One year on (almost) and haven't had...

...the motivation to do much of anything capsicum. The fact is, I've been exploring, cooking, salsa making, pickling, Thai capsicum. Which has given me a new appreciation of the variety of types, flavors, and heat levels (some of which are very respectably hot). I've gotten some e-mails, which I do promptly answer. Cheers...

Well, stating the obvious; I've been MIA...

Sorry, but growing here is a constant challenge (as should be obvious) and I'll be giving it another go here in September or October.
It seems it's one thing (insects) or another (bad seeds) and I just get worn out battling the galoots.
I know I've been remiss in follow through lately; but there has been absolutely nothing to report.
All of my past posts are relevant and should be at least a guide for ways to deal with the many, myriad, challenges to successful growing of non-native peppers.
It is possible that one can only grow for a season and then must break so the insects and soil can not set a pattern. My first year the fruit fly's (not like in the west[these are vile bastards that drill and lay eggs]) were not a problem. The second year they 100% destroyed every pepper. So, one has to be flexible and go with whatever flow nature dictates.
Cheers and thank you to my loyal followers; my e-mail works and I answer it asap. I've been re-miss here and please forgive me that.
Cheers again and all the best; grow on...

Happy Winter Solstice; 2012: 21 Dec 11:12 (UTC)

And no seeds sprouted; it's been 15 days, hmm...
Time to e-mail Nichols and find out what's going on. I'm going to plant more seeds, probably tomorrow.
This reminds me of when I first started: The germination rates were abysmal, but in the end it all worked.
Cheers.

Planted Six Jalapeno and 8 Caribbean Reds Today

The first 4 just refused to germinate. I used some old coir pucks that had been used before; so this could be a reason they didn't germinate.
Today, I used brand new ones which have been excellent in the past.
My window of opportunity is closing fast, as the optimum growing season here is from December through March 1st; after that it just gets too hot.
My wife has been doing a stellar job of making compost. This will make up the bulk of my potting soil when I'm ready to pot the seedlings. Cheers.

Not looking good...

...zero germination of the Jalapeno seeds. Nuts! I'll have to order from England or the states.
I'll give them a few more days; but I think it's unlikely anything will change.

Yesterday, the 27th, I pre-soaked...

...a batch of seeds (Jalapeno) in a growth hormone I bought at an agricultural supply company. 5ml/1lt. of water and soak for 30 minutes. Remove from the solution and dry completely. When they dried out, I then planted them in coconut coir.
It's also for rooting cuttings; which I tried on a cutting from our Avocado tree. This was yesterday also. I may try it on the three surviving Costa Rican red Habaneros still in the garden.
The bottle of hormone is all in Thai, so I can't really say what it's called or what's in it. I'm pretty sure it's not

gibberellic acid though.

Okay, I've been a lazy sod...

...and will be germinating more seeds this week; well, at least trying. Normally this isn't a problem for me; so we'll see...

Seeds...

I received a couple of hundred Jalapeno seeds from a fellow up in northeast of Thailand. I planted a dozen of them a week ago and none has sprouted. Not sure why; but I'll do a peroxide pre-soak on the next batch to see if that helps.
I'd be interested to know if they were dried naturally or with heat. We'll see; luckily I have a few hundred to experiment with.
I love Jalapenos and really want to see this project go forward.
More in a few days...

Winter, Even here in Thailand...

...and as such; things are dormant. But it is warming up day by day and the evenings here are less cold.
Another couple of weeks and I'll redouble my efforts.
A visitor to this site named Mark has suggested the Asian Fruit Fly is the culprit and I feel strongly he is correct and will henceforth bag my pods.

Yes, this morning I applied the anti-bacterial...

...fertilizer. I expect it will be a few days before I know any results.
I won't even consider the bone-meal until this is resolved; and I'm ready!
So counting; December 4th I'll dose a second time...
Cheers...