By Karla Bingaman, Penn State Extension Franklin County Master Gardener Program
Peter Piper was on
to something when he decided to pick a peck of (pickled) peppers. With
all the different varieties and ranges of heat levels everyone should at least try
them.
Based on Scoville
Heat Units (SHU), here's a taste of a few of our planned offerings from hottest
to our mildest and one that falls in between. With over a dozen varieties, we
have a chile pepper plant to satisfy every hot head.
The hottest pepper
plant we plan offer this year is the Bhut Jolokia (aka Ghost Pepper). With a
Scoville range that can top over a million units this pepper isn’t for the
faint of heart, but heat isn’t the only consideration. It has a fruity,
slightly sweet flavor and when used in small quantities it can really enhance a
dish. I recommend infusing it in butter that can be added to many of the dishes
you already prepare. You get to enjoy the full breadth of this pepper when used
judiciously. This plant can get quite large and does well in a tomato cage for
containment and support.
The Brazilian
Starfish is a medium heat pepper by most people’s standards. As with all chile peppers,
the heat range can vary, but this maintains a medium heat often slightly
spicier than a jalapeño pepper. The fruit is juicy and very sweet. It’s a great
pepper to pickle and looks beautiful through a glass jar because of its unique shape.
Use it in raw salads and salsa because it is delicious but also retains a
lovely crunch. Due to its weeping shape with branches and leaves that droop
downwards, this pepper does well when supported on a trellis or in a hanging
basket - it’s the thrill, the fill, and the spill!
In the greenhouse,
the Poblano Ancho Gigantea is the mildest of the hot peppers. It has just a
hint of heat and a wonderful sweet, smoky flavor that lends itself well to roasting,
and its large cavity is great for stuffing. If you let the peppers ripen to red
then dry, you can use the ancho chiles in soups, sauces, and meat seasonings
too. This plant has a short yield time and retains a bushy two and half foot
height. It benefits from staking due to the pepper’s thick wall that makes the
fruit heavier than most.
Is your mouth
watering yet? Well, mark your calendar for the Master Gardener Annual Plant
Sale, May 18 from 9 am to 1 pm at 425 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg. We will
have a Scoville chart highlighting the thirteen hot peppers we are growing
along with nine sweet peppers, including the favorite lunch box size.
Please note that
plant availability is dependent on germination and growth in the greenhouse.
MOTHERS' DAY IS COMING
HERB SAMPLER Second Edition (my book)
Buy one for yourself and consider getting a few more. They make great hostess gifts, housewarming, and anytime gifts.
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