HOT TOPICS:

• What makes peppers so spicy?
• Choosing a spot to grow them
• Choosing a container
• Starting peppers from seeds or clones
• Caring for your peppers
• Harvesting peppers
• Cooking with peppers

What makes them so spicy?
Capsaicinoids are the active ingredients in peppers that make them hot!
Pure capsaicin is soluble only in alcohol - that's why drinking water doesn't alleviate the burn, and why we think the hot pepper was invented by Ann Heuser Busch. Just kidding (please don't sue us!)

Capsaicinoids have the unique ability to de-sensitize the taste buds with repeated exposure, so when people speak of spicy foods as being an acquired taste, there is some scientific proof for what they are saying. Capsaicinoids are also known to promote circulation and to help clean your body because they induce sweating.

So now that we have a basic idea of how hot chili peppers work, lets talk about how to grow them...

Choosing a spot
So you want to grow chili peppers??? The first consideration is that almost all peppers originated in the tropical areas of South and Central America. This means that peppers are sensitive to colder weather and should not be exposed to frost. Peppers love plenty of bright light and prefer warmer climates. If you're growing outdoors, you'll want to find a bright sunny spot that offers protection from strong winds. Indoors, you'll want a fully sunlit window or a good quality high intensity discharge grow light.

Choosing a container
We like to grow chilies in containers because it allows you to precisely control the watering cycle, which is important in bringing out the maximum fire in your chilies. We prefer using the hydroponic method which further allows you to provide the perfect nutritional regimen and to better protect your plants from the diseases and pests inherent with the use of soil.

Another good reason to use a soilfree or hydroponic method is that all plants, chili peppers included, use much of their precious energy searching for food by developing strong vibrant root systems. Since hydroponic and solifree methods deliver pure balanced nutrients straight to their roots, plants like chili peppers can devote more of their energy to producing fruit. The result can be a far more potent chili pepper than anything you've ever experienced before!

Starting peppers from seeds or clones
Chili peppers can be started from either seeds or cuttings from your existing stock. To protect both seedlings and cuttings from soil borne diseases and pests, we use fibrous starter cubes made from molten rock (rockwool or stonewool) a mild hydroponic nutrient and a humidity dome to keep your cuttings from drying out before they root. You'll want to keep cuttings out of direct sunlight until they root. Seedlings can be started in direct sunlight but be careful to keep them from drying out.

Caring for your peppers
By pruning your pepper plants they will grow more fruit. If you are growing indoors under a HID light (see link above for products), you'll want to provide at least 30 Watts per square foot of garden. You'll also need to hand pollinate the flowers since there are no bugs to do it for you! Use a small soft brush and gently brush the flowers when they open fully. Once your peppers begin to form, you can increase their "heat" by occasionally allowing them to dry out a bit - just to the point that you first notice a slight wilt - no more than a mild wilt though! Otherwise you could ruin your crop.

Harvesting peppers
Harvest your crop as the fruits turn color. Thai peppers will turn from green to bright red. Habeneros will turn a bright orange. If you will be drying your peppers, dry them out of direct light. Natural drying will yield better results than using a dehydrator, so save your money.

Cooking with peppers
There are many great recipes for cooking with hot peppers. Just remember that when you grow your own and pick them fresh, they can be MUCH more potent than the dried chilipeppers you buy at the store. So you'll want to use a bit more restraint. Yeah sure right. Want to know more? Go here for more information on cooking with chili peppers!

Chili Pepper Garden Menu: