Saving pepper seeds.

[KarenO]

I would like to know the best way to isolate pepper blooms to prevent cross pollination and be certain of true seed.
Large Distance between varieties is not really an option for me, I have bagged tomato blooms but never peppers. Anybody have some pics of their bagged blooms I can draw inspiration from I would appreciate seeing them. Or do you cover the whole plant, I have yards of tulle so that's a possibility also.

[ilex]

Full plant, blossom or a gum drop the day before flower opens.

[Cole_Robbie]

Hardware or point stores sell a paint strainer that is a mesh bag that fits into a 5-gallon bucket. If you pepper plants stay small, they are big enough to cover an entire plant.

[KarenO]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

Hardware or point stores sell a paint strainer that is a mesh bag that fits into a 5-gallon bucket. If you pepper plants stay small, they are big enough to cover an entire plant.

thats a good idea! how much do they cost typically

[KarenO]

Thank you for your reply Ilex
gum drop. not sure what that means
KarenO

[Cole_Robbie]

About $2 each. Sometimes a 3-pack is $5.

[KarenO]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

About $2 each. Sometimes a 3-pack is $5.

Cool, thanks
KarenO

[ilex]

Glue not gum

[KarenO]

Originally Posted by ilex

Glue not gum

Thank you
KarenO

[shatbox]

The dollar tree near me has these pop-up hampers.

[jtjmartin]

Is pepper seed saving fairly similar to tomato? Bagging just keeps the insect pollinators away (and wind pollination is not as big a factor?)

[ilex]

Originally Posted by jtjmartin

Is pepper seed saving fairly similar to tomato? Bagging just keeps the insect pollinators away (and wind pollination is not as big a factor?)

Yes, but crossing % is much higher. Like 50% or more. Flowers are open and very attractive to polinators.

I use isolating cages, 2-3 plants inside.

For just a few seeds, glue, or organza bags will do.

[KarenO]

Originally Posted by ilex

Yes, but crossing % is much higher. Like 50% or more. Flowers are open and very attractive to polinators.

I use isolating cages, 2-3 plants inside.

For just a few seeds, glue, or organza bags will do.

Please tell me more about the glue option Ilex, Do you actually put glue on the blossom, I have saved seed from sweet peppers before that wound up crossed with hot hot hot ones and I do not need to save large amounts of seeds, just enough for personal use and trading a bit.
KarenO

[dmforcier]

Originally Posted by ilex

Yes, but crossing % is much higher. Like 50% or more. Flowers are open and very attractive to polinators.

Negative! Peppers are aggressive self-pollinators. Even in crowded environments crosses rarely run higher than 10%.

And given other options, I rarely observe any pollinator interest in pepper flowers.

You want to distract birds and bugs, plant basil. You practically have to beat the bees away with a stick.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by ilex

Yes, but crossing % is much higher. Like 50% or more. Flowers are open and very attractive to polinators.

I use isolating cages, 2-3 plants inside.

For just a few seeds, glue, or organza bags will do.

Yes, crossing is much higher with peppers, I started growing lots of peppers never bagged b'c I found out very quickly that isolation cages were necessary, and I had no intention of making those isolation cages.

So I stopped growing peppers. But before that I had grown a few that came true, family ones where the seeds were given to me.

Last time I looked they were still listed in the SSE Yearbook, and we're talking maybe 30 years ago when I was still growing at the old farm after moving back home from Denver.

Carolyn