Chilli Growing Diary

We grew seven varieties of chilli in 3 different Vivigrow planters.

To show you just how quickly chillies grow in our Vivigrow we decided to share our weekly records.

The figures are all in cm and show the height of our chilli plants in numbered weeks after planting. Click on the week number to go to the diary entry.

Week	Friars Hat	Portugal	Georgia Flame	Pasilla Bajio	Pusa Jwalia	Nepali Orange	Joes Long - Front Plant	Joes Long - Rear Plant
3	49cm	34cm	30cm	29cm	39cm	37cm	42cm	44cm
4	60	47	42	36	45	45	55	58
5	76	57	57	44	53	55	72	74
6	87	66	66	50	64	66	82	86
7	110	83	85	70	77	75	99	102
9	170	109	115	104	93	97	134	137
10	175	123	145	115	117	117	136	148
11	215	135	150	134	120	128	147	163
12	235	160	165	136	140	150	160	183
13	244	179	174	152	142	153	167	193
14	268	181	182	167	159	154	176	200
15	280	197	191	169	164	180	184	202
16	260	200	203	172	166	182	189	204
17	272	207	206	185	181	177	197	205
18	282	216	214	186	182	179	200	207
19	285	220	220	200	190	182	205	211
21	293	226	225	203	192	184	213	220
22	302	232	233	209	195	186	215	223
23	310	233	235	209	195	186	215	223

After week 23 growth slowed down whilst the plants concentrated all their effort on ripening their fruit.

Yield

Week	Friars Hat	Portugal	Georgia Flame	Pasilla Bajio	Pusa Jwalia	Nepali Orange	Joes Long
24	20	35	23	16	20	30	35
25	28	40	25	18	26	40	39
26	108	56	30	28	>110	>200	60
27	108	56	30	28	>110	>200	60
29	>120	60	35	30	>120	>230	70
30	>130	65	36	32	>130	>240	75
31	>135	65	36	34	>135	>245	78
36	4000g	794g	380g	>60	>150	>250	>90

Weekly Diary

	11th March 2009 In Vivigrow 1 we planted: Friars Hat, Portugal and Georgia Flame chillies. In Vivigrow 2 we planted Nepali Orange, Pusa Jwalia and Pasilla Bajio. In Vivigrow 3 we planted 2x Joes Long chillies, these are our favourites and they are so productive that we decided not to plant anything else in this planter.
	31st March 2009 (week 3) The chillies have really taken off. The Joes Long plants that were planted last month are looking great!
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat 34cm Portugal 18cm Georgia Flame 19cm Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio 17cm Pusa Jwalia 12cm Nepali Orange 15cm Vivigrow 3 Front plant 19cm Rear plant 20cm
	6th April 2009 (week 4) Everything is looking good. Flowers are beginning to show.
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat: 11cm Portugal: 13cm, 4 flowers open Georgia Flame: 12cm, 4 flowers open Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio: 7cm, 1 flower open Pusa Jwalia: 6cm Nepali Orange: 8cm Vivigrow 3 Front Joes Long: 13cm Rear Joes Long: 14cm
	15th April 2009 (week 5) Cool! Our first fruit are beginning to form! Both the Portugal and the Pasilla Bajio are forming their first fruit.
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat: 16cm Portugal: 10cm, 5 flowers open, 1 fruit Georgia Flame:15cm, 4 flowers open Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio: 8cm, 2 flowers open, 1 fruit Pusa Jwalia: 8cm Nepali Orange:10cm Vivigrow 3 Front plant: 17cm Rear plant: 16cm
	22 April 2009 (week 6) With growth well under way we are looking forward to tasting the first fruits of our labour!
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat: 11cm Portugal: 9cm, 9 flowers open, 2 fruits Georgia Flame: 9cm, 6 flowers open Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio: 6cm, 3 flowers open, 1 fruit Pusa Jwalia: 11cm Nepali Orange: 11cm, 2 flowers open Vivigrow 3 Front plant 10cm, 2 flowers open Rear plant 12cm, 9 flowers
	28th April 2009 (week 7) The fruit are beginning to form on the Joes Long plants and the Portugal and the Pasilla Bajio both have more fruit.
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat: 23cm Portugal: 17cm, 15 flowers open, 8 fruits Georgia Flame: 19cm, 13 flowers open, 4 fruits Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio: 20cm, 9 flowers open, 2 fruits Pusa Jwalia: 13cm Nepali Orange: 9cm, 17 flowers open Vivigrow 3 Front plant 17cm, 8 flowers open Rear plant 16cm, 12 flowers, 2 fruit
	12th May 2009 (week 9) There is plenty of flowering and fruiting going on, we’ll soon be enjoying delicious chillies!
	20th May 2009 (week 10) There are plenty of fruit abound; we just need to wait for them to ripen.
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat 175cm, growth of 5cm, still no open flowers but lots of buds Portugal 123cm, 17 fruits, growth of 14cm Georgia Flame 145cm, 14 fruits, growth of 30cm Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio 115cm, 4 fruits, growth of 11cm Pusa Jwalia 117cm 10 flowers open, growth of 24cm Nepali Orange 117cm, 3 fruits, growth of 20cm Vivigrow 3: Front plant 136cm, 9 fruits, growth of 2cm Rear plant 148cm, 17 fruits, growth of 11cm
Back to the top	27th May 2009 (week 11) The Pasilla Bajio fruit are ripening to a beautiful greenish black. We changed the nutrient solution in the tanks this week to refresh the nutrient balance.
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat: 215cm, growth of 40cm, still no open flowers but lots of buds Portugal: 135cm, 20 fruits, growth of 12cm Georgia Flame:150cm, 20 fruits, growth of 5cm Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio: 134cm, 13 fruits, growth of 19cm Pusa Jwalia: 120cm 18 flowers open, growth of 3cm Nepali Orange: 128cm, 3 fruits, growth of 11cm Vivigrow 3 Front plant 147cm, 20 fruits, growth of 11cm Rear plant 163cm, 20 fruits, growth of 15cm
	5th June 2009 (week 12) A huge increase in fruit production this week; Nepali orange has gone from 3 fruit last week to over 30 this week.
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat: 235cm growth of 20cm, 3 open flowers Portugal: 160cm 20 fruit, growth of 25cm, some fruit beginning to ripen Georgia Flame: 145cm 20 fruit, growth of 20cm, some fruit beginning to ripen Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio: 136cm 29 fruit, growth of 2cm, many fruit ripening Pusa Jwalia: 140cm 20 flowers open, growth of 20cm Nepali Orange: 150cm 30 fruit, growth of 22cm Vivigrow 3 Front plant: 160cm 30 fruit, growth of 13cm Rear plant: 183cm 30 fruit, growth of 20cm
	10th June 2009 (week 13) After several weeks of phenomenal growth, the Friars Hat chilli is fruiting. Pusa Jwalia is eagerly fruiting slender, cayenne type fruit.
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat: 244cm, growth of 9cm, 10 fruit Portugal: 160cm 40 fruit, growth of 19cm, some fruit beginning to ripen Georgia Flame: 145cm 40 fruit, growth of 9cm, some fruit beginning to ripen Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio: 152cm 40 fruit, growth of 16cm, many fruit ripening Pusa Jwalia: 140cm 20 fruit, growth of 2cm Nepali Orange: 150cm 40 fruit, growth of 3cm Vivigrow 3 Front plant 167cm 40 fruit, growth of 7cm Rear plant 193cm 40 fruit, growth of 10cm
	17th June 2009 (week 14) The Friars Hat is romping away and is a staggering 268cm tall! The Nepali Orange is bearing lots of small, hot chillies.
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat 268cm, growth of 24cm, 20 fruit Portugal 181cm 40 fruit, growth of 2cm Georgia Flame 182cm 40 fruit, growth of 8cm Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio 167cm 40 fruit, growth of 15cm, many fruit ripening Pusa Jwalia 159cm 20 fruit, growth of 17cm Nepali Orange 154cm 40 fruit, growth of 1cm Vivigrow 3 Front plant 176cm 40 fruit, growth of 9cm Rear plant 200cm 40 fruit, growth of 7cm
Back to the top	24th June 2009 (week 15) The Friars Hat is still growing strong but is now producing lots of interesting fruit.
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat: 280cm 40 fruit, growth of 12cm Portugal: 197cm 50 fruit, growth of 16cm Georgia Flame: 191cm 50 fruit, growth of 9cm Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio: 169cm 50 fruit Growth of 2cm Pusa Jwalia: 164cm 60 fruit Growth of 5cm Nepali Orange: 180cm 80 fruit Growth of 26cm Vivigrow 3 Front plant 184cm 50 fruit Growth of 8cm Rear plant 202cm 50 fruit Growth of 2cm
	1st July 2009 (week 16) This week we trimmed the Friars Hat because it had reached the roof of the greenhouse. To prepare them for a show in a few weeks time we also trimmed the plants in Vivigrow 2. Growth has slowed as the plants concentrate on fruit production.
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat 260cm 60 fruit, growth of 13cm Portugal 200cm 50 fruit, growth of 3cm Georgia Flame 203cm 50 fruit, growth of 12cm Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio 172cm 50 fruit Growth of 6cm Pusa Jwalia 166cm 60 fruit Growth of 2cm Nepali Orange 182cm 80 fruit Growth of 10cm Vivigrow 3 Front plant 189cm 50 fruit Growth of 5cm Rear plant 204cm 50 fruit Growth of 2cm
	8th July 2009 (week 17) Since they were trimmed last week, the chillies have put on more side growth, and become even bushier. We have begun harvesting the ripe ones. Over 40 green Padron chillies made their way over to the Duk Restaurant in Preston this week and there are plenty more to come.
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat: 272cm 60 fruit Growth of 2cm Portugal: 207cm 50 fruit 16 ripe fruit Growth of 7cm Georgia Flame: 206cm 50 fruit 12 ripe fruit Growth of 3cm Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio 185cm 50 fruit 44 ripe fruit Growth of 13cm Pusa Jwalia 181cm 60 fruit Growth of 15cm Nepali Orange 177cm 80 fruit 36 ripe fruit Growth of 3cm Vivigrow 3 Front plant 197cm 50 fruit 16 ripe fruit Growth of 8cm Rear plant 205cm 50 fruit 15 ripe fruit Growth of 1cm
Back to the top	15th July 2009 (week 18) With plenty of fruit beginning to ripen, everyone in the office has been eager to try out some of the new varieties we are growing this year.
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat: 282cm 60 fruit, Portugal: 216cm 50 fruit, 17 ripe fruit, 3 picked Georgia Flame: 214cm 50 fruit, 14 ripe fruit, 2 picked Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio 186cm 60 fruit, 44 ripe fruit, 3 fruit picked Pusa Jwalia 182cm 60 fruit Nepali Orange 179cm 80 fruit, 42 ripe fruit, 2 fruit picked Vivigrow 3 Front plant 200cm 50 fruit, 16 ripe fruit, 1 fruit picked Rear plant 207cm 50 fruit, 14 ripe fruit, 2 fruit picked
	22nd July 2009 (week 19) The Pusa Jwalia fruit are ripening to a lovely rich, orange colour. They are thin fleshed and ideal for drying so a season’s worth should keep you going throughout the winter months and given how many there are, they’ll probably keep your friends in stock too!
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat 285cm 60 fruit, Portugal 220cm 60 fruit 30 ripe fruit 3 picked Georgia Flame 220cm 50 fruit 18 ripe fruit 3 picked Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio 200cm 60 fruit 50 ripe fruit 3 fruit picked Pusa Jwalia 190cm 60 fruit, 5 ripe fruit Nepali Orange 182cm 80 fruit 50 ripe fruit 3 fruit picked Vivigrow 3 Front plant 205cm Rear plant 211cm Combined, the Joes Long plants have over 70 fruit, 44 of which are ripe, 5 fruit picked.
	5th August 2009 (week 21) It has been all go this week as we prepared for the West Dean Chilli Fiesta near Chichester this weekend. Plenty of fruit from the systems that aren’t going to the show have been harvested for people to try including Friars Hat, Portugal and Georgia Flame.
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat 293cm 60 fruit 12 ripe fruit 7 fruit picked Portugal 226cm 60 fruit 30 ripe fruit 25 picked Georgia Flame 225cm 50 fruit 25 ripe fruit 18 picked Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio 203cm, 70 fruit 60 ripe fruit, 3 fruit picked Pusa Jwalia 192cm 60 fruit 20 ripe fruit Nepali Orange 184cm 80 fruit 50 ripe fruit, 3 fruit picked Vivigrow 3 Front plant 213cm Rear plant 220cm Combined, the Joes Long plants have over 70 fruit, 44 of which are ripe, 22 fruit picked.
	12th August 2009 (week 22) The West Dean Chilli festival was a huge success but plants in Vivigrow 2 took a bit of a battering on the long journey to Chichester from our greenhouse in Mawdesley. With that in mind, a schedule of care is what is needed and before too long the chilli plants will be on top form once more.
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat 302cm 70 fruit, 20 ripe fruit, 10 fruit picked Portugal 232cm 40 fruit, 12 ripe fruit, 26 picked Georgia Flame 233cm 50 fruit, 9 ripe fruit, 20 picked Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio 209cm 60 fruit 40 ripe fruit, 10 fruit picked Pusa Jwalia 192cm 60 fruit 30 ripe fruit, 12 fruit picked Nepali Orange 184cm 80 fruit 50 ripe fruit, 20 fruit picked Vivigrow 3 Front plant 215cm Rear plant 223cm Combined, the Joes Long plants have over 70 fruit, 35 of which are ripe, 24 fruit picked
	19th August 2009 (week 23) The majority of branches on the Friars Hat are now touching the ceiling. Another week, just long enough for the fruit to ripen and it will have to be pruned back.
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat 310cm 60 fruit 30 ripe fruit 10 fruit picked Portugal 232cm 30 fruit 20 ripe fruit 30 picked Georgia Flame 233cm 50 fruit 9 ripe fruit 20 picked Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio 209cm 20 ripe fruit 15 fruit picked Pusa Jwalia 192cm 40 ripe fruit 18 fruit picked Nepali Orange 184cm 100 ripe fruit 20 fruit picked Vivigrow 3 Front plant 215cm Rear plant 223cm Combined, the Joes Long plants have over 70 fruit, 35 of which are ripe, 30 fruit picked
	26th August 2009 (week 24) The Friars Hat and Nepali Orange have been trimmed. All the chilli plants are looking healthy and work now begins to prepare them for the Mawdesley Family Funday in two weeks time.
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat 315cm 30 ripe fruit 20 fruit picked Portugal 236cm 20 ripe fruit 35 picked Georgia Flame 236cm 15 ripe fruit 23 picked As the light levels begin to wane as we head towards autumn, growth will halt and the plants will concentrate all their efforts on ripening fruit. Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio 209cm 20 ripe fruit 16 fruit picked Pusa Jwalia 192cm 40 ripe fruit 20 fruit picked Nepali Orange 170cm 100 ripe fruit 30 fruit picked Vivigrow 3 Front plant 220cm Rear plant 225cm Combined, the Joes Long plants have over 70 fruit, 35 of which are ripe, 35 fruit picked
	2nd September 2009 (week 25) We have chillies in other systems in the greenhouse and two of them are Rocota Orange and Rocota Red. The red one has been producing ripe fruit for weeks but this week sees the very first orange fruit ripening, a cause for excitement. Don/'t let the gentle curves and soft colour fool you, these chillies pack a punch.
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat 315cm 30 ripe fruit 28 fruit picked Portugal 236cm 20 ripe fruit 40 picked Georgia Flame 236cm 15 ripe fruit 25 picked Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio 209cm 20 ripe fruit 18 fruit picked Pusa Jwalia 192cm 40 ripe fruit 26 fruit picked Nepali Orange 170cm 100 ripe fruit 40 fruit picked Vivigrow 3 Front plant 220cm Rear plant 225cm Combined, the Joes Long plants have over 70 fruit, 35 of which are ripe, 35 fruit picked
	9th September 2009 (week 26) This week we are looking forward to the Mawdesley Funday on Sunday. We are attending in support of the local allotments group. We have harvested a great many chillies to give away at the event along with a recipe.
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat 315cm 108 fruit picked Portugal 238cm 56 fruit picked Georgia Flame 236cm 30 fruit picked Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio 209cm 28 fruit picked Pusa Jwalia 192cm 110 fruit picked Nepali Orange 170cm 200 fruit picked Vivigrow 3 Front plant 220cm Rear plant 225cm Combined, the Joes Long plants have had 60 fruit picked.
	16th September 2009 (week 27)
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat: 315cm 108 fruit picked Portugal: 238cm 56 fruit picked Georgia Flame: 236cm 30 fruit picked Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio: 209cm 28 fruit picked Pusa Jwalia: 192cm 110 fruit picked Nepali Orange: 170cm 200 fruit picked Vivigrow 3 Front plant: 220cm Rear plant: 225cm Combined, the Joes Long plants have had 60 fruit picked.
	30th September 2009 (week 29) There are loads of fruit which need to be picked. Everyone who has visited the greenhouse has been impressed with how many chillies we have growing. Their vibrant colours certainly brighten up the place.
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat: 320cm 120 fruit picked Portugal: 240cm 60 fruit picked Georgia Flame: 240cm 35 fruit picked Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio: 209cm 30 fruit picked Pusa Jwalia: 192cm 120 fruit picked Nepali Orange: 170cm 230 fruit picked Vivigrow 3 Front plant 220cm Rear plant 225cm Combined, the Joes Long plants have had 70 fruit picked.
	7th October 2009 (week 30) We hosted the Mawdesley allotments and smallholding community group’s monthly meeting this week. They were all given a goodie bag of chillies and sweet peppers to take home.
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat: 330cm 130 fruit picked Portugal: 245cm 65 fruit picked Georgia Flame: 245cm 35 fruit picked Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio: 210cm 32 fruit picked Pusa Jwalia: 195cm 130 fruit picked Nepali Orange:175cm 240 fruit picked Vivigrow 3 Front plant 225cm Rear plant 230cm Combined, the Joes Long plants have had 75 fruit picked.
	14th October 2009 (week 31) This week I harvested the chillies form the Bih Jolokia I have had growing in a Rain & Drain in the polytunnel. The plant grew to a little over a metre tall and has yielded 1415g of fruit.
	Vivigrow 1 Friars Hat: 330cm 135 fruit picked Portugal: 245cm 65 fruit picked Georgia Flame: 245cm 35 fruit picked Vivigrow 2 Pasilla Bajio 210cm 34 fruit picked Pusa Jwalia 195cm 135 fruit picked Nepali Orange 175cm 245 fruit picked Vivigrow 3 Front plant 225cm Rear plant 230cm The Joes Long plants have produced 78 chillies
	17th November 2009 (week 36) We dismantled Vivigrow 1 this week recording final harvests. The Friars Hat really didn't disappoint with a final harvest of almost 4000g! The average Friars Hat fruit weighs 18g.
	Final Harvests: Friars Hat: 3900g Portugal: 794g Georgia Flame: 380g The Georgia Flame has been the poorest performer but I suspect that that is partly due to the amazing vigour of the Friars Hat. Chillies 2 and Joes Long fruit continue to be harvested gradually and will be throughout winter.