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!!!

 

[DocNrock]

Great to see things podding up.  Hopefully you can avoid the BER this year.  Didn't realize you had 80 chile plants!  Very nice.  Those shots of the hiking trail and the Colorado National Monument are breathtakingly gorgeous.

 

[WalkGood]

Whoa Bonnie now I see what all the hubbub is about, awesome job girl!!! Pictures, pods, plants, jelly, every ting looks great!!

 

[PaulG]

+1 Doc

 

[highalt]

 
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.
 

 
 
I looked through quite a few of those pictures.  Those are some great shots of some beautiful places, and I can see the similarity to the Rockies.  Feel free to share on my glog anytime, Paul!  
 
This first picture is for Rick.  This is the Biker Billy pod, which is looking a lot like your Mucho Nachos.
 

 
This Fresno was the first pod to set, and it's been full sized for a while, but no sign of color yet.
 

 
Peruvian Purple is blooming now.
 

 
And now for some nons:
 
Rovada Red Currants are almost ripe
 

 
... not to be confused with Gold Currant tomatoes
 

 
Spent almost an hour this afternoon trying to attach the Reliance grapevine to the pergola.   I don't understand why the vines choose to grow out away from the structure instead of clinging to it.  It seems counterintuitive to me.     Probably can't see in the picture, but there are already bunches of grapes on there!
 

 
And now for the pretties ...
 
Shasta Daisy with Stella de Oro daylily
 

 
Feverfew
 

 
Yellow Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed)
 

 
Black Eyed Stella
 

 
I'll try and get a community garden update over the weekend.

 

[PaulG]

Beautiful flower shots, Bonnie!  
 
Wow, some of your pods are gettin' downright huge!
The plants def like whatever it is you are doing!
 
Glad you liked the wilderness photos. I thought some of
the landscapes might remind you of CO.

 

[stickman]

You're right Bonnie... but yours is the darker green of a Jalapeno, and mine is the lighter green of an Anaheim. I guess neither cross is very stable beyond F1. The one I cut up last week had Jalapeno flavor and a bit more heat than an Anaheim. I'm curious what yours tastes like.
 
Your nons are looking great... it's always a treat to stop by and see what you've got going on.

 

[highalt]

Thanks guys!  I'm always worried about posting too many nons and getting banned or something.   
 
So today I am posting nothing but pepper pics!!!  Took quite a few at the community garden this morning.  There were a couple of the other gardeners down there, so I stuck with still shots this time.
 
Had to get out there pretty early this morning, since it's supposed to reach 100 degrees by the afternoon.  
 
Decided to show the good, the bad and the ugly today ...
 
First up, "The" Fatalii.  What do you think, Shane and Andy???
 

 
DocNrock, this is the Golden Cayenne I got from you.  No pods yet, but it is blooming now.
 

 
Here is the NOT Jamaican Hot Yellow.  My records say it came from KingDenniz via Rick.  Anyone got an idea what it might be???  Whatever it is, it is loaded with pods!
 

 
El Oro de Ecuador
 

 
Poor little Cheiro Roxa, did not handle the whole plant-out thing very well.  Starting to see a little new growth, but still looking pretty sad!
 

 
The rock stars so far are the NuMex chiles.  This Lumbre is loaded!!!
 

 
Sandia.  One of my must grows!
 

 
Cochiti.  First time to grow this one.  Pods aren't as long as the other NuMex types.
 

 
Barker's Hot
 

 
Lemon Drop
 

 
I'll post some more after a bump ...
 
 

 

[Seacowboy]

Got lots of pods going on there, looking great. Beat the heat and get it done in the morning, pushing 95 here in New Orleans today and not much fun working out there in it. 

 

[highalt]

Thanks!  Yeah, I don't care if it's a dry heat or not, once you hit 100, it's just HOT!!!
 
Both the Bishop's Crowns are putting out pods that are more elongated than I think they are supposed to be.  
 

 
Chilhuacle Negro with it's stumpy looking pod
 

 
 
Chilhuacle Amarillo.  This one will double in size before it ripens.
 

 
The Goat Weed isn't blooming yet, but it is branching out and budding up.
 

 
And a couple of commoners,  Hungarian Hot Wax
 

 
and a Serrano
 

 
First Tobasco pod
 

 
Barro do Robiero
 

 
And now for a couple of uglies.  Pimenta de Neyde.  The purple foliaged plants are not happy with their current living arrangements.  Think they want some shade, but I don't have any for them.   
 

 
Those of you with a weak heart may want to look away.  All three of the Peach Habaneros look like this one ... or worse!
 

 
Guess that's it for now.  Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!  I'll try and catch up on a few glogs now.

 

[Devv]

Nice update Bonnie!
 
Fantastic photography and tons of pods!
 
I can't believe you went from worrying about frost to 100 so soon! It's supposed to do that here as well...not liking it!
 
So what are your night time temps when days are 100?
 
Wish I could add some ideas about the peach habs, other than maybe too much water? Just a guess..

 

[highalt]

Thanks, Scott!  
 
Those habs are at the beginning of the soaker hose where there is more pressure/output, so I have been wondering if that could be the problem.  Guess I could move the hose out a bit and see it things improve.
 
Our night time temps are running 50 - 55 degrees right now.  I really can't complain too much about the weather though.  Since it got hot, the winds have let up some.  Just wish we could get some of that rain that everyone on the eastern half of the US keeps complaining about!!!

 

[Devv]

Bonnie,
 
I'm using bubblers for irrigation and the front half of the row is wet, the end half is suffering in the heat. So I hand watered the end of the rows and let the front slide. The other issue is the plants on the very end are not shielded by the sun shade until after 2PM. I guess they need to learn to hang..

 

[stickman]

Sorry Bonnie, I couldn't tell you what those not JA Hot Yellows are crossed with. I saved the seeds from some pods I got from KD and included them in the seed swap. Maybe he could hazard a guess? Your Chilhuacle Negro and Bishop's Crown are also looking odd.
 
Pictures look great Bonnie, you're getting some really sharp ones.  Your purple plants look pretty good despite your description. The Peach Habs look a lot like a stressed Urfa Biber I had here. It wasn't getting any more water than the other plants in the pepper plot... I think it just didn't like the cool overnight temps. Most peppers are day neutral. They absorb sunlight and photosynthesize during the day, but do their growing at night. Maybe you could do a little experiment with one of your wall-o-waters and see if it makes a difference in a day or two? Now that night-time temps here are in the mid-60's, the plant's greened up and started to grow... of course I've been helping it along by giving it a weekly dose of molasses and BioRoot extract too...

 

[MGOLD86]

Looking great Bonnie, don't worry much about the stragglers, they will catch up soon enough! Loving the hiking and non pics as well! 

 

[highalt]

Sorry Bonnie, I couldn't tell you what those not JA Hot Yellows are crossed with. I saved the seeds from some pods I got from KD and included them in the seed swap. Maybe he could hazard a guess? Your Chilhuacle Negro and Bishop's Crown are also looking odd.
 
Pictures look great Bonnie, you're getting some really sharp ones.  Your purple plants look pretty good despite your description. The Peach Habs look a lot like a stressed Urfa Biber I had here. It wasn't getting any more water than the other plants in the pepper plot... I think it just didn't like the cool overnight temps. Most peppers are day neutral. They absorb sunlight and photosynthesize during the day, but do their growing at night. Maybe you could do a little experiment with one of your wall-o-waters and see if it makes a difference in a day or two? Now that night-time temps here are in the mid-60's, the plant's greened up and started to grow... of course I've been helping it along by giving it a weekly dose of molasses and BioRoot extract too...

 
 
Do you have a Chilhuacle Negro pod pic you could post here for comparison?

 

[stickman]

 
 
Do you have a Chilhuacle Negro pod pic you could post here for comparison?

Sure Bonnie... I ran out and got this pic after reading your post.

 
The biggest pods are about 3 inches long now and a very dark green like you'd see on an unripe Chilaca or Serrano.

 

[highalt]

Hmmm ... well the plants were under a lot of stress right after plant out.    Guess I'll have to wait and see what the next few pods look like before I label him a NOT for sure, but you are right that mine doesn't look quite right!

 

[DesertChris]

Your gardens are looking pretty darn nice!
Loving all the photos

 

[Peptacular]

Great plants and pics! Even the rough ones look pretty good to me. Those bishops crowns look far out!

 

[highalt]

Whew!!!  The official high today was 101, but the thermometer here at the house read 105.  I'm sure some buds and blooms will drop today, but hopefully I've kept everything well enough watered to survive the heat.      
 
Thanks, Matt, Chris, and Peptacular for the nice comments!