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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2007 14:16:08 GMT
In an attempt to get people in our team (at work) talking and build a bit of competition we are having a Chilli Grow Off.
There are 6 of us and 4 haven't grown aything before so it should be fun. I'm providing Joe's Long seeds as we are going to measure the longest at the end of the season. We only ever see each other once a month as we all work in varying offices around the country so in August or Septmeber our monthly meeting will include comparing the plants grown. Its £2 each and the buyer gets a bottle of wine from the proceeds, the loser has to eat the raw chilli's, well maybe!
So.... any tips on getting the biggest fruit ;D
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Post by Plocket on Jan 22, 2007 14:38:34 GMT
Keep feeding your plants? I'm not a chilli expert but I wish you luck! It's a bit cruel on the loser though isn't it? They are going to be sad enough losing but having to eat the chillies raw - ouch!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2007 10:45:11 GMT
Yeah, its a bit cruel and not something they have to do.
I'm just glad I got everyone on board, hopefully some of them will be bitten by the green fingered bug.
I'm guessing tomato food would work well when it sets fruit but what should I do before then to help them out?
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Post by sweetleaf on Jan 23, 2007 10:59:32 GMT
Not a lot ! Chillis are easy, but they really dont like cool temps or draughts and they do suffer from red spider mite. They are treated as annuals here but I am experimenting with overwintering mine as they are a long lived plant in reality. I picked my last chillis last week!
To get them to germinate well I used a heated propagator and potted them on as neccessary.... just like toms, so you arent far out in your assumptions. ;D
My chillis are in the lounge, now...... they are very happy to be indoors in this weather! ;D
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Post by Plocket on Jan 23, 2007 19:04:00 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2007 20:45:29 GMT
Thanks a bunch Plocket! Paul - I do grow a lot as in number, but a) wouldn't claim to be expert and b) haven't grown for "exhibition". Sweetleaf's advice is spot on for the early stages (I overwintered last year too BTW)! If I was in a competition I'd grow a few (not zillions though) I could really look after. Of these few I would experiment with growing medium and the way I treated them. My mind is a bit fried (long working day) at the mo, but the points of the top of my head you need to consider.... - Pot size/root boundness at each point in the season - Growing medium and fertiliser at each point - How you are going to ensure to give it heat heat and more heat - Avoiding flower drop at night - Treat them mean or kind? - The space you can afford each plant - Watering - temperature, how often and when - Thinning out the fruit or not What date does the competition end? This is rather crucial, as the tortoise and hare scenario could play a part.....
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Post by sweetleaf on Jan 23, 2007 22:31:50 GMT
CC did the chillis crop well in their second year? Is what Im doing going to give me a head start or will the plant be like an oap with no oomph?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2007 22:59:43 GMT
CC did the chillis crop well in their second year? Is what Im doing going to give me a head start or will the plant be like an oap with no oomph? I thought about this time last year I was on to a winner....but! There was absolutely no way I was going to introduce the credible prospect of white fly, scale insect and red spider mite into my cold greenhouse in late May. So they went into a completely different outside area, didn't look any better than the March sowings by late June to be honest, so got binned. Plus we still have dried chillis from 2002 in the house and we use A LOT, as Mrs C does a lot of Punjabi, Gujarati and Goan stuff. I'd still persist, BUT bear in mind the "introducing pests" issue....
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Post by sweetleaf on Jan 23, 2007 23:08:31 GMT
Iv already treated them for red spider mite..I sprayed em with diluted tea tree oil and rinsed them the next day. Im going to get out my jewelers glass and give them the once over. if theyve got scale, out they go.
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Post by Plocket on Jan 24, 2007 9:07:40 GMT
Sorry Captain - I didn't think your chilli knowledge was a secret ;D
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Post by sweetleaf on Jan 26, 2007 22:54:48 GMT
The Chilis appear clean and healthy Phew!
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