They opened the doors on Jan. 1 (chileplants.com)- so you can start thinking about you pepper plant patch now! Having grown chiles on a window sill for the last 3 years, I can’t wait to get a garden going with plants outside. Because one of our dogs loves to play soccer, I’m going to be building raised beds for the plants – so I don’t find my plants trampled by an over eager Jack Russell.
While it’s very early to start thinking about the planting season, I do want to get an early start as there are a ton of little (and big) things that need to get done. First, I wanted to get my plant order taken care of so that I would have an idea of how much bed space I would need. Then I need to plan the bed areas – fortunately there is more then enough yard space to go around, but I also have the challenge of making it dog proof and wife approved (has to look good).
One of the things I haven’t been able to figure out about this house is the fact that there’s no water tap in the back yard. Any time I need to water the backyard, I’ve got to run a 100ft hose from front to back. So beyond making the beds visually appealing, I also need to figure out where the beds are going so that I can plumb a water line to the back yard.There are some great articles on how to do this if you are facing a similar challenge.
Here’s what I’ll be starting with this year and even though I hate tomatoes, I’m going to be growing them for some fresh salsas and sauces that I plan to be working on.
Peppers
– Bhut Jolokia
– Big Jim NM
– Cayenne Super Hybrid II
– Fatalli
– Habanero Chocolate
– Habanero Orange
– Habanero Red Savina
– Habanero White (for fun)
– Island Hellfire Cayenne
– Jalapeno Jumbo
– Ole Jalapeno
– Thai Red
Tomatoes
– Beefsteak
– Costoluto Fiorentino
– Mexico
– Red Currant (Cherry)
And if you are thinking about setting up a drip system to help with the watering of your plants this season, check out this article on Life Hacker – another great resource for your upcoming garden.
Anyone else starting to plan their garden yet or have any tips to share?
30 responses to “ChilePlants.com – OPEN for the Season!”
Nick, no Trinidad Scorpions? They taste so yummy. 😀
[Comment ID #121242 Quote]
I couldn’t find any on the site – do you have a source?
I would start with Jim Campbell since he gave me some last year. I never grew anything in my life, so I wouldn’t know where to begin. But anyone willing to donate some fresh ones, I would be happy to make some salsa and they would get some of course. 😉
I can’t believe Nick hates tomatos !!!!
We are doing the hydroponics thing in the AZ room this year, never got around to it last year.
Hey AJ – Did you get my email?
I’m going to try my hand at germinating seeds and growing some pepper plants this year. Been getting alot of great info from this site as well as a couple others. I’m going to attempt from seed: Jolokia, Trinidad Scorpion, Fatalli, Red Savina and another one I can’t think of right now. I like the raised bed method, I may try that myself. I’ve grown orange habs and scotch bonnets for several years for salsa but never from seed. Hope all works out for me. So depending on how well things go I may have plants and/or peppers to get rid of later in the year.
Another great resource for chile plants, long known to many chileheads on the CH list, is http://www.thechilewoman.com in Bloomington, IN
Some tips for growing habs in south TX- get them some afternoon shade, don’t water based on what the plant looks like (it will wilt no matter what), and don’t water with soft water (too salty). LOTS and LOTS more that I could go on with you about.
[Comment ID #121259 Quote]
Si Senor, muchas gracias
I will get with you after this weekend !
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Jim….That was my problem, no matter what I did, they wilted, I figured it was just too much sun and heat, yes even for peppers, thats why the hydro thing. Your telling me thats normal tho? Hmmm I may try both in and out then.
The problem with broad leafed chiles (like chinense) and hot sun is that they transpire (sweat) faster than the roots can take up water. They could be sitting in a swimming pool and still likely wilt under the TX or AZ (and IN) full summer sun. The common response to this is to add more water but this usually rots the roots off of them or starts a fungal problem. A bit of afternoon respite most often does the trick. You need to water according to the SOIL, not the plant. We encountered a similar problem in Jamaica, where the soil was such a heavy clay there was poorly developed root structure. The slightest bit of sun and *poof*- they wilted. The response was to immediately water, even though there was standing water in the fields! We quickly tried to disabuse them of that practice 🙂
[Comment ID #121265 Quote]
Jim –
Of course you know we’ll have a few conversations as I get this plan going. One challenge already is the sun – some spots are morning sun and others are afternoon sun – thanks to all the trees in the area. They don’t call it the Woodlands for nothing I guess. Good thing the neighbor just cut one down!
[Comment ID #121284 Quote]
more than happy to help and looking forward to it 🙂
I didn’t know you lived in the Woodlands down there Nick. Small world, some of my family is on Lake Conroe and my cousin just got married at the Woodlands Country Club.
No clue if I’ve posted here since the New Year or Christmas, but happy belated holidays to you all.
Chrisk and I tried our hand at growing quite a few various type plants this year and can honestly say we didn’t have ANY of them wilt! The weater in Jersey is quite humid in the summer and the location we picked for the peppers just happened to get shade all afternoon (unbeknowst to us this was a good thing!) We went into it not really knowing too much about the particulars but did as Jim said……watered according to how the soil looked. We ended up with the most beautiful plants and have since made some delicious varieties of sauce. Can’t wait for summer to get a new batch growing.
unbeknows….wow such a big word for early Sunday morning..
Have to say those pepper did come out great..very very HOT!!!
Great work Chris K!!!…..lol
lol your still as funny as ever on an early Sunday morning I see…..I do remember you shedding a couple tears from those peppers…..ahhhhhh the memories…
[Comment ID #121258 Quote]
I will admit Im not a fan of the tomato either….yes it has its place….marinara sauce, salsa’s…. but other than that I haven’t gotten a taste for them yet….maybe next year
I am going to grow some this year I think but as Kristi can attest, I kill everything. Hell I am lucky that it is only plants that I have he touch of death with! But, I figured why not, I’ll give it a shot! Wish me luck! Actually, wish the plants I get luck! HA HA HA
I watch the Sopranos, I would dig too deep up there in Jersey yannow…
would NOT
wheres the edit button?
[Comment ID #121339 Quote]
Ah, anything in my garden is from Kristi. HA HA HA 😉
I’ve had mixed results with seedlings from Cross Country Nurseries over the bunch of years that I have been buying seedlings from them. Some of the plants that do very well in the Pocono Region of Pennsylvania…
Hinkle Hatz
Cayenne Super II Hybrid
Fatalii
Chocolate Habanero
Thai Hot Dragon Hybrid
Devil’s Tongue
Bird Dung
Some that haven’t faired well at all in the Poconos or out in Hustontown, PA
Bhut Jolokia
Scotch Bonnet
Habanero Red Savina
Purple Jalapeño
and a few other long season varieties that I can’t seem to remember the name of right now… I realize that I don’t exactly have the longest growing season but these are the pluses and minuses that I’ve encountered with the seedlings from Cross Country Nurseries.
Of course your results will vary depending on location. Still a great place with a ridiculous selection of chile plants! The best on the east coast as far as I’m concerned! -Lars-
Lats year I posted a couple of bits on my pepper strip and I forgot until now to give a wrap-up. Duh! Out here on California’s Central Coast I had great success with Chocolate Habaneros, Cherry Bombs, Bishop’s Crowns, Goat Peppers, Peter Peppers, and Brazilian Starfish. But on the other hand, I only got a few Hungarian Carrots, and no Bhut Jolokias or Red Savina Habaneros at all. Really disappointing! I had such an abundance of the peppers that did grow that I was able to give quite a few away and still had a ton. So I dried some and made mash out of the rest. Oh, and I also had a bad case of the aphids and never seemed to completely get rid of them. Any tips on the aphid problem?
I am still a few weeks away from starting indoors. Nick on the raised beds be careful to have soil that holds moisture well as they warm up faster than in the dirt. As well make sure you water very well so the plants root into the ground and don’t get lazy and root just in the bed.
Gildo on the aphids, buy a bunch of ladybugs and release them, like a few thousand of them, they will take care of the aphids.
Here is my list
Aji Brazilian red pumpkin
Hab Belize Sweet
Little white hots
Earbob
Filfill-I-Hind from Iran
Fresnos
Hab peruvian yellow
Limon
Morron De Fabrica from spain
Pakistan # 1
Plus of course the 4 year old tepin and rocotto’s
[Comment ID #121411 Quote]
I did, but the Praying Mantisis ate the ladybugs.
hahahaha
well you need a bat house and a bat…that will help limit the mantis enough that the ladies can survive and eat the aphids, you can also try some pure cap mixed with water…shake and spray
[Comment ID #121494 Quote]
you can also mix it with dish soap
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We did that too, but the owls and hawks ate the bats.
[Comment ID #121494 Quote]
Maybe I’ll try a baseball bat?