Shawn
Administrator
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Post by Shawn on Jan 4, 2018 17:19:11 GMT -5
Left PodSweet Heat (Park) Just like the name Sweetly Heated. A House Fav here. Grows 12" tall Sponge: Parkseed AG nutes Right PodAlmapaprika (ChiliPlants) Medium sweet heat pepper from Hungry that grows upright and round. Grows 12" to 18" tall Pod: AG AG nutes Excuse the calcium buildup. I had no more elbow grease but did a really good job if you had seen it before it was clean. 
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Jan 9, 2018 5:22:20 GMT -5
Nothing happening yet. Although you can see that the seeds have lightened in color and are softening. So hopefully soon.
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Shawn
Administrator
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Post by Shawn on Jan 10, 2018 7:24:22 GMT -5
Sweet Heats has green
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Jan 13, 2018 7:58:36 GMT -5
Both above the labels. Sweet Heat on the left and Almapaprika on the right.  |
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MaryL
AGA Farmer
Posts: 3,532
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Post by MaryL on Jan 13, 2018 16:35:02 GMT -5
That was fast on the sweet heat
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Jan 14, 2018 19:37:11 GMT -5
I will need to take one of the Sweet Heats out as there are two. One was already removed from the Almapaprika.  |
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Shawn
Administrator
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Post by Shawn on Jan 22, 2018 7:05:30 GMT -5
Coming along.  |
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Jan 26, 2018 16:06:49 GMT -5
3 days later  |
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Feb 1, 2018 6:34:59 GMT -5
Added Nutes and Mooch. In the past since the Sweet Heat does not get big I have never pruned it. However the Almapaprika gets to about 12 to 18". Should I prune this one or wait or not do it at all. Each plant is only 3.5" tall. See close ups below. I have another angle of this if needed:   |
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Shawn
Administrator
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Post by Shawn on Feb 2, 2018 5:29:10 GMT -5
I have never pruned/topped the Sweet Heat before as that grows to maybe 12 to 14 inches. The Almapaprika is new to me and can grow to 18". So this is for mike or anyone else, I am looking for opinions PLEASE. When Looking at the Almapaprika, should I prune it at the very top or wait a bit to see? See Pictures below (there are 3), they are all named.  in advance! Both Plants:
 Sweet Heat:
 Almapaprika: |
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mike
The Pepper King
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Post by mike on Feb 2, 2018 18:28:29 GMT -5
Topping them isn't always the right answer. If you know the plant is supposed to be about 18", you need to determine if the plant is a light-seeker, or a chubby-baby.
A light-seeker tens to germinate quickly. Then it grows vertically fairly quick. The problem is, the base of the plant hasn't a chance to develop, and remains quite thin early on. These are plants you definitely want to top off. I usually wait 6 weeks to make that determination. These tend to be more common in milder peppers.
A chubby-baby is a pepper plant that naturally wants to bush out. These plants typically don't grow more than 20" tall, and are very common in ornamental peppers. Ornamental peppers tend to be quite hot. Many of them have a bitter taste to them as well. One nice exception was the Loco Hybrid Peppers I grew three years ago. Very nice flavor, and very hot. But it has a lot of seeds for a 1" long x 3/4" diameter purple pepper. (matures red) You never need to top these.
Super-hots are notoriously slow growers. That gives them plenty of time to grow a sturdy base. However, I usually top these when the get to 9-inches or so. Every super hot I've grown is really too large for an AG. All of them get minimum 4-foot limbs if you leave them alone.
I also usually top off jalapenos, as well.
Just remember, topping them does slow down the pepper production. But, you usually get 50% more peppers overall.
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Shawn
Administrator
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Post by Shawn on Feb 2, 2018 19:47:20 GMT -5
Topping them isn't always the right answer. If you know the plant is supposed to be about 18", you need to determine if the plant is a light-seeker, or a chubby-baby. A light-seeker tens to germinate quickly. Then it grows vertically fairly quick. The problem is, the base of the plant hasn't a chance to develop, and remains quite thin early on. These are plants you definitely want to top off. I usually wait 6 weeks to make that determination. These tend to be more common in milder peppers. A chubby-baby is a pepper plant that naturally wants to bush out. These plants typically don't grow more than 20" tall, and are very common in ornamental peppers. Ornamental peppers tend to be quite hot. Many of them have a bitter taste to them as well. One nice exception was the Loco Hybrid Peppers I grew three years ago. Very nice flavor, and very hot. But it has a lot of seeds for a 1" long x 3/4" diameter purple pepper. (matures red) You never need to top these. Super-hots are notoriously slow growers. That gives them plenty of time to grow a sturdy base. However, I usually top these when the get to 9-inches or so. Every super hot I've grown is really too large for an AG. All of them get minimum 4-foot limbs if you leave them alone. I also usually top off jalapenos, as well. Just remember, topping them does slow down the pepper production. But, you usually get 50% more peppers overall. I will wait until the 6 week mark and ask again. As we know I do not prune the Sweets. These seem like the chubby baby but are not bitter in taste at all. However reading your explanations, it "looks" as if the Almapaprika is a Chubby Baby as it is bushing out instead of growing up. Looking at a picture I found it appears that the peppers grow on a fairly shorter plant. This is in the ground and does not look that tall.  Thanks again and we will revisit in a couple of weeks ! |
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Post by drbanks on Feb 2, 2018 21:09:13 GMT -5
What excellent advice, mike! Thanks, I did not know that. |
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MaryL
AGA Farmer
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Post by MaryL on Feb 4, 2018 14:22:54 GMT -5
I also usually top off jalapenos, as well. Why the jalapeños, Mike? Do they tend to be the skinny light seekers? |
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mike
The Pepper King
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Post by mike on Feb 4, 2018 15:16:09 GMT -5
Not as much. But it does force them to bush out more. I don't do that to the outdoor plants.
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Shawn
Administrator
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Post by Shawn on Feb 5, 2018 11:08:43 GMT -5
I had Mark removed the largest and lowest leaves from both as they were sitting on the deck.  |
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MaryL
AGA Farmer
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Post by MaryL on Feb 5, 2018 11:26:24 GMT -5
They look good.
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Shawn
Administrator
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Post by Shawn on Feb 8, 2018 6:19:59 GMT -5
These two are filling out. The AlmaPaprika has very dense leaves and has some buds. So I am at 5 weeks today and have no clue if I should top it and if I should where  But it is looking like a Chubby Baby but then again I have NO clue LOL   |
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MaryL
AGA Farmer
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Post by MaryL on Feb 9, 2018 6:48:05 GMT -5
Buds at 5 weeks - sweet!! I’m thinking it looks like it’s going to be a Chubby too. But you still have a week to decide. And hey, I see your cool new pod plugs that Dawn made! Very cool, Dawn! I like the green on the black deck. Seems very fitting with the green plants, and also adds a nice lititle flair to the deck. A little deck fashion, if you will. They look terrific.  |
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Shawn
Administrator
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Post by Shawn on Feb 9, 2018 7:39:14 GMT -5
Buds at 5 weeks - sweet!! I’m thinking it looks like it’s going to be a Chubby too. But you still have a week to decide. And hey, I see your cool new pod plugs that Dawn made! Very cool, Dawn! I like the green on the black deck. Seems very fitting with the green plants, and also adds a nice lititle flair to the deck. A little deck fashion, if you will. They look terrific.  Yes, they fit really nice and I am not seeing water buildup and calcium coming thru ...at least not now  |
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But it is looking like a Chubby Baby but then again I have NO clue LOL
