Femmefatalii's Diary

[Femmefatalii]

Well, in case anyone happens to be interested in what I'm doing here in Canada...

Planted 24 varieties in moistened certified organic soilless mix on January 1, 2006. No presoaking of seeds. Covered the seed tray in a large plastic bag and placed it on a heating pad. So far, so boring.

As of January 7 (6 days):

Aji Amarillo (C. baccatum)      1 seedling from 8 seeds planted
Aji Cachucha (C. chinense)      5/12
Aji Cristal (C. baccatum)      1/6
Aji Dulce (C. chinense)      4/12
Aji Dulce #2 (C. chinense)      4/12
Aji Rojo    (C. baccatum)      3/8
Amazon Chile Roma (C. chinense)   4/12
Atarado (C. chinense)         0/12
Bishop's Crown (C. baccatum)      6/8
Bradley's Bahamian (C. frutescens)   6/12
Cambuci (C. baccatum)      7/8
Criolla Sella (C. baccatum)      4/8
Datil Sweet (C. chinense)      0/12
Dong Xuan Market (C. baccatum)   1/8
Lemon Drop (C. baccatum)      5/6
Rain Forest (C. baccatum)      1/6
Rocoto, Red (C. pubescens)      0/6
Rocoto, Yellow (C. pubescens)      0/6
PI 355812 (C. pubescens)      0/6
PI 387838 (C. pubescens)      0/6
St Martin's Seasoning (C. chinense)   0/12
Starfish (C. baccatum)      5/8
Trinidad Perfume (C. chinense)      0/12
Zimbabwe Bird (C. annuum)      0/9

In addition to species differences, discrepancies in germination may be due in part to old or desiccated seed and the drying out off one cell pack near the opening of the bag. Seed tray is now uncovered under lights but still on the heating pad.

The season has begun. Hurrah!

Jennifer, plotting the next round

[Aji Inferno]

Quite a collection you have - should mean a very, very happy Autumn and harvest time!

Your climate, although probably more continental than ours (hotter summers, colder winters) should be pretty close to that of Finland, with pretty much the same challenges. It's going to be interesting to see what varieties do well here and there!

Good luck with the new season!

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the welcome to your site!

Many areas of Canada are more continental than Finland; a few are very temperate and rarely freeze or get snow. Canada's garden zones range from 0 to 9! I am on a large body of water so also have a lake effect which moderates the extremes. This week's temperatures are around or above 0 Celcius. Sari and JohnF have much harsher climates. That's why I think that comparing my growing conditions with some of yours in Finland should prove valuable.

24 varieties is my starting bunch. I'll do another round with chinenses and, if possible, one of those rogue baccatum Quintisho on January 29th. The bulk of the annuum, including many sweet peppers, won't be started until February 27, along with herbs, greens, and early tomatoes.

I suspect that you in Finland will keep us in North America on our toes. The ace up our sleeve is the all too modest John F. Do you know this incredible photo gallery?
http://www.pbase.com/chiles400

Cheers and best wishes for a great growing season!!
Jennifer

[Gekko]

I can see that you germinate during the rising moon. Some older people here in Finland have told me about that system. Have you really noticed any differencies in germination then? I was wondering if it is science or something else...  :roll:

[Aji Inferno]

Thank you for the welcome to your site!

Many areas of Canada are more continental than Finland; a few are very temperate and rarely freeze or get snow. Canada's garden zones range from 0 to 9! I am on a large body of water so also have a lake effect which moderates the extremes. This week's temperatures are around or above 0 Celcius. Sari and JohnF have much harsher climates. That's why I think that comparing my growing conditions with some of yours in Finland should prove valuable.

24 varieties is my starting bunch. I'll do another round with chinenses and, if possible, one of those rogue baccatum Quintisho on January 29th. The bulk of the annuum, including many sweet peppers, won't be started until February 27, along with herbs, greens, and early tomatoes.

I suspect that you in Finland will keep us in North America on our toes. The ace up our sleeve is the all too modest John F. Do you know this incredible photo gallery?
http://www.pbase.com/chiles400

Cheers and best wishes for a great growing season!!
Jennifer

It's actually +1 C here in Helsinki area now... And hardly snow at all on the South-West coast of Finland where I was born... Quite a surprise to many tourists who only see how far in North Finland sits. Then again, you'll find the Winter Wonderland in Lappland and even in the Tampere region (about 150 km North from Helsinki). The Gulf stream does strange things... Our problem here isn't severe winter - mostly it's quite mild. The problems are Spring and Autumn. The Spring comes late here and can offer nasty, freezing surprises as late as in May.

The growing season is short - from May to September outdoors, with luck somewhat longer. For example, big baccatums don't usually have enough time to ripen when grown outdoors here. In glassed balconies and greenhouses, the situation is, of course, completely different. For example, I have about 15 chili plants on my balcony right now. The tough ones... The temps there range from +1 C to +7 C. Capsicum flexuosums, cardenasiis and eximiums seem to have a time of their lives. Flexuosums actually bloom...  Pubescens' do well, too.

John F. is definitely a very respectable force in chili - that can't be questioned! Our own "secret weapon" is Fatalii (//www.fatalii.net). One look at his winter-warm greenhouse filled with Rocotos, and most people's life will never be quite the same.  I thought I knew something about capsicums until I met him... The great thing is that we have all these great people doing this crazy stuff together! :-)