Q: Hi Dave!I’m going to grow chile peppers in containers indoors using artificial lighting. I was wondering what would be the best light cycle for the plants during their respective periods (vegetative, flower)?–Ronald A: Hello Ronald:Chiles benefit from the long days of summer, so use a cycle of 18 hours on, 6 hours off. Unlike some plants, chiles are not …
Seeds vs. Veins
Q: Dave,About six months ago I saw a T.V. program on chile peppers. One of the things that stood out was that the seeds were not the hottest part of the pepper. As well as I can remember, they said that the veins in the pepper were where all of the hot came from. Is this true?Thank you, Sam A: Hello …
Grubs in the Bed
Q: Dear Dave,I have a raised hot pepper garden with 40 different types of peppers. Lately I’ve been finding grubs in the bed—will this hurt the plants? If so, what can be used to get rid of them?Thanks, Gordon A: Gordon:Most of the time grubs are common cutworms that attack only pepper seedlings and chop them down at the base. If …
Homemade Chili Powder
Q: Hi Dave,I would like to know if it is possible to make homemade chili powder. I notice in most recipes call for store-bought chili powder like New Mexican red and green, etc. I live in Africa and we do not have access to anything like that. I believe my mother used some kind of brick-type chili she bought at …
Variability in Ripening & When to Pick
Q: Dear Dave,I grew habaneros for the first time this year and I am having a bumper crop! My question is this: The majority of my peppers have remained a deep green, while I have one that has turned orange early on. Is this normal for habanero plants? Also, what is the best way to know when to pick them?Thanks, …