By Beth11
Fall pepper grow using new DWC (Hydrofarm Emily's Garden)
Submitted on Tue, 2011/09/06 - 9:03pm
Last updated on Tue, 2011/10/11 - 7:29pm
Hi All,
I've decided to try peppers in the first try at the Hydrofarm DWC (Emily's garden). I plan on growing 2 Ace bell peppers, 2 Giant Marconi frying peppers and a jalapeno. Leaving one space open for checking nutes. I finally had a chance to hang the compact fluorescent light fixture. Peppers started 6 Sep 2011. More details to follow. Pix of the setup:
2 October 2011: Peppers transplanted 25 September 2011. Growing 2 Ace bell peppers, 2 Giant Marconi and one jalapeno pepper. GH Flora Nova nutes, started at 1.0 EC, which has raised to 1.4 EC today. pH of 6.0.
10 October 2011: Peppers doing really well! I'm pleased that the light seems sufficient for the set-up. Only issue is some condensation dripping from the lip of the lid. Changed nutes, still flora nova, EC 1.3 and pH 6.0.
Sun, 2011/09/11 - 11:42am
#2
Nice DWC unit, it will be good to see this grow as the weeks go by.
Sun, 2011/10/02 - 8:19pm
#3
Hi All,
Peppers transplanted into hydro unit 9/25. Using GH Flora Nova (came with the unit) at 1.2 EC 6.0 pH. Had one heck of a time getting the pH down - using home well water - I am NOT buying 5 gallons of distilled! Little plants were a little yellow after transplanting so I soaked the rockwool and hydroton with nutes and they greened right up. I'll post pix when I can figure out the right lighting to be able to actually see the plants!
Beth
Sun, 2011/10/02 - 10:19pm
#4
They're adorable, Beth. 
You said once Giant Marconi freeze better than Carmen peppers, but similar pepper? Do they taste and yield about the same?
Tue, 2011/10/11 - 7:31pm
#5
Hi Gisette,
Same taste, GM is just a bigger pepper with a thicker skin.
Beth
Sun, 2011/12/04 - 5:33pm
#6
Well, Emily's garden has grown huge pepper plants - but not a single pepper has set. Not enough light from the Hydrofarm fixture - sigh. Gisette was right (she always is ;>). So, should I trim the plants back and stick under my dependable 3 fluorescent light fixture setup or just start over? How do they do cut way back?
My AG peppers are setting well (jalapeno and ace bell). Giant Marconi in soilless potting mix is setting and doing well. Alot more work mixing gallons of nutes at one time! You really can't grow 5 or 6 plants in this setup without really trimming the plants back. I'd say three max. Still keeping EC about 1.8 and pH at 6.0.
Thoughts?
Thanks,
Beth
Sun, 2011/12/04 - 5:45pm
#7
I'm not always right, flatterer. ;)
Peppers tolerate pruning well. You won't get new flowers on old nodes. Since peppers take an eternity, no, don't start over! 
Well, unless you want to try growing cabbages or something instead. You do have a lot of pepper plants.
Sun, 2011/12/04 - 5:52pm
#8
I started these to do a hydro presentation - that was cancelled again! I don't need this many pepper plants. I'm going to prune them back, I think, and move them. Just clip back branches to stimulate new growth?
Sun, 2011/12/04 - 7:46pm
#9
Beth - yeah. So long as they have enough leaf left, they'll grow back from whatever shape you cut them down to. Just be sure to cut back far enough, since all new pepper buds will grow 6", 12", etc. above what you cut to, if the plant grows like carmens internode distance-wise. Only new nodes have flower buds.
Fri, 2012/01/27 - 8:38pm
#10
Peppers thinned to two plants. Since they had no support they fell over. A few peppers maturing. Not a spectacular grow.
Fri, 2012/01/27 - 9:29pm
#11
Sorry to hear they didn't do well, Beth. System just too small for the plant?
I've been thinking about using wire cubes as indoor plant support system for my upcoming tomato experiment. It was supposed to be tomato-and-pepper, but if the pepper doesn't germinate, it may be more cukes.
Ooh, looking forward to seeing how this one goes, Beth. What wattage on the CFL fixture?
I ought to start my winter cukes soon.