[kermit]

Just wanted to blow my own trumpet (makes a change to asking stupid questions and moaning about all my failures!)

Ive posted a few times on here about my overwintering chilli plants.  Ive got three on the go (limited by space on kitchen window sill).  One is now in its third year and the other two in their second.  They started flowering around Christmas (they pretty much flower / fruit / flower constantly).  Now got a lovely big crop of 3 inch chillis just turning red now. 

Can anyone beat that for an early crop?   

Oh, and the freezer has a full tray from the last "round", and I have a load of dried ones from the one before that!

The best thing is, I now know the heat of each plant (if I stick to my watering routine), which makes cooking with them much less of a lottery.

Now, if I could only master courgettes...

[lancashiregardeninggal]

Wow - that great - when do you feed them and what else do you do - mine seem to be exhausted after only producing a few

[arugula]

Well done kermit!

Now, what are those courgettes doing wrong?.....

[kermit]

Wow - that great - when do you feed them and what else do you do - mine seem to be exhausted after only producing a few

My basic rule of thumb is to treat them pretty mean. Water only when wilting and feed only when fruit has set (maybe also once just as fresh growth is kicking out). They are in 5-7inch pots on a sunny south facing kitchen window sill. I don't even bother pruning them.  Each plant has produced at least 15 large chillies each flush. I haven't even repotted them.

As for my courgettes, just don't seem to get a big crop. Tried all the 'big cropping' varieties. They are in well manured raised bed under a musty frame. Decent sun and well watered. Lucky If I get 5-10 courgettes per plant.  Worst thing is, we lurve courgettes!

[daisy1990]

can any chillis be overwintered or is it a special variety?  I would love to try this as we love chillis!

[arugula]

As for my courgettes, just don't seem to get a big crop. Tried all the 'big cropping' varieties. They are in well manured raised bed under a musty frame. Decent sun and well watered. Lucky If I get 5-10 courgettes per plant.  Worst thing is, we lurve courgettes!

Maybe you're treating them too well, perhaps you should try bunging them in somewhere.

[JayG]

As for my courgettes, just don't seem to get a big crop. Tried all the 'big cropping' varieties. They are in well manured raised bed under a musty frame. Decent sun and well watered. Lucky If I get 5-10 courgettes per plant.  Worst thing is, we lurve courgettes!

If you are getting a lot of fruits which appear to set but then rot off from the flower end you probably have a pollination problem.

If that is the case hand-pollinating with a small paint brush will help you join the "almost embarrassed by my courgette glut" club! 

[Robster]

Kermit,
Inspirational I am going to try this this year and over winter some.  Do you reckon its better to use only pot grown plants to overwinter or have you dug any out of border soil?  Can you also sow in say August and just keep the young plants over winter and then expect an early crop from the window sill

[kermit]

I don't think polination is a problem. From memory I just don't get that many flowers, especially female flowers. Always seem to get White mildew on leaves - wonder if that is causing it.

[kermit]

Kermit,
Inspirational I am going to try this this year and over winter some.  Do you reckon its better to use only pot grown plants to overwinter or have you dug any out of border soil?  Can you also sow in say August and just keep the young plants over winter and then expect an early crop from the window sill

No - check my location! Outside chillies?!  Chilly outside more like (sorry!)

They have always been in pots inside. And always started from seed in mid - late feb. I would think they need a full growing season and light to get established and big.

Oh and Jay has reminded me, I also hand polinate each flower (just with a finger, none of that paint brush nonsense!)

The other benefit is that they are very pretty plants and flowers (and fruit) so wife doesn't mind!

[JayG]

I don't think polination is a problem. From memory I just don't get that many flowers, especially female flowers. Always seem to get White mildew on leaves - wonder if that is causing it.

Glad it was you who started this thread because we've made a real dog's dinner of it between us haven't we!  

I've never not had mildew on my courgettes but it normally arrives long after me, my friends and neighbours have got fed up with them.

Mildew is a rather strange affliction in that dry soil encourages it but so does excessive humidity around the leaves (perhaps the air underneath the Munty frame is a bit too still and humid for them.......................?)

[bappelbe]

Hi
Well done on red chillis!! I have 1 green one on my 2 overwintered plants.
What type are yours? mine are Cheyenne.
I also do very little except put them on a sunny window sill.

As for courtgette I also get mildew each year. I find that spraying them with a 10:1 mix of water to milk keeps it at bay for a while and of course cutting away any leaves that are beyond rescue. The milk only stops it spreading it does not kill the mildew.

Bill