[CH] Growing chilies in northern climes
Jim Weller (Jim.Weller@salata.com)
15 Jun 00 00:29:45 -0800
-=> Quoting Michael Sporrong to All <=-
MS> We don't exactly have the right
MS> climate for growing chile pepper.
MS> For the best result I let them germinate indoors in September and keep
MS> the plants indoors in a southern window until early June before moving
MS> them outdoors. This way most of the chiles give a small harvest
MS> allready in February/March. In June they are planted outdors along a
MS> wall facing south (by this time the habaneros are allready 80 - 120 cm
MS> tall) and they start to flower a second time. This way I get a rather
MS> big crop by August/September if we have a warm summer.
I live in northern Canada and do much the same.
Chilies are a tender perennial; not only do they not like frost, but
they don't like temperatures even close to freezing, say 4-5 C. minimum.
But they will over-winter with some success if you bring them back
indoors. Cut them back by about half and use grow lites to augment the
waning sunlight from Nov. on. (And save those pruned chile leaves for
salads and soups.... they're tasty!)
I always keep 4 to 6 plants over winter and generally about 3/4 of them
survive for 3 to 4 years.
MS> Is there anyone on the list who can donate some Rocoto seeds?
Can't help you there although I'm sure someone else can.
Jim in Yellowknife