Our Anthony is running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the National Autistic Society and to spice up his sponsorship a bit, he's given everyone who sponsors him a little chilli plant to nurture.
The person who grows the biggest plant by the time he crosses the finish line will win a special prize and the coveted title of Champion Chilli Grower 2009.
To say the competition in Fruit Towers is hotting up is an understatement.
Rosie has not one but two plants on the go and has enlisted the green fingers of Atha and his special worm juice to grow the biggest chillies.
'Worm juice' is not actually liquidised worms but the nutrient packed digestive liquid that worms produce when you use them in your compost heap.
Atha made a special trip to Kings Cross just to get a bottle. Not like they're taking this too seriously or anything.
Over in Unit 5, IT Sam is keeping his chilli plant under a light at all times and coaxing it to grow big and strong through growth affirming mantras and positive visualisation ( chilli plant screensavers on loop).
Mr. Ed is simply 'leaving it to Nature' (although he's been seen cradling and softly singing to his plant, a la the Athena ad).
Becca's chilli plant (a.k.a Fairuza) is doing very well in reception. Becca takes her outside everyday to get a bit of fresh air but is having to keep a close eye on her progress, due to repeated sabotage attempts from IT Sam.
Meanwhile, Jan's chilli plant is not actually on his desk. That's because where he sits is not 'the optimum spot for growing prize winning chillis.' Having surveyed the whole office for photosynthesis potential, he has chosen Helen's east facing desk for it's positioning and proximity to a window (without being in direct sunlight).
And no one is really sure what Reece is doing to grow the biggest chillis in the building but so far it seems to involve a pulley system, special gloves and night time watering in a black polo neck.
We'll keep you updated on the plants' progress as it happens.
Meantime, if you've got any chilli growing tips for our growers or anti-chafing inspirational power ballads for Anthony, please post them below.
I love that Mr. Ed is working hard, with Facebook in the background!
Posted by: Phil | March 17, 2009 at 09:27 PM
My dad reckons that if you want hot chillis you need a lot of sun on them but if you want big chillis you need to give them a LOT of water to help them get fatter.
Posted by: Jo | March 18, 2009 at 03:41 PM
My chilli plants like a bit of Baby Bio. It seems to make them grow up big and strong.
And also, if you pickle the chillis once they are grown it makes them hotter!
Posted by: Rachel | March 18, 2009 at 04:01 PM
I have grown many chillis big and strong, and although there are lots of ways to do it (it seems most serious growers grow them in running water) I have found the optimum conditions are in the bathroom with the radiator on - really hot and humid. Don't let them dry out, as Jo said, because when they are well-watered they grow big chillis.
Singing and talaking to them is very good for them, the vibrations and carbon dioxide in your breath help them grow! Also stroking their stems for at least a minute every day helps prevent disease resistance, for some reason.
Best of luck, with the best of plants! Might be good to see some chilli in your smoothies...
Posted by: Buzz | March 19, 2009 at 12:20 AM
Great competition idea Innocent :)
Posted by: Harlan | March 19, 2009 at 09:30 AM
Tell Anthony to use vaseline before he runs, will stop the chafing. If its really sore put it on before he goes to bed as well.
Posted by: Nicola Joy | March 19, 2009 at 09:45 AM
i actually love this idea!!! wish the people where i worked did this sort of thing.
Posted by: lisa | March 19, 2009 at 01:12 PM
OK, I'm coming to work for you guys as... ahem... Head Gardener! I'm green fingered! I started my own veg patch when I was only a nipper of 14 and grew carrots, beans, gourds, courgettes and three very anaemic potatoes.
If I can bring my Yucca (called Andronicus) and a tent, I'll live in the office!
Posted by: Angelika | March 19, 2009 at 04:55 PM
Well done Anthony on running for the National Autistic Society. It's a great charity, my son Tom is autistic and they are a great source of help and info.
Tom also approves of your cartons because they have a happy face on them and no lumpy bits in the smoothie.
Posted by: emma | March 19, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Surely the real measure of a chilli isn't their heat as you eat them, rather the damage they do on the way out.......
Posted by: Old Man John | May 29, 2009 at 10:15 AM