Varieties of Pepper Plants
Some like 'em sweet. Some like 'em hot. Hot or sweet, have peppers your way
in a wide range of colors. As a gardener, chances are you are growing a number
of varieties of pepper plants.
Do you know your peppers? Read on, and see.........
Growing several varieties of peppers? It's okay to plant different
varieties next to each other. Planting different varieties next to each other
will not affect the flavor, texture, or appearance of this year's crop. However,
cross pollination is very likely. The seeds will contain an unpredictable
genetic cross. So, it's important not to save the seeds for planting next
year, unless you want to grow some wild and unpredictable
crosses.................
Did you Know? Yes hot pepper seeds have the most "heat". If you remove
the pepper seeds, the remaining pulp is much milder(less hot)
Varieties of Peppers:
Peppers are generally categorized into two groups... sweet peppers and hot
peppers. Listed below, are the most popular peppers you can grow.
Sweet Peppers
Sweet peppers are enjoyed by most of us. Most often, we pick sweet bell peppers
when they are green. At this stage the fruit is crisp. It is actually considered
ripe when it turns red. At the ripe stage it is softer and sweeter. Some
less common varieties produce yellow, orange or brown(chocolate colored fruit).
They are great for adding color to salads and relish trays.
There are two varieties that are pretty much neck and neck in popularity,
and constitute the vast majority of sweet peppers grown in home gardens.
They are California Wonder and Lady Bell.
California Wonder - This pepper plant produces one of the best, large
sweet bell peppers. This pepper plant produces more fruit than Lady Bell,
but they are a little smaller. Space limited? Try growing it in a container.
Chinese Giant Sweet Red - The fruit is huge! Measures up to 5-6 inches
deep and side.
Emerald Giant - This pepper is gigantic in size and flavor.Dark green
peppers turn red when ripe. they are crisp and tasty.
Lady Bell Sweet Pepper - Produces large, meaty fruit right up
to frost. In our experience, this pepper plant produces fruit slightly larger
than California Wonder Sweet Peppers.
Mini Bell Blend - A relative newcomer, this sweet pepper produces
many small yellow, red, and brown sweet peppers.The plants grow about 24
inches tall.
Color Mix Bell - A packet of these seeds rewards you with a
rainbow of fruit, including green, red, yellow, orange and purple. Fruit
is bright, crunchy, spicy, yet sweet.
Cubanelle - This large sweet pepper is excellent for frying. Fruit
grows to about 6 inches in length, and is yellow-green, turning to red when
ripe. The plant produces a continuous profusion of fruit.
Purple Bell - This pepper has an eye-catching purple color. It's a
high yielder, with disease resistance. Fruit has thick, meaty walls. Use
it for slicing, in stir-fries, to or add color to salads.
Red Mercury - This vivid, scarlet pepper is noted for its versatility.
Use it in relishes, sauces, or baking. Freezes well.
Banana Peppers
Sweet Banana Pepper - Bored
of sweet green peppers? Then, it's time to try Sweet banana peppers. This
All America Selection winner produces very sweet fruit. Peppers grow six
to seven inches. The pale, yellow fruit ripens to a bright red. Try them
in salads, grilled in stir-fries, or stuffed.
Hot Peppers
There are varying degrees of "hot" peppers. How hot do you like it??
Anaheim Chili - This pepper has the least "heat". But it has a good
flavor. The large, six to eight inch fruit turns from dark green to a brilliant
red when ripe. This pepper is popular for drying.
Caribbean Red Pepper - A Habanero pepper that is fiery hot. It produces
red, wrinkly fruit. This hot pepper rates between 350,000- 450,000 on the
Scoville scale.
Cascabella - This is a pungent, cone shaped fruit, just a little over
an inch long. Cascabella plants are prolific producers of fruit, that
is bright yellow or red when ripe. Try this pepper in salads and sauces.
Long Cayenne Pepper - This pepper is fiery hot. Fruit grows about
five inches long, turning from deep green to a brilliant red. It's best known
for heating up chili.
Habanero Hot Peppers - This electric-orange pepper is the King
of the hot peppers. It is absolutely the hottest pepper you can grow.
Slightly wrinkled fruit grows one inch long, turning from light green
to a fiery orange when ripe.
Hungarian Wax - These "medium hot" pepper is especially zesty
and attractive when pickled. It is good raw and cooked. 5 to 8 inch long
fruit has a smooth skin. They turn from bright yellow to red when fully ripe.
Jalapeno Peppers
Jalapeno Pepper - One
of the best known hot peppers is Jalapenos. Most people think this is a pretty
hot pepper. Many growers pick the dark green fruit when it reaches 2-3 inches
long. If left on the plant, it turns a fiery red when ripe. Jalapenos are
great stuffed, or sliced for use in a wide variety of Tex-Mex dishes.
Pepperoncini - These peppers pack a mild heat, and turn sweeter as
they ripen. The fruit starts out as green or yellow, ripening into a Mars-like
red color. Pepperoncini are delicious in Mediterranean salads, pastas and
sandwiches.
Poblano / Ancho - As far as hot peppers go, Poblanos are on the mild
side. But, they are tasty. They are the main ingredient in chile rellenos.
Poblano peppers are wonderful roasted and peeled. Mature fruit measures 6
inches long and 3 inches wide, and are reddish-brown when ripe. They are
called Poblano when fresh, and Ancho when dried.
Serrano Chili - One of the hottest around, Serrano Chili
pepper plants produce an abundance of small fruits, ripening from dark green
to crimson. As it's name implies, it is used to make chili sauce and pepper
sauces.
Thai Hot Pepper - Many people grow this plant as an ornamental. It
is attractive in your garden or in a container on your patio or deck. In
addition to being a hot looking plant, it's fruit is fiery hot, too. Thai
peppers grow about one inch long, and are bright red. When it comes to hot,
they take second place. Only Habaneros are hotter. Plants grow about 18 inches
tall.
Tobasco Chile Pepper - Best known for it's use in tobasco sauce, tobasco
pepper is a real "hottie"with good flavor. They are also good in salsa and
stir-fry dishes. Plants grow up to four feet tall. As the 1 1/2 inch
fruits ripen, they turn from green to orange to red.
What is the hottest hot pepper? Find out now
Hot Tip: Use caution when handling hot peppers, or when planting the
seeds. We suggest you wear food safety gloves. Whatever you do, do not touch
your eyes after coming in contact with any part of hot peppers - plant,
seeds or fruit.
Pepper Links:
Capsaicin .... How hot is your hot pepper?
Capsaicin is the "Heat" in your hot peepers.
How to grow Peppers Information on growing
pepper plants
How to Grow Hot Peppers
Pepper Recipes:
Tim's Salsa Recipe - it's quick and easy
Sauteed Peppers and Onions
Stuffed Green Peppers
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