Chillis in Istanbul
 

Hi all,
I'm in Istanbul, zone 9a.I want to share my experience on Chillis.Although being native to America it's possible to grow them up in the Old World too!Hope you enjoy!
First photo:
Pepper seedlings in DIY minigreenhouse February 2 2012
Second photo:
2. set of leaves March 17 2012
Third photo:
Some seedlings under LED March 3 2012
Fourth photo:
They have got bigger then April 2 2012
All the seeds were sprouted in inorganic medium, diatomite literally using S/H technique.

What varieties are you growing? Any Turkish heirlooms?

They look very healthy!

Hi Mojave,
Just about 10 species/varieties! I don't grow any of Turkish heirlooms.

Capsicum annuum 'Royal Black'
 

I grow this ornamental yet edible variety just for fun and its purple/black leaves.

First photo: Seedlings in diatomite February 13 2012
Second photo: First set of true leaves February 29 2012
Third photo: Plant transferred to S/H April 4 2012
Fourth photo: Leaf
Fifth photo: Flower
Sixth Photo: Pod

Capsicum annuum 'Royal Black'
 

Plant in the ground

Today's harvest

[QUOTE=Levent;292372]Today's harvest[/QUOTE]

Nice! What are the yellow peppers? They look to be a baccatum of some sort.

Yellow pod in the middle is C. chinense 'Cumari do Para' the other three slender yellow pods are C. baccatum 'Hot Lemon'

Levent

I love your mini greenhouse for starting your seeds, great idea there. So what all do you make with your hot peppers or do you just like to eat them straight with maybe a side of cheese?

So you are from the usa but not in Turkey, very interesting.

Hi Jan,
I usually make hot sauces or eat them straight, never smoke or dry.For winter use I cut them in pieces and freeze.I'm not a big chillihead simple is better for me.
[QUOTE]Although being native to America [/QUOTE] Sorry for my poor english I meant Capsicums' origin not mine!

Capsicum baccatum 'Hot Lemon'
 

C. baccatum 'Hot Lemon' a variety from Peru.It has mild pungency, hot and tasty (lemon flavor) pods.

First photo: Cotiledon stage seedling in diatomite February 2 2012
Second photo: Transplanted to a cup February 27 2012
Third photo: Transplanted to 5 lt subirrigation pot April 4 2012
Fourth photo: Typical baccatum flower
Fifth photo:Mature pods on plant
Sixth photo:Current state of mature plant
Seventh photo: pod

Levent, you english is fine, not to worry, as I'm sure should something be really out there someone will just asked for clarification.

Hot peppers are not my thing, although I must admit I'm fasinated that folks can eat things that are so hot....LOL

C. baccatum 'Hot Lemon' stem and roots in diatomite

Growing Medium
 

[QUOTE=Levent;291312]Hi all,
I'm in Istanbul, zone 9a.I want to share my experience on Chillis.Although being native to America it's possible to grow them up in the Old World too!Hope you enjoy!
First photo:
Pepper seedlings in DIY minigreenhouse February 2 2012
Second photo:
2. set of leaves March 17 2012
Third photo:
Some seedlings under LED March 3 2012
Fourth photo:
They have got bigger then April 2 2012
All the seeds were sprouted in inorganic medium, diatomite literally using S/H technique.[/QUOTE]

Nice peppers but am curious as to what are you growing them in. Looks like gravel? You said diatomite...not familiar with that.

Hi Ken,
It's an inert inorganic medium.I hope the Wiki link below will help you to familiarize with it.
[URL]http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth[/URL]

Thanks Levent...now I'll try to find who sells it. I also Bonsai plants and this sounds like it would be great medium.

As I know it's already used as a medium in bonsai.

Short Yellow Tabasco
 

An ornamental yet edible [I]Capsicum annuum [/I]variety having medium heat pods.

First photo: seedling under LEDs February 29 2012
Second photo: transferred to subirrigation pot April 15 2012
Third photo:semiripe pod
Fourth photo:Mature plant July 2012
Fifth photo:Ripe pod

[I]Capsicum annuum[/I] 'Short Yellow Tabasco's typical annuum flower

Diatomaceous earth.

here's another link.
[url]http://www.mineralszone.com/minerals/diatomite.html[/url]

Levent, besides awesome chile's, you are quite the photographer too !

T

Thanks Tonio! Happy to hear about that you enjoyed my captures.

Capsicum chinense 'Datil'
 

Legendary chinense variety from St. Augustine, Florida.

First photo :Seedlings in diatomite under LEDs March 15 2012
Second photo : Flower
Third photo : Unripe pods
Fourth photo : Ripe pods

Capsicum annuum 'Royal Black' pod anatomy

[I]Capsicum chinense[/I] 'Datil' pod anatomy

Capsicum chinense CGN 23257
 

[I]CGN 23257 is a[/I] semi wild [I]Capsicum chinense [/I]variety from Brasil.It has upright peach colour rather hot pods.

First photo: Seedling transferred to subirrigation pot April 17 2012
Second photo: Leaf
Third photo: Typical chinense flowers
Fourth photo: Plant in subirrigation pot June 19 2012
Fifth photo: Unripe pods
Sixth photo:Ripe pods

[B][SIZE=2][I]Capsicum baccatum[/I] 'Hot Lemon' pod anatomy[/SIZE][/B]

Great pictures, keep them coming!

Thanks Mojave

[I]Capsicum chinense[/I] CGN 23257 pod anatomy

Hi Levent,

Great series of pictures! I am curious about the details of growing in Diatom. What kind of fert do you use? You mentioned Sub Irrigation, can you show us more about your exact setup? I have 2 small 2kg bags of Diatom here and a 20 litre bucket. I have recently been researching sub-irrigation. I have a couple of pepper plants called Rooster Spur that I would very much like to transplant into a portable container and Over-Winter them.

Thank you!
Gary

Hi Gary,
Sorry for the delayed replay.In early season I use 6.6.6 plus ME in late/hot season 20.20.20 plus ME fert dissolved in tap water in prescribed dose.I apply the nutrient sollution once every 3-4 waterings.
I have DIY subirrigation pots for peppers.I drilled a side hole to 2-5 lt pots which didn't have any bottom holes.About half of the setups have only diatomite as medium others have diatomite up to drenage hole level to obtain a water reservoir and the rest topped with a potting mix (30-50 % diatomite, 5-10 % perlite, completed by peat and organic fert pellets)Maintenance (watering and fertilizing) is same for both setups so the results.First 2 photos illustrate the side hole,[I] C. baccatum[/I] 'Hot Lemon' transplanted to 5 lt DIY subirrigation pot in April 2012.Last photo was taken 2 weeks ago.