Q: Dave,Greetings from the Iowa Great Lakes. I am going to plant 15 varieties of chile plants (about 80 plants total) this summer. Can I water with an underground lawn sprinkler system? Watering will be done in the early morning to allow for sufficient leaf drying. The water will be drawn from the lake which is quite fertile, evidenced by …
Small Commercial Kitchens in Iowa
Q: Hi Dave,I am located in Southern Iowa. Do you know of any small commercial kitchens that I could contact about making and bottling my hot sauce? I am at a dead end.Many Thanks, Ria A: Hello Ria:If you are looking for a co-packer near you, contact your county extension agent. If you are searching for a co-packer anywhere, go to …
Why Boil Peppers?
Q: Dear Dave,I have a recipe for salsa using serrano peppers. I was told to boil the peppers—what might be the reason for this?Thanks, Craig B. A: Hello Craig:No need to boil the peppers. Use them raw.–Dave
Honduran Chiles
Q: Dear Dave,I’m of Honduran descent and I’m trying to find a site that may contain a list of chile peppers that are native to Honduras. My grandmother recently passed away and I know she used to grow a specific pepper, what she called Mutton peppers (the way I remember them they looked more like Scotch bonnet). These peppers were …
Where to Order Peri-Peri
Q: Hi Dave,I am trying to locate the Peri-Peri pepper or, as sometimes known, the Bird’s Eye chile pepper. Thank you, Rachel A: Hello Rachael:"Peri-Peri" is the Swahili generic term for peppers, and they can be anything. The Bird’s Eye is a small, erect-podded African chile that is hard to find commercially in the U.S. There’s not much flavor to them, …