So, towards the end of the season last year I was trying to work out how I was going to save my Chilli Plants, I’d only started late with them and they hadn’t really done much. I’d heard of ‘Over Wintering’ your plants but I was beseiged by Aphids in the house and Mrs. Diaries was getting less patient about it. So, I took one to work…
It lived quite happily on my desk, next to my nice warm computer and monitor as I’d planned and didn’t really do much. I didn’t strip it, but it did lose a few leaves. Other than that it went well. I’d labelled it up as a Bhut Jolokia as I’d bought some from a local farm shop and planted the seeds, but I wasn’t really sure what I was going to get as I’d no idea how they’d been grown.
In February this year it decided it was going to wake up and started off some flowers;
The Chilli Plant I took to work for the Winter seems to think it’s time to start growing flowers… Hmmmm… #Chilli pic.twitter.com/VTFvmWhn59
— The Chilli Diaries (@ChilliDiaries) February 11, 2016
I left it alone, it tried a few times and dropped them.
When it started getting warmer I moved it to the “Happy Window” as it’s called at work, it’s the only one that isn’t darkened out in the office (for whatever reason) and lets real light in.
And then, one day in April. She started to grow a proper pod…
Chilli that I overwintered at work is with Pod 😀 #Chillies #Chilli #Chili #GrowYourOwn #GYO pic.twitter.com/mBjO2VuDne
— The Chilli Diaries (@ChilliDiaries) April 26, 2016
It wasn’t long before I’d get a better look at it…
My Chilli Plant at work doing me proud! #Chillies #Chilli #Chili #GrowYourOwn #GYO pic.twitter.com/wcoStY8YkA
— The Chilli Diaries (@ChilliDiaries) April 29, 2016
Before it eventually took it’s final form…
Good job, Chilli plant at work! #Chillies #Chilli #Chili #GrowYourOwn #GYO pic.twitter.com/vhDXq8M5aH
— The Chilli Diaries (@ChilliDiaries) May 6, 2016
Nope, doesn’t look a lot like a Bhut Jolokia to me either… More like a Scotch Bonnet? I get them from the same shop, if they grow their own it’s entirely possible it’s crossed.
The plant itself is looking reasonably healthy, I repotted it earlier in the year, shortly after it went into the window, it’s grown a bit like an umbrella and not bothered replacing the leaves that it lost.
It is currently being helped to stay upright by a plastic fork and an elastic band, it had a sudden growth spurt at one point and it started to lean.
The pod shape doesn’t seem to be consistent, which I was kind of surprised by… I’m not even sure I’ve seen a Chilli this shape before… :-/
BUT – It is giving me lots of flowers
And those flowers seem to be turning into more pods…
So, I really can’t complain! I get to do some Chilli farming at work, I genuinely look forward to going in some mornings to check up on it, even on a Monday.
Pretty sure it’s the only reason I go on in on some Mondays 😉