The Hottest Pepper Blog

July 13, 2011

Transplanting and Healing

Filed under: Ask Jamie — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 11:47 am

Question:

Hi Jamie
I’m very new to planting.  I bought my first plant at 18″ tall in 4 gallon container.  I have 5 pods now and the biggest is 2″.  I am scared to transplant may loose pods; I know they are too small.  What soil would be best if you think I should repot?  I have good compost with goat manure.  Right now they are in wood chips soil.  I’m also getting some yellowing because it rained alot here. 

I ate an immature pod with no heat at all.  I would sure like to try a real pod…..

Thanks for helping me,
Preston in TN

Answer:

Aloha Preston,
Don’t worry about transplanting your pod. It will survive just fine. Do this after the sun is down, and slow water (drip) it for 30 minutes afterward. Use a loamy soil with a lot of organic amendments. Make sure the soil is loamy so it drains well, but not too sandy or the nutrients will be leached out. Keep it covered with a white bucket until 3 PM the next day. Then, if not too hot, remove the bucket, water again and you should be OK the following day. BUT, if the temperatures are above 90, you will need to get the temperature between 80 and 90 and can do so by using “shade” cloth. Check with your local nursery for this.

Good luck and let me know how it’s going,
Jamie

January 10, 2011

Growing Outside in Tanzania

Filed under: Ask Jamie — Tags: , , , , , , , — admin @ 4:17 pm

Question:

Hey Jamie and all,

I just moved to Tanzania, Africa–a little south of the equator. The weather is about 75 min to 90 max, HIGH humidity. (Year-round shorts and T-shirts, 2 rainy seasons.)

I have a couple of questions:

1. I bought some Bhut seeds from ya’ll around 1-1 1/2 years ago (#25 of them). Do you think they’re still good? Or should I start fresh? (I only need a few plants.)

2. Instead of starting slow with germinating in the egg carton, transplanting to larger pots several times, can I just germinate in a gallon pot outside? (since the weather is warmer than the inside A.C.)

I’m really anxious to get started!!! Thanks for your help!
Chris

Answer:

Aloha Chris,
Your seeds should still be fine. Be sure to soak them overnight in water before germinating and you can start them in a one gallon pot. Just keep them warm and moist. The weather sounds perfect!

Good luck!
Jamie

Chris:

Hey Jamie,

It’s been less than a week since I planted and 3 have already sprouted!! Should I give them direct sun now or put them in the shade for a while?

Thanks!
Chris

Jamie:

Hey Chris,

You can put them in a 4 or 6 inch pot and give them sun gradually over a few weeks until they are acclimated to full sun. When they are about 4″ tall, transplant them into the garden.

Good luck!

Jamie

Chris:

Jamie, remember that I planted the seeds in pots outside, so does this “weatherizing” still hold true? (see above)
Thanks, Chris

Jamie:

No, just leave them out if they have been outside all of the time.

Chris:

Howdy Jamie,

I have 10 Bhuts planted outside ranging in size from 6-24 inches, all with monkey wire around them to protect from animals. Across the top of 4 of the 2 footers I have also put 2 layers of screen (to protect from the deluge off the eave when it rains).

Two of the plants are flowering. Should I remove the top screen to let in insects to pollinate them? Should I remove the monkey wire altogether?

Thanks for your help! I’m really excited!!!!

Chris

Jamie:

Aloha Chris,

Even though pepper plants are self germinating, I would remove the screens. What is the temperature like during the day? If it is hotter than 90F (about 32C) then leave the screen on. Best temperatures for fruit production is from 80-90F. The Bhuts do not like to get too hot or they will start dropping their flowers. You can experiment with different plants so you know what works in Tanzania.

Good luck!

Jamie

April 13, 2010

Habaneros and Growing Season

Filed under: Ask Jamie — Tags: , , , — admin @ 1:16 pm

habanero peppers plant

We bring you another edition of Ask Jamie !

Q: Any hints or precautions for growing the habaneros here in south florida?  I would like to keep them potted if possible. ~Jesse

A: Aloha Jesse,

Loamy, organic soil with plenty of compost, the bigger to pot the better-I recommend 15 gallon, and fertilize with fish emulsion, horse manure, or kelp every few weeks when the plants are established.  Do not over fertilizer. Deep water to 16″ every 2 days when it is hot (when is it not in FL??).
Good luck

Jamie

Testimonial: I received the order last week.  Due to our unpredictable Spring weather this year, I am waiting until the first of May to start all of my hot peppers.  Actually, our grandson, Dalton, had seen a special on the “Ghost Peppers” in 2008 and I had promised him some.

So again, thank you.

Patricia Snyder

Reply: It’s a pleasure.  Be sure to soak the seeds in water overnight.  You can start them now indoors, then transplants after all danger of frost is past.  Use a rich, loamy, organic soil with plenty of compost. Fertilize ( I use well composted horse manure, fish emulsion, and kelp) every 2-3 weeks after the plant is established but do not over fertilize. Deep water to a depth of 16″ every 2 days in hot weather.

I would also cut a 1″ section of a drinking straw silt down the long way around the stem to protect the seedling from cutworms and the like.
Good luck and have fun!

Jamie

April 5, 2010

The Slug Fest

Filed under: Ask Jamie,How to,Information — Tags: , , — admin @ 2:14 am

Boy ‘ol boy, what a night! I was on the Mainland for 3 days and tonight was the first time since I left that I was able to hunt slugs in the garden. Those little SOB’s were everywhere. I must have killed more than 70! Makes one wonder how fast those little destroyers reproduce. We had a lot of rain during those 3 days which makes them more active. There was also a 10″ long centipede, many cockroaches, and some rock lizards who couldn’t sleep. So, it will be about a week before I get the slugs back under control and then won’t have to worry about the destruction they can do in a very short period of time. Yeah, I have tried beer, upside down cantaloupe, cardboard, salt, etc. Nothing works better than a sharp pair of scissors, a good set of eyes and a bright flashlight.
Aloha and Mahalo,
Jamie