Hot Peppers

[Sam Reeves]

Hello, my name is Sam. I was wondering if anybody could tell me if there is anything one can do that will alter the taste or "hotness" of peppers. I live in a mountainous area of North Georgia and the base soil is primarily red clay.

[riskey58]

All I know that there are many varieties of hot peppers. I know my neighbor grew some last year and they were really hot.

[Green-Moo]

I'm guessing here, but I imagine that the heat will increse as the fruit matures.

The easiest way of ensuring you have different strengths would be to grow different varieties though.

[Sam Reeves]

I guess I worded it wrong. :o

I was wondering if there was any way to prepare the soil that would cause the pepper to to hotter or milder.

[atula]

I think there are different kind of seed available for hot and not so hot peppers...and basically they need warm climates with moist soil....
I found a link which describes the growing of peppers...see if it helps...http://www.flower-and-garden-tips.com/growingpeppers.html

[Mickie31]

The key is that chilli's like the heat the most more than any other plant you have to make sure that your chilli is getting plenty of heat to make it thrive really well. Not all of them need that much heat as do others, but the hottest ones you can grow in a greenhouse.

[Goldbug]

Jalapenos are great but Ive recently wanted more heat so I love to get habaneros. I once put an entire one in my mouth and it felt like a grenade exploded in there:) it was a fun time.

[Carol Merrier]

The key to a Jalapenos heat is the lines that grow on them. And cooking them with the seeds inside. But here are a few more tips!
Chile plants are slow to get going, so start pepper plants indoors a few weeks earlier than tomatoes. Sow the seeds about 8 to 12 weeks before the last frost date.
Sow several seeds 1/4-inch deep in 2-to 3-inch earth-friendly containers such as peat pots filled with lightly moistened seed starting mix. Water well and place the pots in a well-lighted, warm area (80º to 85ºF) such as under fluorescent lights. To prevent the seedlings from damping off, keep the soil damp but not wet, and provide good air circulation around the plants. Feed the seedlings with half-strength water-soluble nitrogen fertilizer every two weeks. When seedlings are about two inches tall, thin to one plant per pot by cutting out the smaller ones. Once the plants are about five inches tall and the nighttime temperatures are above 60ºF, harden the plants off by slowly acclimatizing the peppers to the garden.

After two weeks, plant them in the garden. Peppers need full sun, rich soil (amended with compost, well-rotted manure, or leaf mold) and good drainage. Allow two feet between plants. If the peppers are starting to produce flower buds, pinch them off and continue to do this for 1 to 2 weeks; this forces the plants to put their energy into growing leaves and roots. Mulch with 2 to 3 inches of organic matter. Mulch keeps weed growth down and maintains soil moisture. Stake varieties that grow taller than 2 feet. To avoid problems with cutworms (they can chew young seedlings off at the soil line) place two-inch-tall cardboard or aluminum foil collars around the new plants—with 1-inch below soil level and 1-inch above.

Oh yeah and PLUCK PLUCK CHICKEN TRUCK!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL:eek: :p :confused: :)

[tuhraycee]

Somewhere I learned that the less water the plant receives the hotter the pepper. Has anyone else experienced this?

[orgnic_cathy22]

I recently grew some Santa Fe Grande peppers. They were fantastic. They have a sweetness similar to a bell pepper but are spicy like a jalapeno. I highly recommend them.

[davidbkeegan]

I've never heard of changing the taste of the same kind of pepper. I agree with everyone else, grow as many varieties as you can till you find your favorite

[ThePepperSeed]

Hello, my name is Sam. I was wondering if anybody could tell me if there is anything one can do that will alter the taste or "hotness" of peppers. I live in a mountainous area of North Georgia and the base soil is primarily red clay.

Old thread I know...

If you want to make a hot pepper hotter in the weeks leading up to harvesting the peppers stress the plant - give it less water, not fertilizer, etc.

[Phila-PM]

If you like really hot peppers you should try Thai chilies, or any chilies, and habaneros. The Habanero chilies are too hot for me. I prefer japs. So far I haven't been successful growing anything. Everything I grow starts out well, but then I forget to water my plants and everything dies. This year I'm going to try harder.

Patrick

[tatws]

No if you want seriously hot chili peppers then its the Naga Viper Pepper, which is over a hundred times hotter than Jalapenos ;)

[pharmerphil]

We raise anywhere from 100 to 200 peppers a year, 75% are Hot peppers...
Now, I have read and been told that the Hotter the weather, the hotter the pepper...
If that is so, You should be good to go in Georgia..
However, we raise Bhut Jolokia in Minnesota, and I can't imagine them being any hotter, we do have extra ISOLATED FOR PURITY...seeds I'd be curious to exchange with someone in a warmer climate to test the theory..
One member mentioned the Naga Viper...
The New Mexico Chili Institute has invited the developer to their facility to test the Naga Viper, Although it is reputed as being the hottest pepper now, beating out the Bhut Jolokia...the facts Have Not Been verified