SKULLBIKERS Fun with peppers in 2021 GLOG

And so it begins, another year of growing some peppers. This will be a sort of continuation of last year
 
http://thehotpepper.com/topic/73129-skullbikers-roaring-into-the-twenties-glog/page-1
 
as several of those plants are still going(and many got whacked and ended up on the burn pile). 
 
Anyway, I have 3 trays of peppers sown and many have germinated already(mostly annums). I wanted to compare several different jalapeños for taste in real time. This tray is all jalapeños, ten types from 7 different vendors. The seeds in block 3 are from 2014.
 

 
Another tray with annums at each end and mostly rocotos in the middle(and they're taking their sweet time).
 

 
 

 

[skullbiker]

That plant is really huge! What do you do with all those pods?

Good question as to useage! I will probably freeze dry it and make powder of it(a lot of it). Not counting this current pile, I already have 7 or 8 1 1/2 pint(approx 5-6 liters) of pure mash in the freezer now.
I had a super huge crop of Naga Morich in about 2012, I’m just finishing up all the powder I made from those!
Maybe I could make it into little cookie sized pucks and sell them!!

 

[ChilliCrosser]

Nice work and amazing haul!

 

[PaulG]

That BrainStrain is one prolific producer!

 

[skullbiker]

Nice work and amazing haul!

Thank you.

 

[skullbiker]

That BrainStrain is one prolific producer!

Kind of like the Energizer Bunnie of pepper plants!

 

[talas]

Mr SK lovely to see so many pods coming of the brainstrain knowing it's genetics it doesn't surprise me but it's lovely to see from a great grower whose fingers get greener as the years pass by.

 

[MarcV]

Good question as to useage! I will probably freeze dry it and make powder of it(a lot of it). Not counting this current pile, I already have 7 or 8 1 1/2 pint(approx 5-6 liters) of pure mash in the freezer now.
I had a super huge crop of Naga Morich in about 2012, I’m just finishing up all the powder I made from those!
Maybe I could make it into little cookie sized pucks and sell them!!

Not sure if this is a dumb question, but how does one freeze dry a pepper? I'm a noob when it comes to this kind of stuff... does it require special equipment?

 

[skullbiker]

Not sure if this is a dumb question, but how does one freeze dry a pepper? I'm a noob when it comes to this kind of stuff... does it require special equipment?

Yes, it does require special equipment. My freeze dryer is going onto 5 years old, it is the large model from this company:

Harvest Right Home Freeze Dryers - The best way to preserve food

Freeze drying at home with a Harvest Right freeze dryer is the best way to preserve food for your family.

harvestright.com

 

[skullbiker]

Here are a few examples of pure blended up pepper mash that was poured into silicone molds, frozen and then freeze dried. After coming out of the freeze dryer these were then immediately vacuum sealed in these pint jars. These were done in 2017 or 2018. Madbalz brown, the reds were a mix of Moruga and Trinidad Scorpion Butch T, the yellow was Jonah's Yellow Brain and one other super hot yellow that I'm not remembering right now.

 

[MarcV]

Interesting, but quite an investment apparently.

 

[skullbiker]

I just finished cutting up the Brainstrains and got them pureed and into jars to freeze.
Three 1 1/2 pint jars, approximately 640 grams in each jar, or an approximate total of 2 1/2 liters.

A few of the knarley pods.

And they are pretty meaty on the inside too!

 

[talas]

That mash is amazing SB will be getting some pointers of you for that next year.
The brainstrains pods are excellent really perfect there's one plant or plants I'd overwinter.

 

[skullbiker]

That mash is amazing SB will be getting some pointers of you for that next year.
The brainstrains pods are excellent really perfect there's one plant or plants I'd overwinter.

What's winter??

 

[skullbiker]

Well, it's December 1 and I just saw flowers opening up on an Equadorian Sweet Rocoto plant in the back yard.

FLORIDA!!

 

[talas]

Spent lots of Happy times in Florida and have family in Tampa,it's a great state and perfect for Gardner's.

 

[skullbiker]

I was able to pick this assortment of peppers late yesterday as I continue to get a few pods here and there.
Sugar Rush Peach, Sugar Rush Red, PeppaPeach, and a couple Rocotos.

I deseaded them all and chopped them up and packed them into condiment cups and into the freezer they went awaiting use in my breakfasts.

 

[PaulG]

Boy, one of those cups would make for a great spicy scramble!

 

[talas]

Lots of flavor there SB which will make a delicious addon to any meal and be perfect with Bacon,eggs,beans,toast yum.

 

[HellfireFarm]

I deseaded them all and chopped them up and packed them into condiment cups and into the freezer they went awaiting use in my breakfasts.

I freeze mine all the time, but never thought of doing that! Thanks for the idea!

 

[skullbiker]

I picked a few more of those Brainstrain pods for my neighbor. Hey wants to screw up his buddy and make some sauce(in that order)!