Started 64 (mostly) super hots this year because I couldn’t make up my mind. About 25 varieties, mostly chinense, plus a dozen or so annuum. Zone 5b, northern Colorado. Twice as many as last year.
Started seeds in February, aiming for a mid-May transplant like every normal year. Instead, I got a monsoon. Rain. Cold. More rain. Weeks of daytime 50s, 40s overnight. By the time I gave up waiting and planted the third weekend of May, the weather noped me again and dumped even more on them.
We’ve finally had like 10 warm days in a row and they’re starting to look alive but they still seem stunted, confused, and probably emotionally scarred. I was hoping to test flavor and productivity to pick some new winners to lean into for next year. They have survived, but they’re still out there looking like they just woke up from a 3-month nap. Seriously bummed about the setback and it’s seeming like it will be a very light year production-wise.
This season: rain, hail, wind, mood swings. Honestly, it feels personal.
by AustnWins
8 Comments
This seasons cast:
Goat brains yellow
Bhut peach
Datil
Hot paper lantern
Scotch brains red
Scotch brains orange
Thors thunderbolt
Fatalii
Aji charapita
Jays peach ghost scorpion
Aji mango drop
Giant red habanero
Taj Mahal purple/pink
Naga smooky rainbow
Bahamian goat
White ghost
Fairytale cachucha
Peach mustard gum
Sweet purple (purple + peach)
Pink tiger x peach bhut
7 pot primo
Carolina reaper
Orange habanero
6 mystery varietals
3x bells
🤞
Set up looks great but I wonder if there is a way for you to get row covers on early season? I don’t use plastic but instead use non-woven cloth. It works really well to lessen the effects of heavy rain and wind while still letting some permeate to water and strengthen the plants. It also goes someway to increase nighttime temperatures, which is the stimulus peppers need for growth.
It’s been such a ride here in CO. My plants are finally growing now that the weather has calmed down for a little bit. Great looking patch!
You’ll be all right, just put some nitrogen on that shit…
it’s going to be a challenge getting to the center plants when they fill out and fruit.
I thought I was growing a decent amount at 37 plants. We are growing a few of the same varieties. I will say an early favorite of mine is Bahamian goat. Like a thicker juicier better tasting habanero. Been just plucking those of the plant and eating em. One I’m not sure on yet Naga smooky rainbow.Â
Good luck on the grow and weather and interested to see how things turn out for you.Â
I’m in Southern Colorado (not Pueblo) and we very luckily moved to a micro climate that just simply skips the rain.
I mean to the point where there will be a monsoon LITERALLY across the street, but it just won’t come over to us. It’s been insane. I feel so lucky seeing how hard this rain has been on everyone.
Keep going, they will pop with this warm weather coming in.
What are the signs?
Love the grid pattern.