Potting on Chillies

Potting on for success

Potting on Chillies  isn’t just a routine task; it’s a strategic process that directly influences the vitality and productivity of your Chilli garden. Each stage of potting on—from the delicate transfer of seedlings to the final placement in larger containers—is carefully orchestrated to provide your plants with the space, nutrients, and support they need to flourish. Understanding these stages ensures you nurture your Chilli plants from their infancy to their full potential, fostering a deeper connection with your garden.

In this guide, we’ll delve into the intricacies of potting on, offering insights into selecting the right pot sizes based on the specific characteristics of your chilli variety. Whether you’re nurturing compact ornamental peppers or cultivating sprawling heirloom varieties, understanding how pot size impacts root development and plant growth is key to success. With our guidance, you’ll be able to tailor your potting strategy to suit the unique needs of your Chilli plants, fostering healthy growth and abundant harvests.

Join us as we explore the importance of potting on at every stage of your Chilli plants’ growth journey. From the early days of seedling development to the exhilarating moments of flowering and fruiting, we’ll equip you with the knowledge and techniques to ensure your Chilli plants thrive and produce a bountiful harvest. With our comprehensive approach, you’ll feel confident and empowered to tackle each potting stage with precision and care, setting the stage for a successful chili-growing experience.

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The best soil for Chillies

The best soil for growing Chillies

Growing chillies involves more than just planting seeds and watering them occasionally. It’s a journey where we nurture them through every phase of their growth, ensuring they have the right conditions to thrive. This includes growing Chillies  in the best soil you can .   The soil they grow in is like their home—it’s where they get their food and support to grow big and strong. As chilli enthusiasts, we’re committed to learning all we can about soil care to give our plants the best chance to flourish.

Once chilli seeds sprout, they go through three main stages of growth: first, they’re delicate seedlings, then they grow a lot of leaves and stems, and finally, they start to flower and make fruit. Each stage is like a different chapter in their story, with its own set of needs. At each stage, they have different requirements , so we have to adjust their soil and pots to meet those needs and help them grow well.

In this guide, we’ll dive deeper into understanding what happens to chilli plants at each stage of growth, what they need to eat to stay healthy, and we’ll provide examples of soil mixes that work best for them. By learning these basics, we can take better care of our chilli plants, ensure they’re happy and healthy, and ultimately, reap the rewards of a bountiful harvest. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and get ready to grow some fantastic chillies! Read more

How to save Chilli seeds

Cost effective

Chillies, with their vibrant and diverse array of flavours ranging from the mild sweetness of bell peppers to the scorching intensity of Habaneros, have captivated and tantalized the world’s culinary senses for centuries. Whether you’re a seasoned horticulturist with years of experience or just embarking on the fascinating journey of pepper cultivation, the act of saving chilli seeds emerges as a profoundly eco-friendly and remarkably cost-effective method. It guarantees a steadfast and deeply satisfying harvest of your cherished pepper varieties with each passing growing season.

The practice of saving chilli seeds extends beyond mere horticultural pragmatism. It embodies sustainability at its core, cultivating a legacy that transcends generations. Not only is it a gratifying endeavour, but it also serves as a vital conduit for preserving the distinct and cherished characteristics of your beloved Chilli varieties  Picture, for a moment, the delightful jalapeño that elevated your salsa to perfection or the heirloom chilli whose cultural significance resonated with you. By carefully and thoughtfully saving their seeds, you embark on a culinary journey that ensures the replication of those exceptional flavours, intoxicating aromas, and distinctive heat levels in your future harvests. Beyond the gastronomic realm, this act empowers you to actively participate in the preservation and perpetuation of heirloom and open-pollinated chilli varieties, safeguarding their survival and cultural heritage, a vital link between the past and the future.

In this extensive and informative guide, we are committed to immersing ourselves even further into the intricate art of saving chilli seeds, offering an abundance of detailed insights and invaluable tips that will empower you to cultivate exceptional Chill plants year after year. So, without further ado, let’s grab our secateurs, step into the garden, and commence the thrilling process of hand-picking your favourite chillies Read more

Vegetarian Pizza

Spicy and nice

Embark on a gastronomic journey crafting a vegetarian masterpiece – the timeless classic, vegetarian pizza. With pre-purchased pizza bases as our canvas, we blend flavours harmoniously, orchestrating a medley of tastes that delight the palate.

At the heart of our culinary creation lies the rich tapestry of tomato sauce, providing the perfect foundation for this savoury delight. Melted mozzarella embraces the pizza, creating a comforting familiarity with each gooey bite.

But the adventure doesn’t end there; it flourishes as we adorn our pizza with an array of fresh vegetables. Juicy tomatoes, vibrant bell peppers, and hearty mushrooms offer a burst of colour and flavour, elevating the pizza’s texture to new heights. Tangy onions add a delightful sweetness, while sunny kernels of sweetcorn provide a contrast of natural goodness.

For those seeking an extra kick, dashes of fiery green chillies awaken the senses, turning up the excitement with every mouthful.

Join us on this delectable adventure as we unlock the secrets to creating a pizza that embodies the artful composition of vegetarian bounty. Let your culinary creativity soar and indulge in the joy of crafting the ultimate vegetarian pizza. So, don your aprons and let the symphony of flavours begin!

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How to encourage fruit set

Improving yields

An essential element for encouraging fruit set  is phosphorous. Phosphorus, along with nitrogen and potassium, constitutes one of the three primary nutrients that plants require for optimal growth. Its significance lies in its vital role in various plant processes, including energy transfer, photosynthesis, and the synthesis of DNA and RNA. However, when considering chilli plants and their flowering stage, phosphorus takes centre stage due to its specific importance.

During the flowering phase, chillies undergo a remarkable physiological transformation. They redirect their resources from leaf and stem development towards the production of captivating flowers, which ultimately give rise to the formation of delectable fruits. This transition necessitates an ample supply of phosphorus to support the intricate metabolic processes involved in flower initiation and development. Phosphorus acts as a key player in the biochemical reactions responsible for the formation of floral structures, including the differentiation of reproductive tissues and the generation of vibrant petals.

Furthermore, phosphorus plays a crucial role in regulating the timing and intensity of flowering in chilli plants. It influences the expression of flowering-related genes and the synthesis of floral hormones, thereby influencing the plant’s ability to undergo successful flowering.

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Chilli Seedlings not growing. Stunted growth.

Distorted growth

I have a batch of chilli seedlings that are not thriving as well as the others I planted at the same time. They are small and exhibit stunted growth, showing signs of various nutrient deficiencies. These deficiencies include yellowing at the leaf edges (leaf margin chlorosis) and browning at the tips of the leaves. To address this issue, I have decided to conduct an experiment using a multi-pronged approach.

Considering that the stunted growth could be attributed to various factors such as seed viability, watering, lighting, pests (like aphids), and the mentioned nutrient deficiencies,I will systematically tackle each potential obstacle to promote healthier growth in these plants.

While there is not a lot I can do if the initial problem was seed viability I will do everything I can to see if it is possible to address the other potential causes

Firstly, I will ensure that the plants are free of aphids. I plan to wash them thoroughly and apply an aphid treatment to keep them aphid-free for a while.

Next, I will change the potting soil, making sure the pH falls between 5 and 6, as Chilli plants prefer slightly acidic soil. Alongside this, I will treat the seedlings’ roots with an inoculant of mycorrhizal fungi, which can enhance nutrient uptake by establishing a beneficial relationship with the plant roots. In this way, I hope that the plants will rapidly absorb the nutrients I will be feeding them and go on to recover and become healthy plants

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How to improve chilli plant growth

Let’s make it happen!

Are you eager to witness your chilli plants thrive and produce an abundant harvest of fiery Chillies in record time? If so, you’ve come to the right place! In this blog post, we will explore effective strategies and time-tested techniques to help you make your Chilli plants grow faster. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a beginner with a green thumb, these tips and tricks will give your Chilli plants the boost they need for accelerated growth and optimal productivity.

In the following sections, we will delve into various stages of Chilli plant growth, from seed germination to transplanting, and explore ways to optimize sunlight exposure, soil conditions, watering, fertilisation, , spacing, temperature management, indoor cultivation, and pest and disease control. By incorporating these best practices into your Chilli growing routine, you’ll be well on your way to maximizing the growth rate of your plants and enjoying a thriving Chilli garden.

So, if you’re ready to take your Chilli growing skills to the next level and witness impressive results, let’s dive in and discover the secrets to making your chilli plants grow faster. Get your gardening tools ready, put on your gardening gloves, and let’s embark on this exciting journey together!

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Feeding Chilli plants

A well rounded program

When growing Chillies from seed to fruit in one season, it’s important to establish a well-rounded fertilisation program to provide the necessary nutrients for healthy plant growth and fruit production.

In the initial stage, when planting chilli seeds, no additional fertilization is required. The seeds contain sufficient nutrients for successful germination. Plant them in seed starting pellets, such as coco coir or a fertilizer-free seed starting potting mix.

Sow your Chilli  the seeds into your seed starting medium and add water. that is all that is required.Once the seedlings have germinated and developed their first true leaves (dicotyledons), they may require additional nutrients (albeit at very low levels). However, it is important to note that the seedlings can still sustain themselves from the stored nutrition in the seed endosperm. Fertilisation during this stage is not necessary, but if desired, use a diluted fertilizer solution at reduced concentrations to provide a gentle nutrient boost.

If you decide to go this route use a liquid fertiliser with an extremely low NPK.  It should be in the region of 1-1-2.  Fertilisers like this can be bought ready mixed or made by diluting products like Chilli Focus .   Another alternative is to dilute liquid tomato feed.

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Pickling Chilli recipe

Pickling this years Chilli crop

Today I made some pickled Chillies with a variety of Chillies that I harvested as part of this year’s Chilli crop. It is a good way of preserving Chillies and was  extremely easy to do. Having done this, besides pickling Chillies it now means that out of this years harvest I have been able to make Chilli powder, fermented Chillies and will shortly making hot sauce. I have also frozen quite a few.

All that I needed  for the pickling was the Chillies, some vinegar, water, sugar, salt, spices and the mason jars that I used to do the pickling.  I also needed a pot , a  cutting board and a sharp knife.

Once I had all of these together , the first step in the pickling process  was to sterilise the jars. I did this by washing them in warm soapy water and then rinsing them in fresh warm water, I then let them air dry.

Once this had been done, I placed them in an oven that I had preheated to 100 hundred degrees Celsius for ten minutes. This will have killed off any harmful bacteria. In addition to this, the use of vinegar in the  pickling process  helps to keep the Chillies free  from  air borne bacteria like Botulism. The acidity in vinegar deters the growth of Botulism spores which otherwise might have been a problem; as Chillies are not acidic in themselves

The next step was to remove the stalks from the three hundred grams of  mixed Chillies I was using  I then sliced them in half and packed them tightly into two mason jars. One jar is 500 millilitres and the other 350. In both instances the jars were filled to eighty percent of their total volume. I did this because it is essential that the Chillies are completely submerged in vinegar to prevent spoilage The only thing that was then needed was to make the pickling solution

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Fermented Chilli sauce recipe

Fermented Chilli sauce

Fermented Chilli sauce

Last weekend I started making fermented Chilli sauce with part of my harvest of Aji Habaneros and Bishops Crowns. The Chillies are now starting to ferment, and I am now starting to see carbon – dioxide bubbles floating up from the fermentation brine. It has taken about three days to reach this point. In another four to five days the sauces will be ready, and I will then blitz them into a Chilli sauce.Fermented-vegetables

Fermentation is a great way to preserve Chillies, whether making a hot sauce or Chilli pickles. It is a method that has been used for thousands of years and was certainly being done before canning and bottling was invented.Recently, there has been renewed interest in this ancient form of preservation. This is because people have realised that the end- product tastes great and is also really healthy. What’s more, it’s easy to do

The basic principle behind fermentation is that you allow the Chillies to ferment in a brine solution of about five percent salt in water. The fermentation process results in acetic acid being produced which serves to preserve the Chillies but also give them a pleasant sour taste. Once they have been preserved in this way, they can be kept either whole in the brine or alternatively the brine gets drained and the Chillies then get blended into a sauce.

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