Q: Hi Dave,Last year I had a white, jalapeño-type chile growing in my garden, probably produced by cross pollination. I tried to germinate the seeds this year, from frozen pods I kept from last year. It did not work. So my first question is, does freezing affect the germination capacity of the seeds? My second question concerns the ‘Bulgarian Carrot’ …
Fresh vs. Frozen & Hot Sauce Shelf Life
Q: Hello Dave,Will a frozen supply of peppers work as well as fresh (my freezer is overflowing with peppers from last summer and this summer’s bounty), and what is the average shelf life in the fridge for hot sauce? Is there an average for vinegar / ketchup based sauces? Thanks so much!–Alicia A: Hello Alicia:Yes, frozen works as well as …
Hot Sauce: pH and pH Meters
Q: Hi Dave,I’m working on making a hot sauce. I’m in the final process and it is a hit with friends and family. But now I need to learn more about preservation. I know the pH level needs to be low, but how low? I also need to know where I can find a good pH meter. My sauce as …
Heatless Jalapeños
Q: Hi Dave,I have been a "hot lover" for years and have had the chance to try many different foods and spices as I traveled the world for the U.S. Navy. I have recently decided to grow my own but have run into a problem. I am growing jalapeños, habaneros, and serranos. All of the jalapeños I have picked are …
Tabascos Dropping Dead
Q: Dear Dave,Twice now, I’ve had Tabasco plants in 5-gallon buckets that just dropped dead on me right when they started to make pods. I’ve grown Tabascos in large buckets for years now with great success, and now this. First, they appeared to be too wet (I do have drain holes in the buckets), so I let them dry out. …