I read through the group to get a feel for things: this is my 1st post of this type. I have bought scotch bonnets to make my homemade chicken wing sauce, but I want it hotter in the future. I know I could use Capsaicin concentrate, but have no idea if it is necessary (yet), or if it is available to me in a store. Will I be able to find Red Savina habaneros either fresh, or in seed form in Toronto and could I get them to grow? If I were to have a pet plant this would have to be it, and I could give some special attention.
Up until then, I have just pulled the seeds from some scotch bonnets, within the inside pod or whatever it is called, and have them sitting in a glass jar in the fridge. What do I do with these scotch bonnet seeds right now and in the mean time?
As far I know, the last frost date here could be June 1st, so giving 10 weeks germination (12-14 in a short growing season), which is what I assume TO is, then I should put seeds in some dirt about the 10th of March indoors. If I can follow some simple procedure, I will give scotch bonnets a try. I'm really hoping for Red Savina though. I don't want to do anything heroic: I can get some good soil(s), fertilizer(s), pot(s) or flats, cover(s), I'll water them, etc., but I don't know about heating pads or fluorescent lights (mostly b/c I don't have them).
This is what I can see: I can make a plywood greenhouse and line it with aluminum foil, and put in a fluorescent lamp, maybe one of those round ones, to get the soil temp up. Can I use one pot, with one soil, except with the top inch or three having peat mixed in for germination. I do have some room in the ground, but I think I could use the same big pot and take it outdoors June 5th.