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plant-i.d. Confused about Datils

C

cmwr

I was given a seed packet from a neighbor three years ago. It was datils from Bakers Creek. I fell in love with them and have been regrowing each year by harvesting my own seeds. I’m really confused lately after more research. All these years my peppers have had blunt noses instead of pointed. There seems to be a debate about the shape. The flavor and heat seems to be similar to descriptions I see online. I am confused about what a Datil should really look like and if I’ve been growing hybrids since I started? When mature they appear to be a yellowish orange instead of a bright yellow although I will say I am partially color blind so it could be my mistake. Can anyone enlighten me on the Datil? After this season should I start over with new seeds from a better source? I’m happy with what I’ve been growing but I would like to know I’m growing authentic Datils and not imposters. The attached pic is of an immature green Datil from this years plants
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Solution
CaneDog
There are at least a couple varieties called Datil. The Baker Creek Datils are not the same variety as the Florida / St. Augustine Datils. You can check out this thread for a lot more info. Your Baker Creek Datils look great!
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CaneDog said:
If you want the Florida Datil, absolutely. I grow from the Pure Florida seeds you see referenced in that thread. I've never grown the Baker Creek Datils, but I believe they're Annuums. The Florida Datils are Chinense and should be significantly hotter with a different flavor and aroma.
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So did Baker creek cross pollinate them and stabilize for their own variety? I love the flavor although to eat raw they are rather tough and like cardboard to chew. The flavor is awesome. Cooked they limp up and eat great. They make a great hot sauce. I just want a true datil and I’m frustrated that for the last three years I’ve been growing imposters?
 
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Also I must say it must be a stable hybrid if that’s what it is. Year after year I grow from seeds and each new year I get the same fruit so it’s apparently a stable hybrid or an heirloom of some type
 
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The Hot Pepper said:
I wouldn't call them imposters, exactly. The important thing is you love them and now you can grow both. No time has been wasted, many people like this pepper (from Baker Creek).
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I do like them but when I tell people this is “datil hot sauce” or whatever can I now feel confident that I am being truthful? Are they really authentic datils?
 
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Most likely it's just another variety with the same name, which creates confusion. The Baker Creek ones seem to grow stable and, from what you're saying, are a good pepper. If you're making "Datil" hot sauce, most people will absolutely expect the chinense landrace Datil grown in the St. Augustine area. It is very well known and what a vast majority of people think of as the Datil pepper. I agree with what THP posted though. Not imposters. No reason to stop growing the Baker Creeks to grow the Florida ones. Grow both if you like!
 
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CaneDog said:
Most likely it's just another variety with the same name, which creates confusion. The Baker Creek ones seem to grow stable and, from what you're saying, are a good pepper. If you're making "Datil" hot sauce, most people will absolutely expect the chinense landrace Datil grown in the St. Augustine area. It is very well known and what a vast majority of people think of as the Datil pepper. I agree with what THP posted though. Not imposters. No reason to stop growing the Baker Creeks to grow the Florida ones. Grow both if you like!
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Do you have experience with both? Do they taste different and are one hotter than the other?

I wasn’t familiar with the terms Chinense and annum so I googled. Well these Datils from bakers creek aren’t mild. They have heat. If I understood correctly annum means mild? These aren’t mild so I don’t understand how they could have a different classification from a true st Augustine Datil. Still confused lol
 
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The Hot Pepper said:
To me it's not a Datil, it's a Baker Creek Datil. I would use their company name as part of the pepper name when referring to it. This in essence becomes the name of the pepper, since it is different. I don't think they are being deceptive. They seem pretty confident in it. Which is why I would simply call it by that name. Especially when trading seeds. 😁
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I’m gonna order some authentic heirloom seeds cause I want to know what a true Datil is. I’m disappointed the all this time I haven’t been experiencing a true Datil
 
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CaneDog said:
I've never had the Baker Creed Datil. "Datil" is Spanish for "date" as in the date palm fruit. It's not too surprising more than one pepper might be name after dates for whatever reason. Annuum peppers can get hot, but chinense will generally be much hotter.

Good luck with it and I hope you like it!
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I grew them 2 seasons ago from a free seed pack from Baker Creek.


As you can see the pods are blunt & do not have a purple stripe when still green.
Taste profile :hot:very little flavor other than :hot:

1753008532926.png


This season, what was claimed to be a wild Datil from Fla.
Both plant & pods are different than the BC seeds, waiting for some color 😀
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One thing I’ve noticed about st Augustine datils is the plants appear tall and spindly like my cayennes do. My BC datil plants are robust like small trees or shrubs. The stalks are typically in between the size of a quarter and a silver dollar by October. They are a tough plant that stands tall and doesn’t fall over or need a support stick! I’m curious if a pure Datil will be this way or if it will need help. My cayennes fall over if I don’t support them lol. 2026 can’t come soon enough
 
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The Baker Creek Datil had a bushy strong plant that needed no staking, however the current Datil 😬 is much different.
Those who know me, understand I do not prune/top my plants, I just deal with each of their own unique habits.

The picture is after I pruned 5 huge flowerless suckers off the plant. I know the grower @ HSH prunes his scotchies
I never have. If I had left the suckers on the Datil you could not see the pods off the main stem, & 0 flowers on side shoots.

Soo I could be wrong, however this plant will need staking in the container I have it in. This is not the BC Datil I grew before.



1753267024010.png



What should I prune ??
1753267461651.png
 
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Marturo said:
The Baker Creek Datil had a bushy strong plant that needed no staking, however the current Datil 😬 is much different.
Those who know me, understand I do not prune/top my plants, I just deal with each of their own unique habits.

The picture is after I pruned 5 huge flowerless suckers off the plant. I know the grower @ HSH prunes his scotchies
I never have. If I had left the suckers on the Datil you could not see the pods off the main stem, & 0 flowers on side shoots.

Soo I could be wrong, however this plant will need staking in the container I have it in. This is not the BC Datil I grew before.



1753267024010.png



What should I prune ??
1753267461651.png
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Yeah that’s what I thought. I’ve only seen online pics of Datil plants but definitely looks tall and skinny. Another thing I’ve noticed about the baker creek Datil, as I am learning, is that I have one fruit/flower per node and no more. That falls in line with annum from everything I’m learning. I will probably still grow these each year regardless as I really like them but I still am on my quest to experience the real deal. Here is a reply I received from Randel at Baker Creek when I had asked him about if their datils were a hybrid. I’m pretty sure “someone” did something at some point but apparently no one knows anything……..

No, we didn't modify them. We received foundation stock from a Florida gardener like 10-12 years ago. But as soon as we offered them, we heard a few reports from other growers that said ours were different from theirs. Is there a more "true" line? Possibly not, because it's often the case with folk varieties that there is occasional introgression, or selection criteria can vary, from one grower (or region) to the next. So I think it's fair to say that our is a true line, but others may offer another strain.

I do say that what you're growing seems pretty true to our line.

Let me know if this raises further questions!


With kind regards,
Randel
Horticulturist
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
 
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