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greenman28

Greenman's Peppers 2012 (pics)

Howdy, pepper growers!

Season's greetings to all those following along another year, and a warm welcome to the newcomers

this year! I hope to hear from everyone, and I certainly hope that you guys and gals will post Threads

on your season's progress, as well.

For reference, here's the link to my 2011 growth-Thread: Greenman's Peppers 2011 (pics)

Mix: this year, I used the same ingredients for my seedstarting mix - fir bark, coarse perlite,

turface MVP, and a small fraction of red lava rock and quartzite (left-over gritty mix in other pots).

The Fir Bark and the Perlite were screened 1/16 - 1/4 inch, and the Turface MVP was screened over

aluminum window screen to remove any particles less than 1/16 of an inch. The screening is essential to

creating aeration and drainage, and eliminating any "perched water" in the container.

Fertilizer: I use Dyna Grow Foliage Pro 9-3-6, which contains all macro and micro-nutrients

that are so often lacking in other fertilizers. I begin fertilizing when the seedlings have their first

set of true leaves - using 1/4 strength dose (1/4 Teaspoon per gallon). Once outside, the seedlings are

given a 1/2 strength dose of fertilizer, until they are moved into their final containers and given a

full strength dose of fertilizer at least once a week.

Varieties: Red and Yellow Bhut Jolokia, Trinidad Scorpion Moruga, 7-Pod Jonah,

Chocolate Habanero, Tabasco, Indian Jwala, Ethiopian Brown Berbere, Datil, Manzano, Hungarian Wax,

Thai Chile, and Black Pearl. Many thanks to my pepper friends for again hooking me up with

interesting seeds to grow: Jaime and Bill in particular.

This is a fairly recent update video of my seedlings, from April 28th: Hot Pepper Seedlings - video

Now, the pics! Click the Thumbnails for a larger view :-)

1. I started seeds near the middle of March this year. Filled my 6-cell containers with mix,

sowed my seeds, added some Turface to cover the seeds, put plastic wrap over the seed-cells and

commenced waiting. By March 25th, I had germination.


2. As soon as the seeds sprouted, I removed the plastic wrap. In the pic below, you can see

the superhots have germinated before the rest because I started them a week earlier, knowing

how much more slowly the Capsicum chinenses grow.

3. The first of the superhots to sprout...a Yellow Bhut Jolokia, courtesy of Romy, I believe.

4. More superhots popping up! Oh, and you'll notice a Purple Russian tomato seedling

that I started....the same young woman who sent me the Indian Jwala and Manzano seed

also sent me this tomato variety (which quickly outgrew the peppers and is now planted

in the garden properly!).

5. Manzano seedlings that I planted on April 7th.

6. Superhots as they grudgingly grow larger...I think I'll start them two weeks earlier than the others

next season...

7. Some of the Capsicum annuums - Black Pearl, Hungarian Wax, and Thai Chile. The Thai Chiles

always perform the best.

8. The first family portrait....a few days before I started re-potting in 4-inch containers.

9. Another family portrait, after some of the seedlings have been re-potted. I took a Thai

and a Black Pearl to my sister...making room under the lights.

10. And here's one of the 4 Thai Chiles that I sprouted - this one I took to my brother yesterday.

Last but not least...an update on the old Lady! ;-)

She barely made it through the Winter, due to a Spider Mite attack....but now she's on the mend

and putting out a few pods (which I will remove). Hungarian Hot Wax Pepper, 4 year's old - my first pepper plant :-)





Josh

Comments (130)

  • ottawapepper
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Nice "Bhutish" looking pod, it'll be interesting to see how it turns out.

    Hey, I'll trade you some Chocolate Bhut Jolokia seeds that put out pods that don't exactly look like Bhut and ripen red not brown for some seeds from your pod ;-)

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hehehe, Bill, if you want to take the time growing this hybrid, be my guest! ;-)
    The plant itself is displaying some hybrid vigor, seeing as it is the largest of my plants....
    but it has only set 5 pods so far. My Red Bhut only has 4 pods, albeit perfect pods....

    So, the latest pods to ripen are on the Indian Jwala. "Jwala" means *hot* in Hindi,
    but hot these are not. The taste is unimpressive. Unless the later pods are much, much better,
    I won't grow this one again. The plant and the pods do look very nice, though.

  • ottawapepper
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I think I'll pass on the hybrid ;-) My non-chocolate Bhut (cross?) has put out a whack of pods... just not the right type of pod ;-)

    I'm surprised your Jwala doesn't have any heat. My ripe ones clocked in, I'd guess, at 30k SHU. My dried ones did get milder after a few months of storage though.

    Bill

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Yeah, I figure we have our hands full of crosses for the time being ;-)
    The Jwala surprised (and disappointed) me, as well. I've heard so many good things about them!
    But I think I can still add some Bhut to the Jwala to make a properly piquant Vindaloo.
    No great loss, since I have many friends who prefer mild peppers.

    Here's an update on the Yellow Bhuts. I figure another month'll be enough to ripen.
    Quite a small plant, but the most productive of the lot. First seed to sprout, as well.


    Josh

  • ottawapepper
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Josh,

    Did you get the Jwala seed from me?

    Just checked my 2011 site map and my Jwala was one of the furthest away from sweet peppers I grew.

    Ain't gonna say it couldn't happen. I'm curious, was I your seed source?

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hey!
    Nossir, these seeds came from a local gal in Sacramento. You're off the hook on this one ;-)
    Incidentally, I take it these pods look like the Jwala you've grown?

    Josh

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Last year, I harvested my first ripe Bhut on September 21st.

    Whereas this year my Bhut showed the first hint of ripening on September 21st......
    so I'd say that my plants are at least two weeks behind.

  • DMForcier
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Gosh that's an ugly pod. It makes me tremble just sitting here. I predict 1.5M SHU, if you survive to report it.

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    That would be a pleasant surprise! ;-)
    The other pods are real ugly, too, but they don't have this classic Persian slipper shape.


    Josh

  • ottawapepper
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Nice Josh. A text book example of a Bhut pod, nice job!

    Mine started to ripen earlier than usual this year but my insidious earwigs ruined most of my crop. They have really taken a liking to my Jolokias. I'll see how I make out but I may have to hit you up for a couple of Bih seeds this winter, I'm tapped out.

    Bill

  • TheMasterGardener1
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Yea looks like a nice Bhut pod to me.

  • esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Now, if it will just turn red.....
    Bruce

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hehehe, thanks Gents! Now the waiting game begins ;-)

    Bill, I've got dried Bih pods from last season that should have plenty of seed in 'em.
    The Bih seed I sowed this year didn't germinate, so there is that to consider...but I think
    you can get them to grow.


    Josh

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I couldn't wait any longer ;-)
    So I pulled the first Bhut today, hopefully encouraging one or two more pods to set before frost....

  • esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    How does it taste Josh???
    Bruce

  • DMForcier
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Nice looking pod.

    Can you talk yet?

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thanks, guys :-)
    I'm going to try it with one of my pepper buddies in about an hour or so.
    I expect it to be an asskicker just like they were last year! Whoohooo!

    Bruce, I'll try to catch the flavor before my mouth goes nuclear ;-)

    Josh

  • woohooman San Diego CA zone 10a
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    "Bruce, I'll try to catch the flavor before my mouth goes nuclear ;-) "

    LMAO. That's what happened to me. I tried my superhot, and for about 10-15 secs, I said, Wow! Nice flavor."

    After that, I couldn't concentrate on TASTE any longer-- for the next 10 mins, all I could do was think about the extreme heat and how many different forms of dairy I should ingest.

    Kevin

  • esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Every time I tried anything from a very hot to super hot gave me about 5 seconds to experience the taste before the heat fried my taste buds.
    Bruce

  • DMForcier
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Common experience with inhaled nitrous oxide is, "Yeah, I could feel the pain. I just didn't care."

    I wonder if that is the proper way to eat super-hots: Inhale deeply, take a bite. Repeat.

    DMF

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    It was awesome!
    Fresh, bright, citrusy, sweet flavor....then heat racing down the sides of my tongue
    and climbing up into my ears. Now that's how a pepper should taste! :-D

    Josh

  • pkapeckopickldpepprz
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Josh great pictures, you make me a bit envious! Anyhow I was trying to remember if it was you that had a thread of your overwintering thread where the pepper plants were severely root pruned and then the followin growing season how they flourished. Also what was the reasoning behing half burying the pots into the ground. I forget what you mentioned as to why you do this and what happens to the roots the venture outside the pots if you do pull them out in the winter.

  • peppernovice
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    If I remember correctly, he buries them in milk crates.This is so when he gets ready to overwinter them, he just lifts the milk crate. It makes pulling them out of the ground a lot easier.

    Tim

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hey, guys!
    I use pond-baskets, containers with the bottom cut off, and even strawberry baskets this year.
    I do this to protect the plants from gopher and mole damage during the growing season,
    and then, indeed, pulling the plants up for overwintering is much, much easier.

    Josh

  • pkapeckopickldpepprz
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    What do you do with the roots that grew through the basket mesh? Cut it off or carefully try to pull as much through for when you repot it?

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I just yank them off, then hose the garden soil out of the root-ball, and cut cleanly afterwards.

    Josh

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I hesitate to call this a harvest...but it's about the closest I'll get to one this year :-)
    I'll have more Jwala, Thai, and Yellow Bhuts down the road.

    A Black Pearl, woefully small, but still a nice plant:




    Ethiopian Brown Berbere. I'll let them ripen fully:




    Hybrid pod - Chocolate habanero plant pollinated by a Bhut (or Naga possibly):




    Two glorious Bhut Jolokia pods. This is why we grow them:




    Yellow Bhuts, so fresh they still have their stingers:




    And a shot all together, with about thirty Thai chiles:





    Josh

  • DMForcier
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    It's all about the quality, not the quantity. Nice work.

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thanks, DM. I appreciate that.

    Josh

  • robertbay
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Josh,
    We have 3-4 weeks before overwintering peppers, this year I will follow your advice about bare rooting and pruning to eliminate micro pests and stimulate root activity through the winter. I think your threads indicate you overwinter peppers in 5-1-1 mix, as opposed to your starter seed mix of *equal parts* screened fir bark-perlite-turface, is that right? In last two years my pepper overwintering failed due to fungus gnat & whitefly issues indoors, Robert

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hey, Robert, that's great to hear!

    I actually do go back to a faster-draining mix for overwintering my plants.
    My ratios aren't always exact, but for sure the mix is more porous than the 5-1-1 -
    which I have used, but found that it held quite a bit of moisture (longer than a week).
    Basically, I want a mix that *needs* to be watered at least once a week. This allows
    fertilizer salts to be flushed continually and helps prevent ugly foliage or issues
    with nutrient and moisture uptake.


    Josh

  • DaMonkey007
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hey Josh!
    I can't believe how fast a season can go by! It seems like yesterday that I broadcasted the Pepper Downs Play by Play! Looking back, I wonder how accurate the final race standings were?!?! LOL!

    Great job bro, another great Greenman thread that reached so many, bravo!

    PJ

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thanks, PJ! I really appreciate the kind words!

    I was down in Sacramento yesterday...took my brother some Strawberry Ghost Jam and shared
    some of Bill's most excellent powders! While there, I also took a couple pics of the Thai
    chile that I gave to my brother this Spring. I'm quite pleased that he made a special display
    for it on his deck...a centerpiece of sorts, which was prominantly featured at his wedding.

    Although small, this Thai has produced 200 pods already, with another 100 on the plant now...
    plus, more blooms opening every day.

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Holiday Greetings, fellow pepper growers!

    The season hasn't quite hit an end yet, due to the plants tucked away in the cold-frame :-)
    The garden is completely finished now. I pulled the last eight pods off my in-ground Hungarian
    a couple days ago. They'll go into a jar of brine for fresh eating. Same with the Hungarians
    on my old plant in the cold-frame.

    Here's a video for anyone interested in such things: Hot peppers - in the cold-frame

    And here's a shot of some of the Mushroom Cloud stuffed Mushrooms that we made
    for Thanksgiving...Bill's Grim Reaper #5 dusted on top for an excellent burn....

  • esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    So, Josh, are going to overwinter all those plants in the cold frame or are you just trying to extend the growing season for most of them?
    Bruce

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hey, Bruce, you got it!
    Really just trying to extend the growing season to harvest those final pods...especially the Yellow Bhuts.
    But eventually, yeah, I'll have to kick them out so that the Citrus can take their rightful place. I will
    keep the Black Pearls in there, I think, since they can easily be squeezed between the Citrus. The old
    Hungarian was harvested and hacked back yesterday, and I'll give her a couple weeks before down-potting
    and making the next chop.

    I actually put the cold-frame up a month early, and yet it still wasn't early enough to keep the
    frost from the plants. As you can see, they are right on the cusp of "shut down" or "keep growing"....


    Josh

  • ottawapepper
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    LOL Josh.

    I'm not a mushroom fan but I can understand how Reaper #5 would compensate for their lack (IMHO) of taste!

    Bill ;-))

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Bill, hehehe, they're only good when they're hot!
    Cold mushrooms are flat out gross to me...but these ones were stuffed with cheese and sausage,
    and then touched by the Reaper himself. Hooboy!


    Josh

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Well, I'm really drawing this season out.....
    The last green pod on the Yellow Bhut plant is about half-ripened now, although I don't expect these
    winterpods to be as flavorful, sweet, or piquant as the summerpods. I pulled the plants out of the
    cold-frame yesterday for some fresh air, sunshine, and fertilizer. Final harvest in a few days.....

  • esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Yah, you sure are dragging the season out. I am starting to begin thinking about how I will approach the 2013 season even though I wont be putting seeds in the soil for nearly two more months. Good luck with the end of your season and then next season as well.
    Bruce

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thanks, Bruce, same to you, sir!
    I won't be starting seeds until mid-February....but I'm already putting together my 2013 list ;-)

    Josh

  • tsheets
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Dang, Josh! Your off season is shorter than the NASCAR off season! haha!

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Hahaha! Mother Nature's been real nice so far ;-)

    Josh

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Well, we had an overnight low of 25F...and the plants can't take that, even in the cold-frame.
    So I pulled the Yellow Bhuts yesterday. These pods are pretty beaten up from the storms that hit
    us the past two months, but I think I can cut off the bad parts and dehydrate the good. I will let
    that unripe pod finish off a bit, then I'll make the Pineapple Lemon Ghost Jam :-)

    Other than a handful of Black Pearls yet to harvest, these are assuredly the last of the ripe pods.

  • chilliwin
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Very impressive pictures, it is real pleasure to see all these beautiful plants and fruits.

    Caelian

  • habjolokia z 6b/7
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Josh it's just great to see pics of pods this late in the season. Puts a reminder for what is to come next season. I am starting mid to late Jan, 2013 season here we come lol.

    The pineapple lemon Ghost jam sounds awesome!! Is the Lemon the fruit or the pepper?

    Mark

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thanks, Caelian and Mark!

    I'm getting excited about 2013 as well. As much as I like having a few pods lingering this late,
    I would rather have a harvest when everyone else's pods are coming in during the Summer season :-)

    For the Ghost Jam, yes I'm going to use Pineapple and some golden sweet Meyer Lemons for the fruit,
    and then these Yellows Bhuts for heat. Tons of sugar, too, of course.

    I almost forgot to mention....last week, some awful critter wreaked havoc in my cold-frame,
    tearing out my screen vent, punching a hole in the wall, snapping branches off my Hungarian Wax,
    Red Bhut Jolokia, Morouga, and completely knocking over my Manzano (which had been doing
    wonderfully in the cold compared to the other peppers). Anyhow, I'd been waiting and waiting on
    my two Manzano pods, only to find them both on the ground. So, they never had a chance to ripen...
    and this is as far as I got....

  • DMForcier
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    They got wolverines in NC ??

  • romy6
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Man that sucks Josh. Did you ever find out what it was?

    Merry Christmas and Happpy New Year!!!

  • greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
    Original Author
    11 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Merry Christmas to you, too, Jaime! :-)

    I think it was an opossum or a raccoon that did the damage...but I'm not sure.

    DM, it just so happens that there are wolverines here in Northern California...in the past
    few years, more and more sightings have occurred. The nearest was in the Tahoe National Forest,
    an hour up the road at one of my favorite hiking spots near Lake Spaulding. I live in Nevada
    County, and the animal was spotted in Nevada County, earlier this May.


    Josh

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