Hi Everyone,

Loving the forum, thought I'd post some pictures of the chillies I'm growing this year but cant get the photos off my phone now so I'll add them later.

A quick question, I've got some Scotch Bonnet and Bhut Jolokia plants which have just started flowering. The flowers on the Scotch Bonnets don't seem to be getting pollinated, they turn yellow and fall off. I've not grown either of these varieties before and as they're in a greenhouse what's the best way to pollinate the flowers? I've been lightly tapping them which is what I've been doing with my Jalapeños and Birds eye and they're growing fruits really well.

Thanks alot
Phill

hi phil.
i am currently growing habaneros, dorsets and bhuts. They should all be self pollinating. put them in a breeze and let nature take over or do what i do on occasions and pollinate them with a small paint brush. moisten the bristles first then rub the inside of the flower. i have heard that doing this between 1.00 pm and 3 pm is the best time as the plant produces more pollen then.
good luck

i've got exactly the same problem with my jalpenos and cayennes. they've both produced lots of flowers but none of the jalpenos have turned to fruit, and i've got 4 fruits of 8 cayenne plants. is this normal? My cayennes are still producing a few flowers, but the jalpenos don't seem to be having any more.

this is my first time growing chillis and was hoping to have a bit of a stash in the freezer for winter. guess i'll have to try again next year.

somewhere within the forum i have seen this topic come up many times before. cant tell you where you will have to hunt it down. try hand pollination it has worked for me in the past
good luck

Thanks for the comments.

The Bhuts seem to be fruiting now which I'm more than happy with. I wasn't really expecting them to do very much if I'm honest. I'm trying the paint brush technique on the Scotch Bonnets but there still not taking. The flowers don't seem to have any pollen visibly in them like the other chillies I have and I cant see any on the paintbrush. Is there anything I could try climate wise or would a good feed help?

Scotch Bonnet

Lots of flowers