[CH] Growing chiles in Kentucky
raincrone@juno.com
Sat, 21 Feb 2004 02:06:40 -0500
> Since coming to Kentucky three seasons ago,
> growing them here has been a dismal experience! I will NOT give up
> - we
> MUST have them ;-) I am trying to learn more about varieties that
> will
> grow here with 90 days less growing season and wet weather. If
> anyone
> can suggest varieties they've had success with in this part of the
> country, we'd appreciate that!
What may help you succeed here is to garden like we do: start
pepper plants (and tomatoes) indoors about March 15, and
don't set them out till the guaranteed frostfree date, which
is May 15. That way you can succeed with practically any
chile, except a few Southwestern types that need a 150-day
growing season. The head start is helpful for most peppers,
and essential for habaneros.
For sweet peppers, same deal. Yes, pimientos do well. Blushing
Beauty in particular also does great, and so do banana peppers.
As to compost, I've never found that the type mattered much
as long as I used some. The soil-test idea somebody mentioned
is a good one too. My soil's neutral, so I do throw 4 or 5 paper
(not wooden!) matchheads in each planting hole and cover
them with a little soil before setting in the pepper and tomato
plants. It keeps the PH just about perfect and doesn't burn the
roots.
I envy you living near the Gorge. I love it down there; in fact,
so much so that Sky Bridge is where I want my ashes scattered
when I die.
Rain
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