Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Jasper1 on October 10, 2010, 17:11

Title: Scotch bonnet chillies
Post by: Jasper1 on October 10, 2010, 17:11
I want to grow a regular supply of scotch bonnet chillies through the year so I can cut them up to put in the bird food to stop the squirrels eating the food. (I have tried chillie powder, but the squirrels here have strong stomachs).

I have a greenhouse but it is not heated, how can I grow them.
   
Title: Re: Scotch bonnet chillies
Post by: arugula on October 10, 2010, 17:18
Hi Jasper,

Unless you can force the growing in a manner similar to agricultural methods, I don't think you'll be able to grow them outside the summer season, during which you will be able to grow them and dry those not used at the time.

:)
Title: Re: Scotch bonnet chillies
Post by: Jasper1 on October 10, 2010, 17:34
Hi Argyllie

Thank for that

How do I dry the chillies without them rotting so that they last throughout the year.
Title: Re: Scotch bonnet chillies
Post by: JayG on October 10, 2010, 17:46
I agree that chillies are not a practical proposition to keep growing all-year round in this country, even indoors.

I have found that after air-drying some of them are mouldy inside, so I play safe and cut them in half and slow-dry them in a very low temperature oven.

However, most folk seem to just air-dry them whole in a warm place and they seem to get away with it; that may well work well for you too!  :)
Title: Re: Scotch bonnet chillies
Post by: Yabba on October 10, 2010, 17:49
You can also freeze them ;)

¥
Title: Re: Scotch bonnet chillies
Post by: arugula on October 10, 2010, 18:10
Hi Argyllie

Thank for that

How do I dry the chillies without them rotting so that they last throughout the year.

Hi Jasper,

You can air dry chillis like this (http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=52335.0) on a ristra.

:)
Title: Re: Scotch bonnet chillies
Post by: mickeyboy on October 11, 2010, 11:23
I have a whole draw full of frozen chillis i have harvested from last year and this year. I find this a better way of using them rather than drying them. They are easy to chop and keep there fruity favour which is lost during drying.
Mind you they look good hanging in the kitchen although you really need to use long chillis for this other wise there is a grater chance of them just rotting IMO :)

I also make a large pot of very hot tomato and chilli sauce, freeze and add to dishes. This is deliciuos and my friends are constantly begging me for my precious bags of it!! :) :)

Hope this helps

Mickeyboy
Title: Re: Scotch bonnet chillies
Post by: GrannieAnnie on October 11, 2010, 11:29
Hi Mickey, if you like chilli sauce, try this one which was sent to me by Biscombe, one of our members who doesn't come on here much now.  It is lovely, bit sweet, but if too sweet you can leave out some of the sugar.

http://www.allotment-garden.org/recipe/?s=thai+sweet+chilli+sauce
Title: Re: Scotch bonnet chillies
Post by: mickeyboy on October 11, 2010, 15:37
Thanks GrannieAnnie i shall certainly try that :) :)
Title: Re: Scotch bonnet chillies
Post by: GrannieAnnie on October 11, 2010, 22:28
It sure gives a cheese sandwich a bit of bite!  And when I make enough of it, I sometimes put a little in stews and things like you were saying with your other tomato/chilli sauce!