Highalt's 2013 Grow - End of Season Wrap Up

I know some of you guys have already started seeds for next year's grow, and I should have started the Manzano's a month ago, but I am still working on finalizing the grow list.

Each year since I started growing peppers, the list has gotten bigger, and they have taken up a larger % of my vegetable growing space. I started working part-time 3 months ago, and I am a mother of three, so I am struggling with being realistic about how much time I can devote to pepper growing this coming season. Right now, I've got between 65 and 70 varieties on the list, and some of them I'd really like to have more than one plant. Last year, I ended up with about 50 varieties and a total of 75 plants. So you can see that I have some work to do before I start putting the seeds in the dirt!

I thought I would go ahead and put up my tentative list, and use the feedback I get from you guys to help me narrow things down a bit. Those of you that know me will notice that I still haven't gotten brave enough to add any supers yet ... maybe next year.

So here's what I got so far:

Annums
Alice's Favorite
Alma Paprika
Ancho Gigantia, and/or Ancho San Luis
Barker (NuMex)
Biker Billy Jalapeno
Black Hungarian
Cayenne Thick (Can't remember who it was that was raving about this one this past season, but I don't have seeds for this one yet.)
Chilhuacle Amarillo
Chocolate Cherry
Cochiti
Cosa Arrugada and/or Pepperoncini
Costeno Amarillo
Fish
Fresno
Georgia Flame
Goat's Weed
Golden Cayenne
Hungarian Hot Wax
Jaloro
Jamaican Hot Yellow (Anyone have a source for these? It's confusing to me that the Jamaican Hot Choc. is a Chinense, but this one is listed as an Anuum!)
Jimmy Nardello
Leutschauer Paprika
Lumbre
Mulato Isleno
NuMex Pinata
NuMex Vaquero
Patio Red Marconi
Pusztagold
Sandia
Sante Fe Grande
Serrano (Not sure which one. May try the purple one this year.)
Tangerine Pimento and/or Yummy
Tobasco (Need seeds for this one.)
Zapotec Jalapeno

Baccatums
Aji Chinchi Amarillo
Aji Yellow
Birgit's Locoto
Bishop's Crown (Don't actually have seeds for this one yet. If anyone has some, I'd be willing to trade for them.)
El Oro de Equador
Inca Red Drop
Lemon Drop (Maybe. Last time they were bitter. May try a difference source.)
Pimenta Barro do Robiero
Purple de Arbol and/or Negro de Arbol (Which one is better?)

Chinenses
Aji Dulce (type 1 or 2 ?) Is this the same as Rocotillo?
Aji Limo Rojo
Bonda ma Jacques (Don't have seeds for this one yet either. May just grow Gold Bullet or regular yellow habanero as a substitute?)
Cheiro Roxa
Habanero, Peach (and maybe the Pink as well)
Habanero, White (I have the regular white, and White Bullet. Is the Peruvian White better, or are they all about the same?)
Jamaican Hot Chocolate
Purple Bhut (Okay, I don't have seeds for this one either. Maybe I'll substitute Condor's Beak if I can't find any.)
Scotch Bonnet Yellow (Have some labeled True Jamaican Scotch Bonnet. Should those be yellow? Or red?)

Pubescens (Yeah, I know I'm really too late on these, and probably won't get any ripe fruit this coming season)
Orange Manzano
Red Manzano
Yellow Manzano


Well, I think that's about it. I'm sure the list will change a few more times before it's a done deal, but at least it's a start!

So tell me what you think about the ones I have questions on, or let me know where to find seeds for the ones I'm missing, or tell me what I should have on the list and don't. Just kidding on that last one!!!

 

[Devv]

The cake looks marvelous!
 
Rick mentioned Marzipan, other side of me is German, Grandmother used to always send us Marzipan from the old country...really good stuff!
 
The harvest Bloom looks like really good stuff!
 
Stay safe and say Happy Fathers Day to the old man!

 

[JJJessee]

Great video, and amazing cake art!
Hope the fires are short lived.
If I were in the market for a new state to live in, CO would be high on my list -beautiful scenery. Durango looked about my speed.
Peppers and everything are looking good. I'm gonna have to grow some tomatillo some day -I love salsa verde and smoking the toms first is D-lish.

 

[highalt]

The cake looks marvelous!
 
Rick mentioned Marzipan, other side of me is German, Grandmother used to always send us Marzipan from the old country...really good stuff!
 
The harvest Bloom looks like really good stuff!
 
Stay safe and say Happy Fathers Day to the old man!

 
I really don't know anything about cake decorating, so not sure what the difference is between fondant and marzipan, but to me the decorations looked better than they tasted.  I am not patient enough for fine, detailed work like that.  I'm more of a slap some frosting on, and call it good kind of gal.   More interested in taste than presentation, I guess.
 

Amazing Cake!!! I'll be you could do better...but good on you for making your hubby's friend feel good!

 
See comment above.
 

Great video, and amazing cake art!
Hope the fires are short lived.
If I were in the market for a new state to live in, CO would be high on my list -beautiful scenery. Durango looked about my speed.
Peppers and everything are looking good. I'm gonna have to grow some tomatillo some day -I love salsa verde and smoking the toms first is D-lish.

 
It looks like they've got the fires under control for now.  Not sure what the rest of the season has in store though. 
 
Once you get over the fact that it is not as lush, and green as back east, you come to really appreciate the beauty of the wide open views here.
 
Never tried smoking the tomatillos, but if I get enough to make some salsa verde, I'll have to give that a try.
 
 
UPDATE:
 
Haven't checked on things at the house yet today, but I went by the community garden on my way to work this morning, and was pleased with the progress.  Gave everything a dose of the Peak Harvest Bloom on Saturday, and could see a lot of new growth already.  Pods have put on a good bit of size as well.  There are a few laggers, especially the ones with the purple foliage, and the chinenses, but overall things are coming along nicely. 
 
Finely got the soaker hoses dialed in over there, I think.  Had to run another line of twine for the tomatoes, as they are getting pretty tall now.  Most are blooming, and the Gold Currant has a few tomatoes on it already.  Can't wait to eat the first ripe tomato of the season!
 
Don't know if I ever posted a final count or not, but I ended up with a total of 80 pepper plants, and 66 different varieties!   Should have plenty of seeds to share by the end of the season!!!
 
 

 

[WalkGood]

Awesome cookie and cake pics, my mother use to make me keylime pies from scratch of key limes my father grew. Great pod pics and video! I especially like the flower shots, flowers here always put a smile on mi face and the color is good! Sorry to read about the fires, hope they stay away, everything looks great … keep up dem awesome updates & grow ^_^

 

[romy6]

 Plants look really good. I agree that Fatalli does not look very Fatalish. Cake looked delish. My daughter would eat it up 
 
Keep it green girl!!!!
 
Oh and the key lime cookies are right up this southern boys ally 

 

[stickman]

 
I really don't know anything about cake decorating, so not sure what the difference is between fondant and marzipan, but to me the decorations looked better than they tasted.  I am not patient enough for fine, detailed work like that.  I'm more of a slap some frosting on, and call it good kind of gal.   More interested in taste than presentation, I guess.
 
UPDATE:
 
Haven't checked on things at the house yet today, but I went by the community garden on my way to work this morning, and was pleased with the progress.  Gave everything a dose of the Peak Harvest Bloom on Saturday, and could see a lot of new growth already.  Pods have put on a good bit of size as well.  There are a few laggers, especially the ones with the purple foliage, and the chinenses, but overall things are coming along nicely. 
 
Finely got the soaker hoses dialed in over there, I think.  Had to run another line of twine for the tomatoes, as they are getting pretty tall now.  Most are blooming, and the Gold Currant has a few tomatoes on it already.  Can't wait to eat the first ripe tomato of the season!
 
Don't know if I ever posted a final count or not, but I ended up with a total of 80 pepper plants, and 66 different varieties!   Should have plenty of seeds to share by the end of the season!!!
 
 

 
No shame in sticking to what you're best at, whether it's frosting cookies or growing chiles! From your description of the decorations not tasting as good as they looked, they were probably fondant. Marzipan is made mostly from ground almonds, sugar, egg whites and a little cream of tartar.  Like Devv says, it's great stuff.
 
You've got me beat for numbers and varieties of chiles Bonnie... You should have some perks for hosting the seed swap in the spring. Nice to see they're all growing well for you. Cheers!

 

[Devv]

80 tomato plants? I planted 70 and my wife threatened bodily harm if I went over 50 again. Do you can them or give them away? We wound up with a bunch, and still canning..
 
Yeah the Marzipan is worth hunting down if just for a try. The stuff G-ma used to send was a choc covered loaf.

 

[highalt]

I only have about 20 tomato plants, and 80 pepper plants.  Still 20 tomato plants should be enough to make at least 2 or 3 batches of salsa.  The last couple of years, I've lost a few plants to some kind of early wilt, and then had a lot of blossom end rot, so my production was pretty low.  So far this season they all look pretty healthy, and I added bone meal to the holes as I planted them, so hoping to have less BER this year.    
 
Got a second batch of Strawberry Rhubarb Jam made this afternoon.
 

 

 
Just a few pod shots from here at the house.  
 
Santa Fe Grande
 

 
Alma Paprika
 

 
Biker Billy Hybrid Jalapeno
 

 
Tangerine Pimento  (not sure why he's all bumpy)
 

 
Golden Greek Pepperoncini
 

 
Tried to get a few flower pics, but the winds were not cooperating with me.   This is the only one I have today, nothing to exciting, just a Coreopsis 'Sunburst' bloom.
 

 
Thanks for stopping by!!!

 

[Devv]

I only have about 20 tomato plants, and 80 pepper plants.  Still 20 tomato plants should be enough to make at least 2 or 3 batches of salsa.  The last couple of years, I've lost a few plants to some kind of early wilt, and then had a lot of blossom end rot, so my production was pretty low.  So far this season they all look pretty healthy, and I added bone meal to the holes as I planted them, so hoping to have less BER this year.    
 

 Sorry for the mis-read.
 
I have questions, early wilt..are you rotating the crops? Winter cover crops? I had mater disease last year and planted 3 cover crops, let them get 3"s high, tilled and replanted. BER is a tough one, it's definitely a calcium issue but can be caused by many things. I usually have it on the first to set fruits. This year got by them and it started to rain followed by way too hot, and more rain. I was giving them a cal supplement, and watching Nitrogen levels. The weather did it this year, I left them on the plants for the birds.
 
Pics look great!

 

[HillBilly Jeff]

Excellent looking pods.  I guess my SFG is growing true.  I thought the pods were a bit too big.  Love the jam.  Had some made here this spring as well.  I really like cooking up a couple stalks and stirring it into some fresh strawberries in the fridge.
 
The early wilt I had a couple plants like that here too.  Washed em with water and some dawn and hit them with fungicide.  They came right out of it.  First time I had that happen.  I think it was from the cold wet spring.

 

[stickman]

Looking great Bonnie! You got me inspired, and I made some strawberry/rhubarb jam for us to home...   Your pic of the Greek Pepperoncini pod got me thinking...  One thing I noticed about hot pack canning peppers like I did last year, is that they get pretty soft in the jar. I think that's why some folks sulfite 'em first... to sterilize them without heat before they go into the jar with the brine. Nothing above ambient temperature so they're not 3/4 cooked before the jar cools. If you cold pack can them, I understand you can use alum or green oak leaves (for tannins) to keep them crisp longer.

 

[highalt]

Things at the community garden are looking much better!  Here at the house, the containers plants are doing very well, but the front veggie bed is still struggling.  Not being able to use the bubblers in that area this year is hurting things.  I'm just not able to give them a good enough soaking by hand, and that bed is very fast draining.  Just haven't had the time or $$ to repair the damaged hose yet.
 
This is actually more of a NON report than a pepper update.  One of my sisters was in town over the weekend, so I did a little hiking/site seeing.
 
This is on the Jessie Weaver Trail in the Glenwood Canyon area.
 

 
A wild geranium with friend.
 

 
The little ones were fascinated by the clusters of butterflies along the trail!
 

 
Here's my sister and my two youngest kids.
 

 
My oldest son would not cooperate with the whole picture taking thing.  Teenagers ...   
 

 
These were taken at the Colorado National Monument, about an 1 1/2 west of where I live.  It was a good bit drier, and hotter there!
 

 

 
Me
 

 

 

 
Guess that's it.  I'll try and get some actual pepper pics later this week.

 

[stickman]

Nice pics Bonnie! That's what I liked about Colorado when I was there... big skies and monumental terrain features... and the sky so clear that you can see for miles!
 
Is that a reservoir in the second to last shot? If so, it looks awfully dry down below.

 

[PIC 1]

Beautiful photographs !

 

[cool98010]

Nature Always Fascinates Me  Truly Amazing 

 

[highalt]

Nice pics Bonnie! That's what I liked about Colorado when I was there... big skies and monumental terrain features... and the sky so clear that you can see for miles!
 
Is that a reservoir in the second to last shot? If so, it looks awfully dry down below.

 
 
Me too, Rick!  Last time I traveled back home to the mid-south area, I felt almost claustrophobic with all the trees, and not being able to see off in the distance.  Plus, we use the mountains as a compass around here, so I kept looking for the mountain ridges to get my bearings.
 
The water you see in the photo is the Colorado River.  Yep, it's the desert over there on the Western Slope!

 

[PaulG]

Bonnie, you have done a great job of battling the elements again.  
I enjoy reading your glog cuz it reminds me so much of where I
grew up in Oregon.  The hot, dry winds are tough to deal with, but
I love the open vistas and subtle flora/fauna of the high desert.  
Maybe we can just add up our climates and divide by two to get
a nice average grow season!  
 
Your pods are developing very nicely - hope you have as good a season
this year as you had last year.  Nice variety of peppers and other goodies
in your gardens.  Keep up the good work!

 

[Sawyer]

Beautiful pictures, Bonnie.  It makes me want to pack up and head west for awhile.  (Maybe Wyoming in August)  I know what you mean about the wide open spaces out there vs. the trees here.  So far for me, the trees win out.  At least we have some hills here in this part of Arkansas.

 

[PaulG]

Gotta admit trees and mountains are nice.  My favorite places are at or
above the tree line in the alpine forests.  Hanging out at an emerald lake
with snow banks all around in late Spring is hard to beat!  
You can check some of them out here:
http://myplace.frontier.com/~paulgriffith2/pix/wildpix.html
http://myplace.frontier.com/~paulgriffith2/pix/winter.html
 
If you can see the high desert below, then it's even better!
I know there are outrageous chili growing corners up there somewhere!
Sorry for the glog clog, Bonnie.  I'll be good from now on.

 

[Devv]

Love the outdoor pics!
 
It's really beautiful where you live.