Any gardeners? Growing pepper plants

[M1k3yC]

A friend gave me a kit to grow chillies from seed at Christmas so I'm trying to grow several varieties. It's the first time I've done it so I'm making mistakes and learning as I go. I planted a few in mid-March and successfully germinated them. I didn't get many of one variety I particularly wanted so planted some more early-mid April. I have (I think - the kit's labelling was a bit poor) Hot Devils, Hungarian Black, Jalapeno, Padron, and Prairie Fire. I'm struggling a bit with the weather. They can get good light and reasonable temperatures in my kitchen but a few weeks ago I was getting them outside in the better weather then bringing them back in. Recently, the wind and rain has meant lots of time inside Now the weather has improved, I opened my bifolds for them yesterday to give them a few hours of direct sun and some airflow but I think it's stressing them out, to be honest. More recent growth is curling and a little yellow. Overall, still pretty healthy, but I'm wondering if there are other pepper plant growers on the forum and how your plants are getting on this year?

I've topped them and, after some research, try to give them a good watering only when they have got fairly dry. I also feed them occasionally with a liquid fertiliser. Any and all advice gratefully received. Information on the internet can be conflicting and also it seems like the correct approach is location and climate dependent. If they get that far I am definitely going to attempt to overwinter some.

Here's a pic - I can post some close ups of the curling etc. if it turns out we have lots of gardening experts!

 

[Zedebee]

They’re looking ok to me. I’m not an expert but have grown chillis and other stuff in the past. I would avoid feeding them until the fruit sets. The yellowing could be an imbalance of nutrients in the soil caused by feeding them. The basic growing plants will cope with quite a poor soil.

 

[Pondy]

I would avoid feeding them until the fruit sets.

+1. Feeding when growing will just make them grow taller and can result in less fruit. Chilli plants like it fairly warm. Any issues you are having is probably from a sudden change in temperature. They do look OK to me aswell, though

 

[M1k3yC]

Thanks for the advice on feeding - I'll ease back until the plants mature further. I took some closer photos at lunchtime. You can see that it's not a widespread issue and varies depending on the type of plant, but some of the newer leaves are definitely curling and in some cases a little yellow or damaged looking.

 

[Pondy]

The top picture looks like a greenfly/mite problem to me. They curl if something is eating them from within. Chillies are quite hardy and easy to grow if kept at the right temps. My wife has been growing them on the kitchen windowsill for years so it can't be that hard! Maybe snip any obviously damaged leaves out? I am no expert, just been attempting to grow stuff for 25 years with varying results!!

 

[dhobbs]

I found with peppers you water them little and often. And at the same time each day.
They don't like sitting in cold water. I used to water mine each day when I got home from work.

If the plant is healthy they can survive greenfly, not sure about mites though. Check on the underside of the leaves for the intruders.
Good luck.

 

[1000rr]

Use tomato feed. Ideal PDK for fruiting plants. I use it exclusively in my garden.... it makes it grow lush with good, abundant flowers and not leggy. You need a good feed for strong roots and also nutrients and to keep pests at bay...as when you water in pots, the goodness in the soil is washed away..you need to replenish those nutrients. A high nitrogen feed will just make them grow tall, tomato feed concentrates on the fruit.

As for those pests, a weak solution of dish soap in a sprayer is the most friendly thing to use.

Chillis need warmth and light and a good feed once a week.

 

[Zedebee]

What an oasis 1000rr. Presumably that is AstroTurf or some such, not real grass?

 

[bigwinn]

Slugs ate mine- gutted

Hope it gave them the runs

 

[M1k3yC]

[ref]1000rr[/ref], thanks for the tips and that's a very impressive outdoor space! Those plants certainly look healthy

Upon closer inspection there are a few greenfly (fewer now, I went hunting with tweezers :wink: ). I'll give the weak soapy water a try over the long weekend.

Rather a lot of effort for something that costs pence in the supermarket - hope it's worth it!

 

[Pondy]

Rather a lot of effort for something that costs pence in the supermarket - hope it's worth it!

If they flower and fruit, they will give shed-loads. Chillies are brilliant for freezing too.