Thread: Hot Chiles - aka Pepperheads "corner"

Originally Posted by BKratchmer

I'll happily throw in with the pepperheads! I love spicy foods, and grow hot peppers each summer, as best I can this far north. I wish I had pictures, or my recipe book, to share, but alas here at the college I have neither.

I do have this website, however, which is the site for a spot in Leipzig I ate last winter. I got the Mutter alles Schmerzen, which is 1,000,000+ SHU.... it made my nose bleed! It was DELICIOUS

It made your nose bleed???

Phil,

Here is a link to the site for the 'Dorset Naga' - which they reckon to be one of the hotetst chillies in the world !

Dorset Naga

The ones I had weren't as hot as I was expecting though

Have fun !

best regards

Russ

Oh goodie, I'm in.

Let me add two more things known about chilies. One of the reasons that hot food is popular (necessary) in the equatorial areas is that it suppresses the intestinal flora that can be distressing. I suppose it could also reduce time spent in a chat with John Crapper and hemorrhoids at the same time.

When I worked the night shift in Thailand one of the older women taught me to eat peppers to stay awake (and garlic pickles and fish jerky and the rice from the bottom of the pot) because peppers were everywhere and coffee was expensive.

You haven't yet mentioned, but I regard, the most important factor. The pepper must add a flavor when cooked into the food. There is no point to eating something that merely strips away the outer layers of skin, IOW just plain mean, or some ridiculous challenge to the gonads to prove the ability to tolerate suffering. Life has enough of that already.

Most of us here shave hair with "dangerous" blades because we want the hair gone, not because we're insane risk takers who enjoy the near bloodletting... never mind.

Originally Posted by PhatMan

Phil,

Here is a link to the site for the 'Dorset Naga' - which they reckon to be one of the hotetst chillies in the world !

Dorset Naga

The ones I had weren't as hot as I was expecting though

Have fun !

best regards

Russ

Thanks for the link, Russ.

Question 1:
That picture shows a female standing next to a NAGA pepper plant. Would you say that the plant is in a 2 or 3 gallon pot? That's what it looks like to me.

Question 2:
Is that size pot about the right size to have them be happy & flourish in?

I have never tried growing them in separate pots. I usually grow in the ground in my yard. I wish to try using pots this year on at least a few of my peppers. Probably the Ghosts!

So far this year I have (coming up as babies):
* Bell Pepper (standard, green)
* Bell Pepper (Purple Beauty)
* Poblano/Ancho
* Tabasco
* Jalapeno
* Habanero
* Bhut Jolokia
* Macaroni Red

I am trying to keep them separate in my garden due to I have heard they can "cross pollinate" one another. I know that they can do this by either insects transferring pollen OR the wind and nature can transfer it. Any insights?

Thx!

~Phil

Originally Posted by Mike Blue

Oh goodie, I'm in.

Let me add two more things known about chilies. One of the reasons that hot food is popular (necessary) in the equatorial areas is that it suppresses the intestinal flora that can be distressing. I suppose it could also reduce time spent in a chat with John Crapper and hemorrhoids at the same time.

When I worked the night shift in Thailand one of the older women taught me to eat peppers to stay awake (and garlic pickles and fish jerky and the rice from the bottom of the pot) because peppers were everywhere and coffee was expensive.

You haven't yet mentioned, but I regard, the most important factor. The pepper must add a flavor when cooked into the food. There is no point to eating something that merely strips away the outer layers of skin, IOW just plain mean, or some ridiculous challenge to the gonads to prove the ability to tolerate suffering. Life has enough of that already.

Most of us here shave hair with "dangerous" blades because we want the hair gone, not because we're insane risk takers who enjoy the near bloodletting... never mind.

Mike,

Thanks for adding!

I have heard that peppers are used for battling the extreme heat in the regions they are grown in, as well. Your mention of them helping one remain awake when tired is a new one I have never heard about. Thanks!

The other point you made was flavor. I agree peppers have unique characteristics and flavors. I tried my first batch of Habanero sauce last year. I used the Habanero's, water, salt, a dash of Lime or Lemon juice, and white vinegar. It was the most tasty sauce I have had in a while. So to me flavor is important. My kids even liked the flavor of it.

That dude on TV - on"Man vs Food" - is a nutcase (imo)....and a glutton. While I am humored by his antics of stuffing himself till just before he explodes, and/or making himself sick as a dog, I cannot see the point other then "bragging rights" and placement on either a wall of flame (aka fame), wall of "insane" folks, OR just a wall of machomen/women.

I wouldn't do it, personally.

Cheers!

~Phil

Originally Posted by PLanzaSr1957

Thanks for the link, Russ.

Question 1:
That picture shows a female standing next to a NAGA pepper plant. Would you say that the plant is in a 2 or 3 gallon pot? That's what it looks like to me.
.......
I am trying to keep them separate in my garden due to I have heard they can "cross pollinate" one another. I know that they can do this by either insects transferring pollen OR the wind and nature can transfer it. Any insights?

Thx!

~Phil

Cross pollination is important if you are saving the seeds
for next year. If you are eating the peppers this year
and have other seed sources for next year no worries.

If you want 'pure' seed you can bag some flowers before
they open and pollinate with the same plant and once
the pod sets let it ripen without the bag (a tag is good).
If you have a fine pepper that has no heat and a pepper
with only heat and little flavor try crossing them. You might
get lucky.

It does take some years for a variety to begin to breed true...

I have tried to grow Bhut Jolokia this year for the first time ever. This is the end result.

As I looked at the plant and maturing fruits I noticed that they were smaller then what I'd imagined Bhut's to be AND the shape of the fruits were NOT true to Bhut cultivars.

I e-mailed NMSU and asked what went wrong - as that's where I purchased my seed for 2010. They didn't recognize it. They said it was possible they sent a "cross" to me by accident. When I asked "crossed with what?" they replied that they didn't know. When I asked what they thought it most resembled (I say Habanero and Bhut cross) they said nope, didn't look like a "Red Savina" or "RED Carribean Habanero". They had no "guess" at that moment.

I was amazed they didn't know and asked them to forward the situation to Mr. Paul Bosland, author of the book "The Complete Chile Pepper Book" - and a professor at the university. We'll see. Haven't heard back from them as yet.

Just thought I'd share my experiences with my attempts to grow the hottest chile in the world.

Nice healthy looking pepper! Too bad they seem to have sent you a Mystery Mutant... try the peppers yet?

Originally Posted by BKratchmer

Nice healthy looking pepper! Too bad they seem to have sent you a Mystery Mutant... try the peppers yet?

Thanks! I use FOXFARM growing medium/soil. I started it in a 1 gal pot, transferred it to a 3 gal, then finally tranferred it to a 5 gal., which it's in in the picture - you just cannot see it.

And "yes", they're HOT.
The burn lingers about 10 minutes. They're in the heat range of a Habanero with a pungent fruity flavor that accompanies the heat. Really good, actually, so I am saving seed and going to grow them again next year.

I will segregate them from the 2011 Bhuts to see what the differences are once harvested.

those look good! I wonder if you can get the seeds analyzed