Re: [CH] Plants, Seeds, PLANTS? Totally Podular man!

Matt Evans (tmattevans@gmail.com)
Thu, 5 Oct 2006 15:09:32 -0400 

Hi, Ted --

We recently relocated to a "new" neighborhood with smaller lots and
less privacy.  Our current garden is 16' x 25'.  In our old home
(50-years old, large lot, lots of privacy) we had a garden that was
about 150' x 50' (plus a couple of dozen plotted plants and some other
smaller beds).  Needless to say, the first year in our new garden was
quite a downsizing.

We used to grow about 200 chile plants plus tomatoes, cucumbers,
beans, peas, pumpkin, squash, zucchini, watermelon, and butter beans
(and an herb garden).  This summer, we only had about 30 chile plants
plus tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and zucchini (and an herb garden).

There was a time, when I was real "hot and heavy" into it, that I was
shipping seed (and receiving seed from) all over the world.  I would
start 75-100 varieties every spring, save my own seed during the
summer, and then trade for some more over the winter.  Ultimately, I
came to the conclusion that for eating, I really only need several
varieties as most others are "variations on a theme". Is there really
a significant difference between two salsas made with two different
types of chocolate habaneros?  If not, then why I am growing multiple
varieties of chocolate habanero in addition to 30 other types of C.
chinense?

I have always saved my own seed (remove seeds from fresh pod, place on
paper towel intil dried, put in bag) and have never taken any real
precautions against crossing.  As a result, sometimes my plants grow
true (three types of Peter peppers this year, all true) and sometimes
they don't (my Bolivian rainbows are as big as golf balls and ripen
directly from purple to orange this year).

As most of my stock is depleted (and several years old), I will likely
be purchasing more seed in the years to come than I have in the past.

Matt


On 10/5/06, Ted Wagner <trwagner1@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Ok, this originally was "Subject: RE: [CH] Aji Amarillo Heat"
>
>  I read John's post about seeds and stuff and a thought struck me...
>
>  A lot of you guys talk about seeds....and several of you here, from what I can gather, have a sizeable amount of plants...
>
>  Collectively, this is a tremendous resource here....I mean, let's look at me.  My little 10' x 10' garden is ALL I HAVE!  ;)
>
>  Do some of you guys have small green houses...or yet, even larger?  I mean, the varieties I read about sometimes not only makes me DROOL but read in envy!
>
>  But, I'm just the curious sort.  Let's take a survey here 'cause I'm curious about the origin of all the seed....and the plants they come from.
>
>
>  What size property/garden do you have?
>
>  How many plants do you grow?
>
>  Do you COLLECT seed?  (not sure about this, seed is only good for a couple years I thought, what's the point... ???)
>
>  Just curious.  ;)
>
>  Ted the Chilehead
>