RE: [CH] Pepper Hottness/Growing Conditions

Tony Davidson (tonyd@microsol.com.au)
Sat, 6 Feb 1999 08:53:15 +1100 

> >My wife and I grow jalapenos, habaneros,
> >cayenne and chili peppers each year. The last year we grew jalapenos that
> >failed to reach any degree of heat.
>
> That is a problem I have noted with jalapenos in the last few years.  Once
> upon a time they were a consistent heat level (I'd say about a 4.5 or 5,
> where a habanero is a 10) but lately I've had some pretty mild ones.

> >Anyway, last year these jalapenos failed to get hot like they
> usually do. We
> >packed 50 or more peppers to the quart and canned some for the winter but
> >these are so mild that I first suspected that they were a
> different pepper.

> >My question is this; Is it possible or do jalapenos increase/decrease
> >they're heat with climatic conditions??
>
> It is said that the hotter the region, the hotter the pepper.  I don't
> really believe that is true, because here in New England I am able to grow
> some kick-ass habaneros and red savinas.  I think it's more
> likely that you
> got some cross-pollinated seed.

My experiences over the last few years have been as follows:

Last year - hot summer, planted habs from seeds grew in pots (and some
hydroponically - a disaster) and really babied them.  I had a huge crop from
just two plants in pots (picked over 300 habs from just these two to finish
the season).  However, the habs, while hot, didn't really "blow my mind".

This year - over wintered one of the habs from above and changed to a bigger
pot (40cm).  Didn't treat it well after the baby habs formed - most times
only remembered to water it when it was _very_ droopy.  The result - not as
many or as large as before - but they are incredibly hot.

I also planted a heap of habs in the ground - these don't tend to droop much
if ever because of their better root system.  I've been getting huge habs
(about the size of a medium size roma tomato) with less heat than the ones
from the pot.  They've been great for chilli dishes with a great flavour
(can double the number of habs) without double the heat.

....tony