Spring onion

New shoots have been sighted after a brutal trim last week.

How to harvest chilli.

Sunny weather has returned after weeks of rain. This brings me to harvest time.

Start harvesting the chilli once they have turned red. Wear a glove to protect your hand. The oil from the chilli fruit could sting.

Balcony view after plant trimming

Before trim

After trim

Birds ate my chilli!

Aphids!!!!

Australia is entering into Autumn and this year I have a bad case of aphids on my chilli pots. These insects have been aggressive in attacking my chilli. Since plant growth will slow significantly as we head towards cooler temperature in the coming months, I don't plan on insect killer solution on the pots. Instead, I will trim all pots bare once I have harvested the remaining of the Chilli.

I have tried all sorts of methods battling aphids and they have not been too effective. Methods used include spraying on the plants and under the leaves diluted detergent, diluted honey, milk, coffee and so on. These methods only repelled aphids for a short time and then very soon the pots are covered with insect again.

Lifeless plant

Fruit Picking

3 secrets to generously fruiting Chilli

3 secrets to generously fruiting Chilli

1. Consistent, daily watering

2. Full sun position

3. Moderate fertilising (every month)
4. Cut back leaves and branches so that more nutrients can go the fruits.

View of the balcony since 6 Feb 2014

How to get big chilli

This is the biggest chilli tree among my chilli plants. It is fruiting well with medium level spiciness.

A key to getting big-sized chill is to cut back the leaves and branches.

3 weeks old Mint after trimming bare

The mint pots are really enjoying the heatwave. These pots were trimmed bare 3 weeks ago. With sufficient watering the plants are displaying massive growth.

Leafy Balcony

New Chilli plants going through massive growth

Chilli #1 progress

Chilli #1

Chilli #1 from Bunnings is still alive and bearing fruits. The pot is already one year old. I thought its life cycle was ending, very surprised to see it bearing fruits again.

The new Chilli pot from Magnetmart has 4 different types of chilli in it. They are flowering and bearing fruits nicely.

Only 1 of the plant bearing chilli in these 2 pots confirming what I have heard from a friend that is it won't be easy to grow fruit bearing chilli using seeds from supermarket chilli. The seeds from supermarket chilli have been sterilized or something making the seeds infertile.

Seed Germination Tips

I find seed germination is easier when done using a bit of hydroponic perlite than the wet tissue method. Less messy. Pre-mix the water with soluble plant food powder will give better results. These pok choy seedlings will be transported to pots outdoor when they are bigger.

Beautiful Cos Lettuce!

Aphids attacking my cos lettuce

Chilli Pot - All leaves, no flowering, no fruits

About 7 months since seed germination.

Chilli Pot #1, first day after applying fertiliser

Chilli Pot #1, first day after applying fertiliser. I'll check back next month to measure progress.

Basil under Aphids attack!