Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Just ordered my pepper seeds


I've just ordered all of my pepper seeds from the New Mexico State University Chili Pepper Institute, and here's what I'm getting:

  • NuMex Conquistador - this is a mild pepper similar to the Anaheim Chili's that I grew last year.
  • Cayenne - standard hot cayenne pepper.
  • Jupiter - large bell pepper.  I just haven't had much luck with the California Wonder so I'm trying something different.
  • Poblano - Thought I'd try this so I can make a nice spicy stuffed peppers dish.
  • NuMex Vaquero - This is a hot jalapeno variety.
  • Orange Habanero - Hot habanero peppers but more orange than the red ones I grew last year.
Also, one of my wife's co-workers provided me with some seeds labeled "Asian Sweet Pepper".  I don't really know what these are, but I'll give them a try.

Peppers are slow to start so just like last year, I'll start 72 plants in my office using a Jiffy heat pad, probably in the small jiffy pellets.  They'll stay on the heat pad for a week or so.  When they are ready I'll transplant the healhier plants into 3" square pots.  They will remain on my desk under a pair of fairly standard florescent lights.  I have a timer set to turn the lights on at 6am and turn them off at 10pm.  these aren't grow lights but they seemed to suffice last year.  After 6-7 weeks I'll start rolling them outside every day for some actual sunshine.  They'll get 3-4 hours of direct sunlight each day and by the time I'm ready to transplant, they'll be nice and sturdy!  

We can plant or transplant peppers outdoors starting May 1st here, so I will probably start these seeds the week of February 20th or February 27th.  that'll give me 8-10 weeks to really get them going.

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