Thank you Elisabeth. And thank you too for being an inspiration since I first laid hands on your European Peasant Cookery when I was finding my feet in the kitchen. Those chillis were a present from a friend who - with the luck of the novice - had grown really good chillis in his first year but in the absence of plant labels had made a sketch of which varieties were which and promptly lost it, and having sown all the seeds in each packet he had no idea what they were!
One of my favourite experiences when I had my land and poly-tunnel in Cornwall was growing chilies. I used to set the seeds in Jiffy 7's on New Years Day and had one of 'those' grow tents and a light to get them really started so by summer they were 5ft tall and had kilo's of chilies per plant.
Now I have a more urban life again I look wistfully at a spot in my garden earmarked for a greenhouse but as yet one hasn't reached the top of the priority list. I tried my windowsill last year with reasonable success... I daresay I'll do the same this year.
Padron's were one of the varieties I grew for BBQ in the summer, my favorites were Rocoto, Sugar Rush Peach and Malawi Piquant - all reasonably mild but nicely flavoured
Hi Adrian, thank you for being part of it and commenting - great to have you along. Sowing on New Year's Day is the work of an optimist, even one who lived in Cornwall! Whenever I go early it feels such a commitment to that ongoing relationship with the plants - making sure they aren't held up or checked by the cold etc etc - but my is it worth it if you can get them through the chill and growing well. I love your choices - so much to love about milder varieties when you grow them yourself.
Wow Adrian- how did you use all those chillies ? I grow 3 or 4 plants a year but still don’t manage to use them all (apart from the padrons/ you can never have enough padrons)
Mainly sold them to Small batch sauce makers, plus made my own things to sell to family and friends - Mango and Amarillo sauce was very popular, also cowboy candy.
I have found the same as you Mark, the more you grow them the more you need more next year
Will indeed be planting our chillies soon, though living in a Northumbrian frost pocket where the sun doesn't appear over the tree tops til March, we are a few weeks behind.
Favourite variety is Ring of Fire 🔥 (name says it all 😂) with seeds collected each year and the resulting crop frozen.
Tomato seeds also saved by smearing on kitchen paper and dried. Must write a post on this too!
Mark, I’m trying to grow some Carolina Reapers at the moment. I had success with Ghost Chillis, but these Reapers just will not make an appearance. And I splashed out on a heat mat. I blame Brexit.
Lovely post, Mark - I only have a windowsill, but I'll give it a whirl (gorgeous pic of pointy chillis - maybe the fiery Calabrians used in 'nduja?
Thank you Elisabeth. And thank you too for being an inspiration since I first laid hands on your European Peasant Cookery when I was finding my feet in the kitchen. Those chillis were a present from a friend who - with the luck of the novice - had grown really good chillis in his first year but in the absence of plant labels had made a sketch of which varieties were which and promptly lost it, and having sown all the seeds in each packet he had no idea what they were!
Hi Mark, I'm enjoying the posts.
One of my favourite experiences when I had my land and poly-tunnel in Cornwall was growing chilies. I used to set the seeds in Jiffy 7's on New Years Day and had one of 'those' grow tents and a light to get them really started so by summer they were 5ft tall and had kilo's of chilies per plant.
Now I have a more urban life again I look wistfully at a spot in my garden earmarked for a greenhouse but as yet one hasn't reached the top of the priority list. I tried my windowsill last year with reasonable success... I daresay I'll do the same this year.
Padron's were one of the varieties I grew for BBQ in the summer, my favorites were Rocoto, Sugar Rush Peach and Malawi Piquant - all reasonably mild but nicely flavoured
Hi Adrian, thank you for being part of it and commenting - great to have you along. Sowing on New Year's Day is the work of an optimist, even one who lived in Cornwall! Whenever I go early it feels such a commitment to that ongoing relationship with the plants - making sure they aren't held up or checked by the cold etc etc - but my is it worth it if you can get them through the chill and growing well. I love your choices - so much to love about milder varieties when you grow them yourself.
Wow Adrian- how did you use all those chillies ? I grow 3 or 4 plants a year but still don’t manage to use them all (apart from the padrons/ you can never have enough padrons)
It's funny you should say that Amanda, but I've greatly upped my chilli needs since making more sauces etc etc. I wonder if Adrain's got other reasons
delayed reactions from me... apologies
Mainly sold them to Small batch sauce makers, plus made my own things to sell to family and friends - Mango and Amarillo sauce was very popular, also cowboy candy.
I have found the same as you Mark, the more you grow them the more you need more next year
Ha ha, yes...your need expands beyond supply no matter how vast the supply! I like the sound of those recipes very much
Such pretty, colourful photos of chillies
thank you Caroline
Will indeed be planting our chillies soon, though living in a Northumbrian frost pocket where the sun doesn't appear over the tree tops til March, we are a few weeks behind.
Favourite variety is Ring of Fire 🔥 (name says it all 😂) with seeds collected each year and the resulting crop frozen.
Tomato seeds also saved by smearing on kitchen paper and dried. Must write a post on this too!
You must!
Mark, I’m trying to grow some Carolina Reapers at the moment. I had success with Ghost Chillis, but these Reapers just will not make an appearance. And I splashed out on a heat mat. I blame Brexit.
Brexit or old seed - one or the other
So happy to hear you appreciated EPC, Mark, and that it led you into the kitchen! And glad we can exchange news and views...