Re: [CH] Rocoto mythunderstanding?
Lynn Edwards (ledwards@crl.com)
Thu, 16 Apr 1998 21:32:24 -0700
David DeLacey wrote:
> I was under the impression that rocotos were not self-fertile, but one of my
> three indoor plants, started late last summer, has three fat pods and six
> smaller ones hanging on it at the moment.
>
> So how common is that, anyway?
My rocotos are self compatible. However they tend to drop flowers a lot early
in the season for quite some time. You can tell when the are ready to set fruit
when pollen drops out of the flower when flicked with a finger. Using a
paintbrush to pollinate the flowers may allow fruit set a week or two earlier.
Second year (over wintered) rocotos set fruit much earlier than first year
plants.
> Also, these "early" fruits kind of put me in a bind; the plant's in a 6" pot
> and was destined for the dirt outside, but I've heard that transplanting
> plants with fruit will cause them to drop. True? Will it work if I'm
> careful and quick about it?
Here's what I would do: Harvest half the green fruit, eat them, and report
back later as to the status of the other fruit after planting.
Lynn Edwards
www.crl.com/~ledwards