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Post by Gianna on Aug 12, 2018 16:33:05 GMT -5
Last year (and previous years) after having too many chilies suffer from too much sun, I decided to try growing them under shade cloth this year - and the results are amazing. I didn't get the cloth up till after a half day of 105* weather (after weeks of marine layer and no sun) so many of the first-forming tender fruits were destroyed or damaged. But they've been covered ever since.
I was able to process some of the damaged fruits after they matured to red, but today was the first real picking of fruits totally grown under the cloth. I only pick fruits either turned red or starting to do so. I've also been watering them more consistently this summer, so all benefits might not be the covering. It's not a commercial cloth either, but some lacy material I had found at a yard sale. I'd guess about 25 to 30% cover.
The plants are taller and more lush looking. Dare I say happier? and the fruits have thicker walls, which is what I want. These will be flame roasted this evening when it gets cooler in the house. Variety Numex Joe E. Parker. There are many more that will be harvested over the next weeks/months.
My shade cloth is very light and is held up over the plants with strategically placed wire tomato cages and held in place with wooden clothes pins. Very easy to set up, and it's been staying in place. Easy to move out of the way when harvesting too.
I will definitely do this again.
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Post by octave1 on Aug 12, 2018 17:03:01 GMT -5
Numex Joe E. Parker is my favorite variety too, but I have not grown it in years!
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Post by brownrexx on Aug 12, 2018 17:17:02 GMT -5
I think that your shade cloth probably did make them happier. We had that very hot spell and many of my bell peppers got sun burned spots and had to be removed.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Aug 12, 2018 18:07:14 GMT -5
I had to cover my peppers to prevent pepper maggots, and the Agribon blocks 15% of the light, even though it actually increases the temp slightly during the day, since it is totally enclosed. Those peppers went nuts, but this was due to the EB, as well. They were uncovered last week, since they don't really need protection from the sun here, since there is a period of shade in the front and back.
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Post by Gianna on Aug 12, 2018 21:16:50 GMT -5
Numex Joe E. Parker is my favorite variety too, but I have not grown it in years!
I tried many numex types here. N.Joe.E.Parkers grow stronger and produced a good number of really thick-walled pods. It's now the only Anaheim type I grow. No need for any further experimenting. I'm also growing some sort of poblano I got from a friend. Shrug. They are pretty (large and very green) but don't seem as useful.
This afternoon, I flame roasted the peppers I picked earlier today. It was still hot, but there weren't that many to do - maybe 25. I didn't even set up the small fan I usually put in the kitchen. They are now all scorched, but will have to wait till tomorrow to get peeled. The skins seem a bit thinner than the past, but that could be because it's still early in the season, not because they got a wee bit more shade.
I took a couple of them, peeled, and sautéed them in a bit of bacon grease, then added cooked cauliflower rice, till it was slightly browned (real rice would work too), seasonings, then plated it with an ample covering of cheddar cheese. Very simple and extremely good. Would have been better with some onion too. It's on the grocery list.
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Post by Gianna on Aug 17, 2018 12:21:14 GMT -5
The chili plants are doing so well this summer, this morning I had to raise the shade cloth another foot or so higher. Not only do the leaves look great this year, but the fruits do too. Who knew?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2018 18:11:16 GMT -5
I can understand the shade helping after the relentless heat we had early down here. I think next year will have tomatoes and peppers in bags so they can be partly shaded down here.
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Post by Gianna on Sept 28, 2018 13:02:06 GMT -5
Im definitely shading the peppers again. Last night I flame-roasted a large batch (full dishpan), and ended up with about 5.5 pounds of final product - de-skinned, de-seeded, bagged and in the freezer, plus some red culls for chopping and freezing.
I put 8 ounces in each plastic ziplock sandwich bag, then pack these into larger quart freezer bags. So, 11 sandwich bags, 3 each in quart bag, labeled, and now in the freezer. These freeze very well, and when needed, you can ever so slightly defrost and slice off what you need for eggs, etc, then refreeze. Or use an entire 8 oz if desired (beans, chili verde…)
As for the shade cloth, it's been easy to work with. And as the ark of the sun has shifted the shadows, I adjusted the cloth. Now the question becomes when to remove it. We are having lots of overcast days but I think it's still too soon. There are still lots of peppers on the bushes, and there should be another harvest. I've had plants bearing well into November.
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