[CH] Seattle WA Area Chile Heads -- Rocoto Starts
L Anderson (lowella@serv.net)
Wed, 04 Apr 2001 22:06:53 -0700
Seattle Area Chile Heads,
I have three or four hundred rocoto (Capsicum Pubescens cv. Canario)
seeds that are beginning to sprout. Some are from my 1997 crop (kept in
the refrigerator since then) and some from last year's crop. I don't
know how many of the seeds will ultimately germinate but since two days
ago about a dozen have germinated. Tomorrow I'll begin potting them but
intend on keeping only about a dozen plants. Any others are up for
grabs if anyone is interested.
These peppers are also called "apple pepper". They are light orange
with a purple-brown blush and produce black seeds. They do not cross
pollinate with other "non-rocoto peppers so I read". The peppers grow
to about 1.75" long by 1.25" wide, are very fleshy, have an interesting
flavor, jalapeno type heat, and look like an apple. They propagate
easily by cuttings and are very cold tolerant. In Seattle several years
ago I kept half a dozen plants vigorous under a cloche until late
December when temperatures finally dropped below freezing for about two
week and my cloche turned into a deep freeze and the plants froze. They
are perennials--I have one plant that's three years old, one that's two,
and two that are one. These four plants are in pots and I move them
inside during the winter.
If you are interested in getting some starts, send me an email and tell
me how many you want and how to contact you. Your only cost will be to
come pick them up. I am located between Seattle, Renton, and Tukwila.
I'll contact you when they are potted and old enough to leave the nest.
:-)
Regards,
Lowell Anderson