Chilli plant query

[Chuck]

Thanks Chuck.

The temperature has soared in the UK, the past 2 days its been 28 degrees so the conservatory gets really hot. I've been watering the chilli's once a day, maybe they don't like that either, or they dry out quick.

28C is cool compared to here. Yesterday it was 41C (106F) here and I can definitely tell you that peppers do not like hot weather but 28C is perfect for them, 33C is about as hot as peppers thrive. If your plants are in containers you should saturate all of the soil in the container each time you water. If you have good drainage and it is not windy about every 3 days should be ample. What are you feeding your peppers with?

 

[Vicy]

Well I the conserve it his the mid 30s if the weather is 26 plus outside. I make sure all the windows are open.

I feed them normal plant food once a week with my other veg (bar tomatoes that get tomato feed).

Other than that I tend to water them the same as you would a houseplant. Once a day, at night, I would say 300ml for a 3ltr pot.


Ive just mixed some bone meal into some compost and topped up thier containers, adding water.

 

[Chuck]

How large are your containers. Peppers should be in a 4 gallon container at minimum. The smaller the container the more often you have to water. Water leaches out nutrients so a larger container is essential to maintain proper moisture and nutrient content.

 

[Vicy]

Not massive......

 

[Chuck]

Not massive......
View attachment 91454

They are beautiful plants but I must warn you that they will get root bound and watering thoroughly will be crucial. It is very difficult to maintain correct moisture content in containers that small. The fabric containers possibly can be large enough but the plastic ones IMO are not for a plant of that size.

 

[Vicy]

My mum had two larger pots, is it safe to move them now?

 

[Chuck]

My mum had two larger pots, is it safe to move them now?

Sure, just don't drop them or damage the root system. Most plants will need repotting sooner or later and folks do it all the time.

 

[Vicy]

Well a week later, I've doubled the size of the pots, given epsom salts and bone meal and I still think I'm getting BER. So annoying.

The one I've spotted I've just cut off so I can freeze it and at least use it.

Do you think it's worth me cutting my losses (pardon the pun) and harvesting the green ones on this plant now and seeing what happens after that? Another is going red but it's an odd texture and I just don't trust it.

 

[Chuck]

Well a week later, I've doubled the size of the pots, given epsom salts and bone meal and I still think I'm getting BER. So annoying.

The one I've spotted I've just cut off so I can freeze it and at least use it.

Do you think it's worth me cutting my losses (pardon the pun) and harvesting the green ones on this plant now and seeing what happens after that? Another is going red but it's an odd texture and I just don't trust it.

I think that in the first picture that the dark spot is from an injury . On the second picture something has stopped the pepper from growing as evidenced by the yellow cap. This will change the texture. I would use it now as there is nothing harmful in it. Just wait and don't worry. Watch your peppers closely and learn from these things.

 

[Vicy]

I find the process so stressful! You see lovely looking green chilli's and it's so upsetting when they rot or go bad!

My Romano pepper plant is doing really well.

I have another chilli pepper plant that struggled to flower at first but now has loads of odd shaped chilli's. It's like they all have different personalities!

 

[Chuck]

I find the process so stressful! You see lovely looking green chilli's and it's so upsetting when they rot or go bad!

My Romano pepper plant is doing really well.

I have another chilli pepper plant that struggled to flower at first but now has loads of odd shaped chilli's. It's like they all have different personalities!

Gardening is not a passtime for the impatient. Think of all of these bad happenings as nothing more than a learning experience and fairly soon these small problems will be of no consequence to you as you will know what to do. There is a rule here in Texas. To be called a gardener one must have killed at least a thousand plants due to a lack of knowledge.

 

[Vicy]

Wise words Chuck and I shall listen, all the way here in Manchester UK!

You are right, it's only year 2 of what I hope will be a lifelong hobby. I had no idea what BER was until the chilli's so like you said, you learn as you go!

Thank you

 

[Oliver Buckle]

. There is a rule here in Texas. To be called a gardener one must have killed at least a thousand plants due to a lack of knowledge.

We used to say to be a sailor you had to turn a dingy over at least twice

 

[Vicy]

I've got fruit flies lingering around my chilli's at the moment. Any tips On hhoe to get rid?

The plants are in the conservatory at the moment....

 

[Chuck]

I've got fruit flies lingering around my chilli's at the moment. Any tips On hhoe to get rid?

The plants are in the conservatory at the moment....

The way I do it is to mix about a cup of cider vinegar with a squirt of dish soap and put this mixture into a bunch of small containers (jar lids) all over the place. I also get a banana peel and put it in some out of the way place and put a stick trap next to it.