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Komodo Dragon and Dragon's Breath Super-Hot Peppers in an AeroGarden Bounty

Grow log by maskedsonnet · Original thread

18 visual updates21 photos46 replies
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CropPepper
VarietyKomodo Dragon, Dragon's Breath
MethodAeroGarden hydroponics
EquipmentAeroGarden Bounty
Plants2
AudienceAdvanced

What you can learnA detailed super-hot pepper diary showing cultivar competition, pruning risk, slow ripening, repeated fruit set, and safe small-portion processing into sauce.

Actions:4 Pruning2 Finished1 Planting1 Nutrients
Useful practices
  • growing super-hot cultivars in a dedicated unit
  • pruning ceiling-reaching branches
  • leaving fruiting branches during canopy control
  • using aggressive pruning to redirect energy toward ripening
  • processing harvested super-hot peppers into portioned sauce
Problems encountered
  • plants developed awkward stretched shapes
  • Dragon's Breath was shaded and stunted by the larger Komodo
  • Dragon's Breath was accidentally killed during pruning
  • Komodo peppers ripened very slowly

*The days were calculated automatically and approximately.

Day 213
UPDATE#18
Grower update

Update #18

Actions taken

FinishedProcessed the Dragon peppers and habaneros into sauce and portioned it into four small jars.

M By maskedsonnet

Last night I finally stopped hemming and hawing over what to do with the dragons and made a sauce, along with the habaneros I had left. The result is a very lovely red color, and a sauce so hot it made my tongue go numb after a single taste. I portioned it out in four small jars like this one, have 3 in the freezer and this one in the fridge to use very, very carefully.
Conversation
S
Shawn

Very nice. I bet it tastes good and hot

L
lynnee

That sauce is so beautiful, it needs a “Danger!” label! It just begs you to take a spoonful!

Day 190
UPDATE#17
Grower update

Update #17

Actions taken

PruningAggressively cut back new growth to encourage existing peppers to ripen.

M By maskedsonnet

This thing keeps setting more peppers, still don't have any fully ripe ones to harvest. Got aggressive with the trimming in the hopes that it'll focus on ripening what its got instead of setting more!!!
Conversation
S
Shawn

They will ripen for sure.

L
lynnee

Won't they ripen on the countertop if you harvest them now, maskedsonnet ? They look beautiful.

S
Shawn

I find for me if I pull them off the plant and leave on the counter they get soft and go bad.

M
maskedsonnet

I've never tried counter-top ripening for peppers! Maybe? It does okay for tomatoes, and I know a lot of people swear by that, but they just don't taste the same to me as vine-ripened, I figured it'd be that way for peppers too if I ever tried it.

Day 176
UPDATE#16
Grower update

Update #16

M By maskedsonnet

The Komodo Dragon continues to grow and set peppers!!
Conversation
S
Shawn

I see several peppers there.

Day 173
UPDATE#15
Grower update

Update #15

M By maskedsonnet

I do have more growing!! I think trimming gave it a little encouragement. I also have 2 that have turned orange, can't wait for them to finish ripening so I can give it a taste!!
Conversation
A
areyoukittenme

It's growing so big! I hope the peppers are super yummy

Day 163
UPDATE#14
Grower update

Update #14

Actions taken

PruningTrimmed long branches back toward the AeroGarden while retaining fruiting branches.

M By maskedsonnet

Did a little trimming on this guy to bring the branches back towards the machine. Left a couple of longer ones because there were peppers on them!
Conversation
S
Sher

maskedsonnet , I don't remember if "The Plant that Ate New York" was an ancient movie, or a line from a comedy skit that I heard once, but I think of it when I see that pepper plant!

M
maskedsonnet

Isn't it a reference to Little Shop of Horrors? I love that musical!! And the black comedy flim that came before it, though I don't think it's as fun without the music.

L
lynnee

Ever since Ray and I saw the movie, our garbage disposals have been referred to as "Two-ey"! Do you have more Komodos now?

Day 153
UPDATE#13
Grower update

Update #13

M By maskedsonnet

Still waiting for the peppers to ripen up, but they are doing good!
Day 141
UPDATE#12
Grower update

Update #12

M By maskedsonnet

I now have TWO Komodos on the plant!
Conversation
S
Sher

Yay!!!

S
Shawn

I see them I see them

Day 137
UPDATE#11
Grower update

Update #11

Actions taken

PruningPruned the crowded plants to regain canopy control.
FinishedAccidentally removed or killed the Dragon's Breath plant during pruning.

M By maskedsonnet

Couldn't hold back anymore and did some trimming. Made a mistake and the Dragon's Breath is no more (oops!!) The Komodo Dragon is slightly more under control and has peppers on it!!
Conversation
L
lynnee

Alas, poor Dragon's Breath! My new mantra is "Know what you're cutting! Know what you're cutting!" That plus "Stop pruning when you're tired of pruning!"Lotta good those did yesterday when I was pruning the Organic Ancho Grande. The blooming part will come back, I think. And at least the pepper is mature enough to eat.

M
maskedsonnet

Lol well the Dragon's Breath actually ended up being pretty stunted compared to the Komodo, once they were detangled from each other. I think the Komodo was hogging all the light. So it wasn't that much of a loss!! Next time I try I'll grow the Dragon in his own machine so I don't do that again!

Day 123
UPDATE#10
Grower update

Update #10

M By maskedsonnet

Still haven't seen any peppers form, but it is loaded up with flowers!!
Conversation
S
Shawn

Sending pepper growing vibes your way ....

A
areyoukittenme

Won't be long, I think!

S
Sher

Start hunting up pepper recipes!

Day 113
UPDATE#9
Grower update

Update #9

Actions taken

PruningCut off several branches that were stretching toward the ceiling.

M By maskedsonnet

I trimmed a couple of branches off, that were trying to reach for the ceiling. Otherwise have decided to let these guys just do whatever, they're healthy plants even though they look weird.
Day 104
UPDATE#8
Grower update

Update #8

M By maskedsonnet

These have grown into weird shapes, and I'm not sure what (if anything) to do about it. It's not like there's tons of bush for me to trim off, like I usually have to do with pepper plants. There are lots of blooms on them, though
Conversation
S
Sher

That is different-looking, maskedsonnet. But as long as there are plenty of blooms, it's good!

S
Shawn

That is an odd looking plant but blooms are a good thing

L
lynnee

You could try trimming off the stems that are far outside the lights, if you feel that you have to do something. I can never leave well enough alone, of course!

A
areyoukittenme

Wow, look at 'em go! I have to agree with the others - if they're blooming then I'd let 'em do their thing!

Day 51
UPDATE#7
Grower update

Update #7

M By maskedsonnet

Getting bigger!
Conversation
S
Sher

Off to an impressive start!

L
lynnee

Dragons are way too dangerous for me, but yours make me want to grow them!

Day 41
UPDATE#6
Grower update

Update #6

M By maskedsonnet

Making progress!
Conversation
S
Sher

They look so healthy!

Day 28
UPDATE#5
Grower update

Update #5

Actions taken

NutrientsAdded nutrients to the pepper garden.

M By maskedsonnet

Added nutrients today
Conversation
S
Sher

They are off to a great start!

S
Shawn

Both looking very nice

Day 21
UPDATE#4
Grower update

Update #4

M By maskedsonnet

Both peppers are growing and looking good!
Day 15
UPDATE#3
Grower update

Update #3

M By maskedsonnet

The dragon's breath is up!!
Day 11
UPDATE#2
Grower update

Update #2

M By maskedsonnet

Komodo Dragon is up. No signs from the Dragon's Breath yet:
Conversation
S
Sher

Enjoy growing those firecrackers!!!

Day 1
UPDATE#1
Grower update

Update #1

Actions taken

PlantingStarted Dragon's Breath and Komodo Dragon pepper pods in the cleared Bounty.

M By maskedsonnet

Ended the tomato bounty to grow some super hots!! Dragon's Breath and Komodo Dragon:
Enlarged photoClick outside the image to close