lemon drop

[bluebell]

Hi Charles I know that you grew a lemon drop chilli last year and I was wondering when you sowed it (it says to sow early) and do you soak seed first as it is apparently fairly reluctant to germinate.
Thanks Jan

[Leif]

I am sure Charles will answer, but ease of germinating depends on freshness of the seed and how ripe the pod was when harvested. Real Seeds sell them, and I know they provide fresh good quality seed. Most other suppliers will buy from a third party. I have had a lot of trouble with commerical seed whereas my own, and Real Seeds, germinates in ~5 days. I would start now, with luck you’ll get seedlings by mid February.

As for soaking, it is said that if you drop seed into water, viable seed will sink. I have tended to soak seed, but I have done no controlled trials, so I cannot really say if it helps.

[bluebell]

Thanks Leif – they are from Real seeds and for once I read the packet and it says that they are an unusual chilli group and so more difficult to germinate. Hence my questions.

[charles]

Last February Steph sowed the seeds on a propagator mat on a windowsill, without soaking, and germination was good. I agree with Leif that freshness is important, I had a similar experience last year with my own chilli seeds germinating so quickly.
In view of the cold to come I would sow on a windowsill or airing cupboard.

[bluebell]

thanks for the info. The windowsill/airing cupboard is the only option I have. Was wondering when they said early sowing advisable if I should get cracking, would normally still wait a few weeks yet?

[charles]

Last year I sowed my chillies on March 1st and they cropped well, I would wait until mid February.

[bluebell]

Thanks Charles. I normally aim to start sowing on valentines day (my idea of romantic!). So that is perfect.

[Leif]

From memory C. baccatum are not so bad as some in terms of growing season. Rocoto (C. pubescens) takes ages to ripen, some of mine failed to turn red before frosts hit. They also don’t do too badly outdoors, once frosts have gone, unlike C. chinense. In 2012, when we had more than 40 days and nights of rain, and heavy cloud, my Lemon Drop actually produced a decent number of pods.

They all say Lemon Drop taste of lemon, but I’ve grown them twice, and none tasted of lemon, just a C. baccatum taste!

[charles]

Yes they are spicy

[bluebell]

I had the pleasure of tasting in one of Stephs dishes and I have to say that it had a distinct sharp lemony tang as well as heat. But in my experience chillies heat is a variable thing as seed I sowed and shared produced both relatively mild and very hot the only difference being who grew them ( so water, feed etc)

[jamlady]

Hi, I’m new to the forum and am reading with interest. Lemon drops are one of my favourite chillis. I’ve never had a problem with germination, find them extremely prolific and was still harvesting them from my poly in early Dec. Early I know but I sowed a few on 29th Dec in an unheated prop in the spare bedroom and they germinated on 10th Jan. Yesterday (29th Jan) I pricked them out . They’re just getting their third true leaf and have a healthy few roots growing. They’re now just on a table infront of a s facing window (still spare bedrom ) which is next to the airing cupboard so fairly warm. They will eventually be acclimatised to slightly cooler conditions before being planted in the polytunnel. The seed originally came from real seeds but for the past couple of years I’ve saved my own. Hope this is of interest.

[bluebell]

Thank you jam lady. Also your name has made me wonder how good they would be in chilli jelly. Nom nom

[Author]

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