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ChilliCrosser Crosses

I've opted to keep details of my crossing projects in this dedicated thread rather than include it in my 2021 Glog

Edited this post to summarise what crosses I've got and where they are at, I will try and keep it current. Dates in status column reflect when I've updated the information not when the cross was actually made. I've not included every historic cross I've ever made and ignores anything where I haven't got at least F1 seeds unless I thought it was useful to record. Information might be useful to someone at some point.
ChilliCrosser CrossCurrent Status
X001 : Bolivian Rainbow x Cheiro Roxa (C.Annuum x C.Chinense)🅿️16/8/21: F1 seeds, not grown on yet.
X002 : Fijian Bongo x Cheiro Roxa (C.Chinense x C.Chinense)❌16/8/21: Only had a single F1 seed even though this was an intraspecific, strange result and the seed didn't germinate. End of cross project.
X003 : Brazilian Starfish Red x [CGN21500 x 7 Pot Barrackpore] (C.Baccatum x C.Chinense)🤞 🌱 16/8/21: Had plenty of F1 seeds from the original F0 pods. First attempt to grow an F1 was ended when weather finished off the plant before any fruiting. Currently growing four F1 plants outdoors in the 2021 season. All looking healthy but concerned I've not seen any fruit setting yet. Possibly sterile but reserving judgement until the end of the season.
X004 : Tasmanian Habanero x Giant White Habanero (C.Chinense x C.Chinense)🌱🌶️16/8/21: Growing F2 plants, some initial pods setting.
X005 : Fidalgo Roxa x Giant White Habanero (C.Chinense x C.Chinense)🌱16/8/21: Growing F2 plants, no pods set yet.
X006 : Fidalgo Roxa x Fijian Bongo (C.Chinense x C.Chinense)🌱🌶️16/8/21: Growing F2 plants, some initial pods setting.
X007 : Fijian Bongo x Aji Jobito (C.Chinense x C.Chinense)🌱🌶️16/8/21: Growing F2 plants, some initial pods setting.
X008 : Fijian Bongo x Brazilian Starfish Yellow (C.Chinense x C.Baccatum)🅿️16/8/21: F1 seeds.
X009 : Brazilian Starfish Yellow x C.Flexuosum (C.Baccatum x C.Flexuosum)❌16/8/21: Very small F0 pod set but zero F1 seeds. Inside of pod looked healthy. Lack of F1 seeds could have been due to pod size. One for me to try again at some point I think.
X010 : Brazilian Starfish Yellow x [CGN21500 x Grao De Bode] (C.Baccatum x C.Chinense)❌16/8/21: Had 4 F1 seeds from a single F0 pod, only 1 germinated. F1 plant taken out by a storm. End of cross project.
X011 : Giant White Habanero x Fijian Bongo (C.Chinense x C.Chinense) 🤩🌱🌶️16/8/21: Summary of wide range of phenotypes from F2 here. Currently have F3 seeds for all phenotypes and have been growing a batch of F3 plants for the red phenotypes outdoors this season, waiting on F3 pods from these so hope to have F4 seeds this year. Most likely to also grow forward the Apricot Peach phenos to stabilise.
X012 : Brazilian Starfish Yellow x Tasmanian Habanero (C.Baccatum x C.Chinense)❌16/8/21: Had an F0 pod but no F1 seeds. End of cross project.
X013 : White Bhut Jolokia JW x Variegated Jalapeno (C.Chinense x C.Annuum)🅿️16/8/21: F1 seeds, not grown on yet.
X014 : White Bhut Jolokia JW x Sweet Apple Kambe (C.Chinense x C.Annuum)🅿️16/8/21: Single F1 seed, not grown on yet.
X015 : White Bhut Jolokia JW x Scotch Brains XCP Chocolate (C.Chinense x C.Chinense) 🅿️16/8/21: F1 seeds, not grown on yet.
X016 : White Bhut Jolokia JW x Brazilian Starfish Red (C.Chinense x C.Baccatum)❌16/8/21: Had 2 F1 seeds from a small F0 pod, both failed to germinate. End of cross project.
X017 : White Bhut Jolokia JW x Sugar Rush Stripey (C.Chinense x C.Baccatum)❌16/8/21: Had 2 F1 seeds from a small F0 pod, both failed to germinate. End of cross project.
X018 : Brazilian Starfish Red x Peppacream (C.Baccatum x C.Baccatum)⭐🌱🌶️16/8/21: Started as an accidental cross. Starting to get ripe F1 pods with F2 seeds. Super tasty!
X019 : Clavo Peach x Sugar Rush Stripey (C.Chinense x C.Baccatum)🤞16/8/21: Had 3 F0 pods, each with healthy looking F1 seeds. Started germination for some F1 seeds from each of the F0 pods on 14/8/21, waiting to see if viable.
X020 : Scarlett's Chilli x Indian Chilli Bullet (C.Annuum x C.Annuum)🅿️16/8/21: F1 seeds, not grown on yet.
X021 : Sugar Rush Stripey x White Bhut Jolokia JW (C.Baccatum x C.Chinense)🤞16/8/21: First F0 pod was unhealthy inside, only 1 F1 seed formed which still looked non-viable, tried to germinate it anyway but no surprises when it failed. Have another F0 pod ripening, waiting to see if that's any better.
X022 : Clavo Peach x Brazilian Starfish Yellow (C.Chinense x C.Baccatum)🅿️16/8/21: F1 seeds, not grown on yet.
X023 : [BOC x Aji Pineapple] x Sugar Rush Stripey ([C.Chinense x C.Baccatum] x C.Baccatum)🅿️16/8/21: F1 seeds, not grown on yet.

FAQs
- Why so many crosses? Please check my username.

- Seriously, why so many crosses? I like to have plenty of F1 seeds available to pick from at the start of a growing cycle. For me personally it stops me wishing I'd made some more crosses 6 months ago and when a particular cross project hits a dead end or doesn't look interesting I have something else I can quickly switch to. You'll see quite a few interspecific crosses in my list, they are often doomed to failure so having a Plan B helps.

- Are you attempting to stabilise all of these? No, only ones which head in a direction I like.

- How many plants do you grow? 90% of my crosses are started on indoor plants grown in mini-hydro kratky jars, 240ml/8oz. Plants are kept really small and I typically only get one or two F0 pods to get F1 seeds from. So far I've normally grown two F1 plants if possible, plant numbers in subsequent generations depend on how much space I have available in each growing cycle.

- Isn't it better to just focus on a single cross? If you like all your eggs in one basket and you're not concerned with sequentially growing projects over a very long time period then yes. This is just a hobby for me so I like to keep it varied and fun whilst still attempting to stabilise my favourites.

- Why haven't you given your crosses silly names? That time will come as is traditional in the chilli pepper world. I likely won't bother until I have something vaguely stable and predictable, possibly F4 onwards.



A summary of my live projects where I'm growing plants as of June 2021 are:
  • X003 : Brazilian Starfish Red x [CGN21500 x 7 Pot Barrackpore] (C.Baccatum x C.Chinense)
  • X004 : Tasmanian Habanero x Giant White Habanero (C.Chinense x C.Chinense)
  • X005 : Fidalgo Roxa x Giant White Habanero (C.Chinense x C.Chinense)
  • X006 : Fidalgo Roxa x Fijian Bongo (C.Chinense x C.Chinense)
  • X007 : Fijian Bongo x Aji Jobito (C.Chinense x C.Chinense)
  • X011 : Giant White Habanero x Fijian Bongo (C.Chinense x C.Chinense)

More details of where I'm at with generations, phenotypes, plants and photos in subsequent posts on this thread. Everything is early on and ranges from F1 to F3. I've also attempted some new crosses already this season so will also mention those.
 
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X003 : Brazilian Starfish Red x [CGN21500 x 7 Pot Barrackpore] (C.Baccatum x C.Chinense)​
 
My attempt to get the unique starfish flavour profile into something else.  I also liked the purple blush on the red CGN21500 x 7 Pot Barrackpore pods so seeing if this can also be retained when crossing with another red. Grew an F1 plant last year but I didn't get pods as it was damaged during a bout of bad weather.
 
I still had some F1 seeds and started a couple more F1 plants growing this year. Risking no seeds or non-viable seeds as inter species but will see where it goes.
 
X004 : Tasmanian Habanero x Giant White Habanero (C.Chinense x C.Chinense)
 
The Tasmanian Habanero has always given me high yields even on small plants. Crossed with something bigger and a different colour to see if I can generate one or more of:
  • same yield with larger pods
  • same yield but different non-red colours
Currently growing out a small number of F2 plants.
 
X005 : Fidalgo Roxa x Giant White Habanero (C.Chinense x C.Chinense)
 
Aiming to retain the unripe and ripe colouration of the Fidalgo Roxa and the fruitiness in the taste whilst increasing the pod size. Would prefer to also keep the dark foliage of the roxa.
 
Currently growing out a small number of F2 plants. One of the better looking ones from late April:
X005 F2 20210426.png
 
X006 : Fidalgo Roxa x Fijian Bongo (C.Chinense x C.Chinense)
 
Aiming to blend the fruity and sweet flavour tones of these two varieties. Ideally with a pod size nearer the bongo than the roxa. If the flavour and pod size is there then I am less bothered about the colour.
 
Currently growing some F2 plants.
 
X007 : Fijian Bongo x Aji Jobito (C.Chinense x C.Chinense)
 
One of those opportunistic crosses where two plants near to each other had flowers and unopened buds at the same time. No planned expectations but some sweetness and heat from the bongo into the Aji Jobito flavour base might be a good outcome.
 
Currently growing some F2 plants.
 
X011 : Giant White Habanero x Fijian Bongo (C.Chinense x C.Chinense) 
 
Attempted to get some of the sweetness from the Fijian Bongo into the Habanero parent. Secondary aim was to try and keep a chunky pod and some colour variation. So far this cross has given a nice mix of phenotypes in the F2's as shown below.
 
Parents
X011 Crossing Project.001.png

 
I grew two F1 plants just in case
X011 Crossing Project.002.png

 
Phenotype X011.A - a nice chunky pod phenotype with 5 lobes on an F2, also got others with 3 and 4 lobes. The 3 lobe had the largest pod. F2 heat similar to the two parents but seems to have retained sweetness from the Fijian Bongo at this point. Currently growing F3's of the 5 lobe and 3 lobe.
X011 Crossing Project.003.png

 
Phenotype X011.B - pod nearer the Fijian Bongo shape with a small stinger tail on this F2. Nice ripening colour changes. Heat and taste similar to X011.A. Currently growing some F3's from this.
X011 Crossing Project.004.png

 
Phenotype X011.C - smaller pod than parents, ripens to a pale lemon colour on an F2. Not as hot as parents and a little floral undertone which I'm hoping might get lost in subsequent generations. Now have F3 seeds but yet to decide if I grow this on.
X011 Crossing Project.005.png

 
Phenotype X011.D - one of the F2 plants from last year was kept in a solo cup as ran out of space, it struggled as I didn't give it much attention but it did produce some very small apricot coloured pods with no seeds. I chopped it right back to a small stem and dropped it in an Aerogarden at the start of the year. I'm glad I did as it has grown more normally and given me something else.  Several pod shapes, the one shown is nearest to the Fijian Bongo parent but the colour change is very attractive to me. From green to a deep apricot colour and then looks to change to a lighter peach colour on ripening. Not yet taste tested as waiting for several ripe pods to compare in coming weeks. From colour alone I'd give this a go into F3.
X011 Crossing Project.006.png

 
Phenotype X011.E - this pod is from the same Aerogarden F2 plant as X011.D. When trying to thin out the plant to help airflow I had a pruning mishap and this pod was buried inside the canopy out of sight  :tear:  It's the only pod so far with this shape and I'd expect it to have the same great apricot to peach colour as X011.D.  Dropped the small branch into water immediately and holding out for it to survive long enough to get a ripened pod with viable seeds. Nothing to lose at this point and I'll keep the F2 plant going in case any similar pods are formed.
X011 Crossing Project.007.png

 
 
 
Current summary of attempted crosses made so far this season where fruit has already set.
None of these pods are ripe yet so too early to know if F1 seeds will be forthcoming.
 
C.Annuum x C.Annuum
  • Hawaiian Sweet Red x Antep Aci Dolma
  • Scarletts Chilli x Indian Bullet Chilli
  • Scarletts Chilli x Buena Mulata
 
C.Baccatum x C.Baccatum
  • Sugar Rush Stripey x Brazilian Starfish Yellow
  • Brazilian Starfish Yellow x Sugar Rush Stripey
 
C.Chinense x C.Chinense
  • White Bhut Jolokia JW x Scotch Brains XCP Chocolate
 
C.Baccatum x C.Chinense
  • Sugar Rush Stripey x White Bhut Jolokia JW
 
C.Chinense x C.Baccatum
  • White Bhut Jolokia JW x Sugar Rush Stripey
  • White Bhut Jolokia JW x Brazilian Starfish Red
  • Clavo Peach x Brazilian Starfish Yellow
  • Clavo Peach x Sugar Rush Stripey
 
[C.Chinense x C.Baccatum] x C.Baccatum
  • [BOC x Aji Pineapple] x Sugar Rush Stripey
 
C.Baccatum x [C.Chinense x C.Baccatum]
  • Brazilian Starfish Red x [BOC x Aji Pineapple]
 
C.Chinense x C.Annuum
  • White Bhut Jolokia JW x Variegated Jalapeno
  • White Bhut Jolokia JW x Sweet Apple Kambe
  • White Bhut Jolokia JW x Buena Mulata
  • White Bhut Jolokia JW x Scarletts Chilli
 
ahayastani said:
In terms of looks, I have a sweet spot for X011 A and C, though C has several lookalikes. Nice and big lobes on the A!
 
X011.A is my favourite shape at the moment and hoping some of the F3s from it that are growing outside give me something similar again. Even better if it keeps this shape and throws an extra colour. As long as it keeps the shape and sweetness with the heat I'll keep it going.
 
Maybe, just maybe, I've got away with my over vigorous pruning. Started to get some colour transition on my X011.E phenotype pod that's sitting on its small branch in some water.
 

 
Couldn't resist the temptation to cut open and try my ripe X011.D pod. Around 10 seeds inside. I need to improve my heat tolerance this season though as my taste review on this pod was it's sweeter than the A & B phenotypes but then my mouth melted :shocked:  Felt way hotter than the others from last year. No doubt it's only luke warm for the rest of you.
 
 
A is very neat, the very discrete lobes is a cool look. Also curious if anything ever comes from E. I think we all appreciate nasty looking stinger tail pod, but given the parents, I really wonder what it'd taste like.
 
PaulG said:
Beautiful and thorough documentation, CC!
 
You are getting some great results with your
crossing projects.
Thanks very much PaulG.  I was just about to post some more updates on my X011 crossing project as it's thrown me yet another phenotype from some F2 plants I've got growing in parallel to some F3s. Latest X011 updates are:
 
  • Looks like I got away with my pruning accident and got the X011.E phenotype to a fully ripened pod which hopefully will have viable seeds. Keeping the whole branch in water should have done the trick.  Went through the same colour transitions as X011.D and ended up a nice light peach.

 
  • A small F2 plant that I didn't get fruits from last year has been growing away in my Aerogarden. The pod shapes looked similar to the pale lemon phenotype, X011.C, that I had earlier this year from another F2 plant. To my surprise it's actually given me yet another colour!  Starts light green and transitions to what I'm calling deep gold. Now labelled as phenotype X011.F.

 
  • I don't have any red pods currently as I moved that on to F3 plants growing outside. I do currently have F2 plants for phenotypes X011.C, D, E & F so took the opportunity to take some photos for side-by-side colour comparisons. Selection of photos in sunlight and artificial light. The two photos at the top of this slide render closest to real-life on my screen with respect to colours.
 
 
ChilliCrosser said:
Example of going mad on crossing attempts on small kratky plants indoors. Excuse its poor condition, first year I've had aphids discover my indoor plants and this has been getting the full soap and neem treatment.
 
 
Update on this mother plant. I've harvested the crossed pods today, some were VERY small so was prepared for zero seed haul. Results were:
 
  1. White Bhut Jolokia JW (C.Chinense) x Variegated Jalapeno (C.Annuum) = 5 F1 seeds from one pod
  2. White Bhut Jolokia JW (C.Chinense) x Scotch Brains XCP Chocolate (C.Chinense) = 35 F1 seeds from one pod, spot the Chinense x Chinense cross 
  3. White Bhut Jolokia JW (C.Chinense) x Sweet Apple Kambe (C.Annuum) = 1 F1 seed from one pod
  4. White Bhut Jolokia JW (C.Chinense) x Sugar Rush Striped (C.Baccatum) = 2 F1 seeds from one VERY small pod
  5. White Bhut Jolokia JW (C.Chinense) x Scarletts Chilli (C.Annuum) = no seeds from one pod
  6. White Bhut Jolokia JW (C.Chinense) x Buena Mulata (C.Annuum) = no seeds from one pod
  7. White Bhut Jolokia JW (C.Chinense) x Brazilian Starfish Red (C.Baccatum) = 2 F1 seeds from one small pod, was 3 but damaged one when trying to cut the small pod :(
This was a small plant and had some opportunistic cross attempts on it. Even so, getting at least some F1 seeds for 5 out of 7 cross attempts goes down as a good result for me given the low amount of effort I put in.  Don't fancy my odds of getting F1 plants from all of these as all but one are interspecific cross attempts. Still, all F1 seeds are a promise of future potential fun  :party:
 
ChilliCrosser said:
X003 : Brazilian Starfish Red x [CGN21500 x 7 Pot Barrackpore] (C.Baccatum x C.Chinense)​
 
My attempt to get the unique starfish flavour profile into something else.  I also liked the purple blush on the red CGN21500 x 7 Pot Barrackpore pods so seeing if this can also be retained when crossing with another red. Grew an F1 plant last year but I didn't get pods as it was damaged during a bout of bad weather.
 
I still had some F1 seeds and started a couple more F1 plants growing this year. Risking no seeds or non-viable seeds as inter species but will see where it goes.
 
Second attempt at F1 plants for this cross, doing OK so far this year all things considered. I've ordered some sun for July  :liar:
 
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