[CH] Container Chiles & Old Habanero Seeds
Sue Callaghan (scallagh@african-life.co.za)
Tue, 2 Mar 1999 12:02:17 +0200
Hi all,
Newbie RisaG asked about container chiles and old seeds. Welcome to the
list!
We have a Habanero plant in a large pot that was our best producer by
far this summer. We overwintered it in a smaller pot and transplanted it
in the spring to a 45cm diameter pot filled with a fresh potting soil
and home-made compost mix. The plant took off like nothing I've ever
seen before. It's not that tall (there are taller ones in our veggie
patch) but has spread about 15cm outside the pot all round and has
produced at least 100 Habaneros this summer. The big advantage of
overwintering is that the plant is ready to burst into flower as soon as
the weather warms up. I intend keeping this plant as long as it lives
(hopefully a good few years) and will report to the list on it's
progress. The stem is at least 3cm thick (that's over an inch for the
metrically impaired!) and I suspect that it will turn into a sturdy
little tree as time goes by.
As far as I'm concerned, you can grow any kind of chile in pots - just
make sure that the pot is large enough and that the growing medium is
rich. Fertilize every few weeks with a good balanced liquid fertilizer
and don't let it dry out too much and you shouldn't have any problems.
I've had seed that was at least five years old germinate - you may not
get a great germination rate but you should still get some plants from
your old seed especially if it's been well stored.
Cheers
Sue in sunny, HOT, HOT, dry, SA (temps in the mid 30's for the last
three weeks and almost no rain)