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Pimento-Style Lipstick Peppers Harvested before Nutrient-Substitution Decline

Grow log by Sher · Original thread

15 visual updates16 photos47 replies
View recap
CropPepper
VarietyLipstick pepper, pimento pepper
MethodAeroGarden hydroponics
EquipmentAeroGarden Bounty units
Plants2
AudienceAdvanced

What you can learnA strong pepper diary covering plant separation, dense-canopy management, identification correction, harvest, severe pruning, and nutrient-substitution failure.

Actions:3 Pruning1 Transplant1 Harvest1 Nutrients1 Finished
Useful practices
  • moving the smaller pepper into a second Bounty
  • repeated heavy pruning for airflow
  • correcting a variety identification error
  • harvesting ripe peppers
  • terminating declining plants
Problems encountered
  • one initially weak plant
  • dense foliage and trapped moisture
  • light-burned leaves
  • variety mix-up
  • declining taste and plant health after nutrient substitution

*The days were calculated automatically and approximately.

Day 115
UPDATE#15
Grower update

Update #15

Actions taken

NutrientsUsed Dyna-Gro after running out of AeroGarden nutrients.
FinishedEnded both plants because taste, fruit quality, and health declined.

S By Sher

These were terminated due to declining taste, quality and plant health because I ran out of AG nutrients and substituted Dyna Grow.
Conversation
C
campingcorgis

Well, they are photogenic!

M
mike

They look beautiful.

S
Shawn

I am sorry to hear the taste was not good. I have never used Dynagrow. I just stick with AG nutes, which reminds me I better order some more to keep on hand.

A
airscapes

Sher Not sure I would blame the fertilizer on the taste change issue but I guess it could be.. I do know when my pepper plants get older and start to decline in health or even Healthy plants that have small peppers that do ripen at the end of the season.. they don't taste the same as they did.

M
mike

The later peppers don't taste as good because they don't fully develop the natural sugars the earlier peppers do. The same thing applies to peppers you pick green and allow to ripen off of the vine. They are never as good.

C
campingcorgis

Good to know & makes sense too. Thanks, Mike!

S
Sher

Thank you, mike. I was going to do a review earlier, but allergies were messing with my taste buds, so I was going to wait until I could be more accurate. I remember being surprised at how incredibly sweet they were. Thanks for explaining.

M
mike

Sher, the difference is pretty subtle. I don't think most people notice. I was noticing it a little when I read a study by the University of New Mexico referring to it. Then I saw a video by Khang Star (not sure of his last name} also referring to it.

Day 104
UPDATE#14
Grower update

Update #14

Actions taken

PruningGave the plants a severe trim to encourage further growth and production.

S By Sher

These two plants are beautiful. I gave them a severe trim to hopefully boot them into more growth and production. I have not reviewed them because I had a cold and my taster wasn't up to par. I will review the next super ripe one I pick.
Conversation
S
Shawn

They look good. I want to hear the review

Day 97
UPDATE#13
Grower update

Update #13

Actions taken

HarvestPicked two ripe peppers for dinner.

S By Sher

I harvested the two ripe ones today. Will use them for dinner tonight.
Conversation
M
mike

Yumm! Don't forget to review them.

S
Shawn

I second that

Day 94
UPDATE#12
Grower update

Update #12

Actions taken

PruningTrimmed leaves damaged by the grow lights.

S By Sher

Look what I found when I was trimming off leaves that were burned by the lights!
Conversation
S
Shawn

Nothing like seeing red ... in peppers

M
mike

Nothing like the color change. Hopefully I have my PC back soon. This dinky laptop is a pain to use.

Day 92
UPDATE#11
Grower update

Update #11

S By Sher

I had the lipstick and sweet heat peppers mixed up. Now that they are larger, I can tell the difference. I found out the lipstick pepper is a pimento pepper.
Conversation
S
Shawn

You have a nice amount there

S
Sher

I have two plants of them. This one is the most photogenic.

Day 82
UPDATE#10
Grower update

Update #10

S By Sher

It seems to be producing more peppers in the foliage.
Conversation
M
mike

Those are looking good.

S
Shawn

I Agree with mike, they look good.

Day 77
UPDATE#9
Grower update

Update #9

S By Sher

I didn't label my peppers, so am not sure what these are. They are not Sweet Heats, nor do they look like lipstick peppers to me. They were freebie seeds from Baker Creek labeled lipstick peppers. Another mystery..
Day 67
UPDATE#8
Grower update

Update #8

S By Sher

This is the most photogenic of the two lipstick pepper plants.
Conversation
C
campingcorgis

Very pretty!!!

Day 48
UPDATE#7
Grower update

Update #7

Actions taken

PruningRepeatedly cut back thick leaves to prevent moisture accumulation.

S By Sher

The leaves are so thick that I have to keep drastically trimming them to keep moisture from collecting under them. But they are getting serious about flowering now!
Conversation
C
campingcorgis

Wow! Pretty plant too. Can't wait to see the peppers!

Day 44
UPDATE#6
Grower update

Update #6

S By Sher

The larger lipstick pepper has finally started budding.
Conversation
S
Shawn

I look forward to seeing this plant produce and hearing how they are.

S
Sher

So do I, Shawn. I tried one before in Kratky. It started out great, but then started declining. So this will be my first chance to see how they mature. If I like them, I may take cuttings and plant them outdoors

Day 26
UPDATE#5
Grower update

Update #5

Actions taken

TransplantReported that the smaller plant had been placed in its own machine.

S By Sher

The baby now has a home of its own!
Conversation
M
mike

Nice and healthy.

Day 22
UPDATE#4
Grower update

Update #4

S By Sher

The lipstick peppers continue to grow. I will be able to keep the small one after all. I am getting a used Bounty, so that will be the little guy's new home. Yay! More peppers! (Sorry about the horrible mineral deposits!)
Conversation
S
Shawn

This is growing nicely

Day 16
UPDATE#3
Grower update

Update #3

S By Sher

The small pepper is failing to thrive. So instead of tying up another machine, I am going to terminate it. I hope the healthy one will fill the Bounty!
Conversation
S
Shawn

That little one may still make it. If you are going to keep the other in there I would let this one continue UNLESS you want to plant something else. Just a suggestion

S
Sher

Maybe I will temporarily put it in a Kratky jar when it gets a little bigger and see how it does. By then it could be time to plant it outdoors. Thanks for the suggestion. I can never get enough peppers!

Day 13
UPDATE#2
Grower update

Update #2

S By Sher

I'm glad I decided to start two lipstick peppers, even though the Bounty has room for only one. The one in the rear is doing so much better, so I will keep it and terminate the smaller one.
Conversation
S
Shawn

I have always grown two peppers in a bounty. Why do you think only one will fit? Just curious.

S
Sher

Shawn, it is supposed to grow 18-20 inches tall and about 20" wide. Do you think I woukd get more pepoers if I trimmed them to make them fit?

S
Shawn

A question better suited for mike because I have no clue

S
Sher

mike, what do you think?

M
mike

Lipstick Peppers have a pretty wide base. Can you grow two on a Bounty, yes. But they will be crowded and you will need to prune. One would be best, but I seldom listen to my own advise in that regard.Good luck.

S
Sher

Than you, mike. I will harvest the Swiss chard and put the smaller pepper in that Bounty. I want lots of peppers!

S
Shawn

Thanks mike for answering!

Day 1
UPDATE#1
Grower update

Update #1

S By Sher

My three year old lipstick pepper seeds - a freebie from Baker Creek- finally sprouted! They are thick walled, sweet, bright red, elongated peppers. I had just walked over to this Bounty planning to dump, sanitize it, and plant Sweet Heats when I saw they were up! These are larger plants, so I will thin them to the healthest plant when they are a little bigger. I will harvest the Swiss Chard and plant Sweet Heats in that machine instead.
Conversation
S
Shawn

What a lovely surprise

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