Usually I struggle with peppers, only managing to begin harvesting them in late summer or early fall. NE Texas, 8a. This year, I wanted to see if it might be possible to push the crop ahead. Harvested enough today, 6 May, to make a generous skillet supper.
Started seeds 12 Jan. Potted them up 24 Feb. Planted them outside 28 March. Protected them outdoors with Wall-of-Water insulating teepees, which I removed on 14 April, which is our 90% frost-free date.
Today’s peppers are sweet varieties: Jimmy Nardello, Shishito, Manganji, and Txorixero. Have some others, mildly spicy varieties, that aren’t quite ready to pick yet. Numex Heritage 6-4, Big Jim, and Guiseppe Hatch. These have, however, all set plenty of small fruit.
All are growing in 7-gallon fabric grow bags. 18 plants. I planted a trap crop of radishes around the base of each pepper plant. Have been gradually eating the radishes and replacing them with straw mulch.
I plan to use most of these peppers green this month and next, then let the remainder stay on the plant to turn red. Our season usually ends in early November.
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**Early season peppers**
Usually I struggle with peppers, only managing to begin harvesting them in late summer or early fall. NE Texas, 8a. This year, I wanted to see if it might be possible to push the crop ahead. Harvested enough today, 6 May, to make a generous skillet supper.
Started seeds 12 Jan. Potted them up 24 Feb. Planted them outside 28 March. Protected them outdoors with Wall-of-Water insulating teepees, which I removed on 14 April, which is our 90% frost-free date.
Today’s peppers are sweet varieties: Jimmy Nardello, Shishito, Manganji, and Txorixero. Have some others, mildly spicy varieties, that aren’t quite ready to pick yet. Numex Heritage 6-4, Big Jim, and Guiseppe Hatch. These have, however, all set plenty of small fruit.
All are growing in 7-gallon fabric grow bags. 18 plants. I planted a trap crop of radishes around the base of each pepper plant. Have been gradually eating the radishes and replacing them with straw mulch.
I plan to use most of these peppers green this month and next, then let the remainder stay on the plant to turn red. Our season usually ends in early November.