Pueblo Hot Pepper

[OmahaJB]

Must have been about 3 years ago a very generous trader on GW's hot pepper forum offered many different varieties of hot pepper seeds. He sent me several, and I tried germinating a couple of them without luck. My fault I'm sure. Probably wasn't patient enough. Well, I got to looking through all my tomato, pepper, and miscellaneous seeds and came across them. I researched the ones I could find on google, and the one that stood out to me was Pueblo. There was a link to something a grower wrote about Pueblo being the variety that continued to amaze him with production in high numbers, and also over a long period of time after his other varieties had stopped producing. I'm a little skeptical only because I believe he wrote that on a site where he also sells that variety and 3 others if memory serves me right.

Anyway, tonight I'm going to sow a few of the seeds I have left and see if I can get germination. It has medium heat, turns red, has 3" long peppers, they grow in large clumps (6-15 peppers), face skyward, and are good for drying, including the seeds supposedly.

Another thing that intrigues me is the grower/seller said hot peppers can't be grown indoors, but if any can he thinks this would be the one.

Like I said though you never know what to believe when someone's selling something. I'm intrigued enough to try though. The tricky part will be effecting germination, as I think some of the seeds were already a year or two old before I received them. So now we're talking about 4-5 year old seeds. I've always had trouble germinating hot pepper seeds that are more than a year or two old. Worth a try - and nothing to lose.

Comments on this variety would be more than welcomed. Thanks, Jeff

[Blueaussi]

There are several chilies with the word 'Pueblo' in the name. Is this an Anaheim-type? If so, I think you may be falling for some hype. Here's the info on one of the ones that Cross Country carries

http://www.chileplants.com/search.as...Button=Pressed

As to growing inside, it's mostly a matter of making sure the plant has enough light, and keeping it from getting too cool. I always over winter a few, but I don't expect them to produce. I have them set up for ordinary light from a window, and in a coolish room so they'll be mostly dormant.

[Wi-sunflower]

You can winter-over almost any pepper plant. Some easier than others. The less hybridized seem to do better than the highly manipulated variteies tho.

MOST varieties won't set new fruit in the winter for 2 reasons. 1- it's their normal "off" time. Not enough daylight. 2- if they do put out a few flowers often your house will be too dry during heating season for the pollen to take and make a fruit.

All that said, the variety Santa Fe Grande has usually set new fruit for me when I've over-wintered them.

As far as germinating, I've been able to get 5-7 year old seed to germinate at times, tho the older they are the harder it gets. For some of the little pequin types, I will "scarify" the seeds by rubbing between 2 sheets of fine sandpaper. For all I like to plant in a very shallow bit of dirt and then keep it hot and moist. Like 90* + temps.

Carol

[Blueaussi]

The optimum germination temperature for peppers is 85F, with germination rates dropping off sharply above 95F. If I remember correctly, I think treating the seeds with something like gibberellic acid increases germination, even at high temperatures, but please do a little research on that before you try it.

[OmahaJB]

Blueaussi & Carol, thanks for the comments. I'm using my heated Jiffy greenhouse to germinate the seeds so it should be warm enough I think. Even if these germinate they probably wont survive indoors. I like challenges though.

The Pueblo pepper in that link does not match the description I took off the internet, and I was not given the description when I received the seeds. So who knows which I have! hah....

Probably fussing over nothing as my chances of getting germination are low.

Thanks again...Jeff