Chinese Giant - A productive bell pepper

OmahaJB · July 1, 2016

Thought I'd take a minute and share my experience with Chinese Giant. I've never had luck with bell peppers in the ground or in containers, until now. Since I've read posts from others over the years stating their frustration with bells as well, I decided to post a pick of the plant I have currently. The pot is only 10" so I'm guessing that may impact size of the peppers. Haven't had a ripe one yet so will have to wait to find out. Including tiny ones starting out I have about 10 growing on this plant.

OmahaJB · July 1, 2016

Another pic of the same plant:

Starlight · July 7, 2016

Thanks for sharing! : ) I have looked at getting Chinese Giant but have so much trouble growing bells I didn't order any seed. After seeing your pics think I may have to remedy the situation and get some. Nice looking plants. Keep us updated on how it does and what it looks like. : )

Isabelle · July 7, 2016

Very nice, thanks for the pics! I've never actually heard of Chinese Giant- it may be something I should look in to.

peppero · July 7, 2016

After several years of less than fantastic results with this pepper , I am still trying and hoping for success, but with low expectations.

Jon

greenthumbomaha · July 7, 2016

The Burpee website recommends thinning the peppers for larger fruit size. I've never done that with a pepper, and I wouldn't have he heart since I rarely get more than a few per plant.

HEIRLOOM. Burpee introduced.
Full Description
Sweet Chinese Giant was twice as big as the largest bell pepper of its day. Plants are a compact 24" tall. Fruits are usually 4 by 4", but Mr. Burpee pointed out that if you thin the fruits, they can grow 5" across and 6" long. Truly remarkable then and now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OmahaJB

Thought I'd take a minute and share my experience with Chinese Giant. I've never had luck with bell peppers in the ground or in containers, until now. Since I've read posts from others over the years stating their frustration with bells as well, I decided to post a pick of the plant I have currently. The pot is only 10" so I'm guessing that may impact size of the peppers. Haven't had a ripe one yet so will have to wait to find out. Including tiny ones starting out I have about 10 growing on this plant.

OmahaJB · July 8, 2016

That makes sense greenthumbomaha. But like you I don't think I have the heart to thin the peppers out. I'll probably just be using them for a pizza topping or maybe omelets. I think the size will be stunted as the first ones haven't gotten much bigger than in the picture yet. If this plant lasts as long as my Elephant's Ear, maybe I can test out the thinning method.

Thanks for the comments everyone. I'll update when I have more to share.

OmahaJB · July 23, 2016

This is the first one I've picked so far. The size didn't increase much from the first pic, mostly due to lack of fertilizer, but also partly due to the fact I didn't thin them out. It was nice and juicy, with decent mild flavor. When I originally posted I wasn't even thinking about the other two Chinese Giant plants I have. I'll try the thinning method with them, and next time I'm shopping I'll buy some fertilizer. Once I know how many seeds I've saved I'll try coming back and offering seeds to those who want some, and will post in the seeds available forum probably.

Starlight · July 23, 2016

Glad you finally got to taste one. Hummm not so much of a giant was it. I wonder if thinning really has much impact in growing bigger bells. Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought especially bells only produced so many fruits per plant and that a low number and if you thin, you may not have any fruits. I've grown bells before like Keystone Giant and don't think they even got as large as your Chinese Giant.

I've grown several types of sweets and had no problem with them. There is just something about bells. Like there is some sort of secret procedure to get them to grow and produce.

OmahaJB · July 23, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starlight

Glad you finally got to taste one. Hummm not so much of a giant was it. I wonder if thinning really has much impact in growing bigger bells. Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought especially bells only produced so many fruits per plant and that a low number and if you thin, you may not have any fruits. I've grown bells before like Keystone Giant and don't think they even got as large as your Chinese Giant.

I've grown several types of sweets and had no problem with them. There is just something about bells. Like there is some sort of secret procedure to get them to grow and produce.

Yes, it was a small one, the others on the same plant are even smaller and a couple are turning red so they wont be getting bigger either. From what I understand with containers I'll need to focus more on fertilizing than I have been.

I'm also growing Yellow Monster, but it's more of a pipsqueak, not sure how big it'll get. Another one needing more fertilizer. Learning as I go. I used slow release fertilizer but it must have been used up by the time the peppers and tomatoes started growing.

Barb_FL · July 23, 2016

I'm growing Yellow Monster also; it is just a really young plant so no fruit set. I bought the seeds b/c I wanted a Yellow Monster; also growing Emerald Giant for the same reason.

I get really decent size bells from Charleston Bells. There is nothing special to grow them.

I had really big Ajvarski peppers - like a mix between a Bell and Marconi.

I get really large Marconi's but am finding right now with the heat, they are all smaller. All still producing; vs tomatoes pulled in June with no fruit set since May.

Right now I'm having lots of spoilage from what looks like a bug bite. Haven't sprayed; also haven't grown this many peppers EVER.

OmahaJB · July 24, 2016

Barb, do you grow in containers or in the ground? I've heard containers are better for them, and maybe that's why I finally have had good production. I never had luck with growing them in the ground, Just have to make adjustments to get larger peppers.

I'll keep the ones you mentioned in mind for the future.

OmahaJB · July 27, 2016

I'll post this here first, then if there are no takers will post in the seed offer forum. I've dried and bagged the seeds from the first Chinese Giant pepper, if I counted right 270 (or 275?) seeds, and have seeds from the second pepper drying now. Anyone interested PM me and I'll send seeds out to at least five people. It may take a few days before I get around to it, but they'll be posted within the next week for sure. Nothing needed in return. Figured those reading this thread would be the ones most interested in the first place, so that's why I posting it here first.

Barb_FL · July 29, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by OmahaJB

Barb, do you grow in containers or in the ground? I've heard containers are better for them, and maybe that's why I finally have had good production. I never had luck with growing them in the ground, Just have to make adjustments to get larger peppers.

I'll keep the ones you mentioned in mind for the future.

Sorry, I never saw this until now. I grow all peppers / tomatoes in containers (nematodes). Peppers are very forgiving and year round for me in Florida; Mainly RootPouches, but Walmart Bags, and have a set in EB too.

Was also thinking of the "GIANT" aspect and I have Marconi Giants and even before the weather was really hot (90), they were smaller than regular Marconis.
The "GIANT" is the smaller one and has a rounded tip.

Starlight · July 30, 2016

I have a question. I was in grocery store yesterday and while looking at produce seen these huge peppers. I mean huge. I have long hands and what folks call piano fingers they so long and I picked one of them peppers up and it was bigger than my hand.

They had the box sitting on the floor as they were stocking them. On the box it said Select Giant. The peppers are big green bells. Is there such a pepper with that name or is it the Chinese Giant maybe renamed? I almost got one to see about saving seeds from, but didn't know if peppers that been refrigerated would produce viable seed or not?

July 8, 2016	#7
OmahaJB Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 1,821	That makes sense greenthumbomaha. But like you I don't think I have the heart to thin the peppers out. I'll probably just be using them for a pizza topping or maybe omelets. I think the size will be stunted as the first ones haven't gotten much bigger than in the picture yet. If this plant lasts as long as my Elephant's Ear, maybe I can test out the thinning method. Thanks for the comments everyone. I'll update when I have more to share. Last edited by OmahaJB; July 9, 2016 at 10:29 AM.

July 7, 2016	#3
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	Thanks for sharing! : ) I have looked at getting Chinese Giant but have so much trouble growing bells I didn't order any seed. After seeing your pics think I may have to remedy the situation and get some. Nice looking plants. Keep us updated on how it does and what it looks like. : )

July 7, 2016	#4
Isabelle Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Kansas Posts: 57	Very nice, thanks for the pics! I've never actually heard of Chinese Giant- it may be something I should look in to.

July 7, 2016	#5
peppero Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: selmer, tn Posts: 2,944	After several years of less than fantastic results with this pepper , I am still trying and hoping for success, but with low expectations. Jon

July 23, 2016	#9
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	Glad you finally got to taste one. Hummm not so much of a giant was it. I wonder if thinning really has much impact in growing bigger bells. Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought especially bells only produced so many fruits per plant and that a low number and if you thin, you may not have any fruits. I've grown bells before like Keystone Giant and don't think they even got as large as your Chinese Giant. I've grown several types of sweets and had no problem with them. There is just something about bells. Like there is some sort of secret procedure to get them to grow and produce.

July 23, 2016	#11
Barb_FL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Indialantic, Florida Posts: 2,000	I'm growing Yellow Monster also; it is just a really young plant so no fruit set. I bought the seeds b/c I wanted a Yellow Monster; also growing Emerald Giant for the same reason. I get really decent size bells from Charleston Bells. There is nothing special to grow them. I had really big Ajvarski peppers - like a mix between a Bell and Marconi. I get really large Marconi's but am finding right now with the heat, they are all smaller. All still producing; vs tomatoes pulled in June with no fruit set since May. Right now I'm having lots of spoilage from what looks like a bug bite. Haven't sprayed; also haven't grown this many peppers EVER.

July 24, 2016	#12
OmahaJB Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 1,821	Barb, do you grow in containers or in the ground? I've heard containers are better for them, and maybe that's why I finally have had good production. I never had luck with growing them in the ground, Just have to make adjustments to get larger peppers. I'll keep the ones you mentioned in mind for the future.

July 27, 2016	#13
OmahaJB Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 1,821	I'll post this here first, then if there are no takers will post in the seed offer forum. I've dried and bagged the seeds from the first Chinese Giant pepper, if I counted right 270 (or 275?) seeds, and have seeds from the second pepper drying now. Anyone interested PM me and I'll send seeds out to at least five people. It may take a few days before I get around to it, but they'll be posted within the next week for sure. Nothing needed in return. Figured those reading this thread would be the ones most interested in the first place, so that's why I posting it here first.

July 30, 2016	#15
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	I have a question. I was in grocery store yesterday and while looking at produce seen these huge peppers. I mean huge. I have long hands and what folks call piano fingers they so long and I picked one of them peppers up and it was bigger than my hand. They had the box sitting on the floor as they were stocking them. On the box it said Select Giant. The peppers are big green bells. Is there such a pepper with that name or is it the Chinese Giant maybe renamed? I almost got one to see about saving seeds from, but didn't know if peppers that been refrigerated would produce viable seed or not?