How Many Peppers did Peter Pick?

Recently I was asked what was my favorite hot pepper to grow? To answer that question I have to decide what is my favorite hot pepper to eat?

There are thousands of pepper varieties to choose from with flavors from citrus to smokey. My favorite combines both heat, sweet, and citrus all in a nice little package called limon chile.

Limon chile has a medium heat and is accented even further by a citrus tone and a smokey finish. This is another great example of taking advantage of a fresh grown product that adds culinary depths of flavor by simply adding it to a dish.

If you have a favorite pepper leave a comment below.

Waiting on Two Fronts

On February 1st I can officially say I'm bored and tired of winter.

I'm an extremely impatient person and it's been hard to wait for early spring to start getting new plants delivered and finish my ongoing arboretum. Not to mention that it's tough to wait for all the exciting new growth to start pushing on all the plants I currently have on my property.

Now the chef hat has spoken, I'm bored at cooking the same veggies. I try not to purchase things that are out of season but when you get in to the month of February it's hard not to start thing about spring and summer vegetables. Soon there will be squash, peppers, tomatoes, new potatoes, spring onions and the list can go on for a while.

For now I'll have to know that spring will be here soon enough and to take the Cardinals outright and the over.

Peppers Make it Hot

I've had quite a few emails from new gardeners on what to grow this year. I think all gardens but particularly new gardeners should grow some hot peppers.

Large sweet bell peppers are not as prolific as their hot relatives. The smaller hot pepper plants thrive on heat and full sun and given those things a single pepper plant can produce hundreds of hot packets of goodness. You'll not only have a lot of peppers but you'll get a boost of garden confidence from your crop.

The culinary side of the equation is what do you do with all those peppers. The answer to that question coming soon.

Too Easy

Yesterday I was planning my veggie garden for this spring. In mentally reviewing what grew well or easily potatoes came to mind. I think cold weather makes it easier to think about the potato that some how seems to fit the bill for a winter food.

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If you've never grown anything let me introduce you to the potato. They grow so well you can grow them in a garbage can, literally. Fill a garbage can/pail with a mix of top soil and compost and drill four holes in the bottom and you've got a planter ready for spuds. Find a potato with some eyes developing and bury them a foot deep into the soil and water once a week. When the plant starts to wilt in two to four months it's potato time. There's a ton of information here on potatoes.

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If you're a first time gardener, like myself not long ago, or a serious garden geek the potato is a must to grow in a veggie garden. Here's a video clip with more on the potato.