I had a bit of a disaster after getting back form holiday last night. While inspecting my plants and feeling rather pleased that all were in good health with lots of ripe pods to pick I noticed that the Dorset Naga plant had taken a bit of a battering in the wind.
The wind combined with the weight of the pods on it meant that it was leaning heavily to one side and looked like it needed staking. Unfortunately as i lifted the main stem ready to steak it snapped clean off at the base.
The only thing left to do was to salvage any unripe pods off the damaged plant and remember to stake my outdoor plants much earlier and better next year.
Fortunately though chilli pods can be used while still green or unripe so some of this haul will be eaten over the coming couple of weeks. Some will probably ripen through to red on a sunny windowsill and the rest will be frozen for use over the winter.
Feeling your pain dude, exactly the same happened with my best Naga Viper…had to salvage about 30 green pods. Tested them anyway and they were scorching so considering a green naga sauce.
SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR LOSS JAMES,I GROW A LOT OF DAHLIA,S AND THE GOLDEN RULE IS KEEP THEM STAKED UP OR LOSE EM,NO DOUBT YOU WILL WATCH OUT NEXT YEAR FOR THEM PESKY CHILLY WINDS HA HA,HAD TU GET THAT ONE IN.
Im interested in freezeing them too, I froze some chillis recently but when I defrosted them the insides had gone brown & they dont retain the firmness of fresh chillis, they still had a good kick to them though, that good that I couldnt taste or feel anything for nearly 10 mins & as my t was ready I ended up touching it to my lip to find out how hot it was lol im growing ring of fire & scothch bonnets,can we post pics of our efforts ???
Marc – Sounds like they may have been affected by freezer burn. Try and ensure they are frozen in an airtight container. You can post pics of your efforts either on our facebook page or our forum.
When disaster strikes..I think proper staking is a lesson we all need to learn.
Bouche – Damned right it is.
Sorry to hear about your disaster, i had some chillis snap off the other day, put next to some bananas and they went red within a week, question for you, when you freeze your chilli pods, how do you prepare them, just wash/dry then put in bags whole ? cheers
Chris – Unless they are particularly fleshy variety like Jalapenos is just pop them in the freezer whole. I double bag them (inside two freezer bags) to avoid freezer burn.
Thx for reply, i will be only freezing bonnets,habs,fatalli,7pot, and freezing whole in 2 bags like you say.