Chilli Plant Update - 8th November 2024

Greetings, chilli fans. Sadly, the chilli growing season has almost come to a close for me now. On the 27th October I took down most of my indoor plants and the following day I took down the remaining indoor plants plus all except three of my plants in the glasshouse. Both of my Capsicum pubescence plants have now been moved into the glasshouse, and along with Scarlet Lantern they are the only plants I have left. The good news is that the Scarlet Lantern chillies are now starting to ripen, and this also includes the pods that I've isolated for seed saving. The Rocoto peppers are also starting to ripen and I've already harvested quite a few, but given how long it can take for Rocoto peppers to ripen I think it's going to be quite a while yet before most of them are ready for picking. Either way, the plants can remain in the glasshouse for as long as necessary.

Chilli Plant Leaves and Stems - 27th October 2024

Chilli Plants Taken Down - 28th October 2024

These next two photos were taken on the 28th October and show the remaining chillies on one of the Chocolate Habanero plants and one of the Papa Joe's Scotch Bonnet plants.

Chocolate Habanero - 28th October 2024

Papa Joe's Scotch Bonnet - 28th October 2024

These next two photos show the Moruga Scorpion plants and were taken between the 3rd and the 28th October. I now have two big bags full of Trinidad Moruga Scorpion chillies in the freezer and they will be added to phall curries and hot sauces over the coming months. It's going to be a super spicy winter!

Trinidad Moruga Scorpion - 3rd October 2024

Trinidad Moruga Scorpion - 28th October 2024

These next photos show my Capsicum pubescens plants (San Isidro Rocoto and Aji Largo) and were taken between the 17th October and the 7th November.

Aji Largo - 17th October 2024

Aji Largo - 17th October 2024

Aji Largo - 17th October 2024

San Isidro Rocoto - 19th October 2024

San Isidro Rocoto - 19th October 2024

San Isidro Rocoto - 7th November 2024

San Isidro Rocoto - 7th November 2024

San Isidro Rocoto and Aji Largo - 7th November 2024

I've also de-seeded all of the chillies I isolated for seed saving and the seeds are now drying nicely in the lounge. 😁

Chillies for De-seeding - 28th October 2024

Chilli Seeds - 30th October 2024

Last week, I made three jars of pickled chillies, using mostly Capsicum chinense varieties, and a batch of Habanero hot sauce, using some of the remainder of last year's chillies. I also intend to pickle some Rocoto peppers and I have enough remaining chillies from last year to make another two batches of hot sauce, which I'll do in a couple of weeks.

Spicemad's Habanero Hot Sauce - 7th November 2024

Pickled Chillies - 7th November 2024

These next couple of photos show my two most recent chilli harvests. The first one was taken on the 3rd October, shortly after harvesting the remaining green chillies on the Bangalore Torpedo plant, and the other was taken on the 29th October, and shows the remaining chillies from the plants that were recently taken down. The varieties shown in the photos below are Bell Pepper, Mako Akokosrade, Bangalore Torpedo, Orange Habanero, Chocolate Habanero, Charapon Amarillo, Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, Papa Joe's Scotch Bonnet, Malawi Bird's Eye and Peruvian White Habanero. There was also a few Fatalii chillies hidden somewhere beneath the pile of spicy goodness shown in the second photo.

Chilli Harvest - 3rd October 2024

Chilli Harvest - 29th October 2024

So, as you can see, the 2024 chilli growing season has almost come to a close for me now, but I'm still not quite there just yet. I'll hang on to the Rocoto plants for a while yet. They're not in the way in the glasshouse, but if I change my mind and decide to take them down early I'll just pickle the remaining unripe peppers. I've got isolated fruits on both plants for seed saving, so I want those to ripen at least. Have a great weekend! 🌶️