Hi everyone,
I want to dive into growing chili peppers next year and would really appreciate some advice on a few things. I've already started growing a few varieties as indoor windowsill plants with heat mats and grow lights, really as an experiment because I've suddenly become very child-like in my excitement and just can't wait a few more months. They seem to be doing very well so far, so I feel like I'm in training.
Anyway, I bought a bottle of chili focus concentrated fertilizer, and have been using that for my indoor babies. I plan to try and grow a lot next year, so am looking at keeping my initial costs as low as possible. I read about growing and using comfrey to make fertilizer, and it would be a lot cheaper than buying more off the shelf bottles of concentrated feed. Does anyone have any experience with using comfrey with chili plants?
Secondly, I'll be growing mostly in my greenhouse in pots, which might end with the plants taking up at least half of my shelf space on one side. The other side of the greenhouse is raised beds where I grew cherry tomatoes this year. I plan to mix it up a little next year and also grow cucumbers/gerkins for pickling, and okra. Are there any recommendations for climbing chili plants I could try on the netting and poles?
Finally, I'm in the UK (midlands) and was wondering if there are any specific chili plants that experts have noted do better than others when grown outside? I understand they might not be as fruitful, but there is only so much greenhouse space I wish to use for chili plants.
I can currently handle scoville heat up to about 10,000 (yeah, I know... amateur that I am), but I have already started my training routine (feels more like a regime at this stage -_- ) and want to grow Tabasco and cayenne, but I'll take hotter suggestions as I can always try drying and smoking to create flakes to sprinkle into soups, stews etc...
Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Regards