Capsicum Species, Chilpetin, Indian Pepper, Bird’s Eye Pepper, Turkey Pepper

I have had difficulties getting peppers to germinate in the past. This year I used a portable folding bread proofer at 85 degrees and eve...Read Morery variety (8) including some 3-4 year old seeds germinated in 10-16 days. I tried each variety in equal sized plastic trays as well as peat pots. Chile Piquins germinated in 10 days. Now six weeks later the peat cups are 1/2" and plastic are 4". Better moisture control seems to be the key. Grown side by side under fluorescent grow lights.

I think the proofer was the best $150. Fresh bread in winter AND 100% pepper germination. Win!

I it have tried to grow this chili several years in a row unsuccessfully, until the past two years.
Last year I started the seeds...Read More which are very slow to germinate, nearly 6 weeks. They are also slow growing initially, but once established in a soil that is loamy, high in organic material. I started 9 seeds, outside. Once they 5 surviving plants were 3-4 inches tall I transplanted them into a 3 inch pot, leaving them in the pots until the threat of frost. Bringing them inside for the winter months, soon lost 2 more. Put them in a south facing window to maximize light exposure, a new kitty took out 2 seedlings over winter. With the approaching spring, the 6 inch tall lone survivor was transplanted into a 14 inch terracotta pot to establish early root growth.
The third week of May here in northern Indiana marks the frost free point, so I hardened off the baby pequin. I placed it finally in a protected area with full morning and midday sun, mottled afternoon sun, and no evening sun. It took 3 weeks to see any new growth. Once new growth began it has not stopped. Now early August I finally have a 16" tall bushy pequin, with dozens of flowers and best of all ages few 1/2" fruitstyle.
I have read they can get 6-8' tall, live for over a dozen years, but I don't believe that is possible in a pot without a greenhouse.
I will try to overwinter it again now that it is a good size.
I grew up eating this chili and now hope to grow it regularly.

I have several Chili Petin bushes that have come up wild at my home in Helotes. The peppers have always been green then turn to red. I c...Read Moreurrently have one that is growing right next to a traditional plant that has pearl white peppers. Has anyone ever seen this before?

We have a large chile petin plant growing by our fence and it is very pretty when covered with peppers. It seems that the more you pick f...Read Morerom the bush- the more peppers and blooms you see in the future. I have picked several gallons from my 5 ft bush this year alone and the neighbor invited me to pick the peppers from his yard as well. I was amazed at the size of the plant in his yard- the woody stem resembles a tree trunk and all the peppers are at the top of the bush- which stands over 6 ft tall. I am planning to try to get some seedlings started this year- hoping something will germinate.

I've grown Piquin Peppers now for about 25 years. Many people have asked me if there is a difference between picking and cooking with the...Read More peppers while they are green, black, or red. My answer is that it really depends on your palate. Personally, I don't taste a difference, although my husband says that he feels that the red ones aren't as hot. Currently, I have three grown plants that are producing many chiles. In order not to loose any of this goodness, since I can't eat them as fast as they grow, I pick the ones that are ready for harvest, de-stem them and store them in a mason jar in the freezer. This keeps them as fresh as the day I picked them. If I plan to use them as a condiment, I'll just run some warm water over them and grind them in my mortise and pestal, add a couple of tablespoons of water, along with salt, pepper, garlic, cumin and its ready for the table. Believe me, a little goes a long way!

This is my first year to raise PEQUIN peppers. The birds steal them from me, so I have been picking just before they turn red. Will the p...Read Moreeppers taste differently if I wait until they are red?
Thanks

Thanks to birds, is cute little pepper regularly volunteers in my yard. I have also seen it volunteer elsewhere in Austin, usually growi...Read Moreng in partly shady areas.

I live in Tallahassee, Fl.
I bought my bird from our local native nursery in early spring. It became loaded with so mauy peppers! ...Read MoreI move it into my garage when the weather is bad and move it out when temps.are up above 55 and the sun is out.
Heres a true story to share with you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
My friend wanted a hand full of each of all the peppers I was growing and she put ia Bird in her mouth before I was able to tell her hot hot they were. She was spitting and cursing like no other. Let me tell you, I don't think I have laughed that hard too many times in my life!
I did not know the scoville heat unit at that time but later on looked it up. Now I know why she reacted the way she did! Maybe next time she will wait till I tell her before taking them or maybe just not touch MY peppers!

I've also managed to germinate seeds on a heating pad in a "soil-less" starter pellets, BUT I really think that the germination rate is m...Read Moreuch higher if a bit of manure is mixed in with the soil/potting mix. Superstition or not, I really believe that there is something to the idea that the seeds do better with some sort of biological "catalyst"...whether it's a bird or cow manure. As a home gardener who doesn't have lots of space, this is how I've done it in the past:
-Fill a large terra cotta container with potting soil, mixing in a cup of cattle manure (or other) into the top couple of inches of soil.
-Plant a "kitchen friendly" companion plant in the same container whose roots aren't all that intrusive. Multiplying onions are my personal favorite.
-Gently crush the dried chiles between your fingers and lightly mix the seeds (skins and all) into the top of the surrounding soil. Use lots of seeds as the germination rate is naturally low. Water through.
-Forget about your chile seeds and enjoy the onions. The chiles will emerge when they're ready, likely in late spring or early summer.
-Transplant the chile plant when they first develop woody stems into well-drained soil with plenty of sun. They also like being planted along a brick or stucco wall. Here in Texas, the only thing I've found that can kill them is heavy clay soil.
-Treat them with relative neglect and you'll soon have thousands of bright red chiles on a plant that more resembles a tree than a bush.

This is a tough pepper that I transplanted from Victoria County in South Texas to my home in the Hill Country of Central Texas. It freez...Read Morees back but returns. I do try to mulch heavily around the base and even wrap the base for extra protection in the hardest freezes. It comes back but we'll see if mine survived the 12 degree temperatures we have had this winter. I have seen hundreds of these plants in areas of the lower Guadalupe River bottom with only peppers on the top of the plant. All others had been eaten by Turkeys. It also re-seeds on its own. It's hot and I love it.

I have recently found one of these plants growing wild along the fence in the back yard. I would like to add it to my garden. For those o...Read Moref you who have experience with this plant, should I transplant it? or pick some of the chili's, clean out the seeds, and try to grow some from scratch? Thanks!

I use to belive this plant would only grow if passed throught a bird first.........LOL Because you only find it on fence lines.
I ...Read Morehave been able to germinate a few since then so I now know a bird has nothing to do with the germination...still LOL

Great addition to the garden.

This pepper grows wild in some places here. It's sowed by the birds. It dies back in the winter and resprouts from the crown. I noticed j...Read Moreust today that the plants are starting to put out new leaves.

I work for the county. As such, I travel the many county roads. We have found at least 3 locations where Chiltepin grow. They are always ...Read Morein, or next to other larger plants or trees. They are always in a low spot which gets more water. I have two transplanted to around my house and one small one that I put in a pot and kept inside my house until the ground is warm enough to transplant. It is growing just fine since I was able to get the whole ball and roots. I still have a few dried Chiltepin berries that I am hoarding until the next harvest. I usually eat 3 or 4 with lunch. You may get one or two that aren't very hot. The next one will take the top of your head off!

Four years ago I transplanted a wild plant from my mother-in-law's property in Beeville, TX. It dies to the ground in winter but has co...Read Moreme back stronger every year, and has been a prolific producer. Last year it was about 3 feet high and wide. It is very attractive when it is covered with chiles.

We bought a small plant from a produce market here in Houston. The plant is about 1 year old and has produced lots of peppers. It even ...Read Moreproduced peppers through the winter and suffered no damage. Our plant looks like a very bushy 3' shrub now.

I have it growing in my garden now for 2 years. I, also, have it growing in a pot in the greenhouse.

Extremely hot little peppers. They are pretty much care free in the garden and produce a gazillion little fire balls on each plant.
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Attractive to birds, as many stated above, they will be quite at home in the flowerbed or in the veggie patch.

These peppers are extremely hot....the size is misleading. Care should be taken when cooking with hem, as you can add more than you can stand in a hurry.

Great plant, makes a small 'tree', about 2 ft tall. My best success withthis plant has always been with self planting. Any that I plant...Read More grow for about one season, then die. Next year I discover a new chili growing nearby, and this one will keep growing for years and years. Odd, but true.

The chilis are very useful for adding heat, as previously noted, but it should also be noted that they should not be under-estimated. It takes only a few chilis to season a whole pot.

It should also be noted that, while I am not entirely sure about botanically, but the Chiltepin and the Chilpequin are two deifferent things. The Chilitepin has round chilis and are much more expensive to buy in stores, while the Chilpequin is smaller and more oblong in shape. Since I have always grown my own Chiltepines, I don't use the Chilpequin and can't tell you anything about any flavor difference they may have.

Also the Chiltepin is also available in a purple variety, which has purple flowers, stems and chilis, as well as purple tinted leaves.

San Antonio, Tx.
This pepper plant is a nice addition to any flower bed with its deep green foliage, small white flowers, deep gre...Read Moreen immature fruit and bright red mature fruit. It requires little care. I have had one growing in my yard for 20 years. The birds, especially mockingbirds, DO LOVE the fruit (birds have no "hot" taste sensors). If transplanting, but careful to dig up all of the tap root. The plant will wilt until it reestablishes itself. Just keep it well watered until it does.

The bird pepper is an excellent source of heat and sharp pepper flavor. Mashed and mixed in otherwise bland foods, such as scrambled eggs...Read More, they add zest that is hard to beat. Three of them in a crock-pot pot roast will make an exceptional dish. And don't forget the mockingbirds. My plant keeps two female mockingbirds constantly squabbling over rights to the harvest.