I've not grown chillies before, but now have 3 plants, about 18 inches
high, grown from seeds from a bought chilli.
I have had them on my kitchen window ledge, but the flowers keep
dropping off. I don't think I've under or over watered.
There are now some small fruits forming but near the top of the
plants.
I put them outside about a week ago, and the next morning found a
biggish slug half way up a stem, so I brought them in again, minus
slug!

What do others do? I know there was a long discussion about chillies
a year or so ago but I passed it over, not being interested at that
point.
Are they better outside with the slugs or on the window ledge until
colder weather?

Are they self-fertile or do they need insects to pollinate?
TIA

Pam in Bristol

On Aug 8, 12:19 pm, Pam Moore wrote:
I've not grown chillies before, but now have 3 plants, about 18 inches
high, grown from seeds from a bought chilli.
I have had them on my kitchen window ledge, but the flowers keep
dropping off. I don't think I've under or over watered.
There are now some small fruits forming but near the top of the
plants.
I put them outside about a week ago, and the next morning found a
biggish slug half way up a stem, so I brought them in again, minus
slug!

What do others do? I know there was a long discussion about chillies
a year or so ago but I passed it over, not being interested at that
point.
Are they better outside with the slugs or on the window ledge until
colder weather?

Are they self-fertile or do they need insects to pollinate?
TIA

Pam in Bristol

I am a beginner with chillis but have done them a few times. Seeds
from shop bought ones can be disappointing; it is a matter of luck.
They do grow VERY slowly. It is common to start them very early in
the year just to give them enough time to produce fruit. They do like
as much heat and light as you can give them. Just now, I have 4
plants in a greenhouse that are only about 18 inches or a bit more,
high. They each have about 4 or 5 fruits, all green. I expect them
to go red in due course but I may have to be patient (especially given
current weather). These ones are big (some Italian variety, from
packet seed). You can use them now (green) but the taste can be
disappointing if you pick too early. It improves with age and
colour. I do not think they need pollination but that is a guess. As
to which location is best; hard to tell, sorry. Whichever is
brightest and hottest?

"Pam Moore" wrote
I've not grown chillies before, but now have 3 plants, about 18 inches
high, grown from seeds from a bought chilli.
I have had them on my kitchen window ledge, but the flowers keep
dropping off. I don't think I've under or over watered.
There are now some small fruits forming but near the top of the
plants.
I put them outside about a week ago, and the next morning found a
biggish slug half way up a stem, so I brought them in again, minus
slug!

What do others do? I know there was a long discussion about chillies
a year or so ago but I passed it over, not being interested at that
point.
Are they better outside with the slugs or on the window ledge until
colder weather?

Are they self-fertile or do they need insects to pollinate?
TIA


We have grown them for years outside on the allotment. They are slow to
start into growth after germination so we find it important to provide a
good fertilizer to start them off once planted out and use Seaweed Extract
which seems to do the job. Once flowering they don't stop and we always get
a good crop of chillies, "Thai Dragon" (very hot) is our favourite and we
find it very reliable and a good cropper. Have tried growing from seed we
saved from shop ones but not found them any good (in our climate?). Never
had a problem with slugs outside and have never bothered to sprinkle slug
pellets around them.
If you have a sheltered spot in full sun (important!) try them there next
year, the plants get bushy when outside and are quite attractive with their
little white flowers (usually) so should work well in the flower border.
Just before the first frost we pull up the plants and take off the fruit.
Whilst the plants are perennial they don't seem to take to our low light
winters, even if potted and placed in a heated greenhouse they do not
thrive.

Gave a bag full of Thai Dragon to our Chemist's wife, Mrs Patel, last year
and told her they were hot. Chemist told me later I ruined his dinner that
night as he couldn't eat it because it was too hot.
His Mrs found it rather amusing. :-)

--
Regards
Bob Hobden

"Pam Moore" wrote in message
...
I've not grown chillies before, but now have 3 plants, about 18 inches
high, grown from seeds from a bought chilli.
I have had them on my kitchen window ledge, but the flowers keep
dropping off. I don't think I've under or over watered.
There are now some small fruits forming but near the top of the
plants.
I put them outside about a week ago, and the next morning found a
biggish slug half way up a stem, so I brought them in again, minus
slug!

What do others do? I know there was a long discussion about chillies
a year or so ago but I passed it over, not being interested at that
point.
Are they better outside with the slugs or on the window ledge until
colder weather?

Are they self-fertile or do they need insects to pollinate?
TIA

If you're in or around West Sussex this weekend, it's the Chilli Fiesta at
West Dean (the West Dean near Chchester, not the one near Eastbourne)
http://www.westdean.org.uk/site/gard...nts/chilli.htm

The message
from "Graculus" contains these words:
"Pam Moore" wrote in message
...

I've not grown chillies before, but now have 3 plants, about 18 inches
high, grown from seeds from a bought chilli.
I have had them on my kitchen window ledge, but the flowers keep
dropping off. I don't think I've under or over watered.

Probably neither. They like plenty of water, but not to the extent of
waterlogging. I try to keep a little water in the saucer/tray under
mine, but often forget.

They are quite forgiving.

There are now some small fruits forming but near the top of the
plants.
I put them outside about a week ago, and the next morning found a
biggish slug half way up a stem, so I brought them in again, minus
slug!

Put some slug pellets round the pot?

What do others do? I know there was a long discussion about chillies
a year or so ago but I passed it over, not being interested at that
point.
Are they better outside with the slugs or on the window ledge until
colder weather?

In a sunny position, I'd say they're better outside. Mine are presently
in a sort-of upright cucumber frame, and get sun until about 3 pm.

Are they self-fertile or do they need insects to pollinate?

I'd guess the flowers will self-pollinate, as my Jalapinos are brought
inside for the winter, and go on cropping.

If you're in or around West Sussex this weekend, it's the Chilli Fiesta at
West Dean (the West Dean near Chchester, not the one near Eastbourne)
http://www.westdean.org.uk/site/gard...nts/chilli.htm

You've missed the Norfolk one TAAAW.

Remember, chillis are perennial - or at least, last for several years,
and can be pruned when they become a bit straggly.

I feed them with tomato fertiliser.

--
Rusty
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk
Separator in search of a sig

On Sat, 9 Aug 2008 23:09:27 +0100, Rusty Hinge 2
wrote:

The message
from "Graculus" contains these words:
"Pam Moore" wrote in message
...

I've not grown chillies before, but now have 3 plants, about 18 inches
high, grown from seeds from a bought chilli.
I have had them on my kitchen window ledge, but the flowers keep
dropping off. I don't think I've under or over watered.

Probably neither. They like plenty of water, but not to the extent of
waterlogging. I try to keep a little water in the saucer/tray under
mine, but often forget.

They are quite forgiving.

There are now some small fruits forming but near the top of the
plants.
I put them outside about a week ago, and the next morning found a
biggish slug half way up a stem, so I brought them in again, minus
slug!

Put some slug pellets round the pot?

What do others do? I know there was a long discussion about chillies
a year or so ago but I passed it over, not being interested at that
point.
Are they better outside with the slugs or on the window ledge until
colder weather?

In a sunny position, I'd say they're better outside. Mine are presently
in a sort-of upright cucumber frame, and get sun until about 3 pm.

Are they self-fertile or do they need insects to pollinate?

I'd guess the flowers will self-pollinate, as my Jalapinos are brought
inside for the winter, and go on cropping.

If you're in or around West Sussex this weekend, it's the Chilli Fiesta at
West Dean (the West Dean near Chchester, not the one near Eastbourne)
http://www.westdean.org.uk/site/gard...nts/chilli.htm

You've missed the Norfolk one TAAAW.

Remember, chillis are perennial - or at least, last for several years,
and can be pruned when they become a bit straggly.

I feed them with tomato fertiliser.

Thanks Rusty. That's just the advice I needed.

Regarding the Chilli Festival at West Dean, I was there last year by
accident. I was staying with a friend in Surrey and we set out to go
to West Dean. We could not understand the traffic jams as we got
nearer, but soon realised what it was when we eventually arrived at
West Dean, and saw what it was all about. We were amazed at the
popularity of it.
We gave the chilli stuff a miss and just enjoyed the place.
Some years ago I went on a 3 day course there on fragrant plants. It's
an enchanting place, especially if you stay inone of the rooms
overlooking the front of the house and the park. Anyone visiting the
area, do go.

Pam in Bristol

Rusty Hinge 2 writes
The message
from "Graculus" contains these words:
"Pam Moore" wrote in message
...

I've not grown chillies before, but now have 3 plants, about 18 inches
high, grown from seeds from a bought chilli.
I have had them on my kitchen window ledge, but the flowers keep
dropping off. I don't think I've under or over watered.

Probably neither. They like plenty of water, but not to the extent of
waterlogging. I try to keep a little water in the saucer/tray under
mine, but often forget.

They are quite forgiving.

Yes. I've regularly let the leaves flop on mine.

There are now some small fruits forming but near the top of the
plants.

I find the first few flowers often don't set, but after that it's fine.
Sounds like the same is happening here.


Are they self-fertile or do they need insects to pollinate?

I'd guess the flowers will self-pollinate, as my Jalapinos are brought
inside for the winter, and go on cropping.

Self pollinating almost certainly. Certainly you need only one plant,
and, like Rusty, I've had good crops from a single plant indoors.


Remember, chillis are perennial - or at least, last for several years,
and can be pruned when they become a bit straggly.

Yes. They don't like winter, but they will live through it indoors.
Alternatively, they do very well from seed.

The fruits freeze well. Just tuck them in a small plastic bag, take one
out when you need it, drop it into the food whole, or hold it by the
stem and snip it (still frozen) with scissors. That way you don't get
chilli burns when you rub your eyes during cooking!

I feed them with tomato fertiliser.

Most things where you're after flowers or fruit work well with tomato
fertiliser. OK, probably best to get the 'correct' fertiliser for each
group of plants, but if you haven't got that many, it's easier just to
have one fertiliser that you use for everything.


--
Kay

The message
from K contains these words:

I feed them with tomato fertiliser.

Well, it's fairly closely related to the tomato, though sometimes I feed
more-or-less everything soft and fruity with stinking nettle soup.

Marrows, cucumbers, chillis, tomatoes all love it.

For anyone who doesn't know about it, just steep a heap of nettles in a
bucket/tub of water. When the smell is so bad it turns you over, put a
peg on your nose (or wear a diving-suit), abstract a pint or so of the
stuff and dilute it in a watering can, and feed your plants with it.
Caulis, celery, etc love it.

Not suitable for root veg, and onions if overdone, nor for woody plants
- it makes them put on too much foliage. (eg, grapes, currants,
goosegogs etc. Seems to be OK for blackberries, though. Oh, and
rhubarb...)

Most things where you're after flowers or fruit work well with tomato
fertiliser. OK, probably best to get the 'correct' fertiliser for each
group of plants, but if you haven't got that many, it's easier just to
have one fertiliser that you use for everything.

Hmmm. Must scour the shops for some fat hen fertiliser...

--
Rusty
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk
Separator in search of a sig

HI,

I too grow jalapeno chillies on my windowsill. They are watered once a week and occasionally given a drop of baby bio.

The flowers on my plant regularly drop. From a crop of three plants, each about a foot high, I currently have 8 chillies ripening, and many more flowers dropping.
I alwasy thought this was normal, is it not? If so, how can I prevent the flowers from dropping?

Many thanks

"fimonkey" wrote in message
...

Hi All,

Thanks in advance for your answers to my compost question so far.
Herea
re two other questions from a very novice new gardener.

Firstly I've cleared a pact of about 2m square of weeds. It's quite
thick and clumpy soil (not too clay like, but can hold a lot of
moisture and make great mud pies). I intend to let this air for a
while
and keep pulling out any weeds that re-appear ni this patch, then put
my
newly made compost through it. .. How long will it take for my new
garden waster to compost down so I can do this?

In the meantime, Are there any fruit/veg I plant in this area now (Mid
August 2008) It's a relatively shady and very sheltered from wind past
of teh garden.

Secondly, whilst clearnig the jungle I found a patch of lovely blue
flowers. they were evrywhere, so I guess they're self seeding. They
remind me initially of giant blue lobelia, but I'll try to describe
them better. The blue flowers are v. samll and come off a main tall
stem from the centre of the plant, about 1/2 metre high. the remainder
of the plant, if there were no flowers, would look like dock leaves.
Anyone got any idea what this is and whether it's a weed or
cultivated?

Thridly, any good online plant identification guides that go simply by
"blue flowers" kind of characterisation?

Many thanks in advance once again.

Is this the blue flower
http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/borage.htm

or this http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/alkanet.htm

Regards,
Emrys Davies

fimonkey writes

Secondly, whilst clearnig the jungle I found a patch of lovely blue
flowers. they were evrywhere, so I guess they're self seeding. They
remind me initially of giant blue lobelia, but I'll try to describe
them better. The blue flowers are v. samll and come off a main tall
stem from the centre of the plant, about 1/2 metre high. the remainder
of the plant, if there were no flowers, would look like dock leaves.
Anyone got any idea what this is and whether it's a weed or
cultivated?

Try green alkanet. Leaves are rougher than a dock with lots of short
itchy hairs. It's a member of the forget-me-not family.
--
Kay

Green alcanet it is!!!!! WOW you guys are SO good, I spent the whole evening last night going thrught eh web looking for it and didn't find it. - I'm impressed!

My next question then (please excuse so many questions, once I know a bit more about gardening I'll begin answering questions too). ...

This green alcanet is in a border that is shady and damp. What could I plant between it to brighten the border? I have some yellow promise plants (like a huge salvia), would they tolerate those kind of conditions?

What other plant slike the same kind of soil and conditions as green alcanet? (It obviously loves my garden as I cleared heaps of it).

fimonkey wrote:


What other plant slike the same kind of soil and conditions as green
alcanet? (It obviously loves my garden as I cleared heaps of it).

My border which alkanet tries to colonise has a large hardy fushia
underplanted with pulmonaria (spring), Helleborus orientalis and
cyclamen coum (winter)and cyclamen hedrafolium (autumn)

Paul

--
CTC Right to Ride Rep. for Richmond upon Thames

The message
from Paul Luton contains these words:

My border which alkanet tries to colonise has a large hardy fushia
underplanted with pulmonaria (spring), Helleborus orientalis and
cyclamen coum (winter)and cyclamen hedrafolium (autumn)

Today's tip (ex Bob Flowerdew):

The berries of fuchsia can be used for making jams and jellies.

--
Rusty
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk
Separator in search of a sig