I've been attempting to keep chilli plants going over a year, but not having much success. We could potentially be warm enough here for them to survive winter, but most don't and those that do don't produce very well when they try to renew growth in spring. I ended up giving up on my jalapeno this year. Do you grow most of your chillies outside or in a greenhouse? I'm guessing you're in Germany? When in the UK we would struggle to grow any warm climate plants outside of a greenhouse, but we were further north than mainland Europe.
I know what you mean about chilli flavour. I don't think there's much point to super spicy if it lacks the important chilli flavour. The habanero types I've grown before were hot, but didn't really have any flavour. This year a friend gave us Scotch Bonnet and Trinidad Scorpion plants. We're enjoying the bonnet, but the Scorpion is crazy hot!
I had a pyrethrin Daisy for a while, but wasn't really sure how to put it to use and speaking of nematodes, I have that issue currently too. Sadly the marigolds will only kill them if they get into their roots. Someone has suggested mustard to fumigate, so that will likely be my seed purchase this year.
You've got lots happening and the plants are looking really healthy. I wish I could say the same for mine.
I keep most of my chilis in pots outside until around October when it gets too cold here in Germany. We have a little conservatory where I then keep some of them until the fruits have completely ripened and afterwards I cut them back a little. Last year I also had issues with them not beeing very vivid in their second year, most likely because aphids and black fungus gnats weakened them too much. I guess capsicum also does not take dormacy very well and wants to keep growing during winter.
A greenhouse would be nice and has been on the to-do list for a few years now.
Interesting how you prefer the Scotch Bonnet. My brother had a huge harvest last year and then heard some of those chili freaks saying they were the worst of all. 🤣
Never tasted them personally, although I should have some of them in the freezer.
Apparently you can sprinkle pyrethrin flowers on the ground against those flea beatles that eat up raddish and rocket leaves. I will decide what to do with them once they actually flower.
I guess it's hard to tell if one has harmfull nematodes, but with random plants growing poorly and even dying for no obvious reason, I assume it's them. I once even found the hair roots of a lupin to be twitching and moving as if there was a worm inside.
Mustard might be another interesting experiment. I heard people use it against all kinds of pest and fungi.
Thanks for stopping by and all that wonderful curation work!
Well Scotch Bonnet still exists, so some people must like them! 😆 This was our first experience of them. Usually we just have birdeye and sometimes jalapeno. Although at one point we had Thai chillies, which went from green, to purple then red. I suspect my current birdeyes are crossed with these, because they are fatter than the originals.
I think for sure they are true tropical and don't like our winter one bit. We rarely even get to 0° as well.