Ultra 'Sweet 'n Heat' Pepper Garden-- 8/15/19

Blarg! Haven't had the chance to update this!

So, I think we are on Day 18 (give or take).

Both the Sweet Heat and Sureno sprouted after about a week to 9/10 days. Took off the grow domes at about 12 days. The second (back up) sweet heat pod did not/has not sprouted yet. So, I am glad I planted two as an insurance policy. [As an aside: my Park's unsprouted pods often get slimy green top...algae? Is this bad to leave? Should I wipe off?]

AG 'nutes were added Friday (2 week mark). As you can see the Sureno (back left) has THREE that sprouted. Will likely thin down to one in the day or two. The Sweet Heat (Back left) eventually sprouted a few. Will also thin down.  Here are the little darlings:


20190902_112141 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr


There is an errant Chard pod also hanging out. My 2nd chard was not sprouting in my Bounty Greens Garden, so planted a new one and moved this one over to see if the brighter lights will do anything.

As an added bonus, here is a progress pic from their early days:

20190826_101557 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr


They grow up so fast!

The stem looks like a light seeker.  Here is what Mike had said about them:

Look who decided to join the party... 21 days in!



20190906_153817 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr


This is the 2nd Sweet Heat pod that I planted. The first (and only) time I grew Sweet Heat, it did not germinate so this time around I decided to plant two as an insurance policy. If they both grow to maturity, I will have to move of them to a pot and keep between the two machines. For the next 2-3 weeks, day time temps should be warm enough to keep outsie, but overnight temps drop into the 40s and 50s now here. There is a small space between my two ultras that I kept my herbs during the winter. I am suspicious of this late germinator though. The pod has tons of algae on the top. I dabbed some H2O2, but still wonder if it will interfere with its growth.

Anyhow a nice surprise!

Day 30 something:

So, this is coming along well. The Sweet Heat is getting bushy and the leaves look gorgeous. Hard to really see, but there are some tiny buds that will be flowers sometime soon:


2019-09-17_04-57-17 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr

2019-09-17_04-58-24 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr


The Sureno's stem has bulked up some, so less spindly, but still kind of leggy. The leaves are looking curled and kind of saggy/less firm.

2019-09-17_04-57-57 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr


Not sure if this is something to be concerned about, but I won't worry. The plant is growing well. I am not able to really find many photos of the plant online, so not sure what the leaves are "supposed" to look like. I know sometimes pepper leaves curling under can mean something, but I am not really gonna read into it (unless someone tells me this is something to be concerned about )

The photo was taken mid-day. The 4 week mark was last week, but did not do an R&R. I may do one at 6 weeks if things are still looking droopy. I noticed today it is looking perkier-- it is mostly the older leaves, so can always trim. I am not TOO concerned, but thought I would throw it out there.    

I am doing the 8 ml of nutes as per the AG guidelines. 

Day 50:

These are REALLY growing nicely! 


2019-10-04_03-52-04 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr


Since the 2nd Sweet Heat actually grew and is looking good (despite very far behind in growth), I move the Sureno to its own pot a few days ago:


2019-10-04_03-53-06 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr


It seems to have survived. Although...am sort of wondering if I should have done this. Up until this past weekend, we were still getting some sun and mild temps. Now suddenly this week, the sun has not come out since last Saturday and its been cold, rainy, and cloudy. Anyhow, I have it behind the Bounty Salad Garden in the kitchen now to get its light. If/when the sun comes out will put it outside during the days, etc. It has some flowers going on it. The leaves still look 'weepy', but I think that is just how the plant is.  
I had to remove it as it is 17" tall and the Sweet Heat is only at 9" or 10".  So I felt the hood height difference might impact. Hopefully I did not make the wrong choice.

The larger Sweet Heat is starting to flower...with a bunch of buds forming, so should be seeing a ton of flowers soon:

2019-10-04_03-52-42 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr


Here are some progress pics:

9/23 [Day 38 or so]:

2019-09-23_11-21-48 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr

and a week later on 9/30:

2019-09-30_09-09-14 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr

2019-09-30_09-09-44 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr

Once some peppers start to grow, I will update. I think I need to clean up the Sweat Heat's huge amount of leaves and undergrowth to make room for the peppers and flowers. This one is definitely healthier looking this my first go-around of Sweet Heats back in the spring.

My smaller Sweet Heats produced a lot of peppers.  For a small plant it does its job are giving you them.

Here are photos I took toward the end of last week (10/25).

The Sweet Heat(s):


2019-10-25_11-21-34 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr

2019-10-25_11-22-14 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr

Tons of flowers and peppers growing (hard to really show in the photo as the green all blend in....

Here is the little one:

2019-10-25_11-22-59 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr


The Sureno, with several peppers growing (3 or 4 last I counted):

2019-10-25_11-24-05 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr

2019-10-25_11-24-35 by Aaron Blasyak, on Flickr

Overall going strong!