Chilli heads.

London hot sauce festival in April: https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/attractions/london-hot-sauce-festival-april-a4077036.html

Finally got round to sorting out my chilli club seeds. Gone for the kitchen paper / clingfilm /airing cupboard method. I'm not too optimistic. Bottom row are my own Mexican smoked randoms.

2 Attachments

Put some in proper pots (from 4cl "shot glasses") today.
Still just pretty little those fellas but have nice roots already plus I won't have time next week so..

..most of mine are in proper (9x9cm) pots now and developing their first true leaves. Slowly though.

Brave little hibernated plant is thoroughly enjoying the bit-bigger pot - growing berries already, expecting first harvest in April, haha

More sowing today. I am trying the paper towel method to get them germinated.

..anything yet?

Yes, they had all come up within a week except the Antillais which took two. I sowed the shoots last weekend. Here’s some (so 2 weeks from sowing- but slightly older ones at the back of the tray)

1 Attachment

Yes, they had all come up

Here’s some

I suggest putting them in individual pots (soil right up to the leaves) as soon as possible and give them more light / bit colder temps, else they will continue to shoot like that..
: ]

Yes some are a bit leggy ... they were in the germination hot fridge a bit too long... now out in the ingested greenhouse so should harden up. and they’ll need potting on soon. Then i’m Really gonna run out of space!

Yea, running out of space is an issue
: ]

For what it's worth square pots really make a big difference as they offer a lot more soil volume compared to round ones that take up the same amount of space.
Also scroll through your contact book and text people that you know have a sunny garden / balcony and ask them whether they would like a plant in a few weeks!

Got these that have hibernated from last year, most of them didn't survive sadly. But I'm not sure I'm ever going to get to the end of my crop from last year from 24 plants.

1 Attachment

crop from last year from 24 plants

..what did you do with them? Dry them? Freeze them? Make hot sauce?

I started freezing them, then I made tons of hot sauce, I'm still eating the hot sauce, pretty much having it on everything that contains cheese (roasted tomato and chilli hot sauce is really delicious), and yeah, I dried some.

@Dogs you don’t happen to live in Walthamstow by any chance? I suspect we may live on the same estate!
I really need to pot mine on this week and rejig everything on the grow shelves..

Anyone tried this, found it in Sainsburys

1 Attachment

Did not successfully grow these back in 2017 (think they were among those I guerilla planted outside and which the city gardeners chopped down) so will take better care this year -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCQVzM8Om7o&feature=youtu.be

I love that bloke!

Here she comes

1 Attachment

Anyone going to the hot sauce fest in peckham on Saturday?
https://www.hotsaucesociety.co.uk

Yes! No idea what to expect but it looks good

I'm mainly going for flavour ideas but will happily munch on firey treats all day

I’ve managed not to kill a whole crop for the first time in two years. The superhots are on a south facing window ledge loving life, while the jalapeño, cayenne and peters pepper are hardening off in the green house. Fingers crossed they will last the distance

3 Attachments

.

Nice!

None of mine have hatched. Will be buying some plants late May I think!

Hot sauce fest is BUSY

Tried this and it made me giggle so much I had to have it

There's a guy selling salted caramel jalapeños which strangely work

1 Attachment