Returning from holiday last night I discovered a small disaster in my garden. While checking my plants — and feeling pleased that most were healthy with plenty of ripe pods — I found the Dorset Naga had been badly battered by the wind.
The combination of gusts and the weight of the pods had left the plant leaning badly to one side and in need of support. As I lifted the main stem to stake it, it snapped clean off at the base.
With the main stem broken, my next step was to salvage the unripe pods from the damaged plant. This incident was a reminder to stake outdoor plants earlier and more securely next season to prevent similar damage.
Luckily, chilli pods can be used while still green, so much of this harvest will be eaten fresh over the next couple of weeks. Some pods may continue to ripen to red on a sunny windowsill, and the remainder will be frozen for use during the winter months.