Smoking chillies...

[Bluepete]

And so the saga continues. The chilis are now taking over, some are 3 feet high and it's a pain keeping up on the pollination every evening (ooer missus!)
I have taken the first crop of pasilla bajio, some of which are about 8 inches long and they are currenly in the smoker, which is new today! It works a treat and smells really good too!

Most importantly though, the super hot, burn the skin off your tongue and make you wish for beer slushys Bih Jolokia are flowering and are being pollinated all in their hundred! The bigest is only about 1cm yet, but there should be one hell of a crop!

The smoker;



Early Jalapenos by the ton



Baby hot stuff



Pete

Looking good.

[Bluepete]

Originally Posted by sarah

Looking good.

Ta very much,

Oh, and the new toy to cook them on!

A gas bbq?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! LOL!

I had a slight disaster- you see, Burt broke in 2 when I was repotting recently. I put the severed top half in a pot and with some rooting hormone the next day. Now I have 3 chilli plants- Burt, Ernie and Klutz.

Sadly, Klutz withered away over 2 weeks. However- I trimmed a lot off and left just stem. There are a few little shoots appearing, so I hope to have Englands first Phoenix chilli coming soon!

Burt, however- has properly bushed out now- the root to stem ratio is pretty high. Am hoping for a bumper crop later this year!


Quick question for those in the know- is it possible to keep an annual plant on as a perenial? Will it flower again next year if I do?

[Bluepete]

Originally Posted by thedonal

Burt, quick question for those in the know- is it possible to keep an annual plant on as a perenial? Will it flower again next year if I do?

Yep, you can keep chilis, you juct need to trim them right down and keep them warm and only slightly damp over winter. Come spring, lots of fertiliser and water, warmth and tcl and off you go again!

Never tried it, but read about it and plan on trying it myself.

Pete

Whats the craic with smoking them guys? Is this during the growing process to aid them or is it post picked for self satisfaction? Never heard of smoking Chillis before.

[Bluepete]

A well rolled chili smoked in a quiet moment is a pleasure to any true gentleman!


In all honesty, it's a flavour thing. Smoked chili makes chipotle, which is a superb ingredient in sauces and general cooking. Use Mesquite, Hickory or like me, cut down a pear tree and use that instead! Just keep the smoke under 90C or they get cooked. Then dry in the oven at about 70 - 80C overnight.

Pete.

PS, hows the leg?

Originally Posted by BluePete

A well rolled chili smoked in a quiet moment is a pleasure to any true gentleman!


In all honesty, it's a flavour thing. Smoked chili makes chipotle, which is a superb ingredient in sauces and general cooking. Use Mesquite, Hickory or like me, cut down a pear tree and use that instead! Just keep the smoke under 90C or they get cooked. Then dry in the oven at about 70 - 80C overnight.

Pete.

PS, hows the leg?

Getting there mate, not quite back at work yet but targetting a return next month. Life at the end of the tunnel for sure. Hoping to be crutch free in a month. Last op next week Hurrah!

[Bluepete]

Good lad! Well done.

Originally Posted by BluePete

Yep, you can keep chilis, you juct need to trim them right down and keep them warm and only slightly damp over winter. Come spring, lots of fertiliser and water, warmth and tcl and off you go again!

Never tried it, but read about it and plan on trying it myself.

Pete

Blindin'! Cheers! I've grown rather fond of these plants and the sagas I've had with them!