So, I couldn’t wait. There was a need to start growing something, and honestly, with how non-existent this winter has been, maybe plants WILL need to be ready earlier than they were last year. This time of year though, all I can logically justify planting is long season peppers and onions. Didn’t get to the onions today. That will have to wait for next weekend.
Today though I did do some peppers. Starting the longer season ones in January has been the only dependable way to get the really long season southern varieties to maturity for me, especially if fall frosts come early.
More kinds than I had planned, but once I got started, I just kept going.
Each flat is 8 sets of three seeds, so 24 potential plants per flat. Not huge quantities at least initially of these.
Thai Dragon. This one will knock your socks off. Bushing plant, but needs to be started really early if you want any peppers from it. Peppers get about an inch and a half long, a bit thinner than a pencil, and a touch hotter than a habenero.
De Arbol. If it has enough time, it becomes a shrub about 4′ high and just as wide. Cheyanne type pepper that I use for chili powder. Last grew it three years ago, and ended up with about 5 gallons of dried peppers. Running low now, down to just a half gallon of dried peppers and if I ground them up, that would fill up the spice jar and they would be gone.
Peppadew. Not a hot pepper. Just a sweet with a hint of spice, but it is grown as a small tree in South Africa. I have one going on its third year. I keep it about 5′ tall, but from what I understand they can get much taller. It is in a 5 gallon pot and first year gave me just a couple of peppers. This last summer it gave me well over 100. Hoping it lives through the winter in my breezeway and gives me exponentially more again.
Siberian. This is a real gem of satanic heat in a pepper that was developed as a low light level house plant. They grow these on windowsills year round there, they like our summers, and is perfectly happy at 45 degrees in my breezeway, still flowering and setting peppers (albeit slowly). They use this one to flavor vodka. You put a few peppers into a bottle of vodka, put the bottle somewhere dark and leave it for a few months. It gives the vodka quite a jolt.
Takanosume. I got this one from the Chili Pepper Institute some years ago when I ordered Bhut Jalokia from them but had to buy more peppers to put together an order. This was the one that I liked best even though I only bought it because I had to order more than one pack of seeds. Beautiful plant, pretty hot cheyanne type peppers that look like clusters of claws coming out of the top of the plant. Makes smoking hot chili oils and pastes without killing you in the process. The name apparently means “Eagle Claws” which fits for its appearance. Very ornamental as well.
Tug Hill Paprika. Not supposed to be a long season pepper, but after losing 50 plants to critters last year, I am just starting it now in the hopes of having much larger plants when I do set them out. From the reviews of those that have grown it, and the sample I was sent to try as a spice, I am really excited at the prospects (again) of having a nice paprika for my area.
So covered flats of all of those are now on the shelves above my stove. The heat from the pilot lights gives enough bottom heat to the shelves to promote sprouting in the seeds without me having to invest in a seed flat heater. I should see first emergence in 10 days or so, with some of them taking up to a few weeks to germinate. I am looking forward to green.
**************
It is some hours later, and I have decided to start onions as well. I cannot help myself. Almost cannot start them too early anyway.
Thanks for the seed, garlic, etc. that you shared. I appreciate the generosity.
Was going to be reasonable and wait a little longer than you to get seeds started but, when I checked an onion seed germination test I had started, 9 out of 10 were sprouting so what was I to do except pot them up. Maybe it’s contagious. Happy growing!
It was a lot of fun! Next time you see us, there should be another one too. Now IS the time to start onions, so no worries there. When the grow, just keep trimming the tops with sissors at about 4 inches high or so. and top salads of whatever else you are cooking with them.
Great job on gettin your seeds up and gworin! We planted our ‘Spitfire’ in the same type of little containers; they’re not peat pots, I’m not sure what you call them, but they’re really good for starting seeds. I can’t wait to try our “nasties” in a fresh summer salad (you did know you can eat the flowers didn’t you?).We do all heirloom tomatoes except for one hybrid cherry – ‘Sun Gold.’
Hi Tom,
I decided to pop onto your blog from Idig to see what it was like.
I was really amused when you said that you planted more peppers than you planned. I couldn’t count how many times we’ve done that then had to find alternative places to plant them when we ran out of room.
I love the peppers. heat, sweet, and in between. Bring them all on.
Hi Tom,
Every year I wait until the neighbor’s acacia tree blooms and then I know it’s time to start to sow seeds. I saw that you had started peppers and I had to run outside and check the neighbor’s tree. By golly it’s time! I usually start too many tomatoes, but this year I’m going to only plant 3 seeds of each variety. Hopefully that will translate into less orphans. I always feel bad when I have to compost beautiful little plants. I have already transplanted out my winter onions and you’re probably right, if I expect late summer storage onions, I ought to start those too.
And what would summer be without peppers and salsa?
not a lot blooming outside now, but if I want the long season ones to get to maturity and give me more than just a couple peppers, they gotta be started early, potted up a few times, and be good sized before they ever find a permanent place outside. Not sure if we are ever going to have much of a winter though.
I was thinking: Can you really start too many tomatoes? I have never found that too many of my plants go wanting for homes. There are always plenty of people that want to try growing some. I also tend to start a ton, and only plant for my self the best and most vigorous plants, so I like to have a lot to choose from.
I was wondering if it would be all right to fezere these peppers without having them loose any of their bite.Sounds like it should work.thanks for sharing your harvesting and storage techniques
I dont see why you could not freeze them. For ones I want to keep heat, I pickle them, although the heat disperses to the pickling juice too. Hot pickle juice has its uses as well.
Posted on Great to hear from you. Our creative agceny Evolved Digital (www.evolveddigital.tv) know all the secrets and I am sure they’ll be happy to give you some quick guidance if you need any
Hello,
Hope all is well.
I like to buy 1 peppadew pepper to start my own plant.
Please advise.
Regards,
Lee
I dont sell plants. If you live in the area (Twin Cities Minnesota) I can give you one if you stop by.
Tom