A very curious immature Trinidad Scorpion pod.
Mature and immature Royal Gold Habanero pods.
That's about it for now, but will try to get the video of Dr. J eating the Barrackpore 7-Pot uploaded soon.
:-)
Showing posts with label Royal Gold. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Royal Gold. Show all posts
Thursday, 29 July 2010
Saturday, 3 July 2010
The Diversity of Life
Occasionally when growing plants, or indeed whenever you study life, you get the chance to see the intricacies of genetics at work.
One of the plants growing this season at the office is a Royal Gold Habanero. I planted and thankfully germinated two seeds. The plants have had very good, bushy growth, and unlike some of the other C. Chinenses at the office, this plant has not only flowered profusely, but produced a generous quantity of pods.
The pods in question have not been at all similar to the ones I saw on the chileman database, which is the same photo from the nursery which originally sold the plant (whether or not the nursery is the origin of the plant is unknown to me). I got the seeds from one of the thehotpepper.com forum members, so there might have been the possibility of cross-pollination (not that it bothers me much, to be honest).
The pods themselves have been 99.9% arrow-head shaped, about an inch and a quarter long by three quarter inches wide at the widest. I must be too much of a movie buff, because the pods remind me of the explosive arrowheads from Rambo III.
:-P
Nevertheless, they are quite attractive pods.
Now, I said 99.9% because the main plant, the one in full production (the second plant has only now started producing, as it was considerably smaller than the first), has produced on pod significantly different than the rest of it's brethren:
I find this amazing.
Astounding.
Downright cool.
:-)
How fantastic is it to watch a plant produce lovely pods all over, and then, just as a small surprise, it goes ahead and gives you one pod completely different from everything else! Genetic variation at its freshest!
Saturday, 15 May 2010
Green houses/Invernaderos
I finally got annoyed enough by our balcony to go out and buy a mini-greenhouse.
I have gotten sick and tired of watching plant after plant simply keel over and die out side of our flat in what can only be described as the sort of place where only Scottish Heather or wind resistant grasses from the Hebrides can grow. Living less than 200 metres from the waters of the Mersey in what effectively is a wind tunnel is frustrating. Nothing you grow seems to be able to settle in. Add to that the fact that thanks to the Hilton brand of hotels and their Hamptons by Hilton we no longer get sun in the mornings, and only a few hours of direct sunlight in the afternoons, and you can have a sort of feeling why I get so miserable when I look at what would ideally be a beautiful wood-decked balcony.
But no more. I just simply couldn't let the nice white climbing Rose wither and die, or watch the Hibiscus try for the fourth year running to have more than just some crappy little leaves.
No sir.
I have just seen my three blueberry bushes wither and die thanks to the new balcony and it vexes me.
So, in comes the new greenhouse.
It is nearly six feet tall, and has four shelves, though I am only using three since the Rose and the Hibiscus are fairly tall twigs.
Looking at them now, the wind is causing considerably less stress on the plants. I even feel confident enough to move the very healthy Mint plant I had in the window outside. I've placed the Lilies Almapaprika bought inside, along with the ones I bought a few months back, and watered everything in the greenhouse.
I might buy some cheap digital thermometers to keep track of whether or not it also makes it more bearable for the plants temperature wise.
I've not been able to update the blog as often as I would like because I've been a little busy at the moment.
I am slowly re-potting all the plants into their final, 8-inch pots. I still have to re-pot the two Fataliis, the two Black Nagas, the two Jamaican Red Hots and one Royal Gold Habanero.
I think I may be seeing the first of the Cayenne Ring of Fire pods next week, as the plant has started to flower now.
I treated all of the overwintered pots to some Epsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate), which is helpful in replenishing magnesium in plants. Apparently peppers plants are deemed to be 'Magnesium hungry'. I'm hoping this will help the Rocoto Rojo, which has been great at growing, but exceedingly poor at producing pods.
The Royal Gold (the already re-potted one) is doing quite well, and may produce flowers in the next fortnight. The Madame Jeannette, on the other hand, is already weeks ahead of every other plant of this season. The first node of flowers numbers a cluster of 9, which is prolific. No buds have opened yet. Should be doing so next week. The Thai Dragon has split brilliantly into three even main branches, all growing straight and up. Lovely growth, but no flowers yet.
The two Red Squash...grumble grumble...are anything BUT Chinenses. They have started to flower, and are following the traditional Annuum growth pattern of one flower per node, as well as showing all the physical characteristics of an Annuum. If it was my mistake, then the only other possible pepper that could have been mistaken in the labelling were the peppers next to them, Almapaprika peppers (not my wife ;-P). I only had four Annuums growing this season: Cayenne Ring of Fire, Regular Cayenne, Almapaprika, and Thai Dragon.
I only hope it wasn't the seed company's problem, because they are generally a good seed company.
But I will only find out once the first pods set in.
I was planning to make some pie today for dinner, but I've gotten a bit lazy... :-(
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
The Ice Cream Bean Cometh!
I spent the better part of a conversation on Easter Sunday attempting to remember the name of a particular fruit eaten in Central America with a friend from that neck of the woods.
After much searching (in our minds), we were unable to actually remember the name of it, to our collective frustration.
This morning, however, I have finally remembered the name of said fruit:
The Guaba.
At least that is the name given to it in Aji Chombo Land. The Scientific name for it is Inga edulis. The English name for it is apparently the Ice Cream Bean, which I find funny, though strangely appropriate.
I remember having some as a child, and what a fantastically strange fruit it was. Imagine if you will a very large tree with pods nearly a foot long by about an inch and a half. Inside these pods are large black seeds wrapped in what looks like dense, white cotton, or cotton candy. The taste is a bit like banana, but sweeter, and with a slightly more fibrous texture.
Good stuff, and the tree apparently helps replenish nutrients into the soil (in a similar fashion to legumes).
Just if any of you are planning to start crops...
Four days away from the plants seems like an eternity.
Four days away from work however, are bliss.
Amazing how quickly stress builds up again, even though there's hardly anything to do thanks to Easter Break.
I think the lack of things to do just piles on even more stress.
Who would ever have though that?
It's either stress from not having much to do AND being in a very publicly exposed location, or the fantastic combination of under staffing, exposure, and high levels of friction caused by inconsistent (highly, HIGHLY inconsistent) customer service policies. Hopefully things will get sorted out soon (since the higher ups have realised just how stressed we are down in the trenches), but odds are I'll be face to face with the Oriental Yeti (Elvis' Pet) before I see any worthwhile changes...
:-(
But I digress.
The Maize Morado is doing very well. Seems to like it's new 'enclosure.' I really am eagerly anticipating the eight foot tall stalks (as are the people in the office I put them in, since they will act as natural shade).
The Roselle is not shooting up like the Maize Morado, but it continues to grow steadily. I imagine this lack of growth has more to do with the low temperatures in this start/stop spring (since it snowed last week). But it looks healthy so I'm going to keep crossing my fingers. I was actually asked about the progress of the Roselle by one of the girls from the Deli Almapaprika and I go to often.
The sub par spring also seems to be affecting the chillies, leading to a lot of uneven growth. One Royal Gold is on it's third set of true leaves, while the other is only just starting the second. And they both germinated on the same day.
The Trinidad Scorpion, the Madame Jeannette, and the Aji Umba Red lead the way for the chinenses, followed closely now by the Barrackpore 7-Pot; while the Ring of Fire Cayenne and the Thai Dragon are doing their usual thing now (growing fast).
Oh, and the Black Nagas are showing their first true leaves!
That last bit of news is absolutely fantastic for me.
It balances out the disaster of the home grown hydroponics...though I may have figured out what went wrong, but it is too late to fix...
Anywho, enough of my babbling.
After much searching (in our minds), we were unable to actually remember the name of it, to our collective frustration.
This morning, however, I have finally remembered the name of said fruit:
The Guaba.
At least that is the name given to it in Aji Chombo Land. The Scientific name for it is Inga edulis. The English name for it is apparently the Ice Cream Bean, which I find funny, though strangely appropriate.
I remember having some as a child, and what a fantastically strange fruit it was. Imagine if you will a very large tree with pods nearly a foot long by about an inch and a half. Inside these pods are large black seeds wrapped in what looks like dense, white cotton, or cotton candy. The taste is a bit like banana, but sweeter, and with a slightly more fibrous texture.
Good stuff, and the tree apparently helps replenish nutrients into the soil (in a similar fashion to legumes).
Just if any of you are planning to start crops...
Four days away from the plants seems like an eternity.
Four days away from work however, are bliss.
Amazing how quickly stress builds up again, even though there's hardly anything to do thanks to Easter Break.
I think the lack of things to do just piles on even more stress.
Who would ever have though that?
It's either stress from not having much to do AND being in a very publicly exposed location, or the fantastic combination of under staffing, exposure, and high levels of friction caused by inconsistent (highly, HIGHLY inconsistent) customer service policies. Hopefully things will get sorted out soon (since the higher ups have realised just how stressed we are down in the trenches), but odds are I'll be face to face with the Oriental Yeti (Elvis' Pet) before I see any worthwhile changes...
:-(
But I digress.
The Maize Morado is doing very well. Seems to like it's new 'enclosure.' I really am eagerly anticipating the eight foot tall stalks (as are the people in the office I put them in, since they will act as natural shade).
The Roselle is not shooting up like the Maize Morado, but it continues to grow steadily. I imagine this lack of growth has more to do with the low temperatures in this start/stop spring (since it snowed last week). But it looks healthy so I'm going to keep crossing my fingers. I was actually asked about the progress of the Roselle by one of the girls from the Deli Almapaprika and I go to often.
The sub par spring also seems to be affecting the chillies, leading to a lot of uneven growth. One Royal Gold is on it's third set of true leaves, while the other is only just starting the second. And they both germinated on the same day.
The Trinidad Scorpion, the Madame Jeannette, and the Aji Umba Red lead the way for the chinenses, followed closely now by the Barrackpore 7-Pot; while the Ring of Fire Cayenne and the Thai Dragon are doing their usual thing now (growing fast).
Oh, and the Black Nagas are showing their first true leaves!
That last bit of news is absolutely fantastic for me.
It balances out the disaster of the home grown hydroponics...though I may have figured out what went wrong, but it is too late to fix...
Anywho, enough of my babbling.
Friday, 26 March 2010
I am the Angel of Muesli!
Don't ask why I've put that as the title...
...oh, all right!
I can't really remember the song 'Angel of Music' from Phantom of the Opera (if that is the real title of it), so I remember it as 'Angel of Muesli'.
Which I think is only fair, since there is a Catholic patron Saint for Television (actually, there are THREE), so why not have a Guardian Angel for Swiss breakfast cereals?
Speaking of Saints, it is a telling statement of the power of being able to attract top figures from other countries when the English can hire out a Turk to be their patron (George), the Irish can hire out a Welshman (Patrick), and the Scotts can hire out a Jordanian (Andrew).
Only the Welsh have a 100% Welsh Saint (David).
But given the fact that they export saints effectively (see Patrick), Welsh saints must be like Italian Football coaches...
Went to see 'I love you Phillip Morris' with Almapaprika yesterday (yes, a rom-com). I have to admit that while an entertaining film, I was taken aback by the explicit sexual content of the film.
Guess it just means I'm an old (Middle-aged) prude who needs to watch more TV on Fox...
To his credit, though, Ewan McGregor makes for an endearingly innocent and camp gay man.
Jim Carrey...well...different story.
Now, going back to the topical discussion on Chillies:
I've taken new pics today, which I plan on uploading at the weekend. All the little seedlings are going strong.
The C. Annuums are really taking off!
Both the Ring of Fire and the Thai Dragon are starting to distance themselves growth wise from the C. Chinenses.
The Trinidad Scorpion, Madame Jeannette, Royal Gold, Aji Umba Red and Barrackpote 7-pot are doing really well.
And Guess what?
Two of the Black Nagas germinated!
I had put off answering this until such a time as they germinated: Mr. Arboc, as soon as these babies start producing pods, regardless of the colour, I shall send you some seeds. Maybe a pod even, if the post allows it.
Now I've at least got two little seedlings to watch over.
:-)
Good stuff, that!
The Roselle is busting out of the little plastic-bottle greenhouse, and I've had to transplant all of the Maize Morado onto a much larger, 'Final Pot' where all three can grow. It will need extra compost, which I shall buy at the weekend (thinking about Miracle Gro). I shouldn't have any problems with pots this year, as I have a healthy supply of large pots for the plants.
But enough of my mindless babbling.
I'll get the pics up soon.
Monday, 15 March 2010
A New Level of Weird...
A co-worker of mine just pointed a news report from the BBC about a blind dog that has it's own guide-dog to get him around...
...yes.
You read correctly.
A blind dog (Canis lupus familiaris)...
...with it's own guide dog (Canis lupus familiaris).
Personally I would have gone for a guide ferret, or a guide gerbil.
But to each his own...we humans on this planet are reaching new and fantastic levels of unnecessarily weird ('No, Mr. Lapinski, there are no guide dogs left. Lassie XXIII took the last one.')
I tried a spot of gardening (pruning mostly) at the weekend with the blueberries in our balcony. Only two remain from the three I bought. I lasted about 20 minutes before the cold wind forced me back inside. That balcony is good for growing only Scottish Heather or other shrubs that grow in inhospitable terrain.
There goes the climbing rose I bought on Sunday, then...
I also realised an interesting thing from reading other blogs of chilli growers.
Most of them post entries once a month or so. I seem to be the only one who 'waffles on' endlessly about completely unrelated topics (guide dogs, anyone?)
I do hope I don't bore people with non-chilli related filler.
I also attempted to re-create my fantastic Mango, Peach and Naga chutney...only to change it dramatically by using Plums instead of Peaches, forgetting to use the 500g of Tamarind I had NEXT TO THE PAN, and having funky looking frozen Nagas (I have no idea if they were usable, but they looked really mushy and 'icky' when defrosted), which meant I ended up using chilli flakes.
I shall post the recipe and photos later on in the week.
As I predicted, the nice weather at the weekend meant more Chocolate Habanero pods. I counted two more this morning, with possibly another two forming. The Naga Morich is starting to look like it might be producing a pod or two, but I might curtail that to allow it to grow some more after the heavy accidental pruning in winter.
The rest of the seedlings are doing really well, but the Ring of Fire Cayenne is at least one leaf ahead of the rest. Annuums are definitely faster growers than chinenses. The Trinidad Scorpion is also growing at an impressive rate. I've had to tie down a few of the ridiculously leggy seedlings (one of the Royal Gold and one of the Red Squash), but other than that they seem to be OK.
Nothing yet from the Black Nagas...
I'll post some more pics later in the week.
We're scheduled to be in double figures temperature wise this week for the first time since November!
Whoot!
...yes.
You read correctly.
A blind dog (Canis lupus familiaris)...
...with it's own guide dog (Canis lupus familiaris).
Personally I would have gone for a guide ferret, or a guide gerbil.
But to each his own...we humans on this planet are reaching new and fantastic levels of unnecessarily weird ('No, Mr. Lapinski, there are no guide dogs left. Lassie XXIII took the last one.')
I tried a spot of gardening (pruning mostly) at the weekend with the blueberries in our balcony. Only two remain from the three I bought. I lasted about 20 minutes before the cold wind forced me back inside. That balcony is good for growing only Scottish Heather or other shrubs that grow in inhospitable terrain.
There goes the climbing rose I bought on Sunday, then...
I also realised an interesting thing from reading other blogs of chilli growers.
Most of them post entries once a month or so. I seem to be the only one who 'waffles on' endlessly about completely unrelated topics (guide dogs, anyone?)
I do hope I don't bore people with non-chilli related filler.
I also attempted to re-create my fantastic Mango, Peach and Naga chutney...only to change it dramatically by using Plums instead of Peaches, forgetting to use the 500g of Tamarind I had NEXT TO THE PAN, and having funky looking frozen Nagas (I have no idea if they were usable, but they looked really mushy and 'icky' when defrosted), which meant I ended up using chilli flakes.
I shall post the recipe and photos later on in the week.
As I predicted, the nice weather at the weekend meant more Chocolate Habanero pods. I counted two more this morning, with possibly another two forming. The Naga Morich is starting to look like it might be producing a pod or two, but I might curtail that to allow it to grow some more after the heavy accidental pruning in winter.
The rest of the seedlings are doing really well, but the Ring of Fire Cayenne is at least one leaf ahead of the rest. Annuums are definitely faster growers than chinenses. The Trinidad Scorpion is also growing at an impressive rate. I've had to tie down a few of the ridiculously leggy seedlings (one of the Royal Gold and one of the Red Squash), but other than that they seem to be OK.
Nothing yet from the Black Nagas...
I'll post some more pics later in the week.
We're scheduled to be in double figures temperature wise this week for the first time since November!
Whoot!
Monday, 8 March 2010
This Chilli's aquaphonic, it's stereophonic, it's HYDROPONIC!
Finally got around to making my 'homegrown' Frankensteins Monster of a hydroponics kit at the weekend.
Mr. Arboc, if you're reading this...
...it pretty much takes me out of the 'El cheapo smackdown'...might explain why I've not re-visited the thread in the forum...
:-(
As an exercise in 'build your own', or DIY as the Brits call it, it was loads of fun, though.
Even Almapaprika was left agape!
She was amazed at my craft, though what she saw was a mess of air hoses and valves feeding into a bucket with a lot of little plastic soda pop bottles filled with LECA (Light Expanded Clay Aggregate) and with a little sponge in the middle.
But I shall explain this home made kit when I get a chance tonight (and when I can upload the 'how to' photos.)
It was an amazing and beautiful weekend over here, with not a cloud in the sky, and it has continued thus far today.
Shame Saturday night went down to -6 Celsius.
But other than that, perfect growing conditions!
I re-potted (to the little plastic soda pop bottles) and brought to the office:
2x Jamaican Hot
1x Aji Brazilian Starfish
The only chillies left at home now are one Royal Gold and one Fatalii. These should be moved tomorrow.
There are a couple of other seedlings left, but I have a feeling those will not make it, due to the fact that they have been in the dark (in a cupboard) for too long.
It's a shame, really, but it is down to my own incompetence.
The sunny weekend did marvels for the ones at work!
The Royal Gold there, as well as the Ring of Fire, and the surviving Trinidad Scorpion are all starting to show true leaves.
Heat and sunshine.
The best combination for plants.
:-)
On a separate, but final note:
I can guarantee England won't win the World Cup. This may sound a bit harsh of me (I like the team and all), but here's the reason why.
As I walked past the neighbourhood next to our flat, I had to cross a large group of children (probably a dozen or so between 10-15yrs old) who were playing football. As I passed by, I overheard a couple of them say (and for this, use your thickest Steven Gerrard or Jaime Carragher accents) 'Try and knock his hat off, lad!' Here I thought to myself
'Great. Bludgeoned to death by a bunch of teenage miscreants and their footballs.'
To my surprise (I say surprise because this is the country that invented the sport), three balls were kicked in my direction with my back turned to them (someone has just asked me if I own a pet...do Chillies count?)...
...not a SINGLE one actually achieved what it was intended to do.
The closest one hit my bottom...
...from a poorly placed chip rather than a powerful volley.
And I wasn't running away.
I was simply walking at a normal pace.
The poor kids were left with nothing more to say than
'Could you kick the ball back to us?'
Which I did.
When I finally walked up to it.
Now, from a coach's standpoint (I coached football for a few years), their accuracy was just atrocious, and their ability to put a ball into open space or deliver a good cross non-existent.
Which leads me to this final though:
If a dozen malcontent miscreants who obviously do nothing more than pick on people who wear trilby like hats (why? beats me...or so they tried) and who seem to play football ALL THE TIME can't grasp basic footballing concepts like the ones I mentioned above in order to hit a target, how much hope do their overpaid and equally underdeveloped counterparts going to South Africa have?
If I expect these children to deliver, then moreso their elders!
:-P
Mr. Arboc, if you're reading this...
...it pretty much takes me out of the 'El cheapo smackdown'...might explain why I've not re-visited the thread in the forum...
:-(
As an exercise in 'build your own', or DIY as the Brits call it, it was loads of fun, though.
Even Almapaprika was left agape!
She was amazed at my craft, though what she saw was a mess of air hoses and valves feeding into a bucket with a lot of little plastic soda pop bottles filled with LECA (Light Expanded Clay Aggregate) and with a little sponge in the middle.
But I shall explain this home made kit when I get a chance tonight (and when I can upload the 'how to' photos.)
It was an amazing and beautiful weekend over here, with not a cloud in the sky, and it has continued thus far today.
Shame Saturday night went down to -6 Celsius.
But other than that, perfect growing conditions!
I re-potted (to the little plastic soda pop bottles) and brought to the office:
2x Jamaican Hot
1x Aji Brazilian Starfish
The only chillies left at home now are one Royal Gold and one Fatalii. These should be moved tomorrow.
There are a couple of other seedlings left, but I have a feeling those will not make it, due to the fact that they have been in the dark (in a cupboard) for too long.
It's a shame, really, but it is down to my own incompetence.
The sunny weekend did marvels for the ones at work!
The Royal Gold there, as well as the Ring of Fire, and the surviving Trinidad Scorpion are all starting to show true leaves.
Heat and sunshine.
The best combination for plants.
:-)
On a separate, but final note:
I can guarantee England won't win the World Cup. This may sound a bit harsh of me (I like the team and all), but here's the reason why.
As I walked past the neighbourhood next to our flat, I had to cross a large group of children (probably a dozen or so between 10-15yrs old) who were playing football. As I passed by, I overheard a couple of them say (and for this, use your thickest Steven Gerrard or Jaime Carragher accents) 'Try and knock his hat off, lad!' Here I thought to myself
'Great. Bludgeoned to death by a bunch of teenage miscreants and their footballs.'
To my surprise (I say surprise because this is the country that invented the sport), three balls were kicked in my direction with my back turned to them (someone has just asked me if I own a pet...do Chillies count?)...
...not a SINGLE one actually achieved what it was intended to do.
The closest one hit my bottom...
...from a poorly placed chip rather than a powerful volley.
And I wasn't running away.
I was simply walking at a normal pace.
The poor kids were left with nothing more to say than
'Could you kick the ball back to us?'
Which I did.
When I finally walked up to it.
Now, from a coach's standpoint (I coached football for a few years), their accuracy was just atrocious, and their ability to put a ball into open space or deliver a good cross non-existent.
Which leads me to this final though:
If a dozen malcontent miscreants who obviously do nothing more than pick on people who wear trilby like hats (why? beats me...or so they tried) and who seem to play football ALL THE TIME can't grasp basic footballing concepts like the ones I mentioned above in order to hit a target, how much hope do their overpaid and equally underdeveloped counterparts going to South Africa have?
If I expect these children to deliver, then moreso their elders!
:-P
Thursday, 11 February 2010
Some New Photos
These are, of course, photos taken from my rather horrible phone camera. I wish they could be better photos, but I still haven't found the USB cable for my camera.
Today has been the second nice day in Liverpool. Cold as the handshake of a coroner, mind you.
But exceptionally sunny.
And that usually means that any plants by the windowsill at the office will absolutely love it.
This top one is the Royal Gold (a hot chinense) I got from Vincent. I am slowly moving the plants from the flat to the office in an effort to get some of them to start growing, as opposed to what they are doing now, which is searching desperately for the sun.
These are the two Roselle seedlings. I brought them up to the office quickly because the last time I tried to grow them (in the floral deathtrap that is our flat), they quickly wilted after a promising start, no doubt felled by the lack of sunlight (maybe I need to grow a vampire plant...).
This is the overwintered Rocoto Rojo. It was reduced to a Y-shaped, 30 inch stump with a couple of millimetre long leaves a fortnight ago, and look at it now! One of the Y arms is pretty much dried up, but the other one seems full of life (what a window full o'sunshine will do for ya!)
Last, but not least, the Maize Morado. Yes, they are in little individual pots, and I have only recently learned that they need deep soil for their roots. Still, for the time being this will have to do. I am hoping to move them to deeper pots soon.
Almapaprika wasn't too well a few nights ago. Spent the wee hours of the morning paying tribute to the porcelain Gods. I felt really bad and thought she might be seriously ill (so I immediately distanced myself by about two metres).
Yesterday evening she came up with a theory as to why she was so ill:
Tomatoes.
That's right.
Tomatoes.
I knew they were evil to begin with, and this only feeds my paranoid mind...
Today has been the second nice day in Liverpool. Cold as the handshake of a coroner, mind you.
But exceptionally sunny.
And that usually means that any plants by the windowsill at the office will absolutely love it.
This top one is the Royal Gold (a hot chinense) I got from Vincent. I am slowly moving the plants from the flat to the office in an effort to get some of them to start growing, as opposed to what they are doing now, which is searching desperately for the sun.
These are the two Roselle seedlings. I brought them up to the office quickly because the last time I tried to grow them (in the floral deathtrap that is our flat), they quickly wilted after a promising start, no doubt felled by the lack of sunlight (maybe I need to grow a vampire plant...).
This is the overwintered Rocoto Rojo. It was reduced to a Y-shaped, 30 inch stump with a couple of millimetre long leaves a fortnight ago, and look at it now! One of the Y arms is pretty much dried up, but the other one seems full of life (what a window full o'sunshine will do for ya!)
Last, but not least, the Maize Morado. Yes, they are in little individual pots, and I have only recently learned that they need deep soil for their roots. Still, for the time being this will have to do. I am hoping to move them to deeper pots soon.
Almapaprika wasn't too well a few nights ago. Spent the wee hours of the morning paying tribute to the porcelain Gods. I felt really bad and thought she might be seriously ill (so I immediately distanced myself by about two metres).
Yesterday evening she came up with a theory as to why she was so ill:
Tomatoes.
That's right.
Tomatoes.
I knew they were evil to begin with, and this only feeds my paranoid mind...
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Sunshine, Lollipops and Raindrops
Um....yes. That's what is happening at the moment where I am (two of the three anyways).
One of the Maize Morados may have kicked the bucket, after I accidentally dropped it while transporting it to work.
AAAAAAAAAAARGH! (yes, do picture Charlie Brown in your heads, why don't you).
I am secretly (well, not anymore, since I am in the process of writing it here. I wonder if that's how John Terry's 'extramarital' indiscretions got out. He posted them on his blog...) envious of people with growing lights for their plants...
...not having growing lights, and a flat which is now very good at KILLING plants (even the little Christmas tree is beginning to look dry, even though it is getting watered) is making me feel miserable and (GASP!) miss our old flat.
Yes, the downstairs living area was as cold as a coroner's handshake (thanks to single glazed windows), and it was FIVE stories with no lift to go up every day. AND the landlords were less-than-helpful.
But the upstairs was fantastic for growing plants with it's floor to ceiling South-West facing windows (not to mention the fact that it was the very top of the building). Stuff grew there at a fantastic rate (though not as fast as at work).
Sure, we got no sleep in the summer because of the fact that the sun was glaring in our eyes (no blackout curtains, just wimpy blinds) as of 4am, and would not cease until 11:00pm...
...but the plants loved it.
At least it is a nice and sunny day today (though really cold), and the plants at work are having a ball! Brought some more in today and yesterday (the two Roselles, and a Royal Gold), so today is a good day for some 'sunning'.
One of the Maize Morados may have kicked the bucket, after I accidentally dropped it while transporting it to work.
AAAAAAAAAAARGH! (yes, do picture Charlie Brown in your heads, why don't you).
I am secretly (well, not anymore, since I am in the process of writing it here. I wonder if that's how John Terry's 'extramarital' indiscretions got out. He posted them on his blog...) envious of people with growing lights for their plants...
...not having growing lights, and a flat which is now very good at KILLING plants (even the little Christmas tree is beginning to look dry, even though it is getting watered) is making me feel miserable and (GASP!) miss our old flat.
Yes, the downstairs living area was as cold as a coroner's handshake (thanks to single glazed windows), and it was FIVE stories with no lift to go up every day. AND the landlords were less-than-helpful.
But the upstairs was fantastic for growing plants with it's floor to ceiling South-West facing windows (not to mention the fact that it was the very top of the building). Stuff grew there at a fantastic rate (though not as fast as at work).
Sure, we got no sleep in the summer because of the fact that the sun was glaring in our eyes (no blackout curtains, just wimpy blinds) as of 4am, and would not cease until 11:00pm...
...but the plants loved it.
At least it is a nice and sunny day today (though really cold), and the plants at work are having a ball! Brought some more in today and yesterday (the two Roselles, and a Royal Gold), so today is a good day for some 'sunning'.
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
The Voldemort Chilli
I must admit I never thought the Maize Morado could grow at the staggering rate it has been. I brought two of the four plants to work today, and they are pushing six inches in height.
All this after a mere 10 days of being sown on the ground (as it were)! The office is a trade-off, mind you.
At home the temperature is nice and constant, but they get very little light. In the office they will be getting maximum light exposure, but with recent radiator problems (a building that cost an unimaginable amount of money to renovate, and they didn't pay enough attention to the heating...seriously now!), it means that it will be considerably colder than at home.
I'm hoping light wins the battle.
The Roselle seedlings are doing quite well, all first leaves are fully open and taking in the little light available.
Capsicum wise, moving the incubators to the boiler room has worked the charm, as little seedlings are sprouting left and right. So far I've got 'en route':
Mustard Habanero X 1
Jamaican Hot X 2
Fatalii X 2
Thai Dragon X 1
Royal Gold X 2
Brazilian Starfish X 2
Hot Apple X 1
Red Squash X 2
Granted, it's not much yet, but I'm happy with the output so far, specially since there are once again, two Fataliis out of the blocks.
I came across what I consider to be a hilarious thread in http://www.thehotpepper.com/ yesterday which dealt with what can only be described as a seriously touchy subject with experienced growers:
New Strains.
Or in the case of this thread, a possible mutation, or crossbreed, or genetic anomaly, or chilli with an identity issue.
No one really knows for sure, but it did cause quite a stir.
It was to do with the nigh-mythical 'Chilli that must not be named' Yellow Bhut Jolokia...
...or Lemon Bhut Jolokia.
Reading the thread you'd swear blood would be spilt.
It was, however, quite entertaining (Chilli Gods forgive me) to watch two grown men (We presume. You never know in online forums where people have crazy sounding names like...Aji Chombo..ahem!) so adamant about the veracity of the strain origin and what was perceived as an act of fraudulent intentions on the part of one of them.
It was 'Get Medieval' stuff online!
In the midst's of it all, another grower (based here in the UK, but I won't say more) took the time to remind everyone that his super secret product was indeed real and the hottest one in existence (said to kill Male Buffalo if downwind of the plants, able to knock down incoming attack missiles if a slight mist is sprayed on your roof, can cure cancer by just looking at it, and other mighty boasts I just made up), and conveniently changed the website content of his site to reflect that the Yellow/Lemon Bhut he has (which he bought from one of the growers in the fisticuffs in the forum), was a fantastic experiment he hoped everyone enjoyed...
...while charging every customer a healthy amount for the unknown seeds.
And here I thought experiment participants usually 'participated' for free or by being paid.
Silly me, I must be on a different planet.
You seriously cannot make stuff up like this!
It's better than a Mexican TV Soap (telenovela!)
:-)
All this after a mere 10 days of being sown on the ground (as it were)! The office is a trade-off, mind you.
At home the temperature is nice and constant, but they get very little light. In the office they will be getting maximum light exposure, but with recent radiator problems (a building that cost an unimaginable amount of money to renovate, and they didn't pay enough attention to the heating...seriously now!), it means that it will be considerably colder than at home.
I'm hoping light wins the battle.
The Roselle seedlings are doing quite well, all first leaves are fully open and taking in the little light available.
Capsicum wise, moving the incubators to the boiler room has worked the charm, as little seedlings are sprouting left and right. So far I've got 'en route':
Mustard Habanero X 1
Jamaican Hot X 2
Fatalii X 2
Thai Dragon X 1
Royal Gold X 2
Brazilian Starfish X 2
Hot Apple X 1
Red Squash X 2
Granted, it's not much yet, but I'm happy with the output so far, specially since there are once again, two Fataliis out of the blocks.
I came across what I consider to be a hilarious thread in http://www.thehotpepper.com/ yesterday which dealt with what can only be described as a seriously touchy subject with experienced growers:
New Strains.
Or in the case of this thread, a possible mutation, or crossbreed, or genetic anomaly, or chilli with an identity issue.
No one really knows for sure, but it did cause quite a stir.
It was to do with the nigh-mythical 'Chilli that must not be named' Yellow Bhut Jolokia...
...or Lemon Bhut Jolokia.
Reading the thread you'd swear blood would be spilt.
It was, however, quite entertaining (Chilli Gods forgive me) to watch two grown men (We presume. You never know in online forums where people have crazy sounding names like...Aji Chombo..ahem!) so adamant about the veracity of the strain origin and what was perceived as an act of fraudulent intentions on the part of one of them.
It was 'Get Medieval' stuff online!
In the midst's of it all, another grower (based here in the UK, but I won't say more) took the time to remind everyone that his super secret product was indeed real and the hottest one in existence (said to kill Male Buffalo if downwind of the plants, able to knock down incoming attack missiles if a slight mist is sprayed on your roof, can cure cancer by just looking at it, and other mighty boasts I just made up), and conveniently changed the website content of his site to reflect that the Yellow/Lemon Bhut he has (which he bought from one of the growers in the fisticuffs in the forum), was a fantastic experiment he hoped everyone enjoyed...
...while charging every customer a healthy amount for the unknown seeds.
And here I thought experiment participants usually 'participated' for free or by being paid.
Silly me, I must be on a different planet.
You seriously cannot make stuff up like this!
It's better than a Mexican TV Soap (telenovela!)
:-)
Monday, 1 February 2010
Signs of Life
The Maize Morado is growing with a purpose! Almapaprika was amazed to see how fast the little things are pushing up, UP! to the sky.
The same can be said about the Roselle. These are fast growing little things...
On the capsicum front, it seems the Brazilian Starfish, Red Squash, Royal Gold and Jamaican Hot are showing early signs of life, which makes me very happy. Put one of the germinating boxes on top of the water heater in the cupboard, and it has done wonders. I'll move the other one as soon as I move the two Roselle seedlings to slightly larger pots to free up the space.
Have taken photos of the Maize, but will take some more today and post the comparison photos so people can see how quickly they have grown.
I am really annoyed with the hydroponic setup. A week has gone by and no sight of progress from the Culantro. I might bring some up to work and scatter some of the seeds on the pots of the overwintered plants, who seem to be starting to sprout new growth. The Rocoto Rojo, the one that worried me the most because it only had two small leaves in three near metre long stalks, now seems content with a scattering of little blooms of green. The Naga Morich is also showing signs of new greenery. In fact, the Naga, the Orange Habanero and the Chocolate Habaneros are all producing the odd flower or two. The Caribbean Red Habanero is thankfully not doing that, but has maintained itself nice and green. I've decided I will start watering them with a half-strength Chilli Focus solution once a fortnight, just to start giving them a little bit of extra nutrients.
Haven't been feeding them anything for nearly 6 months, just water. But they seem to have done OK (Specially the Rocoto, which only produced the pods when I stopped feeding it. I read in the Hot Pepper Forum that it might be because of too much Nitrogen, which tends to be a particular issue with Rocotos and Manzanos.)
So, photos will appear shortly (I hope).
Oh, and I still can't believe I made the whole of the last entry in Spanish without the use of any 'eñes'. But boy, was it difficult!
The same can be said about the Roselle. These are fast growing little things...
On the capsicum front, it seems the Brazilian Starfish, Red Squash, Royal Gold and Jamaican Hot are showing early signs of life, which makes me very happy. Put one of the germinating boxes on top of the water heater in the cupboard, and it has done wonders. I'll move the other one as soon as I move the two Roselle seedlings to slightly larger pots to free up the space.
Have taken photos of the Maize, but will take some more today and post the comparison photos so people can see how quickly they have grown.
I am really annoyed with the hydroponic setup. A week has gone by and no sight of progress from the Culantro. I might bring some up to work and scatter some of the seeds on the pots of the overwintered plants, who seem to be starting to sprout new growth. The Rocoto Rojo, the one that worried me the most because it only had two small leaves in three near metre long stalks, now seems content with a scattering of little blooms of green. The Naga Morich is also showing signs of new greenery. In fact, the Naga, the Orange Habanero and the Chocolate Habaneros are all producing the odd flower or two. The Caribbean Red Habanero is thankfully not doing that, but has maintained itself nice and green. I've decided I will start watering them with a half-strength Chilli Focus solution once a fortnight, just to start giving them a little bit of extra nutrients.
Haven't been feeding them anything for nearly 6 months, just water. But they seem to have done OK (Specially the Rocoto, which only produced the pods when I stopped feeding it. I read in the Hot Pepper Forum that it might be because of too much Nitrogen, which tends to be a particular issue with Rocotos and Manzanos.)
So, photos will appear shortly (I hope).
Oh, and I still can't believe I made the whole of the last entry in Spanish without the use of any 'eñes'. But boy, was it difficult!
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