tveguy3 said:I've been using tomato cages on my peppers and that seems to work well. I use the shorter ones on them that I got for tomatoes, as they are just too short for them, so they get used on the peppers.

Yes, those round wire cages sold everywhere for tomatoes make nice cages for peppers. Useless for tomatoes!

tveguy3 said:I've been using tomato cages on my peppers and that seems to work well. I use the shorter ones on them that I got for tomatoes, as they are just too short for them, so they get used on the peppers.

I need to scrounge around for more of those smaller tomato cages; lots of people throw them out after trying them for their tomatoes and finding out what a bad idea that is! Or, I suppose I could just break down and buy some...

Some of my pepper plants actually hit 4 feet tall this year, that's definitely a first for me! I suppose having another summer like this one, next year, would be too much to ask .

3 feet sounds like a nice and tall pepper plant. Mine never grow any where near that tall. No problem because they make plenty of peppers.

Mine don't normally get so tall either (and most didn't this year); I think it was the "Biggie Chile" plants, but I need to double-check that.

The critters that were the bane of my tomatoes have switched to peppers! After I began putting plastic grocery bags around my ripening tomatoes, the chipmunks and rabbits have attacked my sweet pepper plants, especially BigBertha, Marconi and Quadrato. I did get several freezer bags of ripened peppers before the attack. Some of the pepper plants had grown 4-5ft tall so the higher fruit are safe, but anything within a foot of the ground has been devastated. I'm trying to protect the green ones that are left but I'm running out of bags!

A little blood meal sprinkled on and around the plants will deter the rabbits, don't know about the chipmonks.

That is what I will have to do another year,--- as all of the green peppers have been taken by critters. I was only going to get a few anyway, but all of them and the green tomaotes have disappeared!

Man, that must be really aggravating. All the work and the critters get all the fruit!! Unfair!!

That would be very disappointing!!

My cherry pepper plant is making ripe peppers! I didn't know if these would be hot since the plant is called a "hot pepper" plant - but it is a cherry pepper which I've always known to not be hot. I'm happy to say that these are not hot and have a really great unique taste that is unlike a bell pepper. I just wish I got many many more of these - I should've planted this as all my pepper plants instead of the bells. Good news is there are a number of green ones that will hopefully get ripe now in the next week or so.

Robyn, how do you use your cherry peppers? I've grown both the hot and sweet types and they always grew well for me, but I never really utilized them very well. I tried pickling some of the hot ones (Cherry Bomb) but they were just TOO hot to eat that way, IMO. (my favorite hot pepper for pickling is hot banana, cut into "rings" -- they're hot but not unbearably so)

Weedwhacker said:Robyn, how do you use your cherry peppers? I've grown both the hot and sweet types and they always grew well for me, but I never really utilized them very well. I tried pickling some of the hot ones (Cherry Bomb) but they were just TOO hot to eat that way, IMO. (my favorite hot pepper for pickling is hot banana, cut into "rings" -- they're hot but not unbearably so)

I grew these because I absolutely love those pickled cherry peppers - the not hot ones. My hope was to get enough of these to pickle but I don't think I will. They are too good to just pick and eat dipped in hummus. Since I didn't get any real harvest of the bells - I will probably use some of these in making tomato sauce as well, or salsa. That wasn't really my intent with these, but they are the only peppers that grew well this year. I buy a lot of those tiny peppers in bags and just dip them in hummus while watching a show or something.. like popcorn.

For a much success as I have had with tomatoes, my disappointment with peppers is legendary. After years of fiddling with seed starting times, varieties and growing practices, finally success of sorts. I will never be a pro at peppers but at least this year there is a crop and some are even beginning to turn colors. The long greens are Giant Aconcagua, a very sweet one. It has been my one to do well. The bells are Frank's Sweet, green to red and Orange Bell. Other varieties are Chinese Giant, Golden Treasure, Marconi and Ta-Tong.

At the end of the season there are always loads of green peppers. Having been told we are too far north with too short a growing season to expect peppers to ripen before frost, this year is a bonus. Starting seeds in January under a lot of heat seems to be the key here.

Proud enough to share a couple of photos. To keep out deer and rabbits you may see the eight foot deer fence and the two foot chicken wire fence at the bottom. That has worked wonders for me. And what is called a tomato cage is actually a nice pepper cage for the four footers and the three footers, too.

PaulF said:For a much success as I have had with tomatoes, my disappointment with peppers is legendary. After years of fiddling with seed starting times, varieties and growing practices, finally success of sorts. I will never be a pro at peppers but at least this year there is a crop and some are even beginning to turn colors. The long greens are Giant Aconcagua, a very sweet one. It has been my one to do well. The bells are Frank's Sweet, green to red and Orange Bell. Other varieties are Chinese Giant, Golden Treasure, Marconi and Ta-Tong.

At the end of the season there are always loads of green peppers. Having been told we are too far north with too short a growing season to expect peppers to ripen before frost, this year is a bonus. Starting seeds in January under a lot of heat seems to be the key here.

Proud enough to share a couple of photos. To keep out deer and rabbits you may see the eight foot deer fence and the two foot chicken wire fence at the bottom. That has worked wonders for me. And what is called a tomato cage is actually a nice pepper cage for the four footers and the three footers, too.

Excellent! Yes, I plan to start in Jan with heat/light lamps for next year. Other than that, you've got the same set up as me. A taller 'real' fence for the deer and wrap that in wire for the bunnies and other smaller critters. Then tomato cages for the peppers. Congrats on the harvest!!!

robynanne said:My cherry pepper plant is making ripe peppers! I didn't know if these would be hot since the plant is called a "hot pepper" plant - but it is a cherry pepper which I've always known to not be hot. I'm happy to say that these are not hot and have a really great unique taste that is unlike a bell pepper. I just wish I got many many more of these - I should've planted this as all my pepper plants instead of the bells. Good news is there are a number of green ones that will hopefully get ripe now in the next week or so.

• Hot Pepper (Capsicum annuum 'Large Red Cherry')
• Uploaded by robynanne

• Hot Pepper (Capsicum annuum 'Large Red Cherry')
• Uploaded by robynanne

Nice!!

Since gardening is a learning experience now you know you like these and they grow much better than bell peppers for you. So next season you know what to plant!!

I guess what type to plant is governed by what you want to do with the peppers but the Asian Types like Shisuto are really easy and produce a bunch of peppers. Keep them picked and they keep on setting more and more.

robynanne said:

I grew these because I absolutely love those pickled cherry peppers - the not hot ones. My hope was to get enough of these to pickle but I don't think I will. They are too good to just pick and eat dipped in hummus. Since I didn't get any real harvest of the bells - I will probably use some of these in making tomato sauce as well, or salsa. That wasn't really my intent with these, but they are the only peppers that grew well this year. I buy a lot of those tiny peppers in bags and just dip them in hummus while watching a show or something.. like popcorn.

So I had not yet read this post when I recommended Shisuto. But since you say you buy small peppers to eat raw these would be perfect for you. Very easy and very productive!! Great for adding to cooking but smaller so you can't use them like bell peppers.

Newyorkrita said:

Nice!!

Since gardening is a learning experience now you know you like these and they grow much better than bell peppers for you. So next season you know what to plant!!

I guess what type to plant is governed by what you want to do with the peppers but the Asian Types like Shisuto are really easy and produce a bunch of peppers. Keep them picked and they keep on setting more and more.

I keep looking for shisuto seeds but I also keep forgetting the exact name other than "Shi... something.." lol! I suspect I'd really like growing those!

PaulF said:For a much success as I have had with tomatoes, my disappointment with peppers is legendary. After years of fiddling with seed starting times, varieties and growing practices, finally success of sorts. I will never be a pro at peppers but at least this year there is a crop and some are even beginning to turn colors. The long greens are Giant Aconcagua, a very sweet one. It has been my one to do well. The bells are Frank's Sweet, green to red and Orange Bell. Other varieties are Chinese Giant, Golden Treasure, Marconi and Ta-Tong.

At the end of the season there are always loads of green peppers. Having been told we are too far north with too short a growing season to expect peppers to ripen before frost, this year is a bonus. Starting seeds in January under a lot of heat seems to be the key here.

Proud enough to share a couple of photos. To keep out deer and rabbits you may see the eight foot deer fence and the two foot chicken wire fence at the bottom. That has worked wonders for me. And what is called a tomato cage is actually a nice pepper cage for the four footers and the three footers, too.

Nice to finally be successful!!

robynanne said:

I keep looking for shisuto seeds but I also keep forgetting the exact name other than "Shi... something.." lol! I suspect I'd really like growing those!

If you forget again just ask me!! I will remind you. You really will LOVE them.

"At the end of the season there are always loads of green peppers. Having been told we are too far north with too short a growing season to expect peppers to ripen before frost, this year is a bonus. Starting seeds in January under a lot of heat seems to be the key here. "

Paul, I can't imagine why anyone would say you can't expect peppers to ripen... I have ripe peppers every year, even the past 2 unusually cool summers; this summer has been unusually warm for us, and they are ripening like crazy. I start my seeds indoors around the beginning of April and plant them outside around June 1st. I usually use floating row cover over them for a few weeks when they are first planted out, because I don't harden them off otherwise, but they are just grown out in the open garden. My favorite bells are King Arthur (which ripens to a bright red) and Flavorburst (which ripens to a yellowish-orange). Inferno hot banana ripens early for me (earlier than I would like, actually). I'd suggest just to keep trying different varieties (paying attention to the "days to maturity") -- if they ripen up here they should certainly ripen for you!