Hey guys, last summer I start growing a Carolina Reaper plant in a mix of shrimp compost and poting mix. I put it outside in the beginning of june and it started produce only in september (inside) even if the plant growed a lot. Here are the peppers now. What’s my best option. Harvest the seeds and try to make some new plant for this summer or let them finish growing? Why it take so long for the peppers to come even if the plant was in full sun all summer long? Have you any other tips in the future for growing, planting or harvesting peppers?
Thanks for your answers🤘🏻

by Excellent_Treat_3515

7 Comments

  1. rawrimmaraptor

    There are many variables that affect growth. Assuming it is getting enough sunlight and water (potting mixes drain faster) then it could be limited pollination. If you are seeing lots of flowers but they don’t all become fruit then that could be an indicator. It could also be plant genetics. Changes in temperature and humidity in the environment can also cause the plant to change priorities.

    Personally I would harvest the fruit for seeds and then prune back the plant to overwinter it.

  2. jimjamdaflimflam

    If it is inside with light and warmth just let it keep growing. If you don’t have any good place to grow it normally indoors Google overwintering. Super hots take longer to grow, a lot of people start them in January.

  3. I agree with u/jimjamdaflimflam … super-hots, and especially Carolina Reapers in my experience, have a long growing season. I live in Zone 5b, and I’ll be starting some of my Capsicum Chinense seeds pretty soon, before or shortly after Jan 1st. I’ll be starting 7-pot Primo, Blood Ghost, Hallow’s Eve, maybe a couple of others, in addition to Habanero and Chocolate Scorpion that I’m overwintering now for the 3rd year (assuming they survive).

    Here in Zone 5b, they ‘may’ get outside permanently in early-mid-May if I’m lucky. Getting them out in June doesn’t give them a whole lot of time. I do grow in containers, so I can put them out during the day and bring them in on chilly nights.

  4. Agreeing with others that super hots like reapers take time.

    As a zone 6 (got bumped from zone 5 two years ago) grower My usual process for seeds is start those in mid March and plant in the ground/pots by Memorial Day weekend to mid June depending on the weather.

    I’ll usually get a couple early pods ready by late August with bigger harvests coming in mid September through October depending on the weather.

    Overwintering the plant can help you get a jumpstart on next season. I kept a scotch brain and a Carolina reaper for next season along with seeds.

  5. miguel-122

    Here to add that pepper plants need fertilizing often when in pots. Also some stop growing fruit when its hotter than 95 °F in summer.

  6. Equal_Plankton_4234

    My reaper was not happy with a California summer. Vegetative growth was awesome but it did not hold onto flowers and fruit well until September or October. Essentially, it fruited in the 80s/70s F range.

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