A little healthy competition between colleagues can be an effective way to build camaraderie. Following the addition of new team members, the Agrovista marketing department decided to instigate a chilli growing competition, growing three different varieties from seed. Marketing Coordinator Siobhan Sandel explains what she’s learnt from the experience so far.
Siobhan Sandel, Marketing Coordinator
“Our chilli growing competition runs from February through to end of September. Hopefully this will enable us all to grow a successful plant or two, before judging takes place with our colleagues in the Glasshouse team.
The rules are quite simple – we grow the chillies at home but mustn’t use plant protection products or fertilisers that aren’t registered for home-use. We can ask for advice on how best to grow our chillies from anyone, providing they’re not part of the Glasshouse team.
Admittedly, this is a real challenge for me, as I’m not a ‘green-fingered’ person. Although I’ve worked for Agrovista for quite some time, I often seem to forget to water plants, which I mainly leave my husband Pete to take care of.
The competition begins
So, back in February, Marketing Communications Manager Janine Heath gave us all our chilli seed kits, of which there are three types - cayenne, habanero and naga. They each vary in ‘hotness’, with the naga being the spiciest. I planted mine on February 22 into the pots provided, although I did forget to name each pot so it will be a surprise!
I re-used the plastic packaging they came in as it resembles a mini greenhouse, and placed the seeds on the kitchen windowsill to keep them warm. After around three weeks and not seeing any seedlings, I decided to move the pots to our lounge bay window in hope of more sun so that my seeds will start growing.
First signs of life
Success on March 17 when my first shoot appeared, with hope of the others soon following. As this first shoot grew in size and a second appeared, I then re-planted them into larger pots and gave the rest of the seed packs to my son Leo to try and grow.
Fast forward to May 28 and I had two large plants growing rather successfully. Having consulted expert websites, I pinched out some of the unnecessary leaves on my plants but unfortunately, managed to break the stem of one in the process. This has since started to re-grow thankfully.
Aphid infestation
By June, to my horror, I found aphids on one of Leo’s chillies, as I’m now looking after these too as he seems to have forgotten about them. After a ‘Google’ for how to remove them, I followed some online advice and applied a mild solution of water and a few drops of dish soap.
Although successful in ridding the chilli of aphids, I may have got the mixture slightly wrong as it also affected the plant leaves in the process. I’ve now removed the worst affected leaves and have been lucky enough for the plant to produce new ones and is starting to look healthy again.
Janine had warned us that growing chillies is a long-term project and it seems she was correct!”