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Bangor,Co Down
About me
year 3 of Chilli growing

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  • Matt
Juice
Juice
hurry up sunshine....
  • Karma
  • Member since
  • Sunday, 16 January 2011 23:51
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  • 4 days ago
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5 days ago
Juice replied to the topic Re: compost in the forum.
you can add various things, pearlite, vermicilulite, horticultural sand, grit ( all available from various garden centers.) if you have bought any seed sowing compost you will find its very fine with sand sized particles in it. easy for emerging seeds to push through.
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09:28 AM
1 month ago
Juice replied to the topic Re: How long???? in the forum.
I'd wait a while longer and just keep as u r. Some seeds do take longer than others. Yours don't seem old, seed packets usually have a 2 year date. I buy a few extra plug plants for like 98p in homebase or b and q. That's a good catchup for this time of year if u suffer failure.
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Mar 23
Juice replied to the topic Re: Dry Coir Plugs in the forum.
I take the lid off when a handful have germinatEd as I use the light to grow them on, the rest hatch after as I have a moist warm environment anyway with the water in the heated propogator. I feed them from about 3 weeks, when they are a few inches high, useing a slightly weaker feed dilution. I keep them there until its too crowded just. I'll start feeding b4 potting on.

How much were ur leds? Is there a light rating? I'm using a 250w cfl light and its a good job.
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Mar 23
Juice replied to the topic Re: Pricking out etc.. in the forum.
looking good!
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Mar 22
Juice replied to the topic Re: Dry Coir Plugs in the forum.
remember all seeds can be as individual as people when it comes to germination, some go against the guides you will read. Ive noticed in 2 years of using my heated propogators that round the edges its not as warm, ie the centre of the tray warms the most, lift various ones and touch for heat, you may notice a difference and can move them about to give them their turn at heat.

I take the lid off most days for a period to remove the condensation from the lid, you'll not harm them by changing the humidity etc for say 20 minutes. keeping them permanently wet or damp can rot the seeds as well. at the very least open the air vent for a while daily. my understanding is damp warm is to get germination, once sprouted that environment can be removed a tad, ie u'll not kill em by taking the lid off.

I pour water into my heated prop to keep all plugs moist, i wet em if the bases are dry, roots seek water not dry compost. ive had no issues so far. the water i use is from a bottle that i let sit and get to room temparature, to avoid root shock and the heated prop will take less time to get the temp back up. ive cfl light above it so i need to compensate for evaporation a bit more. i use empty milk carton etc and make up a feed in the water, so i have loads sitting ready at room temp.

this works for me, maybe worth considering.
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Mar 22
Juice replied to the topic Re: How long???? in the forum.
patience is a virtue, they say! some gardens centres or b&q do cheap heated ones for 15 quid, and i find they work well.
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Mar 22
Juice replied to the topic Re: Too soon to put outside? in the forum.
same, here, ive some out in the mini plastic greenhouse, but, im watching the news for frost warnings and i run them inside overnight.
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Mar 22
2 months ago
Juice replied to the topic Re: Suggestions Please.... in the forum.
i chop and freeze them, ready for tossing into a pot, works well.
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Mar 13
Juice replied to the topic Re: Advice wanted for drying chilis in the forum.
Im going to make a chilli rope this year, should the gods bless me with heaps of chillis. I always leave a few just sitting on a tray on top of the microwave and they dry out over a month or so. thats just a space out of the way for me.
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Mar 13
Juice created a new topic My Grow Setup in the forum.
same setup as last year, one 250 watt CFL light, reflector and 8 watt heated propogator base, just got 4 plug plants today so set this up in 30 mins, to bring them on, the tomatoes are going to be added soon as well , i found last year this worked well to grow them in these dull days, timer is from 8am to 10pm, dont fancy the feds busting my door down!

i'll update to show the progess of these 4 plugs, 7 pot, naga, and 2 others ive not heard off
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Mar 06
Juice created a new topic Using Peat in the forum.
Ive read about peat, on its own not enough nutrients to grow well, is good mixed for airation in compost, lightens up compost, soil etc, and its bad use of the lovely bogs for wildlife etc, so why i wonder are seedlings in B&Q marked on the label as being in 90% peat?

wonder why they choose that instead of other compost etc

who mixes it in their potting compost?
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Mar 06
Juice replied to the topic Re: my early starts for 2012 season in the forum.
ive read top watering creates mould etc on the surface, like mine has, and i top water,lol
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Mar 06
Juice replied to the topic Re: One pot kit advice in the forum.
my first plant was an apache from B&Q, and it was just one plant stem and it probably was about 12 inches high by year 2 and bushy and 50 fruits, so i'd separate them out and repot each, and have 5 plants. just take the shaped compost outta the pot and tease it apart, before the roots get all tangled. The apache is hot, but i felt lacked taste or depth, for me, i then went on like others to grow a wide variety, hotwax was good for pizzas and spag bol, and last year i grew the peter pen*s,lol, it was a funny plant!
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Mar 06