Q: Dear Dave, I found an article in one of your recent newsletters about putting chile powder in the bird feeder to keep out squirrels. My Mom has always had trouble with squirrels so I forwarded the article to her. She lives in SC where apparently the squirrels have quite a passion for spicy food because it seems that they …
Preserving Peppers in Oil?
Q: Dear Dave: A couple of years ago an acquaintance gave me a mason jar full of peppers in oil. He unfortunately would not tell me what kind of peppers they were and was closely guarding the recipe. The peppers were green and about an inch to two inches in diameter. I was able to find out he soaked them …
Intense Questions
Q: Greetings Dave- I am new to gardening, and know enough to be dangerous. This is a detailed message in hopes you can best assist with my issue. I decided to grow peppers, tomatoes, and some herbs in a raised bed garden this year. My peppers started out great and began to flower and bud quite well, but in the …
Grow Light Timing
Q: Dave, For chile seedlings, we have always keep grow lights on for 16 hours daily and I thought I was on solid ground with this schedule. Now I am not so sure and have read conflicting data. Should grow lights be on for only part of a 24 hour day or keep on 24/7? What is the rationale for …
Capsaicin Cream
Q: Hi Dave, I am using a Lakota product that has 0.025 capsaicin in it and was wondering if this is a safe product to use. I am using it for arthritic pain in my shoulders. I would appreciate your input. Thank-you for your time.CathyA: Hello Cathy: All I can say is that commercial creams for arthritis containing capsaicin are …