Re: [CH] Question for Texas CH'ers

J. Patrick Donohoe (donohoe@ECE.MsState.Edu)
Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:56:17 -0500 

Jim,

I have had the same experience growing these peppers in containers (I always thought they were called "Tepin" or "Chiltepin" or "Bird Pepper").  The are finicky to germinate and finicky to fruit in containers.  But, they are hot and delicious.  It would be great to have these growing wild in my yard, but I'm in northern Mississippi.  I would be also be interested in knowing what weather and soil conditions makes these peppers grow well.

Pat

Jim Graham wrote:
> This question is specifically aimed at the Texas chile-heads for one
> reason:  it's specific to a variety of chile that I've only seen growing
> well in Texas (and I'm *TRYING* to add Florida---in a container---to
> that list.
> 
> Question:  What is it about Texas growing conditions that makes
> Chile Pequins (you know the ones...they look like little red berries,
> but can be amazingly hot for their small size) grow so well as a wild
> plant (that can take over a backyard fence and produce countless
> peppers)?
> 
> I'm in NW Florida (no soil except what you buy at Lowes and put in
> containers...the ground is all beach sand for a good distance
> north from the Gulf coast), and while I do get a few of these little
> gems, I rarely get more than a 1/4 to 1/2 cup per year.  (Whereas I've
> been getting habaneros and cayennes---and tabascos, once they start to
> ripen---in units of pounds/week....)
> 
> My mom (in Texas), on the other hand, with a little effort (picking
> the beasties), could probably pick one or more quart bags full of
> these tiny beasties per month during the summer.
> 
> So, is it the heat?  Dry?  Wet?  Direct sun?  Soil?  Water (e.g.,
> San Antonio's city water is---or at least was when I was last lived
> there, and I assume still is---very, very pure, where as here, you
> basically either use a filter or drink bottled water---chlorine and,
> at times, sulfur...yuck!)
> 
> And is it my imagination, or do Chile Pequins seem to want to wait until
> the plant looks like it's about to wither away before it suddenly starts
> producing whatever volume of peppers it's going to give you?  Based on
> what mine has done this year,
> 
>    * healthy bushy-looking plant:  no peppers
>    * change from above to scrawny vine-like plant:  peppers appear
> 
> In Texas, this pepper plant grows wild...and, at least in the outskirts
> of San Antonio, seems to grow everywhere.  Nobody has to plant it...it
> takes care of that all by itself.
> 
> I'm trying to get mine to do that, too.
> 
> Any suggestions on what I might be missing?
> 
> Thanks,
>    --jim
> 

-- 
____________________________________________

J. Patrick Donohoe, Ph.D, P.E.
Professor
Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Mississippi State University
Box 9571
Mississippi State, MS 39762

        Email: donohoe@ece.msstate.edu
               j.donohoe@ieee.org
       Office: Simrall Hall, Rm. 312
        phone: 662-325-2180
          fax: 662-325-2298
____________________________________________