Having moved house three weeks ago, I now have a conservatory/summerhouse that I can use as a chilli house. My previous garden was very small and mostly shaded, so I expected the extra heat and light from the conservatory to boost growth—but I’ve been amazed by how much the plants have progressed in just three weeks.
Thanks to their new location and the recent stretch of fine English weather, the plants have almost doubled in size over the past 15 days. As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve begun to harden off the plants by moving them outdoors during the day. With the current weather this hasn’t so much been about acclimating them to cold as it has been to prevent them from being scorched in the conservatory. An added advantage is the conservatory heating, which lets me keep nighttime temperatures at a minimum of about 17°C, which should further accelerate growth.
This weekend I repotted most of my plants into 20 cm pots. Chilli plants prefer their roots to stay relatively dry, so I add a handful of vermiculite to the compost in each pot to improve drainage and aeration.
With the current heat, I water the plants both morning and evening because pots can dry out very quickly in warm weather. If this fine spell continues, I won’t have to wait long before they begin to flower and set fruit. Once fruiting starts I’ll introduce a suitable feed to support the plant’s energy needs and encourage healthy fruit development.
Overall, the move into the conservatory has been transformational for my chillies—better light, warmer nights and improved growing conditions mean faster growth and a much better chance of a productive season.
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