[CH] Soiled Reputation of Francisca Habs???!!!!
McWilliams, Dan (DMcWilliams@fendall.com)
Tue, 22 Aug 2000 09:36:13 -0500
{snip}
>>DuggieZ wrote
Very disappointed in the "Francisca" habanero, I have found them to be
nothing more than a "normal everyday" habanero. Next year I will not be
spending the extra money on the seeds. If I thought it would do any good, I
would request that Janet Reno look into this travesty in the pepper world.
She doesn't seem to be to swift on getting to the bottom of anything though.
If anyone has had any luck growing these monster habaneros please let me
know your secret.
{snip}
The Franciscas have been getting quite a rap the last few days here
in the digest. I did grow them "successfully" last year and I have to tell
you that I loved them. The turned out much larger than the other two types I
grew and, IMHO very hot and flavorful. I still have a couple of bottles of
dried Franciscas here at work for when I want an extra kick on things at
lunch. The Franciscas I grew turned out nicely and produced a fair amount of
peppers per plant. I am not sure we have to call Janet Reno in on this one ,
I think she takes enough heat.
I am not sure what my secret to growing them was. I live in the
Midwest in zone 4b. I had good weather for the garden last year. My soil is
a bit on the clay side, which isn't a plus. The overall PH of my soil was
6.5 -6.8 where these Habs grew. I started the plants 8 wks before my frost
date of May 13. I used Miracle Grow every few weeks - sparingly on my
peppers. I used Insecticidial soap on the peppers . The Franciscas were slow
starters and big finishers.
As I said the pods were bigger and heavier overall then the other
two types I planted, though not necessarily longer in relationship to the
overall size . Many had double walls. They started a light green and turned
a nice, almost translucent very light orange. The flavor was very good. The
smell of the peppers when I cut them was extremely pronounced and would
permeate the room.
So I found the price of the seeds well worth it. I guess maybe the
difference is I didn't expect Habs the size or shape of Cubanelles. Also, I
have found Shepherd's Seed to be quite willing to listen about problems and
very helpful. They even sent me a refund for seeds that I didn't complain
about because they had a problem with them. So maybe, if there are problems
with the seeds they might like to know and can help. If you want to send me
some seeds from your pods I will certainly be happy to attempt to duplicate
my "success".
The Chile CheeseHead,
Dan McWilliams
This is the real secret of the arts: always be a beginner. Then we can
really learn something. In the beginner's mind there is no thought, "I have
attained something." If you keep your original mind, the precepts will keep
themselves.
-- Shunryu Suzuki (1573-1645