[GrannieAnnie]

for Aidy or anyone else......

I thought that chillies didn't cross pollinate, because I thought the Chillies by Post people grew different varieties in the same polytunnel.  However, I'm sure Aidy said once that they can......

So what's the best way of growing my several different varieties as I don't want them cross pollinating, as I save my own seed.  I can grow some of them separately as I have 2 greenhouses and the polytunnel, plus outside, but I've got more than 4 varieties!

[breathecosse]

Chilli do cross pollinate quite easily.
Some glue the flower closed to stop this.
Cover the flower with a tea bag or muslin bags.

[gobs]

They do cross-breed very easily, well most of them, pollination is another matter. Indoor ones it's so rare it's almost 100% safe, you goota have a real big insect activity in your gh to be a problem.

But as said for sur ething cover the seed intended stuff, have a look at Biscombe's post he has a chilie farm and just posted about things.

[breathecosse]

They do cross-breed very easily, well most of them, pollination is another matter.

I would have thought to cross breed they need to cross pollinate? :?

If your are interested in chilli growing you could always join us here.

http://firefoods.phpbbhosts.co.uk/index.php

Mods if this is not allowed please except my apoligises and remove the link.

[Fat Hen]

Hi Grannie annie.  If you let them cross pollinate you could end up with some interesting varieties, unless of course you intend selling produce, or seed.  I have just got pods from a plant I thought was a Safi, however they are rather large, teardrop shaped & peach in colour, definitely not safi but by no means dissapointing.

I tend to tickle my chilli flowers with a paint brush & have seperate brushes for different plants.  But otherwise leave mixed in greenhouse.  Many of my plants have flowered at different times so I can pretty much guarantee certain pods are "pure"

As Breathcosse has said many people isolate flowers to prevent cross pollination (or whole plants), with fine netting.

[breathecosse]

I have got 3 totally different looking pods on the 1 plant none of which
are like the type the plant is. :?
The plant is in a polytunnel along with a good few others.
The exciting bit is trying them to test how hot they are.

[GrannieAnnie]

I'd forgotten I'd even made this posting!  It was such a long time ago!

This year I've put nearly all my chillies in the polytunnel together, but I do have 5 lemon drops plants in the big greenhouse separate, so they should be safe.

Thanks for the tips!  My very first chilli was an Apache plant I bought at a garden centre.  I didn't realise it must have been an F1 because I saved the seeds, planted them the following year and the chillies I got were HUGE!!!!!  But still did the job, so I'm not very bothered anymore about cross pollination, but I do want to keep my lemon drops pure!

[Fat Hen]

I'd forgotten I'd even made this posting!  It was such a long time ago!

This year I've put nearly all my chillies in the polytunnel together, but I do have 5 lemon drops plants in the big greenhouse separate, so they should be safe.

Thanks for the tips!  My very first chilli was an Apache plant I bought at a garden centre.  I didn't realise it must have been an F1 because I saved the seeds, planted them the following year and the chillies I got were HUGE!!!!!  But still did the job, so I'm not very bothered anymore about cross pollination, but I do want to keep my lemon drops pure!

Aah!  Lemon drops, beautiful, i'm just starting to harvest mine now.

Have you tried aji crystal, they're georgous, fantastic crunch and gentle not wild heat, good in a fruit salad too. :?:

[GrannieAnnie]

I've never heard of aji crystal before.  Actually, although I love growing chillies, because of all their lovely colours and shapes, I don't like too hot a chilli, but love to give the hot ones to Brian's youngest son, who loves them.  And I make Biscombe's Thai Sweet Chilli sauce with them.

My lemon drops are only just flowering though, mind you, I did put them in late.  The pretty in purple are doing well, VERY prolific, and loads of fruits on the Hungarian wax, but not changing colour yet.  Most of this year's chillies are courtesy of Aggy and Gobs!!!!  So all new to me!!!

[Sadgit]

I have a very odd cross pollination going on with 2 of mine. looks like 1 of my Numex Big Jim has been cross pollinated with a Bolivian rainbow. Big Jim are huge chilli's and hang down like normally chilli, where as the BR chilli points upwards, and 1 of the Big Jim plants has big chilli's growing upwards, most odd they are...