Is there anyway that cross-pollination can affect the favor of the same year's fruit? I've always thought "no" - next year's if you save seed, especially if your plant is not an heirloom.
But - I planted seeds that I bought for this year as hot Thai pepper and sweet banana peppers.
But my salad (with banana peppers) has more "zip" than expected and my tacos (with Thai pepper) don't have any "zip."
I'm confused by my mixed up peppers! ❓

Sounds like you weren't given what you ordered by the seller.

Weather can affect pepper flavor, maybe let the thai peppers get a bit drier before watering, water less often as well. Many peppers have varying degrees of heat on the same bush - could be your ph isn't acid enough to give you spicy, they need like a 6 or 6.5

I agree - some other reason than cross pollination (which will only affect the next "generation" of plants from saved seeds).

kittriana said: Weather can affect pepper flavor, maybe let the thai peppers get a bit drier before watering, water less often as well. Many peppers have varying degrees of heat on the same bush - could be your ph isn't acid enough to give you spicy, they need like a 6 or 6.5

I didn't know that. I don't know my soil ph. Do hot banana peppers not need the same kind of soil conditions as Thai peppers?

Our favorite nursery seems to be having a pepper mix-up this year. Several of us order from Baker Creek every year. This year, no one's pepper look like what they should be. Baker Creek says there is no problem but my Jigsaw pepper is going on 3 ft tall. My friend is growing a Scotch Bonnet without wrinkles and daughter's peppers aren't right either. Most fun I've had in years but I'm worried what my sweet peppers may be. I'm growing something that should be straight but they're all U-shaped.

I guess I'll just see the humor in it and be prepared for anything to be spicy or sweet! 😆

Cat1ady said: Is there anyway that cross-pollination can affect the favor of the same year's fruit?

No.

I agree with the others answering, it's either a seed mix-up or environmental factors influencing heat or taste. There are some issues that may be the fault of the seed producer as well... seek to find good sources.

And if the simple "no" is good enough, read no further!

But for me, it's cool to understand WHY a pepper fruit can't be affected by cross-pollinating- when my sweet corn crop can be ruined by it! It's one of the basics of garden planning- to know why I can throw all my hot and sweet peppers in the corner without fear, and why we just don't care if the melons and squash are playing around with their pollen:

NC cooperative extension said: Cross Pollination Facts
"How far apart should I plant my pumpkins from my squash so that my pumpkins don't get messed up?" This question arises from a misconception that cross pollination of "like" crops will harm the quality of the harvested fruit of the crops being grown near one another. The truth is that cross pollination within like crops is not an issue unless you plan to save the seed for next season's planting. Cross pollination has no effect on the quality of the harvestable fruit.

Read more at: https://cumberland.ces.ncsu.ed...

Fruit is derived from the ovule of the flower, which contains only the genetic material of the mother plant (the "pod parent"). The fruit itself carries the exclusive DNA of the original plant, and the pollen from another plant (the "pollen parent") does not contribute to the genetic makeup of the fruit. The heat level of the fruit will remain consistent regardless of pollination with any other pepper because it is solely determined by the genetic makeup of the mother plant.

However, the seeds inside the pepper are formed through fertilization, which involves the contribution of genetic material from both the pod parent (the pepper plant itself) and the pollen parent (another pepper plant). As a result, the seeds will carry a mix of DNA from both parents, and if these seeds are planted, they can give rise to plants with varying traits inherited from each parent. In the case of self-fertilization, where a plant fertilizes itself with its own pollen, there is still some mixing of DNA genes, so the resultant plant from those seeds can still be variable.

On the other hand, crops like corn that we eat as seeds (such as corn kernels- "corn-on-the-cob") do contain a mix of genetic material from both the pod parent (the corn plant) and the pollen parent (the same, or another corn plant). In some such cases, cross-pollination can indeed have a significant impact on the traits of the seed we harvest and eat fresh THIS SEASON, AND the next generation of plants from those seeds when planted next year. To avoid this, we take precautions, such as isolating corn crops to maintain the desired genetic characteristics. Beans and peas, also seeds, are mostly self-pollinated, so outside pollen (cross-pollination) isn't much of a factor, so subsequent generations display similar characteristics to its parent.

I'm not a trained genetic botanist- so I'd love any corrections from friends to help me out if I'm wrong!

Great explanation of the science behind the results. I love science. I didn't see anything wrong with your explanation but I'm I biologist, what do I know.

kenisaac said: No.

I agree with the others answering, it's either a seed mix-up or environmental factors influencing heat or taste. There are some issues that may be the fault of the seed producer as well... seek to find good sources.

And if the simple "no" is good enough, read no further!

But for me, it's cool to understand WHY a pepper fruit can't be affected by cross-pollinating- when my sweet corn crop can be ruined by it! It's one of the basics of garden planning- to know why I can throw all my hot and sweet peppers in the corner without fear, and why we just don't care if the melons and squash are playing around with their pollen:



Fruit is derived from the ovule of the flower, which contains only the genetic material of the mother plant (the "pod parent"). The fruit itself carries the exclusive DNA of the original plant, and the pollen from another plant (the "pollen parent") does not contribute to the genetic makeup of the fruit. The heat level of the fruit will remain consistent regardless of pollination with any other pepper because it is solely determined by the genetic makeup of the mother plant.

However, the seeds inside the pepper are formed through fertilization, which involves the contribution of genetic material from both the pod parent (the pepper plant itself) and the pollen parent (another pepper plant). As a result, the seeds will carry a mix of DNA from both parents, and if these seeds are planted, they can give rise to plants with varying traits inherited from each parent. In the case of self-fertilization, where a plant fertilizes itself with its own pollen, there is still some mixing of DNA genes, so the resultant plant from those seeds can still be variable.

On the other hand, crops like corn that we eat as seeds (such as corn kernels) do contain a mix of genetic material from both the pod parent (the corn plant) and the pollen parent (another corn plant). In some such cases, cross-pollination can indeed have a significant impact on the traits of the seed we harvest and eat now AND the next generation of plants from those seeds when planted. To avoid this, we take precautions, such as isolating corn crops to maintain the desired genetic characteristics. Beans and peas, also seeds, are mostly self-pollinated, so outside pollen (cross-pollination) isn't much of a factor.

I'm not a trained genetic botanist- so I'd love any corrections from friends to help me out if I'm wrong!

I just have a question about how the corn type situation might affect peppers. What if I don't get all of the seeds out of a pepper I'm eating - could that make a bit of spice - at least in that one bite? I just thought of this from your explanation of corn and beans.

Cat1ady said:What if I don't get all of the seeds out of a pepper I'm eating - could that make a bit of spice - at least in that one bite?

Great question- and I'm not sure of the exact answer...

1) Do Pepper Seeds Contain Capsaicin?
Modern research says 'not much' if any. Moms salsa recipes were wrong when they told you removing the pepper seed calmed-down the spiceyness.

2) I believe the pith- the white membrane structure surrounding the seeds- sometimes called the rib, or placenta, contain most of the peppers' heat. Seeds may appear to retain some heat as they are surrounded by this membrane. Removing this ribbing membrane will reduce the heat. If the mother plants' DNA resulted in higher levels of capsasin in the pith-and you ate this- yes it would be hot.

3. Is the pith membrane soley a part of the fruit- thus the mother plants DNA exclusively?

I cannot say-
Fun to ponder while eating your peppers, though!

Not sure where in Tennessee you are, you have usually a ph below 7.0, but that could be different where you are. Friend of mine in west Tn has to add lime to his fertilizer so that the plants can take up the nutrients at all. Tough soil you have there...full of chertz. I believe peppers like a ph of about 5.0, there are ways to check for this ph, most folks send off for their tests. If you know plants really well, you get to know which plants thrive in which ph.

Peppers like a pH of about 7. Neutral. Your soil will be about the same pH as your water.

7.0 ph is the highest peppers like their ph... but it could explain why some peppers are hotter.