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Chilli Focus or Tomorite for young(ish) pepper plants

garrinchasuperskillzgarrinchasuperskillz Posts: 69
edited April 2021 in Plants
alright guys. I have some pepper plants that are around 8 weeks old and have been potted out the last couple of days.
I only used seaweed extract during the seedling stage, but I'm wondering whether now would be a good time to feed them with something with a higher NPK? and if so, which of the above would be best for the plants?
they are around 6 inches tall, with a decent amount of leaves. I haven't topped them just yet.
oh, I do bring them inside every night, but they have been fully hardened off over the last couple of weeks
thanks guys!

EDIT - just realised this has gone into Plants section - and not Fruit and Veg!
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  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,079
    If they're potted on with fresh compost each time the roots fill the pot, they shouldn't need feeding until they're in their final pots and starting to form baby fruits. At that point feed with something high in potash like tomato food.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,669
    Don't feed until you get fruit
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,498
    Regardless of whether they have been hardened off or not, they will be killed or badly damaged by a frost. They shouldn't be outside until all risk of that is over in your area and night-time temps are consistently higher than they are right now.
    They don't need feeding either, while they are regularly being potted on, as the new compost will supply enough nutrients. Save the feed for when they are established in their final pots and then they will need tomato, or another high potassium feed to promote flowers and fruit.

  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,669
    Depends where you live,in the UK I wouldn't even put them outside in the day,way too cold
  • garrinchasuperskillzgarrinchasuperskillz Posts: 69
    edited April 2021
    Buttercupdays said:
    Regardless of whether they have been hardened off or not, they will be killed or badly damaged by a frost. They shouldn't be outside until all risk of that is over in your area and night-time temps are consistently higher than they are right now.

    when I say hardened off, I mean they have been outside during the day. over the last couple of weeks I have been giving them more and more outside time. I'm up to about 7 hours now, so I guess that isn't fully hardened off. I did mention that I do bring them inside at night, usually around 6pm
    I'm based in the SW - and daytime temps are around 12/13c. my garden is also pretty sheltered, so wind not really an issue
    and just to clarify - they are in their final pots
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,669
    Still way to early,does not matter if you are sheltered,the air temperature is not high enough, another month maybe outside during the day,I give mine a week outside at night end of may,they are the size of yours now in the conservatory,not even going near the green house, and I am in SE UK 10 minutes from the sea,and sheltered
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,669
    I see also you say you have them in their final pots,they must be enormous
  • Captain_ChaosCaptain_Chaos Posts: 60
    An interesting read as I am also growing my first chilis. Mine are about 3-4 weeks now and still tiny. I was growing six of them in a Chinese take-away tub but thought they maybe didn't have deep enough soil to grow the roots. I separated them into 4" pots (all I had spare) at the weekend. Wondering if this is too big a pot now.  What is the reason for using small pots and repotting often? Just curious. :)

    BTW - thanks for the tip on the tomato feed. I bought some at the weekend to feed these, so will wait until they start to fruit (if they do).

    Growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional.
  • garrinchasuperskillzgarrinchasuperskillz Posts: 69
    Nanny Beach said:
    Still way to early,does not matter if you are sheltered,the air temperature is not high enough, another month maybe outside during the day,I give mine a week outside at night end of may,they are the size of yours now in the conservatory,not even going near the green house, and I am in SE UK 10 minutes from the sea,and sheltered
    when you say way too early, what do you mean by that? the peppers had outgrown their original pots, I have neither a greenhouse or conservatory to transition the plants, I live in a downstairs flat, which doesn't get much light - so I have no other choice but to give the plants outside time now
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,669
    I don't use lots of small pots and pot on often, every one is different,I have a neighbor who starts hers off in yogurt tubs 500 ml size, they stay there till they go outside in a bed.I sow several different varieties, normally a cherry, salad beafsteak,quarter trays, kitchen window sill, till I can see they will get tangled, now it's 3 inch pots in conservatory window
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