Chilli Chirps
@chillichirps.bsky.social
I grow things. Often chillies. And make things. Often sauces.
London, UK
London, UK
What does it smell like? My Berbere Brown are great, I've not even ground them yet but you pick up the scent as soon as you walk into the kitchen. And my sense of smell these days is shot 😂
November 19, 2025 at 7:42 PM
What does it smell like? My Berbere Brown are great, I've not even ground them yet but you pick up the scent as soon as you walk into the kitchen. And my sense of smell these days is shot 😂
It's a fantastic result. You are 🎆 Mr Chinense UK 2025! 🎆
Mine all came in dribs and drabs. I'm sure one problem was too much nitrogen. I recycled compost, and likely overcompensated with the added nutrients. Later types lacked the time to do all that growing and also set fruit.
Live and learn 🙃
Mine all came in dribs and drabs. I'm sure one problem was too much nitrogen. I recycled compost, and likely overcompensated with the added nutrients. Later types lacked the time to do all that growing and also set fruit.
Live and learn 🙃
November 19, 2025 at 7:37 PM
It's a fantastic result. You are 🎆 Mr Chinense UK 2025! 🎆
Mine all came in dribs and drabs. I'm sure one problem was too much nitrogen. I recycled compost, and likely overcompensated with the added nutrients. Later types lacked the time to do all that growing and also set fruit.
Live and learn 🙃
Mine all came in dribs and drabs. I'm sure one problem was too much nitrogen. I recycled compost, and likely overcompensated with the added nutrients. Later types lacked the time to do all that growing and also set fruit.
Live and learn 🙃
You're right, it's bound to be more complicated than I'm colouring it. On reflection, mine seemed to falter early in the year, when it WAS very hot, took off for a week or two when it cooled, then did very little for the gloomy majority of days. Maybe they're just quite picky.
November 19, 2025 at 7:22 PM
You're right, it's bound to be more complicated than I'm colouring it. On reflection, mine seemed to falter early in the year, when it WAS very hot, took off for a week or two when it cooled, then did very little for the gloomy majority of days. Maybe they're just quite picky.
You got snow! It's just cold, wet and windy here, a grim combination that made for frozen fingers when I went out snipping earlier.
That fatalii is amazing! 🤩
That fatalii is amazing! 🤩
November 19, 2025 at 5:16 PM
You got snow! It's just cold, wet and windy here, a grim combination that made for frozen fingers when I went out snipping earlier.
That fatalii is amazing! 🤩
That fatalii is amazing! 🤩
...And that's the patio. This lot should keep me busy for a while.
November 19, 2025 at 4:53 PM
...And that's the patio. This lot should keep me busy for a while.
Same here. Not tabasco actually, mine's tehrani, but C. frutescens all the same. I get the impression this species isn't a fan of overcast summers.
November 19, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Same here. Not tabasco actually, mine's tehrani, but C. frutescens all the same. I get the impression this species isn't a fan of overcast summers.
That was actually my daughter's breakfast yesterday, although for reasons I don't fully understand she refuses to butter it first.
November 18, 2025 at 1:58 PM
That was actually my daughter's breakfast yesterday, although for reasons I don't fully understand she refuses to butter it first.
Absolutely! This was from a pot. A big one, mind, but that's because I wanted a big plant. Last year's managed fine in a smaller pot.
November 18, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Absolutely! This was from a pot. A big one, mind, but that's because I wanted a big plant. Last year's managed fine in a smaller pot.
Thank you! I wish I knew what it was. Then again, maybe it's okay to not know.
November 17, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Thank you! I wish I knew what it was. Then again, maybe it's okay to not know.
Wow, that's insane! Not unreasonable to be caught out, it was ~24C when we went away at Easter! But clear skies n that...
Deffo a heat island here, so we're less liable to fluctuations like that. Actually, it's more like thermal mass; after a few days the magic kinda wears off. But it's a buffer.
Deffo a heat island here, so we're less liable to fluctuations like that. Actually, it's more like thermal mass; after a few days the magic kinda wears off. But it's a buffer.
November 17, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Wow, that's insane! Not unreasonable to be caught out, it was ~24C when we went away at Easter! But clear skies n that...
Deffo a heat island here, so we're less liable to fluctuations like that. Actually, it's more like thermal mass; after a few days the magic kinda wears off. But it's a buffer.
Deffo a heat island here, so we're less liable to fluctuations like that. Actually, it's more like thermal mass; after a few days the magic kinda wears off. But it's a buffer.
FWIW I went mega-cheap, ~£30, as I'm a) experimenting and b) gifting it to the Community Garden (no space in my own cupboards!)
My experience so far is: set the temp low. I think Tufty has it right. I went 55, following online suggestions, and the lower trays got bleached to giraffism.
My experience so far is: set the temp low. I think Tufty has it right. I went 55, following online suggestions, and the lower trays got bleached to giraffism.
November 17, 2025 at 9:33 PM
FWIW I went mega-cheap, ~£30, as I'm a) experimenting and b) gifting it to the Community Garden (no space in my own cupboards!)
My experience so far is: set the temp low. I think Tufty has it right. I went 55, following online suggestions, and the lower trays got bleached to giraffism.
My experience so far is: set the temp low. I think Tufty has it right. I went 55, following online suggestions, and the lower trays got bleached to giraffism.
I'm in London, so it's rare that late frosts are a problem (though not unheard of - I've fond memories of running around a few years back putting upturned buckets over all the community garden plot-holder's squash plants in mid May!)
What kinda latitude are you at?
What kinda latitude are you at?
November 17, 2025 at 9:16 PM
I'm in London, so it's rare that late frosts are a problem (though not unheard of - I've fond memories of running around a few years back putting upturned buckets over all the community garden plot-holder's squash plants in mid May!)
What kinda latitude are you at?
What kinda latitude are you at?
Always worth revisiting and re-evaluating though!
Started my annuums way too late this year, but I AM down with staggered starts - just not so extreme 😂
More outdoors - don't pack greenhouse with 🪴 that need space more than heat.
Big baccatums in the ground, but with mega-drainage.
Started my annuums way too late this year, but I AM down with staggered starts - just not so extreme 😂
More outdoors - don't pack greenhouse with 🪴 that need space more than heat.
Big baccatums in the ground, but with mega-drainage.
November 17, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Always worth revisiting and re-evaluating though!
Started my annuums way too late this year, but I AM down with staggered starts - just not so extreme 😂
More outdoors - don't pack greenhouse with 🪴 that need space more than heat.
Big baccatums in the ground, but with mega-drainage.
Started my annuums way too late this year, but I AM down with staggered starts - just not so extreme 😂
More outdoors - don't pack greenhouse with 🪴 that need space more than heat.
Big baccatums in the ground, but with mega-drainage.
The ripe chilli remains green, but as can be seen here, the inside flesh yellows as it matures, sometimes with a hint of orange. This shows through the skin, creating various degrees of olive, indicating that it's ready to pick.
November 17, 2025 at 9:04 PM
The ripe chilli remains green, but as can be seen here, the inside flesh yellows as it matures, sometimes with a hint of orange. This shows through the skin, creating various degrees of olive, indicating that it's ready to pick.
It's been an odd year, for sure. I was watching an early Autumn Gardner's World last night, when they talked about the drought, and the hottest summer on record. And it sure as heck was dry, but I had to cast my mind waaaay back to remember the early summer heatwaves.
November 17, 2025 at 8:48 PM
It's been an odd year, for sure. I was watching an early Autumn Gardner's World last night, when they talked about the drought, and the hottest summer on record. And it sure as heck was dry, but I had to cast my mind waaaay back to remember the early summer heatwaves.
Nice - what's your longest?
November 17, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Nice - what's your longest?
Cracking Naga haul, BTW! I think there's something wrong with my Dorset Naga seeds, this is the second year I've had nothing and it's since I used the seeds I saved. Flowers seem to drop before the pollen pops on the stamens. Wonder if I inadvertently made a useless cross 🤔
November 17, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Cracking Naga haul, BTW! I think there's something wrong with my Dorset Naga seeds, this is the second year I've had nothing and it's since I used the seeds I saved. Flowers seem to drop before the pollen pops on the stamens. Wonder if I inadvertently made a useless cross 🤔
I should have pulled all my outdoors today, but I didn't get around to it. Mostly green annuums and baccatums, destined for a green ferment, so I don't suppose it'll hurt too much if they do get bitten by the freeze.
November 17, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I should have pulled all my outdoors today, but I didn't get around to it. Mostly green annuums and baccatums, destined for a green ferment, so I don't suppose it'll hurt too much if they do get bitten by the freeze.
I'd say that looks like a quality mix. Since the heat comes from the placenta, not the seeds, their main contribution is presumably texture and appearance. So add a lot of seeds and it starts to looks like filler.
To my mind this is perfect. Not everyone will agree, but that's okay 😊
To my mind this is perfect. Not everyone will agree, but that's okay 😊
November 17, 2025 at 9:53 AM
I'd say that looks like a quality mix. Since the heat comes from the placenta, not the seeds, their main contribution is presumably texture and appearance. So add a lot of seeds and it starts to looks like filler.
To my mind this is perfect. Not everyone will agree, but that's okay 😊
To my mind this is perfect. Not everyone will agree, but that's okay 😊
Much as I like the look of Yaki Blue, I'm gonna try the regular Naga Morich, because I love that smoky naga flavour and it's time for a rest from the Dorset. And I'll throw a Poblano into the mix, because they'll be good in the smoker.
So we're both doing the pumpkin, choc cherry and testarossa 👍
So we're both doing the pumpkin, choc cherry and testarossa 👍
November 16, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Much as I like the look of Yaki Blue, I'm gonna try the regular Naga Morich, because I love that smoky naga flavour and it's time for a rest from the Dorset. And I'll throw a Poblano into the mix, because they'll be good in the smoker.
So we're both doing the pumpkin, choc cherry and testarossa 👍
So we're both doing the pumpkin, choc cherry and testarossa 👍