Hey Gardners-- Peppers

I love peppers and am planning to growing even more than last year, probably about double. Last year I grew gypsys, pimentos, jalapeños, anaheims, and grand bells. I liked all but the bells, the walls were too thin and seemed to have a bitter taste. Planning to add big Jim's on nwwalkers recommendation, but open to more suggestions. Hoping to have a nice variety for pickling, roasting, salsa, and general cooking.

 

Don't get me started. Ok, you did. (giggle) I have a problem with the bells too. Mohawk grows well. My best producer but I find the taste to be dull. But if you need a bell, then that is one to go with. I like the Italian frying style sweets for flavor. Have you tried those? Jimmy Nardello and Friggitello are pretty good. Saute in a little olive oil and salt. Mmmmm. I am going to add in the Corno Di Toro and Marconi this year. I bought Yummy Snacking (orange) peppers from Bonnie on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. They totally live up to the name. I am overwintering two of those.

Hot peppers. There are too many to list. I personally like growing the Hungarian Wax here. I found it to be a very hardy and heavy producer in my wet and cold climate. Another to consider is the Poblano. Nice rustic flavor when grilled or smoked then added to a dish.

 

For bell, I just want something sweet with a thick wall. We use the gypsy's in dishes like bells because of how quickly they produce. I will have to try some of those Italian frying peppers. I am really wanting to try Hungarians and maybe some paprikas.

 

Gurneys has a really good bell pepper and a big sweet pepper that I plant every year. Cajun belles are good. Pablano.

 

I had good luck last year with hungarian wax and cowhorn. The cowhorn have a great flavor and aren't super hot. I grew some jumbo jalapenos also.

 

Another I thought of is the Serrano.

 

That's not too different from an Anaheim is it? I do need to put in something with some serious heat too, tired of adding cayenne pepper to salsa to make it hot.

 

You can always go to the grocery store and pick up a variety of peppers to try. See what you like.

 

Yeah, that would be good if they carried more than pretty much the bare minimum. Bells, jalepenos, hatch, Anaheim are all I ever see. Hence me looking to others for input.

 

Serrano are pretty warm. Half of one will do a whole pot of chili for all the heat the wife can take.

 

We just don't have good luck with peppers, we may stop growing them.

 

Try a couple in pots. Peppers love pots. I found containers a great way to control the environment for finicky peppers and extend their growing season. Many cold climate gardeners, including myself, overwinter the peppers.

 

Peppers also seem to love organic material. We had poor results until we started trucking in the compost a few years ago.

 

They sure do! We are still adding gardens, last year we brought in 5 truck loads of compost on two of sand to make up the raised beds we presently had. Adding two more 4x12 beds this year and building the existing beds higher this year.

 

I've been bringing home about 20 yards a year. It has done wonders for our clay and glacial till.

 

I grow a few.
Mostly bell and cubanelle
I tried sweet heat last Summer and they had no taste ( or I have defective taste buds ) but they would numb the lips and tongue.




Usually just clean 'em slice 'em and freeze 'em.




Haven't had much luck with hot peppers.

 

Have grown a sweet pepper called The Godfather? I was thinking of trying it this year.

 

What was that one like?

 

I haven't grown that kind. I was wondering if you or someone else had.