The chillis are a mix of some I grow every year and some new ones, I’ve also got some chillis over wintered in the greenhouse. The tomatoes are my favourite varieties as I’ve just decided to grow the ones I like this year to save on space.

2012 Chillis (sown 22/01/12)

• Mixed Caribbean - A mixture of 5 very hot chilli peppers from the Caribbean, includes Habanero and Scotch Bonnet chilli peppers in different colours and shapes.
• Naga Morich -  is a small-medium shurub with large leaves, small, five-petalled flowers, and blisteringly hot fruit. It differs to the Bhut Jolokia and Bih Jolokia in that it is slightly smaller with a pimply ribbed texture as opposed to the smoother flesh of the other two varieties.
• Sweet Pepper – Traditional sweet peppers, I use loads of them so like to grow them.
• Guajillo chilli - The guajillo chilli’s thin, deep-red flesh has a green tea flavor with berry overtones. Its fruits are large and mild in flavor, with only a small amount of heat (rating 2,500 to 5,000 on the Scoville scale).
• Hot Portugal – one of my favourites and a type of Anaheim, great flavour and not too hot.
• Gold cone chilli - Capsicum annum that has small white/yellow pods that look great on a window sill or patio, brilliant for in salads or stuffed with cheese.
• Aji Pinguita De Mono - The name Aji Pinguita De Mono translates to ‘ little monkey dick’ a reference to the pods shape. The pods are small measuring only 0.5 to 1in long, are slightly curved and taper to a point. They mature from green to a bright scarlet. This variety is among the hottest of the little Aji’s known in Peru measuring 70,000 – 80,000 Scoville units. The Aji Pinguita de Mono is found in all regions of the Peruvian jungle, mainly in the central valley of Chanchamayo.
• Aji Limon – Another Peruvian jungle chilli, bright yellow pods with a distinctive citrus flavour, great in salads.
• Violet Cayenne – Brilliant purple and white flowers, 3″ long thin purple pods, a real stunner.
• Numex Big Jim – The largest of all the chillis, mild heat, perfect for stuffing, frying, battering etc etc.
• Dedo De Moca – Small Brazilian variety, often dried and ground also known as pimenta-calabresa.

2012 Tomatoes (sown 22/01/12)

• Beams Yellow Pear – Sweet, yellow pear shaped tomato.
• Hawaiian Currant – Tiny, pea sized tomato, perfect for salads and garnish. Great as a snack too.
• Red Cherry Tomato – Generic red cherry tomato, always a favourite.
• San Marzano Tomato – widely considered as one of the best tasting tomatoes in the world and a firm favourite of mine.

2011 Chillis (over wintered)

• Sweet Bell Pepper – Small, sweet, no heat but great for stuffing
• Hot Portugal – one of my favourites and a type of Anaheim, great flavour and not too hot.
• Naga Morich -  is a small-medium shurub with large leaves, small, five-petalled flowers, and blisteringly hot fruit. It differs to the Bhut Jolokia and Bih Jolokia in that it is slightly smaller with a pimply ribbed texture as opposed to the smoother flesh of the other two varieties.
• Yellow Scotch Bonnet – hot and fruity, great chilli
• Orange Habenero – like the yellow scotch bonnet but orange.
• Explosive ember – Purple leaves, purple chillis that grow upward.
• African sun – I don’t know much about this one, hoping it’s second year will prove more fruitful

The weather has also brought about a bumper harvest of french beans and purple climbing beans…the purple beans and their plants are really pretty but they loose their purple colour when cooked.

The greenhouse is rammed full of tomatoes and chillis, along with a couple more cucumbers.  The random bursts of sun are causing a few problems with stuff drying out but they plants all seem to be healthy.

The rain destroyed potato plants are a bit of a concern but the spuds are still coming thing and fast and are showing no signs of damage so fingers crossed they will stay ok.

My parsnips and cabbages are getting a  bit out of control, i wish i had sowed them in nice straight lines like the blokes on the allotment (see pic)[SinglePic not found]

The slugs have had all of my onion tops so I’ve learned a valuable lesson to protect them next year. They have also made a start on the new rhubarb leaves so will have to look into protecting that next year.

Finally the apple trees are both full of apples so it wont be long before im making apple pies and crumble!!!

I will add pictures to each stage as i will take them as i start growing my chillis

If you have any questions of comments please feel free to add them.

Whilst at B+Q  I noticed they had loads of gardening stuff in the sale, including a heated propagator so i decided to treat my self, it now means i can germinate twice as many seeds….just don’t tell Emily as im not sure she will approve, especially when the seedlings appear in the conservatory.

Its nothing complicated just a nice simple one, ill post the details in a bit