Topic: Cultivating your own plants from seed (chillies and coriander)

[SnS]

You can grow your own plants from whole spice coriander seeds and chillies.

Put about a dozen coriander seeds into seed compost (4 inch pot), cover the seeds with 1/8 inch fine seed compost, place indoors on south facing window ledge ... 10 days hey presto (don't forget water).

They germinate quite easily, but do need lots of sunlight (in winter it grows leggy) and regular watering to grow a decent bunch of leaf. Ready for clipping in about 4/6 weeks (in Spring & Summer). Plant a batch every week and you have a constant supply.

Some coriander varieties are specifically used for growing more seeds, and some are for growing the leaf. If you grow from coriander seed (sold as a whole spice), chances are the leaves will not be as abundant as you will get from those bunches sold in the supermarkets. If you want to grow coriander leaf, best bet is to buy a packet of coriander seeds "for leaf" from a garden centre (about 1.30).

Well worth doing as fresh coriander leaf is not cheap and doesn't keep long. Only way I know to have a regular supply is to chop finely and then deep freeze with a little water in an ice cube tray.

Also, if you've recently bought some of those cute little Thai dragon chillies (or any other favourite chilli) from your local supermarket - don't use them all. Put one of them on top of your radiator for a week (to dry).

Crumple the flesh with your fingers and recover those little yellow seeds. Plant in seed compost, cover lightly with a sprinkling of fine compost, water, cover with cling film and place in warm environment (25C is ideal). They will germinate in about a week or two. As soon as they pop their little heads, remove cling film and place on sunny window ledge. One plant will probably provide you about 100 chillies in the first year and even more the second and third year. Chilli plants will keep fruiting for at least 3 years provided they're not exposed to less than 8C for prolonged periods ... whereas the slightest frost will probably kill them.

SnS  ;D

[SnS]

These babes are from fresh Thai chillies bought at my local chinese supermarket 3 weeks ago. After one week to dry on the radiator, I planted 4 seeds (2 in each pot) only last weekend - 10th Feb (germination score 4/4).

They are in a heated propagator, but an airing cupboard should do, as long as they're checked daily ... as soon as the tips show they need light.

SnS  ;D

[Chris303]

I grew some from my seeds last summer and there was very little leaves and then it bloomed into flowers  :-[

[Cory Ander]

Dorset Nagas growing outside (seeds kindly and generously supplied by SnS..photos taken just now) 

Please forgive the bars...they are to my padded cell!   

[SnS]

Dorset Nagas grown outside (seeds kindly and generously supplied by SnS) 

Please forgive the bars...they are to my padded cell!   

Wondered where you disappeared to for all those months? Now I know.

The Naga's look healthy - just watch those aphids!

Look forward to seeing the first illustrated Chicken Naga post by CA soon eh?

SnS  ;D

[Cory Ander]

Yes, I've grown them too.  They grow into sprouts not the actual fenugreek plant (unfortunately   )

[SnS]

I grew some from my seeds last summer and there was very little leaves and then it bloomed into flowers  :-[

Sorry Chris, are we talking fenugreek, coriander or chillies here 

SnS  ;D

[Cory Ander]

More chilli plants growing outside (photos taken just now)....

Top to bottom:

1.  Habenero (you can see one just starting to turn orange)
2.  South Africa Peri Peri
3.  Serrano, Inferno, Caysan and Jalapeno (the Caysan just beginning to flower)

All of these were grown from seedlings rather than seeds

[SnS]

Can we have a chilli section to this forum please?

SnS 

[SnS]

Dorset Nagas growing outside (seeds kindly and generously supplied by SnS..photos taken just now) 

My Dorset Naga's growing in greenhouse. Photo's also taken just now.

SnS  ;D