How to Grow Hot Peppers
Growing Hot Peppers seems to have to become one of America's hot gardening
projects. Hot peppers are easy to grow. And, they provide a "kick" to meals
and snacks.
As a lover of hot peppers, you will probably grow several varieties. Think
of what you can do with the choice and selection! For starters, there are
recipes galore. Many call for a specific variety of hot pepper. Try substituting
with different varieties. Perhaps, you will make your own hot sauce or salsa.
You can also hold a "hot pepper tasting". You, your family and your friends,
can sample the different varieties, and rank them.
Did you know? The hottest part of the hot pepper is the seeds. Of
course you did!!!
How hot is hot? Ask several people what is the hottest out the hottest
peppers, and you get several different answers. The Scoville Organoleptic
Scale was created in 1912 to measure the level of capsaicin in hot peppers.
Capsaicin is the chemical ingredient that makes hot peppers hot.
Common Varieties of Hot Peppers and their Scoville Rating:
| Pepper: |
Scoville Score: |
| Anaheim |
200 |
| Paprika |
1,000 |
| Cherry Bomb |
2,000 |
| Jalapeno |
4,000 |
| Serrano |
8,000 |
| Cayenne |
30,000 |
| Tobasco |
80,000 |
| Thai |
80,000 |
| Habenero |
200,000 |
Did you know? Paprika is a pepper!
Sowing Hot Pepper Seeds:
Hot Peppers are best started indoors, eight to ten weeks or more before the
last frost date for your area. They are a somewhat difficult seed germinate,
Seedlings grow slowly at first. Many growers simply visit their local garden
store for seedling to transplant. Avid garden hobbiests will find pleasure
and satisfaction in starting their own pepper plants indoors.
Tip: Provide bottom heat or heat lamps to raise the soil temperature
to 80 degrees. This will promote better and quicker germination.
Buy Germination Heating Mats - for an overall healthy
start for your seedlings.
Days to Maturity:
70 to 90 days or more, depending upon the variety. Read the package for the
specific time for the variety you acquire.
How to Grow Hot Peppers:
Pepper plants should be grown in full sun. Prepare the garden, adding plenty
of compost, manure, and a general fertilizer.
No matter what type of hot pepper you grow, they like the weather hot. Transplant
young seedlings outdoors after the last chance of frost. If the weather is
still cool, delay transplanting a few days, and keep them in a coldframe,
indoors or next to the house.
Space 18-24 inches apart, in rows 24 to 36 inches apart. This spacing will
vary somewhat, depending upon the variety of hot pepper you are growing.
Pepper plants prefer moist soil. Add plenty of water during hot, dry summer
months.
Add mulch around the peppers to keep down weeds, and to retain soil moisture.
As the peppers develop, switch over to a fertilizer higher in Phosphorous
and Potassium. Gardeners often make the mistake of providing too much nitrogen.
The result is a great looking bushy, green plant, but few fruit.
Peppers are self pollinators. Occasionally, they will cross pollinate from
pollen carried by bees or other insects. If you are going to save the seeds
for next year, you need to minimize the possibility of cross breeding. Do
not plant different varieties near each other.
Harvesting:
Peppers can be picked as soon as they reach a size which is edible. Continuous
harvesting will promote new fruit to set.
Insects and Pests:
Several insects enjoy your pepper plants. Spider mites and aphids are the
most common with an occasional borer. In many areas, it is infrequent. For
the infrequent problem, try an organic insecticide or dust.
Disease:
While many viruses and diseases can affect Peppers, it is somewhat infrequent.
Fungal infections can be treated with fungicides. Apply treatment as soon
as you see it.
Hardiness:
No doubt about it, your hot peppers like it hot. They do not like frost.
In the spring, frost will stunt or kill the plants. Cold weather can cause
the plant to slow down or stunt it. In the Fall, cover the plants, if frost
is expected. Use a hot cap in on cold and frosty spring nights. If they are
vented, they can they left on all day.
Tip: For a quick cover-up on cold fall nights, use five gallon buckets.
They are the perfect size, and can be quickly placed over the plant.
Pepper Links:
How
to Grow Peppers
Pepper Recipes:
Tim's Salsa Recipe - it's quick and easy
Sauteed Peppers and Onions
Buy Hot Pepper Seeds now
Buy Vegetable Seeds Finest quality Ferry Morse Seed,
America's oldest seed company with their famous "guarantee to grow". |
