Thai Pepper Help!

21 years ago

Hello all,

I am new to gardening and this is basically my first season growing anything. I usually post on the container, balcony and herb forums, cause I am mostly growing herbs in pots on my balcony.

I wasn't gonna try veggies this year since I am still learning, but someone gave me a pepper plant in late Sept(supposed to be thai pepper but they are not sure). I potted it up but I wasn't sure it would do much this late in the year.

The guys who gave it to me were growing it hydroponically. I hardened it off a bit then planted it in an 8" pot with a potting mix made with coconut husk chips, cocopeat, a bit of compost and some hadite. I added some Foxfarm 5-5-5 slow release organic fert to the mix and I crushed up an eggshell and put it in the planting hole. I think I may have added some Rabbit Hill Farms "Buds and Blooms" 6-8-4 fert too. I have been fertilizing with Neptunes Harvest Seaweed/Fish emulsion 2-3-1 every other week or so.

I was mostly just thinking in terms of keeping it alive through the winter and didnt expect much else. Well much to my surprise, I am starting to see little buds and flowers! I have learned quite a bit about herbs and stuff but I have no idea what to do with my pepper plant now. Here's a picture of what it looks like today (you cant see the buds but they are there!):

I would especially appreciate advice from anyone in the Central TX area who knows about the weather patterns here. My balcony is basically concrete/masonry and faces west so it retains heat in the afternoons. The temps seem to be about 5 degrees higher than the recorded temps. Today it was in the high 80's and the lowest temps for the next week are in the 70's. So what I want to know is if it is too late in the year to realistically expect my plant to produce any peppers before it gets too cold? If so, is there anything else I should be doing or feeding it to help it along? Or should I just keep doing what I am doing and concentrate on getting it through the winter? (I have some row cover and bubble wrap to insulate the pots)

Thanks in advance for any help!

Lydia

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Comments (10)

koolguymike
21 years ago
I would say when it starts growing slower because of the lowered temperature you would want to slowly bring them inside. You do this slowly so the plant can get used to the lower light. Put in a south window if possible but the balcony window will be fine. Do the same in spring putting it outside and you will get a great bunch of chiles. I think you have it fed good. This fall I killed a few plants bringing them in and really shocked the others cause I gave them way too little light. The peppers wont need any more food till spring I would guess. I am not sure of your weather but chances are you wont get any this year.

Michael
katwomn59
Original Author
21 years ago
Thanks for the info Michael. I dont have room indoors for any plants and I dont get much direct sunlight anyway, so my pepper will have to tough it out outside. Hopefully it will survive and I will have chilis next year!
Lydia
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twilightsglow
21 years ago
If they've started to blossom now, you might get a few that set. But don't expect much in terms of size of the "fruit." They will probably stay tiny b/c of the colder weather to come at the end of the month/December. It should stay in the 80s here for another week at least. And the high seventies aren't too bad for the plant either. Our average first frost is at the beginning of December.

If you put twinkle lights on it, or cover it during freezing temps, you might be able to keep it outside. If not, just start some by seed by Christmas time or in January. You should be able to pot them outside the first of March.
byron
21 years ago
Don't fertilizer anymore, excess nitrogen can delay fruit set and ripening
HoosierCheroKee
21 years ago
Lydia,

Can you take the plant to work? Is there a suitable place at work to winter the plant? That's where mine are going.

Bill
mucbean
20 years ago
I just bought a thai pepper plant and planted it outside. I live in Southwest Florida(Bonita Springs). I was wondering how it will do at night (temperatures in the 50's and 60's). I also was wondering about the brutal summer months. Any suggestions?
katwomn59
Original Author
20 years ago
Thanks for the advice all! I am clearing out the storage closet on my balcony. I thought I would put it in there on freezing nights and take it out during the day. I dont think we get very many freezing days down here.
Lydia
katwomn59
Original Author
20 years ago
Look what I just found!

I am soooo excited! No freezing nights predicted just now. Daytime temps in the low 70's high 60's. Maybe I will get a few more before it gets too cold! I've just harvested my lemongrass and have my own Thai lime tree. If I get a few more peppers, I am gonna use them to make some Tom Yung Goong!

Lydia
plantersvilletx
20 years ago
Lydia
Do you have a friend or neighbor that has a garage? Many times sharing the fruit of the labor does wonders.
Jamiev143_yahoo_com
15 years ago
I planted a Thai pepper plant in my garden but not exactly sure when to harvest, and actually not sure if that is what it is at all. They are very tiny, but they are already changing to a red color. There are several of them. I just need help determining what I'm dealing with.