New to me this year is "Dragon Roll," a Shishito-type pepper that from the photo looks very much like the "Peperoncino" peppers that I grew in the past, with a Scoville rating of just 200. I mainly want it for pickling, but it sounds like it would be great for adding to stir-fry, or just eating fresh. (Of course, everything sounds great from the seed catalog descriptions, so I'll have to wait and see!)

Essentially all of the pepper seeds that I started on March 30th have sprouted -- one that hasn't, though, is "hot banana," which I also always pickle (and use in salsa and stuff); I'm going to try sprouting some of the seeds in a damp paper towel, if those don't come up I should be able to find a couple of plants to buy!

We will see what you think of those Dragon Roll Shishito type peppers come summer. Should be good ones!!

I'm also growing a Shisito pepper called "Mellow Star". Anxious to try it. All of the nice restaurants around here have been featuring Shisito peppers on their menus, generally just grilled/blistered with an aioli or something similar. Sounds yummy!!

mom2goldens said:I'm also growing a Shisito pepper called "Mellow Star". Anxious to try it. All of the nice restaurants around here have been featuring Shisito peppers on their menus, generally just grilled/blistered with an aioli or something similar. Sounds yummy!!

It is yummy like that. That is why I want more, I only tried afew like that (grilled and charred) last season and just didn't have enough.

They seem to be the newest "thing" for the chefs...

nothing to do with peppers, but I think we need to get the TV chefs to promote eating of Asian carp, to save the Great Lakes! (I mean, really -- would you rather eat an Asian carp or lamb fries... )

I think some chefs are starting to look at those things that were previously considered "garbage" fish, like lionfish, carp, etc. Love to see that, along with the "ugly produce" movement.

I am growing Anaheim, Olympus, and Gourmet peppers this year. They will go out in a week. Being exposed to sunlight 1 hour yesterday and 1 hour more each day for the week.

My pepper seedlings are still inside. I haven't taken them outside for hardening off as yet. I feel like they are still very small.

I did start taking the tomato seedlings out for the day yesterday and put them in the shade. So soon I will start the peppers outside also.

Meanwhile my second sowing of peppers from April 6th is not up as yet of course. This time I know they take awhile!!

Well it is very mild today, over 70 already so I took the pepper seedlings outside to enjoy the light and fresh air. First time out for them.

Ah, a little field trip outside for Easter. That's nice! I have peppers growing on all my plants. Hoping to get some before I have to bring them inside because of heat.

LizDTM said:Ah, a little field trip outside for Easter. That's nice! I have peppers growing on all my plants. Hoping to get some before I have to bring them inside because of heat.

What a difference in temps from here to there.

If it stays like this I will soon be able to plant out my veggies. We will see.

Peppers still need some growing before ready to plant out.

Crazy warm here, too, in Central Indiana. We've been having daytime temps in the 70s and up to low 80s. Nights are warm too, in the upper 50s.

I'm hoping this holds, and doesn't come back to bite me as I try to get my 400 tomato plants outside this week.

I'm getting to this thread a bit late....
I did read through to the end, though....

Personally, I start pepper seeds in the sand that I dig out of the garden...
Fill large pot with sand, scatter seed, water, cover with bed sheet, when large enough to handle, pot up individually.

While the slow growing variegated pepper plants often get dug for the winter... One or two... I have had them survive the winter (outside) and come back from the roots!

Those orange bell peppers?
I have a dedicated seed refrigerator...
Peppers and tomatoes go in the fridge whole (in seperate bowls or saucers). In the spring, the seeds come up fine! Saves a bit of trouble, not collecting the seeds out of the fruit....

What are the chances of ghost pepper seeds becoming reasonably priced?
Has anybody grown them yet? Do they live up to the hype? Are they as slow growing as I suspect?

Hi, Stone:

I'm growing ghost peppers this year, and they were unbelievably slow to germinate, but they are finally taking off (coming up on 4 weeks since planting). Try sampleseeds.com for reasonably priced seeds. 15 ghost pepper seeds for $2.00

@Stone , I thought of you just now when I saw "Ghost Pepper" while looking through the pepper list at Gardentrends (Harris Seeds.) 45 seeds for $5.25 with free shipping this weekend. (code: 7EARTHDAY ) I'm not into really hot peppers so I don't know if that is a good price or not, but free shipping is always nice.

https://www.gardentrends.com/c...

My peppers are finally starting to take off....I was kind of worried, especially about the Ghost and Fish peppers--they were SOOOOOO slow to germinate/grow. I'm so happy to see they are finally catching up and should be a decent size for the plant sale

mom2goldens said:My peppers are finally starting to take off....I was kind of worried, especially about the Ghost and Fish peppers--they were SOOOOOO slow to germinate/grow. I'm so happy to see they are finally catching up and should be a decent size for the plant sale

I really didn't give any thought to how much more slowly pepper plants grow than tomato plants when I planted my seeds.

Plants are doing well but next year I should start them earlier than I did this year. Maybe two weeks earlier. My tomatoes I could have started a week later than I did but no big deal as they are doing great.

I have a Capsicum annuum 'Purple Belle' that is turning a beautiful purple. Still small though. Not sure when to pick it. Advice?

Liz, does "Purple Belle" start out purple, or does it start out green and turn purple? At any rate, you can pick the peppers at any time; in fact, if you pick the first ones sooner rather than later your plant will probably produce more fruit.