RE: [CH] Rocoto pollination
Mike Benson (mbens@execpc.com)
Sat, 20 May 2000 15:11:05 -0500
A few years ago, I grew a single rocoto plant (seed from Enchated Seeds
http://www.tvfuture.com/enchanted/ ). I didn't have any problem with self
pollination; I probably had 30 or so fruit set. The problem I have is
getting the fruit to ripen before Old Man Winter comes to fight with El
Grande. I'm growing in Milwaukee, and if I remember right, your just a
few miles north of me. I'm guessing that you either started your plant(s)
very early or you have some plant(s) overwintered from a previous season.
If you're getting flowers already, I think you'll be able to get a good
harvest of ripe rocotos. Green rocotos are about as fun a green bell
pepper-- no heat.
Last year I grew four different varieties of rocotos (thanks to Cameron
for one of them), and all of them set fruit without manual pollination.
I've read somewhere that some rocotos are not able to self pollinate.
Since I was growing four plants in close proximity, I don't know if cross
pollination was required for those plants. I tend to think that for most
rocotos, cross pollination is not required. If it were, I would think
that I would get much less fruit set, especially for 1-season plants.
One thing to note is that rocotos will not set fruit in hot weather,
which is not a problem for us in Wisconsin. Last year I gave some
seedlings to my brother in South Carolina. He didn't get any fruit to
set until fall, therefore didn't get any ripe rocotos before winter
either.
Some people say that rocotos like to be in a partially shaded area.
I've always grown mine in full sun without any problems. I suspect that
the people that have more success growing rocotos in shade are probably
growing them in a climate that is too hot for them. I doubt that
rocotos growing in their native mountainous locations are getting much
shade. I could be wrong.
Anyway, I think I've rambled enough about rocotos. I hope this helps.
I you do discover that your rocoto(s) require cross pollination, perhaps
I could bring one of my studs over. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be
seeing any rocoto flowers for at least another month.
If you had your chile peppers out side last night, I hope you had them
protected from the frost. I haven't planted yet (maybe today), but
although we had a frost advisory last night , here in my neighborhood it
didn't get below 41 F last night.
Mike Benson
>What's the best way to insure pollination of my rocotos? They have the most
>beautiful purple blossoms opening wide now and I hear them calling for some
>action. Can I pollinate from blossoms on the same plant or must 2 plants be
>involved? I know how it works in people but not familiar with the many
>varieties of peppers.