Week 34 brought another round of intensive greenhouse maintenance alongside some genuinely exciting color development across the plants. The team has been heads-down on deep cleaning while keeping a close eye on the varieties that are inching toward harvest.
The energy out there right now is hard to beat. Peppers are coloring up, the space is getting cleaner every week, and there's plenty to report.
Seed Stock Production
Dragon's Breath: First Fruits Nearly Ready
The Dragon's Breath recovery we've been tracking is paying off in a big way. After last week's pruning and adjusted watering schedule, the plants inside the greenhouse are continuing to turn red and a small handful are almost ready to harvest. It's the kind of progress that reminds you why you stay patient and let the plants lead.
Grow Bag Update: Can You Guess the Variety?
We headed out to grab a photo of one of the varieties growing in the grow bags for seed stock and it's looking great. Whether these seeds make it to the shop depends on harvest, but we thought it was too fun not to share.
Think you can identify it? Drop your guess in the comments of our Facebook or Instagram post for this week's blog. Here's a look at an unripe pod below.
Clues:
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- Heat level: 850,000–1,500,000 SHU, firmly in superhot territory
- Its nickname was given by the internet and happens to be a food, but don't let that fool you. The flavor is fruity, citrusy, and floral. It tastes nothing like its name.
- Ripens from green to a vibrant peach-orange
- A cross between a 7 Pot Bubblegum and a variety of Ghost... but we can't say which one or it'll give it away
Deep Cleaning Continues
Wet Wall Scrubdown
This week the team tackled the wet wall, sprayed it down and gave it a thorough deep clean. Keeping the wet wall clean is critical for airflow efficiency and overall greenhouse hygiene, especially during high-heat stretches when it's working overtime.
DB System Flush
We also cleaned the Dutch Bucket system this week: changed the water in the buckets and flushed the lines. Keeping the irrigation system clean helps prevent buildup and keeps the plants on a consistent, healthy watering schedule. It's the kind of maintenance that doesn't show up in the flashy moments, but makes a big difference over the course of a season.
Looking Ahead
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- Watch Dragon's Breath closely for harvest-ready fruits
- Continue monitoring all varieties in the grow bags for color and maturity
- Ongoing plant care and greenhouse maintenance as the heat continues
What This Means for Home Growers
If you're in the thick of late-summer growing at home, here's what's on our radar:
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- Grow supplies maintenance if applicable, growing hydropnically
- Peppers almost ready to harvest? Give them the extra time. Dragon's Breath and similar superhots develop their full heat and flavor in those final days of color transition.
Need something else? Check out our full library of Growing Guides in Grow with Joe.
Keep Up with the Greenhouse
Missed last week? Week 33
Want to see how the season started? Start at Week 1
Stay spicy. Until next week, keep growing.
🌶️ The Pepper Joe's Growing Team