Marbles

Cultivation Break

Season Overview

Description

Marbles is one of the most beautiful, edible ornamental chillies there is. It is a must to grow this Annuum variety for its appearance alone. The small plant is very easy to grow and therefore ideal as a pot culture for beginners. The fruits grow upright, reach a diameter of approx. 1 cm and, unlike many other ornamental chillies, they have a very nice aromatic taste and medium heat. They are first bright purple, then white, later yellow to orange and then fully ripe red. As they do not ripen uniformly, all colors are always on one plant at the same time. The berries are suitable for eating fresh, for drying or simply for decoration.

Growing tips

🌡️ Germination & propagation - Sowing: End of February to beginning of March - chilies have a long cultivation period. - Hotter varieties (e.g. Habanero, Bhut Jolokia) need a particularly long → early start (as early as January). - Sowing depth: 0.2-0.5 cm, light germinator - Germination temperature: 24-28 °C for fast and reliable germination. - Mini greenhouse or propagator on the windowsill recommended. - Place in a very bright position, otherwise the seedlings will quickly go to seed. - Only one seed per pot to avoid root disturbance. - Only prick out if there are several plants in one pot - chilies like quiet roots. - Repot as soon as the roots emerge from the bottom of the pot. - When repotting, do not plant deeper than before (unlike with tomatoes). 🌱 Soil - Loose & well-drained - Good drainage - Humus & airy - Cultivation: low in nutrients - From 4th-6th pair of leaves: nutrient-rich, initially more nitrogen, later more potassium for fruit formation. - pH: 6.0-7.0 So slightly acidic to neutral 🌶️ Planting distances ✅ Standard hot chillies (e.g. cayenne, Thai, jalapeño) - 30-40 cm distance between the plants - 40-50 cm row spacing 🌶️🔥 Large varieties (e.g. Habanero, Scotch Bonnet, large Capsicum chinense) - 40-45 cm spacing - 50-60 cm row spacing 🌱 Small/compact varieties (ornamental chillies, mini chillies) - 20-30 cm spacing - 30-40 cm row spacing 🌞 Location in summer - Full sun, warm, sheltered from the wind - chillies love warmth and need light. - Balcony, terrace or greenhouse ideal. - Sheltered south-facing balcony or a plastic greenhouse. - From mid-May (after the Ice Saints) slowly acclimatize to sun and wind. - Only put outside when night temperatures are stable above 10 °C. 💧 Watering & fertilizing - Keep evenly moist, but avoid waterlogging. - From the second month onwards, feed regularly with tomato or vegetable fertilizer. - Slight dry spells before harvesting often enhance the flavor 🌾 Harvest & use - Harvest from July to October. - Green chillies are unripe but edible; they are more aromatic when fully colored. - Ideal for drying, pickling, fermenting or for chili oil. 🌱 Overwintering (optional) - Many varieties are perennial. - Bright, 10-15 °C, little watering. - Cut back in spring and allow to sprout again. 🌿 Good neighbors for chilli - basil - Garlic - Onions - Marigolds - marigolds - Carrots - Spinach & lettuce - Bush beans, peas - Oregano, thyme, marjoram - Beet, chard 🚫 Bad neighbors for chilli - Fennel - Potatoes - Eggplants - Tomatoes - peppers - Cabbages (broccoli, kohlrabi, white cabbage) - Corn - Cucumbers & zucchinis - Celery 🌞 Tip for optimal chili neighborhood - Chilies love sun, warmth and well-drained soil - Keep a distance so that the air circulates well - Mixed cultivation with herbs is almost always beneficial 🦠 Common diseases - Leaf spot disease - Powdery mildew - Downy mildew - Root rot - Viral diseases (e.g. mosaic virus) 🐛 Common pests - Aphids - Spider mites - Thrips - Whitefly - fungus gnats

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Moist

Soil

Light (sandy)

Nutrient requirement

High

Light germinator

Germination temperature

24 - 28 °C (Degrees Celsius)

Plant distance

30 cm

Row spacing

40 cm

Seeding depth

0.2 cm