Re: [CH] Seed swap
Michael Bailes (frgntgar@ozemail.com.au)
Fri, 5 Feb 1999 17:29:53 +1100
>Michael, I have some Peron Rojo and Yellow, if you are interested to swap for
>your seed of Yellow Capsicum. Plse e-mail me if you are interested.
>
>Tks.,
>
>Tom
The seed I have is a is a bright orange C. pubescens; very hot
I have written alittle about it in the book I am writing on "Oz" Chillies A
copy below
I am facinated by it according to peppers of the worlds there is a bright
yellow as well as ared ( I have seen the red but not the bright canary
yellow. These are the ones I would like to swap for.
Apple /Rocoto/Manzano
Capsicum pubescens
I find this the most fascinating of all chillies. Manzano has a fruit
about the size of a small apple (hence its name Manzano = apple) or a large
passionfruit. It grows as a sprawling vine. My two year old plant is
still sprawling everywhere in a pot (It has about four dozen fruit on it
too!! Do I sound like a proud parent?). My pride is tempered however by
the kind people from Adelaide (Which has a true Mediterranean climate) who
gave me the original seed. They also sent a photo of themselves standing
under their vast vine growing over a huge pagola, like avast grape vine,
and dripping with hundreds of fruit! I thought at first that it was a
hoax! Given the hairy leaves and its native Bolivia it probably prefers
the dryer Adelaide climate- (Gardeners can always find an excuse reason
why their plants aren't as good)
My plant produces ripe orange pods that have a delicious capsicum flavour
and aroma. The baby-apple sized pods are fleshy and flavoursome.
(Apparently there are yellow and red fruited varieties too). They seem to
fruit a lot better in their second year. Manzanos are hot; certainly my
unprotected hands throbbed for two days after harvesting the rare seed from
this year's four dozen fruits. It seems a different heat. I'm inclined to
agree with Bosland and Dewitt in their book "Peppers of the World" who say
that Manzanos may contain a unique combination of capsaicinoids. I would
love to see someone analyse the plant for all the different hot capsaicins.
One name for them is picante de los picantes - the hottest of the hot!
Manzano chillies were a favourite of the ancient Inca Empire. (The same
guys that gave you chocolate - the Incas knew a good feed when they saw it)
Manzano is probably only going to be grown in home gardens as commercially
would probably be difficult and expensive to harvest. It also flops
everywhere and looks terrible in a pot. (Nurserymen are only into "neat"
plants- present company excepted). I would love to stuff dozens of
Manzanos like Jalapeņos but I am always saving seed for other gardeners and
have only eaten them chopped in salsas. They are a most delicious chilli.
Michael Bailes.
Herbarist
****************************************************************
The Fragrant Garden, Portsmouth Road, Erina. N.S.W. 2250 Australia. (OZ)
International fax 61 243 651979 Phone 61 243 677322
Bookshop, nursery, media, school, garden, medical herbalist, cafe, herbal
products, gift gallery, insanity. EMAIL: frgntgar@ozemail.com.au
Web page at: http://www.fragrantgarden.com.au/
****************************************************************
Chilli Festival 1999
At TFG: 5, 6, 7 March see http://www.fragrantgarden.com.au/chillifestival/
****************************************************************