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pubescens Capsicum pubescens 2026 ...Plans ?

E

Englander

Hi Guy's

Come on fess up 🤔

I can't be the only one to have started pondering what Rocotos to grow in 2026 😁 or even ordering seeds 🤣🤣

Having fallen in love 🥰 with Capsicum pubescens over the last couple years I now have 3 favourites 😁

Rocoto Long aka a Aji Largo selection
Rocoto Peron
Rocoto Montufar

All Red ........😗

Also 2025 was my first year trying Rocotos in Kratky hydroponics a big success 🧐😁

Come on what varieties are you contemplating in 2026 and while we're at at what are your current favourites 🤔

Anyone else doing hydroponic Rocotos ...........🤔
 
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Hey @Englander !

I'm planning a bit of a "deload" year next year for my growing, because I'm finding myself burned out and overwhelmed with all that I have right now, plus the figs, the tomatoes, etc. I tend to feel responsible for every single fruit that my peppers produce, and then I drive myself crazy figuring out what to do with them or who to give them to.

I just spent an hour processing Aji Chinchi Amarillo and Bahamian Goat for dehydration, and there are still so many more peppers out there to be processed for other things. With the exception of a paprika trial, I'm going to cut way back next year on the number of different types that I'm growing. As far as the Rocotos, that means 3 types, four tops. As far as which ones they are, right now the ones on the most likely list are:

Chocolate x PS
Rocoto Rio Huallaga as per @growyourown 's glowing feedback on it
A red Rocoto.

Regarding which Red, I've been impressed so far with the flavor and productivity of the red Ecuadorian rocotos that I've grown, and Montufar has some glowing feedback from several people here (plus it looked like it had some heat tolerance from one of Skullbiker's GLOGS a few years ago), so I'm thinking that Montufar would be a natural choice, or maybe Peron based on your recommendation of it.

A few others that I really want to grow or grow again in the future include Turbo, GRIF 9345, Tatiana, Aji Oro (I really liked that one), Mini-Olive, Honey Badger, Costa Rican Red, Alberto's Locoto and Giant Red Arequipa. Any one of these could be my number 4 pick for next year if I start feeling like I could handle it, and I have a feeling that Turbo would be it. I have some non-isolated seeds for Turbo and it was a nice pepper last year when I grew it, both in taste and in productivity. That would also give me an opportunity to collect isolated seeds for sharing with others in the community.

I haven't tried the Tapachula Market Rocotos yet, but the reds are ripening. I tried a pickled red last week but it wasn't dead ripe (I knocked it off while watering). Still, it was a very nice tasting pepper so that will likely become a priority in 2027. I'll keep everyone posted on the taste of the reds and yellows as the season progresses.
 
NJChilehead said:
I tend to feel responsible for every single fruit that my peppers produce, and then I drive myself crazy figuring out what to do with them or who to give them to.
Click to expand...
We know the feeling.
Struggling Help Me GIF by Playember
 
I am such a newbie with pubescens, I haven't sunk yet. I grew my first Rocoto de la Selva Lima this summer, got two peppers. Loved the plant, enjoyed the heat, saved the seeds.

2026 I will grow two pubescens: Rocopica Cross Large and Rocoto P 360. And maybe Selva Lima again. I won't try more than that, until I get a proper harvest.
 
SummerFun said:
I am such a newbie with pubescens, I haven't sunk yet. I grew my first Rocoto de la Selva Lima this summer, got two peppers. Loved the plant, enjoyed the heat, saved the seeds.

2026 I will grow two pubescens: Rocopica Cross Large and Rocoto P 360. And maybe Selva Lima again. I won't try more than that, until I get a proper harvest.
Click to expand...
Its better to start them early. For me, they are the first seeds I'll sow. I've sown them already. Just for comparison, I'll sown my Chinense beginning of December.
 
SummerFun said:
I am such a newbie with pubescens, I haven't sunk yet. I grew my first Rocoto de la Selva Lima this summer, got two peppers. Loved the plant, enjoyed the heat, saved the seeds.

2026 I will grow two pubescens: Rocopica Cross Large and Rocoto P 360. And maybe Selva Lima again. I won't try more than that, until I get a proper harvest.
Click to expand...

I started growing C. pubescens last year and fell in love with them. Some of them take a REALLY long time to grow and set fruit, and get cranky when it gets too hot, but man are they worth it in the end.

If you can get your hands on them, I'd recommend growing Aji Largo along with your other pubescens next year. They grow more quickly than other Rocoto types than I've tried so far, and were relatively easy to grow. They also tasted very good, as good as my Ecuadorian Red Pepper from Hell (which I love), but they were hotter.

Here are the links to my 2024 and 2025 GLOGs, where I outline some of my successes and failures with them. Hope you find some of the info helpful!

https://thehotpepper.com/threads/njchileheads-semi-retroactive-rocoto-heavy-glog-2024.78138/
https://thehotpepper.com/threads/njchileheads-2025-glog.78338/
 
This chili thing is really contagious. I just bought seeds for two more pubescens. And maybe some more baccatums (and one annuum, but it was a really nice variety). I hope I have the strength of mind to push some of them into the envelope, when the European seed train arrives.
 
SummerFun said:
This chili thing is really contagious. I just bought seeds for two more pubescens. And maybe some more baccatums (and one annuum, but it was a really nice variety). I hope I have the strength of mind to push some of them into the envelope, when the European seed train arrives.
Click to expand...

It sure is! Which pubescens, baccatums and annuums did you order?
 
NJChilehead said:
It sure is! Which pubescens, baccatums and annuums did you order?
Click to expand...
Well, Aji Largo of course, I remember somebody recommending it. The other pubescens was just some random rocoto. And I really have no idea which baccatums I ordered, I just clicked some pretty pictures. What I really wanted was Fatalii's advent calendar, but 20-30 new varieties would explode my brain. I really mean to put most of those baccatums on the train. Oh no, there may have been some chinenses as well, because I remember ordering Ganzo Peach F8. 📦🎁🚂📮

Besides Aji Largo, the only variety I ordered with forethought was C. annuum NuMex Orange Spice. I was very happy with NuMex April Fools, so from now on anything to do with NMSU is a go.
 
@SummerFun

I'd be careful with your pot size Rocotos are not only slow bugger's want to grow "HUGE" 😳 sadly in our climates outside they get carried away growing leaves branches in a carefree relaxed manner completely unaware of the impending apocalyptic event that's on it way ......winter 😬🥶☠️

In soil personally 10L to 12L pots are my max now taking a lead from a mate in Wales who grows Rocoto year on year outside he uses 12L pots max ! Oh and the sunniest spot ideally sheltered from cool winds.

This year I experimented with 5L kratky hydroponics WoW.... its like having a time machine everything happens much much faster, I'll be trying larger kratky next year, however I'm wary that like pots the more space you give the roots the bigger they grow and longer it takes to get ripe fruit 🫣
 
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