Growing Chillis

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networkn

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#248169 13-Mar-2019 09:11

Hi.

Because I have really struggled in recent times to find shops selling even relatively common varieties of Chillis in Auckland (or even shipped from other places in NZ) I have decided I might have a crack at growing some.

The varieties I am interested in are :

1) Jalapeno(you can get them occasionally in small quantities at places like Farro but it can be hit and miss).

2) Anaheim (Mild Variety)

3) Poblano

Does anyone here grow Chillis ideally in the North Island? (I am in Auckland)

Any tips, planting guidelines including when to plant and a good source of high quality seeds.

I have next to no gardening experience, though my mother was quite the gardener, so simple and easy instructions an idiot could follow would likely get better results.

Or, alternatively, if you are already growing these and are willing to share/sell, I would be most happy to pay.

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#2196980 13-Mar-2019 09:32

We grow the 'normal' long red chilies. I generally buy the plants from Kings already fruiting. After about 4 weeks, I get about 30 chilies off each, and there are more coming through. Off one plant, in a season, I would estimate I get about 100 chilies. At the end of the season, I freeze a bag full, I use the rest during the season to make my smoked chili sauce.

We grow them in a container on the deck, in full sun. I water them about 2-3 times a week. They are happy until it starts to get cold - they really don't like temperatures under about 6-8 degrees, and will die pretty quick when it gets down below 5.

I am drying a whole heap of seeds from the last batch I harvested for sauce to hopefully grow my own next year, but at $15 for a plant (I get two usually) I'm not too bothered.

timmmay

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#2196985 13-Mar-2019 09:36

Moore Wilson's in Wellington has heaps of chili's. Are they in Auckland? Otaki has a pick your own place that grows heaps, send someone to pick for you.

I grow jalapenos in Wellington. I grow in a greenhouse, semi hydroponically, fruit from early summer, mostly finishing in autumn but I get some in winter. I guess I produce 8kg per year from 3 year old plants, hundreds of them, most of which I smoke and dry to make chipotle.

I'm on my phone so I can't write too much right now, but I can give you a lot of information about growing chillies. Growing mechanisms, sweet dreams, companion plants to keep pests away, etc.

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#2196987 13-Mar-2019 09:37

If you want to look at buying chillies, have a look at www.firedragonchillies.co.nz

They sell whole fruit from time to time, as well as their sauces are damned tasty and the chilli manuka salt on port crackling is a gift from god.

networkn

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#2196996 13-Mar-2019 09:44

timmmay: Moore Wilson's in Wellington has heaps of chili's. Are they in Auckland? Otaki has a pick your own place that grows heaps, send someone to pick for you.

I grow jalapenos in Wellington. I grow in a greenhouse, semi hydroponically, fruit from early summer, mostly finishing in autumn but I get some in winter. I guess I produce 8kg per year from 3 year old plants, hundreds of them, most of which I smoke and dry to make chipotle.

I'm on my phone so I can't write too much right now, but I can give you a lot of information about growing chillies. Growing mechanisms, sweet dreams, companion plants to keep pests away, etc.

Thanks, when you have time I'd love to hear more. I've contact Moores and seeing what they can offer me. I don't really want the hassle of growing Chillis myself as I use so few (I am interestest in flavours more than heat) and whilst I don't mind heat, my wife and kids can really only tolerate 2-3 on the heat scale where I like around a 4-6.

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#2197000 13-Mar-2019 09:48

I'm also interested in growing chillis, so I'm keen to see what people have to say.

Last year I was given a plant that I was told is a Carolina Reaper, however the fruit doesn't present with the typical Reaper shape, so I'm not convinced that is the case. The fruit is however hot and tasty, so this year I've been trying to grow more. I tried starting the seeds in moist paper towels in a warm environment, but that didn't seem to work particularly well. In the end I just gave up and threw the seeds in some potting mix and left them to it. I ended up with 16 plants, which I thought was pretty good. Of those, five are nice and strong, four have already produced flowers with at least two show signs of early fruit formation.

I'm going to try aeroponics for the next batch, and grow from cuttings and possibly seeds.

MikeB4

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#2197075 13-Mar-2019 10:36

My wife grows a lot of Chillies. She is a keen foodie and does a lot with them.We are still using frozen Chillies and Chilli sauces from last year. She had had the best success growing these in our glasshouse and it produces an abundant crop of a lot of varieties. They also look cool in the glasshouse. What we have found is though they do not like over watering and do best in damp soil. We found that growing them away from other veges etc we can properly manage the amount of water they receive. We also found sheep pellets the best way to feed them.

timmmay

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#2197328 13-Mar-2019 14:46

A greenhouse isn't absolutely necessary, but makes things A LOT easier. It protects from wind which is key, allows chili's to last multiple years, keeps them warm, though you get more bugs. Bugs can be controlled by chemicals, but I've found to my surprise planting marigolds and nostrum (I think) much more effective than chemicals.

I grow in containers, as outlined here ( http://thehotpepper.com/topic/68547-growing-jalapeno-chillis-semi-hydroponically-in-my-greenhouse-home-made-grow-boxes-wellington-nz/ ) It's very effective, no weeding, just fill the containers twice weekly in summer and twice monthly in winter. You can grow just about anything in them.

I build bamboo cages, anchored in the soil and to the greenhouse wood on the ceiling. Duct tape holds cross bamboo beams to help limit where they grow and support them. It's much more effective and lower my than a single pole up the middle.

Not sure what else there is to it. I put seeds or chopped up chili's into soil in a grow box, they grow. Not many pests eat chilli, but you have to watch out for aphids and white fly mostly.

Can answer any questions.

If a mod can fix the link that'd be good, on mobile there's no toolbar to make links, too hard to do manually on mobile.

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Jase2985

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#2197331 13-Mar-2019 14:50

timmmay:

If a mod can fix the link that'd be good, on mobile there's no toolbar to make links, too hard to do manually on mobile.

space or enter after adding the link should work (can delete the enter after it changes to a link :))

timmmay

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#2197334 13-Mar-2019 14:54

Jase2985:
timmmay:

If a mod can fix the link that'd be good, on mobile there's no toolbar to make links, too hard to do manually on mobile.

space or enter after adding the link should work (can delete the enter after it changes to a link :))

Doesn't work.

networkn

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#2197340 13-Mar-2019 15:10

The issue I have is very limited space to grow, even more limited options where I can provide good sun.

I want to do this on a TINY scale growing around 2-3 varieties and with as little work/maintenance required as possible.

Given the scale I want, paying someone else to grow them seems best, but that's more complicated :)

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#2197341 13-Mar-2019 15:11

Chap at work grows plenty of Chillies in Auckland. In fact he recently brought a bunch of Ghost Peppers in for everyone to kill themselves with.

I could ask him to offer some advice if you like...he's quite passionate about the subject.

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networkn

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#2197342 13-Mar-2019 15:12

Sure, that would be appreciated. The more information, the better.

timmmay

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#2197347 13-Mar-2019 15:27

networkn:
The issue I have is very limited space to grow, even more limited options where I can provide good sun.

I want to do this on a TINY scale growing around 2-3 varieties and with as little work/maintenance required as possible.

Given the scale I want, paying someone else to grow them seems best, but that's more complicated :)

Think you should just buy them.

Some markets sell jalapenos for $1 each. There's pick your own down near Wellington, maybe there is up there too, much cheaper around $10/kg that way than Moore Wilson's $50/kg.

I could sell some jalapeno but they'd need to be couriered. Packing in a decent box to protect them and delivery might cost $20 so is unlikely to be worthwhile.

networkn

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#2197348 13-Mar-2019 15:29

The issue with buying is availability and variety.

I have Jalepenos around, but no fresh Ahahiem or Poblano.

timmmay

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#2197350 13-Mar-2019 15:33

Yeah the variety is poor. Still best to see what's around with a good search before you try to grow them. If you plant now you might get some next summer, if they survive the winter. Best plant early spring.

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