In the homeland they like a morning shower, time to dry the leaves in the cool sun. Then heat. Well watered, but lots of full sun and heat. They enjoy an afternoon shower around twilight.
You can have a wide variety of peppers in a relatively small space. And their look brings a hearty, tropical feel to your back yard. You can grow them in pots for water control and move them about for maximum sun and their curious ornamental beauty. Plus they are delicious and nutritious to eat. We recommend growing them without poisons.
I believe there are at least nine different types of peppers to be included in a well outdoor summer kitchen.
- Anaheim Chili
- California Wonder
- Canary Yellow
- Cayenne
- Jalapeno
- Red Beauty
- Serrano
- Tabasco
- Thai Hot
At the Cornell University Home Gardening Web site, the notion of "editable landscaping" and "editable landscapes" is discussed. Integrating editable plants into your landscape can bring a feeling of connection to the land and space of your gardens. It also offers the freshest possibility for certain summer fruits and vegetables. It's growing in the yard. There's something wonderful about that.
A Living Cookbook
A hot, sunny spot on your deck, three rows with four large pots each will provide space for 12 different pepper plants, one per pot. Double up if you prefer to have lots of single types, like Sweet Bell Peppers, or Jalapeno.
If you can, plant your peppers close to the kitchen. You will enjoy their freshness and their immediate availability. Four to six plants should produce plenty of peppers for sauces, salsas, and grills.
Peppers are highly nutritious and low in calories. According to Bailey Farms, Inc. both hot and sweet peppers contain Protein, Fiber, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Vitamin C, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B6, Folacin, and Vitamin A. With Zero Cholesterol. No kidding.
