Page 16 - Simply Vegetables Autumn 2020

Chilli and Sweet Peppers
KENNETH LUMBY
I started growing peppers around 8 years ago as a hobby, 5 years ago I joined the
N V S to gain valuable knowledge from the forums on the site. I have entered the Harrogate autumn flower and vegetable exhibition for the last 5 years. My experience in the first two years of the show was that the standard I needed to attain was very high. Hence no places attained in my chosen category chilli peppers, I got a very rude awakening but I also had the chance to discuss with prize winners about growing chilli peppers.
Firstly, deciding what type of chilli plant
I wanted to grow for showing, my location and climate, what type of growing medium I needed and how long it would take to get the plants ready for the autumn show at Harrogate.
I do think I have now become a very successful grower, having gained 3 places on the show bench, even though all three places have only been seconds in the chilli section. I keep my own seed stock yearly simply owing to the fact I want to get a good start. I start my chilli seeds off in a good seed compost in March and keep them on
a window sill in a sunny spot. Then around about mid-April I pot the selected plants on into a bigger pot and weather permitting put them into the poly tunnel early May.
I then apply a cane for stability, depending what type chilli or pepper you grow as some grow quite large and heavy. When the plants are about 7 or 8 inches (17 to 20cm) high
I then pot on the plants into their final pot
a large pot 24 cm high, and around 34 cm wide. My growing medium is m3 Levingtons advanced and I mix around two handfuls of grit for good drainage.
I grow my plants to around 20 inches (50cm) high and I try to form the plant that looks a bit like an umbrella shape at this point I cut off all the growing tips.
I don’t over water the plants early in the growing season, about half a jug of aired water per plant. When the plants start to put on some shoots I then start to feed them lightly capful of high nitrogen granular feed. Please note at the base of the plants just above growing leaves each side of the stem the plant produces two stems that will grow very quickly forming the basic shape of the plant. When the first flower has set I introduce them to a capful tomato feed mixed with spoonful high nitrogen granular feed.
I grow my plants to around 20 inches (50cm) high and I try to form the plant that looks a bit like an umbrella shape at this point I cut off all the growing tips. This gives the plant the chance to increase the bulking up of the chillies. I keep my chilli plants in the greenhouse until the late frosts have gone and keep the chilli plants in full sun, with slight net shading on hot days at the moment (August) I have 5 plants growing for 2020 autumn show at Harrogate but sadly no show this year!
Never mind Kenneth there’s always next year and at least you have some peppers to eat – Ed.
16 Simply Vegetables