AMERICAN GARDENS

___ Anaheim

___ Ancho/Poblano

___ Banana, Hot

___ Banana, Sweet

___ California Wonder

___ Caribbean  Red (Red Habanero)

___ Carmen 

___ Cayenne, Long Thin

___ Chile de Arbol

___ Chocolate Beauty

___ Cubanelle

___ Golden Wonder

Peppers are tropical, heat loving plants, but with a little extra attention to detail, they can be successfully grown in almost all parts of the United States.  Because of their preference for warmth, they should be planted outside after tomatoes, when soil temperatures reach 60 – 65 degrees.  Bone meal is beneficial at transplant to get your pepper plants off to a quick start.  Once established, they will need one or two applications of an organic fertilizer prior to blossom set.  Water thoroughly and evenly, but not frequently.  Too little water can lead to blossom end rot and premature fruit drop.  Peppers benefit from a plastic mulch at their base to increase soil temperature and a floating row cover for warmth and insect protection.  Peppers are handsome plants that work well in containers, or planted out in the vegetable garden.  Mature plants reach 18” – 24” tall and as wide depending on the variety. Good sanitation is important when growing peppers.  Most insects and diseases that attack tomatoes will also attack peppers.  If you are having problems, it is important to rotate crops of tomatoes and peppers, being sure not to use the same spot for two seasons.  Harvest peppers by cutting and not pulling them off the plant.  Fully ripe peppers have the most flavor and vitamins when they have matured to red, yellow, purple and orange. 

The heat in peppers is determined by genetics and environment.  Withhold water for two days prior to harvest to increase the heat of the hot varieties.  Dried peppers are hotter than fresh.  A general guideline to follow is the smaller and thinner the fruit, the hotter it is.

___ Guajillo 

___ Gypsy

___ Habanero

___ Holy Mole 

___ Jalapeno

___ Keystone

___ Lilac

___ Mariachi

___ Purple Beauty

___ Red Hot Cherry

___ Serrano

___ Thai Hot