Hawaiian Chili pepper plants

[Diverdude]

ISO Hawaiian Chili pepper plants and starts. Anyone currently growing more than a few plants. Best to grow in a greenhouse or aquaponic or just outside?

[Lee M-S]

I've grown them outside and in greenhouse; never tried aquaponic. They can get tall; mine is about 6 feet right now, it's several years old. It's outside.

They're super easy to start. Break open fresh ripe chilis, smear seeds/pulp on soil (I use small pots). Cover with a little more soil, keep moist.


><(((*< ... ><(("< ... ><('< ... >o>

[terracore]

We inherited an old huge one near our house, taller than our roof. It took no care to get that big (grows like a weed). We had to cut it to keep it from shedding onto our roof and therefore into our catchment tank. It attracted many birds who enjoyed eating the peppers and eventually the chickens found it and learned to jump up into it, ate the peppers, and broke the branches. It grew lopsided because there was sun on one side, and house on the other, and for some reason exploded with so many peppers it got weighted down on the sun side and broke the trunk. A bunch of keikis sprouted up and the plant basically replaced itself.

I am not knowing the best way to raise these plants, I only know that they can't be killed.

[jm3]

Does the plant look presentable as landscape? Looking for an entry-drive planter item that would be both functional and nice looking.

John Maloney

[Lee M-S]

I think they're good looking. They have chilis most of the year, usually a mix of red, yellow, and green.

We planted one outside our gate; apparently it was so cute in full fruit that somebody pulled it up by the roots and took it home with them. It was about 2' tall. Like terracore said, hard to kill; that plant is probably 15 feet tall now, wherever it is.


><(((*< ... ><(("< ... ><('< ... >o>

[terracore]

They are attractive plants with attractive peppers and they attract birds. They are also great for seasoning food, but use them sparingly.

[Kenney]

We have them all along one fence line and some around the house. They are so easy to grow, colorful and make the best jelly year round.

[jm3]

Sounds good. Was going to use pineapples as a traditional 'welcoming' plant the I had success with on the adjacent property, but I like all the features described for the chili pepper.

Where do I get the chilis in question?

John Maloney

[terracore]

You can get starts at the farmers markets, or alternatively you can get a small bag of the peppers (also at farmers market) and grown them from seed. They seem to make peppers almost immediately after growing. Some people grown them as houseplants near the kitchen so they can have fresh hot peppers on hand for cooking. I saw some growing in pots awhile ago at either Home Depot or Walmart, I can't remember. Both of them buy from local growers.

[Kenney]

Once you get a good producing plant, you will have keiki popping up all over the place, plenty to move around wherever you want them. They transplant well even if you just pull them up. They are so colorful. Hawaiian Chili Pepper jelly Is really good too and easy to make.