Subj : Garden Planting Planning
To   : Mike Powell
From : Dave Drum
Date : Tue Jan 28 2025 04:57:00

-=> Mike Powell wrote to DAVE DRUM <=-

 >  MP> I tried planting a couple of pepper plants one year.  The bell peppers
 >  MP> never did anything.  The banana peppers did grow but tasted more like
 >  MP> bell peppers than bananas, and it only bore 2 or 3 peppers real late in
 >  MP> the season.

 > Wanna have fun some time plant bells next to jalapenos, then save the seeds
 > from the hottest ones. Great stuffed peppers.  Bv)=  Not incendiary. But
hey
 > do have a nice "wake up" call.

 MP> I bet those would be some tastier bells!

 MP> You know that might have been my problem.  The bell and banana plants
 MP> were not too far apart.  While it wouldn't explain why the bells never
 MP> took off, it would explain why the bananas tasted more like bells.

BINGO! They're both in the capsicum family and will interbreed just like
cousins in Arkansas.

 > I used to (when I had the kitchen space) start my 'maters, chilies, etc.
 > in little 2" paper Dixie cups with the bottoms removed - and plant after
 > the second set of "true" leaves had emerged. Plant cup and all to avoid
 > root shock.  Bv)=

 MP> Not a bad idea.  When I bought the pepper plants they were already
 MP> plants. Same with the maters I get most every year.  The beans, otoh,
 MP> were always from seed so I may try that next time.

It's easier to buy plants already started. Heck, you can even mail order 
them from Burpee. But, I'm also a seed saver. Those Mexi-Bells I crossed
took me three seasons to get seed thyat would reliably give me seeds thar
grew hot bel peppers. Now days I get my chile seed from the Chile Pepper
Institute (Dr. Paul Bosland)  at New Mexico State University.

 > The neat thing about having Buckley's is their master gardeners are nice
 > to havce handy to ask for advice and they're always happey to he'p out.

 MP> I actually have a nursery about a mile from here.  They are mostly
 MP> known for flowering plants but I wonder if they might also have veggies
 MP> and folks who know more about them.

Wouldn't hurt to ask. Answers - 5c. Dumb looks - free.

.... Arkansas, 3 million people. Five last names.
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