Time for a quick update on the class of 2012.
Below is one of the Serrano seedlings — all of them are looking very healthy. I’ve largely eliminated the aphids that had infested the young plants, and they’re now growing strongly.
The Aji Hots below are producing their first true leaves thanks to my homemade grow box, which keeps them warm in cold weather and provides plenty of light for steady growth.
The Rocoto Reds below are characteristically hairy and are developing more slowly than the Serranos and Aji Hots. They take a bit longer to establish but look healthy and vigorous.
I decided to move the older seeds I planted a week or two ago from the grow box into the airing cupboard. Temperatures here have been extreme — down to −14°C at night — and the grow box didn’t seem to retain enough warmth overnight. The constant, slightly higher temperature in the airing cupboard should help encourage germination and give those seeds a better start.