Hi everyone

Im a real newbie gardener and need some help with my pepper plants please.
I now have little white flowers on that have opened a little more each day,
now should I be hand pollinating them or just leaving them?

Also when they finally do become peppers, I believe they all start out green
but if left some turn red, how long does that process take roughly?

Thankyou for any advice

"Shirl" wrote
Im a real newbie gardener and need some help with my pepper plants please.
I now have little white flowers on that have opened a little more each
day,
now should I be hand pollinating them or just leaving them?

Also when they finally do become peppers, I believe they all start out
green
but if left some turn red, how long does that process take roughly?


Normally they pollinate themselves quite well so don't need any help from
the gardener, I presume you are either growing them outside, or, if in a
greenhouse the door and any vents are open to allow pollinating insects to
do their stuff.
Yes they all start off green and I've never had one go truly red outside
just a blackish tinge which precedes the red colour.

--
Regards
Bob
in Runnymede, 17miles west of London, UK

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 11:49:48 +0100, Bob Hobden wrote:

"Shirl" wrote
Im a real newbie gardener and need some help with my pepper plants please.
I now have little white flowers on that have opened a little more each
day,
now should I be hand pollinating them or just leaving them?

Also when they finally do become peppers, I believe they all start out
green
but if left some turn red, how long does that process take roughly?


Normally they pollinate themselves quite well so don't need any help from
the gardener, I presume you are either growing them outside, or, if in a
greenhouse the door and any vents are open to allow pollinating insects to
do their stuff.
Yes they all start off green and I've never had one go truly red outside
just a blackish tinge which precedes the red colour.

You'll be lucky to get them red before the frosts now I'm afraid. Some
sorts don't got red, of course but stay green. Whatever, you can eat them
any time, but are really ripe when the green changes a shade darker - that
deep green like the ones in the supermarket is good.

Whatever you do, pick them before any frost gets them or they'll be ruined,
even if they're not quite ready - you can ripen them a *little* indoors on
a warm windowsill. (they *may* survive a light frost if you're lucky).
--
Tim C.

"Tim Challenger" wrote in message
. ..
Normally they pollinate themselves quite well so don't need any help from
the gardener, I presume you are either growing them outside, or, if in a
greenhouse the door and any vents are open to allow pollinating insects
to
do their stuff.
Yes they all start off green and I've never had one go truly red outside
just a blackish tinge which precedes the red colour.

You'll be lucky to get them red before the frosts now I'm afraid. Some
sorts don't got red, of course but stay green. Whatever, you can eat them
any time, but are really ripe when the green changes a shade darker - that
deep green like the ones in the supermarket is good.

Whatever you do, pick them before any frost gets them or they'll be
ruined,
even if they're not quite ready - you can ripen them a *little* indoors on
a warm windowsill. (they *may* survive a light frost if you're lucky).
--
Tim C.

Thankyou Bob and Tim, your help was much appreciated.

I grew them from seed but unfortunatley the greenhouse was poorly sited so
they grew very slowly (as did everything else). About two weeks ago I
brought them out of the greenhouse and made a makeshift glasshouse out of
some old panes lying around. Since they went in there under full sun
they've gone mad! I'll certainly know what to do for next year!

Thanks again

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 12:33:18 +0100, Shirl wrote:

"Tim Challenger" wrote in message
. ..
Normally they pollinate themselves quite well so don't need any help from
the gardener, I presume you are either growing them outside, or, if in a
greenhouse the door and any vents are open to allow pollinating insects
to
do their stuff.
Yes they all start off green and I've never had one go truly red outside
just a blackish tinge which precedes the red colour.

You'll be lucky to get them red before the frosts now I'm afraid. Some
sorts don't got red, of course but stay green. Whatever, you can eat them
any time, but are really ripe when the green changes a shade darker - that
deep green like the ones in the supermarket is good.

Whatever you do, pick them before any frost gets them or they'll be
ruined,
even if they're not quite ready - you can ripen them a *little* indoors on
a warm windowsill. (they *may* survive a light frost if you're lucky).
--
Tim C.

Thankyou Bob and Tim, your help was much appreciated.

I grew them from seed but unfortunatley the greenhouse was poorly sited so
they grew very slowly (as did everything else). About two weeks ago I
brought them out of the greenhouse and made a makeshift glasshouse out of
some old panes lying around. Since they went in there under full sun
they've gone mad! I'll certainly know what to do for next year!

Thanks again

They do take a long time to really start growing. Cool temps and crowded
pots slow them down a lot. If you get lucky and the fruit grow big they may
be helped by a bit of support from a small stick. Once the fruit start
developing they grow fast - like tomatoes, try not to water them
erratically as they can split or get blossom-end rot. Otherwise they're
pretty low-maintenance plants. Good luck.


--
Tim C.

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 13:03:28 +0200, Tim Challenger
wrote:

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 11:49:48 +0100, Bob Hobden wrote:

"Shirl" wrote
Im a real newbie gardener and need some help with my pepper plants please.
I now have little white flowers on that have opened a little more each
day,
now should I be hand pollinating them or just leaving them?

Also when they finally do become peppers, I believe they all start out
green
but if left some turn red, how long does that process take roughly?


Normally they pollinate themselves quite well so don't need any help from
the gardener, I presume you are either growing them outside, or, if in a
greenhouse the door and any vents are open to allow pollinating insects to
do their stuff.
Yes they all start off green and I've never had one go truly red outside
just a blackish tinge which precedes the red colour.

You'll be lucky to get them red before the frosts now I'm afraid. Some
sorts don't got red, of course but stay green. Whatever, you can eat them
any time, but are really ripe when the green changes a shade darker - that
deep green like the ones in the supermarket is good.

Mine are at the 'cherry tom' size ( in a greenhouse )...given a fair
wind and a bit of luck d'you think there's any chance of them getting
to anything but green?

Regards,



--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{whoisat}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 13:16:46 +0100, Stephen Howard wrote:

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 13:03:28 +0200, Tim Challenger
wrote:

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 11:49:48 +0100, Bob Hobden wrote:

"Shirl" wrote
Im a real newbie gardener and need some help with my pepper plants please.
I now have little white flowers on that have opened a little more each
day,
now should I be hand pollinating them or just leaving them?

Also when they finally do become peppers, I believe they all start out
green
but if left some turn red, how long does that process take roughly?


Normally they pollinate themselves quite well so don't need any help from
the gardener, I presume you are either growing them outside, or, if in a
greenhouse the door and any vents are open to allow pollinating insects to
do their stuff.
Yes they all start off green and I've never had one go truly red outside
just a blackish tinge which precedes the red colour.

You'll be lucky to get them red before the frosts now I'm afraid. Some
sorts don't got red, of course but stay green. Whatever, you can eat them
any time, but are really ripe when the green changes a shade darker - that
deep green like the ones in the supermarket is good.

Mine are at the 'cherry tom' size ( in a greenhouse )...given a fair
wind and a bit of luck d'you think there's any chance of them getting
to anything but green?

It's possible, if it stays warm and sunny. (so not much chance then)
Once they start going dark green they'll likely turn in a few days to a
week or so.
Give them a bit of tomato feed as well if you want. It can help.

--
Tim C.

"Tim Challenger" wrote in message
.. .
On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 12:33:18 +0100, Shirl wrote:

They do take a long time to really start growing. Cool temps and crowded
pots slow them down a lot. If you get lucky and the fruit grow big they
may
be helped by a bit of support from a small stick. Once the fruit start
developing they grow fast - like tomatoes, try not to water them
erratically as they can split or get blossom-end rot. Otherwise they're
pretty low-maintenance plants. Good luck.


--
Tim C.

Thanks again Tim.

I see, I thought it was due to my neighbours trees blocking out all my sun
on the greenhouse that the plant did nothing at all for weeks. A support is
a good idea, the plant is quite tall with a thinnish stalk so I shall put in
a cane.

Shirl

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 15:01:45 +0200, Tim Challenger
wrote:

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 13:16:46 +0100, Stephen Howard wrote:


Mine are at the 'cherry tom' size ( in a greenhouse )...given a fair
wind and a bit of luck d'you think there's any chance of them getting
to anything but green?

It's possible, if it stays warm and sunny. (so not much chance then)
Once they start going dark green they'll likely turn in a few days to a
week or so.
Give them a bit of tomato feed as well if you want. It can help.

They're in with the toms and the cucumbers, so they're getting a
regular feed - and I just found a pepper the size of a
tangerine...with a dirty great slug hole in it
Bugger!

Is it commonplace for the leaves to droop down? If it weren't for the
fact that the plants are producing fruits I'd suspect them of being a
bit out of sorts...almost as though suffering from overwatering (
which isn't at all likely! ).

Regards,



--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{whoisat}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk

"Tim Challenger" wrote
They do take a long time to really start growing. Cool temps and crowded
pots slow them down a lot. If you get lucky and the fruit grow big they
may
be helped by a bit of support from a small stick. Once the fruit start
developing they grow fast - like tomatoes, try not to water them
erratically as they can split or get blossom-end rot. Otherwise they're
pretty low-maintenance plants. Good luck.

Tim is quite right, they all seem to sulk for a few weeks after being
planted out, we use a seaweed extract feed which does seem to do the trick
and get them moving faster. Once there are a few fruit on the plant then a
quality Tomato feed is good too.
You'll have to think about moving that greenhouse. :-)
Non gardening neighbour of ours moved into a house with a greenhouse in full
sun and this being his first year decided to plant it with various varieties
of chilli and also Toms all in growbags. He has an excellent crop and the
chilli plants are amazingly healthy and covered in perfect fruit. Beginners
luck I say! :-)

--
Regards
Bob
in Runnymede, 17miles west of London, UK

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 15:53:59 +0100, Stephen Howard wrote:

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 15:01:45 +0200, Tim Challenger
wrote:

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 13:16:46 +0100, Stephen Howard wrote:


Mine are at the 'cherry tom' size ( in a greenhouse )...given a fair
wind and a bit of luck d'you think there's any chance of them getting
to anything but green?

It's possible, if it stays warm and sunny. (so not much chance then)
Once they start going dark green they'll likely turn in a few days to a
week or so.
Give them a bit of tomato feed as well if you want. It can help.

They're in with the toms and the cucumbers, so they're getting a
regular feed - and I just found a pepper the size of a
tangerine...with a dirty great slug hole in it
Bugger!

Is it commonplace for the leaves to droop down? If it weren't for the
fact that the plants are producing fruits I'd suspect them of being a
bit out of sorts...almost as though suffering from overwatering (
which isn't at all likely! ).

Now you mention it they do tend to droop a bit. It looks like they're
wilting? I don't know what causes that, but it doesn't seem to bother them
much. Maybe they *are* wilting and need more water?

--
Tim C.

In article , Tim Challenger
writes
On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 15:53:59 +0100, Stephen Howard wrote:


Is it commonplace for the leaves to droop down? If it weren't for the
fact that the plants are producing fruits I'd suspect them of being a
bit out of sorts...almost as though suffering from overwatering (
which isn't at all likely! ).

Now you mention it they do tend to droop a bit. It looks like they're
wilting? I don't know what causes that, but it doesn't seem to bother them
much. Maybe they *are* wilting and need more water?

I've noticed other Solanaceae wilt a bit in the heat, even if well
watered, and perk up a bit in the cool of the evening.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

On Thu, 12 Aug 2004 08:35:24 +0100, Kay wrote:

In article , Tim Challenger
writes
On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 15:53:59 +0100, Stephen Howard wrote:


Is it commonplace for the leaves to droop down? If it weren't for the
fact that the plants are producing fruits I'd suspect them of being a
bit out of sorts...almost as though suffering from overwatering (
which isn't at all likely! ).

Now you mention it they do tend to droop a bit. It looks like they're
wilting? I don't know what causes that, but it doesn't seem to bother them
much. Maybe they *are* wilting and need more water?

I've noticed other Solanaceae wilt a bit in the heat, even if well
watered, and perk up a bit in the cool of the evening.

You're probably right, I normally to grow chillis and they don't do that so
much. It may be just imagination but do they seem to wilt less if it's a
bit windy? Maybe the high humidity stops them transpiring?

--
Tim C.

On Thu, 12 Aug 2004 08:15:27 +0200, Tim Challenger
wrote:

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 15:53:59 +0100, Stephen Howard wrote:


Is it commonplace for the leaves to droop down? If it weren't for the
fact that the plants are producing fruits I'd suspect them of being a
bit out of sorts...almost as though suffering from overwatering (
which isn't at all likely! ).

Now you mention it they do tend to droop a bit. It looks like they're
wilting? I don't know what causes that, but it doesn't seem to bother them
much. Maybe they *are* wilting and need more water?

Ah, so it's not just me!
I don't think it's more water they need - when they started putting on
growth I was rather concerned about the drooping leaves, so I made
sure they got plenty of water. Made no difference.
I then thought that perhaps they might prefer it a little on the dry
side - but that made no difference either.

I had a few spare plants left over - so I bunged them in the veg plot
on the off-chance they'd grow away.. they didn't seem to do that well,
but I did notice that the leaves were significantly 'perkier'...so
perhaps as Kay suggested it's got something to do with the heat..and
possibly the humidity.

Regards,



--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{whoisat}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk

In article , Tim Challenger
writes
On Thu, 12 Aug 2004 08:35:24 +0100, Kay wrote:


I've noticed other Solanaceae wilt a bit in the heat, even if well
watered, and perk up a bit in the cool of the evening.

You're probably right, I normally to grow chillis and they don't do that so
much. It may be just imagination but do they seem to wilt less if it's a
bit windy? Maybe the high humidity stops them transpiring?

Maybe, but that should make things better, shouldn't it? High humidity,
less water loss, no wilting. Wind, high water loss (just as plants can
succumb to drought in windy cold winter weather), plants wilt?
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"