

Having big probs this year.... seeds germinated fairly well in my little heated propagator but after potting on came the cold and wet and to compound things, my compost is crap. Seedlings have been really struggling and so I had a look online.

It seems that with pressure to reduce the amount of Peat in compost, the manufacturers are throwing all sorts of rubbish in.

Although its good to recycle green waste, it seems the nutritional content of the end product is poor. Plus there have been problems with the composting process too it seems. In order to first sterilize the compost to kill weed seeds and possible mould and disease spores, the temperature needs to get up to 80 C. This has not been happening judging by the amount of seeds and seedlings I have that have either rotted in the pot or collapsed due to Damping Off. .. And yes, I use Copper Fungicide but still have weak and diseased plants. Even green slimy mould on the surface of the pots a little after 10 days of potting on.

Today I stopped off and got some John Innes ! and have re-potted as much as possible in the hope that everything can catch up.... so, how's things with your crops, similar or, are you doing well ?

 

[Questions]

Having big probs this year.... seeds germinated fairly well in my little heated propagator but after potting on came the cold and wet and to compound things, my compost is crap. Seedlings have been really struggling and so I had a look online.

It seems that with pressure to reduce the amount of Peat in compost, the manufacturers are throwing all sorts of rubbish in.

Although its good to recycle green waste, it seems the nutritional content of the end product is poor. Plus there have been problems with the composting process too it seems. In order to first sterilize the compost to kill weed seeds and possible mould and disease spores, the temperature needs to get up to 80 C. This has not been happening judging by the amount of seeds and seedlings I have that have either rotted in the pot or collapsed due to Damping Off. .. And yes, I use Copper Fungicide but still have weak and diseased plants. Even green slimy mould on the surface of the pots a little after 10 days of potting on.

Today I stopped off and got some John Innes ! and have re-potted as much as possible in the hope that everything can catch up.... so, how's things with your crops, similar or, are you doing well ?

How are my little chillies doing ? They in yet ?

 

[vegster]

They are growing, but, slowly

 

[clapham_gull]

Yes, SLOW, SLOW, SLOW

Thought I'd lost a lot last week. I've been taking the seedlings out during the day to try and get some more light - bugger all coming in through the windows.

Started to rain, seedling got wet - sun came out, leaves got "burnt".

I've not very experienced at this, but those who know - will realise the f*ck up.

Anyway - week later, all much recovered - and actually seemed to enjoy being the house all day.

I used to have one of those plastic greenhouses which was great until it blew away.

I now invested in a similar "cold frame", basically a low plastic greenhouse like before. Only £25 quid.

Now going to chance putting stuff out during the day in that- because in the house they are just not getting the light.

Glad I started a few chillies in February-they are are miles ahead of anything else.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

My Scotch Bonnets have all shrivelled up and died apart from one which has developed Black Spot. Some never even broke the surface. Have now resorted to planting an entire packet of Facing Heaven seeds into the pot in a last ditch effort to salvage something from the chilli growing season.

 

[oldalbiongirl]

My beans and cucumbers were going mad indoors so had to put them out. Died! I left the pepper indoor and its growing a treat. Am going to nurture this one as its all I have left!

 

[clapham_gull]

My beans and cucumbers were going mad indoors so had to put them out. Died! I left the pepper indoor and its growing a treat. Am going to nurture this one as its all I have left!

As I said no expert, but you've got loads of time left for cucumbers. If I try it will be in the next few weeks.

They are a b***** though. Hate being moved, hate their stems getting wet etc..

They bomb away in doors then wither and die outside

I had better success germinating them outside in a mini green house. Only grown "outdoor" variety though.

 

[oldalbiongirl]

As I said no expert, but you've got loads of time left for cucumbers. If I try it will be in the next few weeks.

They are a b***** though. Hate being moved, hate their stems getting wet etc..

They bomb away in doors then wither and die outside

I had better success germinating them outside in a mini green house. Only grown "outdoor" variety though.

May give a go again then. I started them so early, they were getting flowers and looking good inside but I dont have a greenhouse and what with the beans too growing up my windowsill as high as my blinds, I couldnt keep them in any more! So took the plunge after seeing a bit of sun but it seems its just too cold.

 

[vegster]

As I said no expert, but you've got loads of time left for cucumbers. If I try it will be in the next few weeks.

They are a b***** though. Hate being moved, hate their stems getting wet etc..

They bomb away in doors then wither and die outside

I had better success germinating them outside in a mini green house. Only grown "outdoor" variety though.

I sowed a few Cue's about 2 weeks ago, three came up but two stopped growing almost immediately after breaking the surface and have just withered away. The last one had opened up it's seed leaves but was not looking happy so I took it out of the crap compost ( to find virtually NO roots !) and replanted in the nice John Innes. Hoping it will push on now.

 

[clapham_gull]

I sowed a few Cue's about 2 weeks ago, three came up but two stopped growing almost immediately after breaking the surface and have just withered away. The last one had opened up it's seed leaves but was not looking happy so I took it out of the crap compost ( to find virtually NO roots !) and replanted in the nice John Innes. Hoping it will push on now.

For the last two years I have planted some in March - they've all died ! but tried later and they were fine. I think with the outside varieties you are put into a false sense of security. They germinate very very easilyinside, but suffer from a lack of light. They get used to the heat - and die outside unless it's warm enough.

The few I got going last year (first year was great) were germinated in a cheap plastic greenhouse. I may try this year straight in the ground with a poly tunnel.

They HATE being moved, positionally but also from one environment to another. Would never try and re-pot them again.

I killed a load by simply to moving them to a newwindow sill with more light.

That I've learnt. I'm rubbish at growing cucumbers, slightly mitigated by growing loads of plants. Only other tip I can pass on from experience is germinate is biggish pot so you don't kill the thing repotting it.

Any cucumber tips (outside) much appreciated.


Nothing like a fresh cucumber though. Miles away from something from Tescos.

( I should just buy plants but that's no fun )

 

[clapham_gull]

May give a go again then. I started them so early, they were getting flowers and looking good inside but I dont have a greenhouse and what with the beans too growing up my windowsill as high as my blinds, I couldnt keep them in any more! So took the plunge after seeing a bit of sun but it seems its just too cold.

Buy a cheap one.

I've just ordered this £19

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I have some chilles and tomatoes that germinated indoors. Repotted and put them in unheated greenhouse and they are struggling because of cold and lack of direct sunlight.

However the real problem is everything else I planted directly outdoors and in the greenhouse which won't even germinate after several weeks - by the time I decide they are doomed, it will be too late to try again - and the weather isn't improving - its been too cold, too windy, too overcast and too dry - and when it rains it just gets colder.

PS. B&Q peatless compost look and smells like its been made entirely from big bits of bark and old bits of rope. Not optimistic about its growing properties.

 

[clapham_gull]

Interesting people are commentating on the compost this year. I've noticed the same !

I always had as good results from the stuff I get from the 99p shop to honest, apart from the bloody expensive miracle grow - which is like rocket fuel.

I do something really strange for germinating seeds. I've got an old food processor which I grind the cheaper compost up into something finer.

 

[Muzzy]

Toms have been outside for a week and starting to flower!

Loads of other stuff planted and fingers crossed everything grows.

I'm liking all this grow ya own lark!

 

[saslowi]

Some John Innes compost are also crap. I bought some Auther J Bowers a little while ago and it was so wet it had the consistancy of mud. Recently bought some Westlands JI which is much better.

Tip. Add some Tesco's Lightweight, Low Dust Cat Litter (the pink stuff). It gives a much more open compost. Do not try with any of the other Tesco's cat litters, they will just turn to mush.

 

[vegster]

Some John Innes compost are also crap. I bought some Auther J Bowers a little while ago and it was so wet it had the consistancy of mud. Recently bought some Westlands JI which is much better.

Tip. Add some Tesco's Lightweight, Low Dust Cat Litter (the pink stuff). It gives a much more open compost. Do not try with any of the other Tesco's cat litters, they will just turn to mush.

Won't be doing that, have enough trouble with cat shat, don't want to encourage the buggers.

 

[tedebear]

I've got too many tomatoes! OOPS I went a bit haywire! Got about 52 little plants - all doing relatively well. I've got some beefsteak (big red), some pomodoro, some roma, and some money maker. Anyone want any?

I started some capsicums although I don't really have the space for them and tomatoes and cucumbers get preference in my little (plastic) greenhouse each year.

The new things this year are:
echinacea
chickpeas
borlotti beans
gherkins
cocktail onions


with the usual favourites:
purple sprouting broccoli
cucumber
carrots
cabbage
potatos (in bags)
radishes
rocket
loads of flowers too nicotiania, canterbury bells, poached eggs, marigolds etc all from seed.


My most proud thing at the moment is the stuff I've grown from fruit we bought all over the place I have a small tree collection of avocado, lemon, mandarin and nectarine, heaven knows what I'll do when they need potting on outside of the kitchen!

Sounds like we have a giant garden but its actually tiny! I just have learnt over the years that some things are ok being a bit more squished together than the packet says!