Re: [CH] Too deep or not too deep
Jim Campbell (mwph2hot@indy.net)
Tue, 03 Mar 1998 14:20:03 +0000
Nikos,
I would provide the peppers with some shade. This comes frmo experience
here in central US where the summers are very hot 90F and VERY humid
90%. Failure to do so causes the blossoms to drop off (ackkkk!) and causes the
plants to wilt to the point the leaves fall off as well. This is especially true for
the large leafed ones such as the habaneros.
I would be extremely cautious with the high acid fertilizer. I would not
use it on seedlings at all, but instead use it to band the soil before
transplanting. Phosphorous is used to encourage root growth and is a good
thing if used in moderation. Improper use will burn your plants to a crisp.
It can also cause mild burns to unprotected flesh as well. If you are planting
in pots, I would caution against it as well as you will not have the room for
vigorous root growth that I would in the fields. If you are going to use it,
dilute it a bunch! You can always add more later.
Chiles prefer a deep set. If your tranplants are hardened off and healthy,
they will tolerate and thrive even when set up to the first set of leaves. This
will encourage good root formation. Mine are set well past the dichot leaves
when possible. If I can get them posted, I can show you two rows of plants
identical in all respects except the depth at whcih they were set. The shallow
set ones are (were) only half the height of the deeper set ones and bore
significantly less fruit through the course of the entire season. They never
did catch up. A deeper set in pots will also help to protect them from baking
in the pots if they are going to sit in full sun.
I would like to explain further, but I've got bread in the oven & packing to
do!
Hope this helps.
-Jim Campbell
http://www.wildpepper.com