Chillies

[springbok]

I have noticed that many members grow chillies.

It never crossed my mind.  What do you do with the crops?

[springbok]

[Lauren S]

Personally I can't stand chillies. I will however be growing quite a few varieties for my sons, friends and neighbours.
I trade products for toilet roll tubes.  ;D

[springbok]

That made me giggle, I have everybody collecting toilet roll tubes for me :D :D

[Cuke]

I'm about to try growing them for the first time this year, but I use fresh chilli a lot in cooking already. Pretty much any pasta sause I make uses it, as do pizzas, curries and numerous other things I can't think of at the mo. :)

Put it this way, they never hang around long enough to go off.... :)

[Riffster]

This is my Chilli year -

Previously I had bought 3 or 4 plants from the GC,  This being the start of my first full year on the lottie, and 10 months into this site,   I'm now planned up, and seeded up.

Last year I also started a number of common Cayanne Chilli from a packet of seeds,  This was in a seed tray in a bit of the garden.  No results due to not enough early heat etc...

This year, I have 20+ varieties of chillis,  some with 1 or 2 seeds ( from parcels ),  and some 10+ varieties from South African chilli sites.  And this year,  they are being germinated in heat,  and better practices will be observed + the addition of a greenhouse in the garden for the beauties. :-)

So higher hopes this year.

I can guarantee,  no plant will be wasted,  with everyone I know being given a gift of this deadly little plant to grow.  I could eat all I grew last year - lets see this year.  There will be sauces made,  strings strung up, oils infused. 

I love chillies,  chillies on cheese,  they make fantastic windowsill, and patio plants, and Gifts

[springbok]

Being cheeky, but has anyone got one or two seeds they can spare, so I can have a try with growing some. 

[Riffster]

SBG,

I'll Pm ya...

[springbok]

Thank u riffster, I appreciate that :)

[Thegoodlife]

Chilli,s ive been growing them for a while now & ive saved seeds from crops, i have season 5 seeds & they are very very hot (just like me!!).

With trial and error they like lots of sun not too much water keep grow bag nice and moist, when fruiting feed every week, they will need support as mine this year reached 5ft tall, if the green house is warm they will fruit until november, this year was an exception i picked the last fruits a week before xmas not bad from the first back in june.

As for recipes, pizza topping, chilli dish, tomato & chilli chuckney went well with a ham buttie mmmmmmmmmmmm.
Also sold some to my local kebab shop ;)

[Eristic]

Can I suggest that anyone new to chillis should consider going to the local shop and buying a few. Cut or pull the stalk away, cut pepper in half, scrape out the large seeds, cook the peppers, play with the seeds. They may not come true if they were hybrids but will still produce a result.

[euronerd]

Springbok, I have a few Apache seeds that I saved. I can send you a few if you want. Drop me a pm if you'd like some.

Geoff.

[fuzzycuzzy]

Sorry to be cheeky Euronerd, but if you have any Apache left over after gifting SBG i would be grateful.I have put a post on swapshop but to date no replies.

[euronerd]

yes fuzzy no problem. If you pm me your addy, I'll get them off tomorrow.

Geoff.

[fuzzycuzzy]

Thats very kind of you Geoff. PMing you now.

[springbok]

WOW... Thank you to those who have sent me some chilli seeds.

I am well excited now!!!....

Cant wait to fill the airing cupboard, once I found space for all the towels LOL.

;D ;D ;D

[springbok]

Thanks to all the  members that sent me some chilli seeds.

Thought I would show off my work today!  Into the airing cupboard they go :D

[euronerd]

11/10 for neatness SBG. I wish you every success.
Don't forget where you left the lighter.  ;D

Geoff.

[PlotSurfer]

Wow! I love the idea of growing chillies!

Can you start growing them indoors now?

I've got one of these little outdoor shelf unit things that you cover with plastic to make a kind of greenhouse. But I've got a fleece cover over mine, do you think I could start growing them in that?

Any help would be great!!!

[JonesyBoy]

Anybody had any joy growing chilli's on a plot. I tried last year. I got them to about 10cm on a windowstill, put them outside and they didn't get much bigger, mind you it wasn't exactly Mexican summer conditions here last year.

I've seen them grown in pots on a sunny patio and they look ace. My patio is east facing though so it doesn't get too much sun.

[dtw]

I grew lots of different types last year in my garden, in pots.
This year I will be growing them on my allotment.
I only managed a few potatoes, onions and squashes last year.
I'm still clearing couch grass a bit at a time.

Plotsurfer, it's best to start them off now, as the longer the growing season the better.
Don't put them outdoors until all risk of frost has gone.

My first batch of seeds 'hatched' a couple of days ago.  :D