Why Didn’t The Green Pepper Practice Archery?… Because It Didn’t Habanero!!
This weekend was the last Lumby and District Public Market and it was so nice to see that so many came out to see our vendors. I baked my famed Chocolate Zucchini cake and almost everyone was able to get together for cake and some wine or a beer. It was great except for the wasps that wanted cake too. It was nice to get a visit in as that is so difficult to do during the market season. The weather was perfect and it seems the forecast is not predicted to change all that much thankfully, for the next week or so.
Leaves are turning slowly and not many have fallen yet but I won’t be deceived into thinking a lot of time is left to get fall cleanup done as it seems every year is different. I’ve always used my Maple tree in the backyard as a defining sign that snow and winter is here. I manage to just get the leaves picked up before the snow flies. I hope this year will be similar in nature.
Every year it seems that although some plants do so well many plants do not. This year most of my plants did well except for my Zucchini which usually is a pest as well as my squash which this year is a near total failure although I still have plenty for my needs. Also my Red Cabbage grew well however the Green Cabbage was a fraction of the size although planted at the same time. Many other people also did well with most of their plants some but some were dismal failures and with plants that most of them have never had issues with before. Also some grew plants that should have been successful and were not.
A friend was telling me the other day that she had planted Ghost Peppers also known as Jolokia and that they have plenty of flowers but there is no time left to produce fruit. Fortunately she grew them in pots and they can be moved into the house to continue to mature, if the frost hasn’t touched them they should do well. I suggested that the seeds be started earlier and my research confirms this and a few other interesting facts. I usually start my pepper both regular, Jalapeño and Habanero no later than the last week of February. All these peppers only take 10 to 14 days to germinate.
The Ghost Pepper takes 35 to 40 days to germinate and need a slightly higher soil temperature 80 to 90 degrees and must be watched very closely for proper soil moisture. Most Peppers need a growing season after transplanting in the garden of 60 to 90 days. The Ghost Pepper needs 120 or more days to produce it’s fruit. This plant is native to India where the growing season is much longer and the temperature much higher. This pepper and most other peppers need a temperature of around 75 degrees and at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunshine. I grow mine in the greenhouse and it has been a bumper year, I have found that they do not grow well in my outside garden and haven’t planted them there for years. Other people do and have had good results. The Ph of your soil for the Ghost Pepper should be from 6.0 to 7.5 and they must be kept moist to prevent shock to the plant.
Very early blooms should be removed as this will keep the plant from expending energy to producing fruit and will result in the plant producing more flowers later, a larger plant and the fruit will be larger in size. They require significant fertilizer that is higher in phosphorus than nitrogen such as a 10-52-17 and it is recommended to use a slow release type or apply the fertilizer weekly.
Happy Gardening!
Samantha Nason
BS Ranch & Greenhouses
250 547 6567
sam1nason@gmail.com
