New Bounty Project - Help Me Decide!

[Kate]

So I broke down and bought a Bounty today. Help me decide what to plant in it. What peppers, (or even other veggies), do you recommend to start with, and how many plants? I should preface my inquiry with that I would like a sweeter or lighter heat pepper to start. My daughter and I love heat, but hubby can't do too much, so I want to maximize my use to start, rather than making sauces, or canning or freezing to use in increments.

I'll need to order one of the anything kits and spacers if I get seeds from a vendor other than Aerogarden. They don't have a lot of choices though, and the reviews on their sweet peppers are horrible. People also had no luck growing the Red Heirloom tomatoes though and so far I can attest that I have no clue what they did wrong.

I'll have it late next week, so...

[Kate]

I ordered two seed packs for now. I got Sweet Gypsy Hybrid and Costa Rican Sweet Hybrid. They both grow about the same height, 18-24 inches with a 12 inch spread, mature between 65-70 days and have 4-6 inch fruit.

If anyone has scads of extra spacers, let me know. I'd be happy to buy 7-10 from you. I can't see needing a pack of 25.

[mike]

Those are both excellent pepper choices. My only hesitation on the Costa Ricans is they are a fairly large fruit. That being the case, you don't many peppers at one time. You can grow two plants of each, easily. And they both taste wonderful.

Two other choices I recommend are Round of Hungary peppers (sweet) and Pepperoncini (mild heat). I currently have two Round of Hungary plants in full bloom on an Ultra. I should see peppers any day now. The peppers are small red pumpkins that are deliciously sweet. They are terrific for stuffing. The fruits get up to 3" in diameter. Pepperoncini peppers are frequently pickled and sliced in 1/2" slices. Most sub shops offer Pepperoncini slices on their subs. Pepperoncini peppers are about 2" long and about 3/4 to 1" in diameter. These peppers will mature to red, however they are usually harvested and pickled while still light green. Their heat is less than 500 SHU. Jalapenos are usually 5,000 SHU.

[Kate]

We actually love pepperoncinis, and it's on my wish list. I hadn't heard of the Round of Hungary, but they look a lot like Sweet Hungarian Cheese Red, which I have saved in my wish list. My only concern was that they (SHCR) grow up to 28+ inches with a up to 30+ inch spread, which means one plant unless I'm really aggressive in thinning. I wish more of the vendors provided detailed information on the plants. I wanted to get very similar germination/growth/spread/maturity plants for my first foray into peppers, inside. I've grown several full size Bell, and a few hot peppers in my greenhouse and a couple containers, but always outside, unconcerned about similarities in size, etc., and nothing really dwarfish. When I'm more confident, I'll go nuts, so to speak.

[Kate]

Mar 25, 2018 12:04:10 GMT -5 mike said:

Those are both excellent pepper choices. My only hesitation on the Costa Ricans is they are a fairly large fruit. That being the case, you don't many peppers at one time. You can grow two plants of each, easily. And they both taste wonderful.

Two other choices I recommend are Round of Hungary peppers (sweet) and Pepperoncini (mild heat). I currently have two Round of Hungary plants in full bloom on an Ultra. I should see peppers any day now. The peppers are small red pumpkins that are deliciously sweet. They are terrific for stuffing. The fruits get up to 3" in diameter. Pepperoncini peppers are frequently pickled and sliced in 1/2" slices. Most sub shops offer Pepperoncini slices on their subs. Pepperoncini peppers are about 2" long and about 3/4 to 1" in diameter. These peppers will mature to red, however they are usually harvested and pickled while still light green. Their heat is less than 500 SHU. Jalapenos are usually 5,000 SHU.

Hey Mike, how many seeds per pod should I do? I don't want to waste them, but I'm guessing I should do more than one or two.

[mike]

I usually use 3 per pod.

[MaryL]

Congrats on your new purchase!  The strength of the Bounty light is great for growing peppers. And I agree with Mike, those are excellent pepper choices, you are sure to be happy with them.

[Shawn]

I love my Bounty.  Heck, I love all my machines LOL.

[Kate]

I posted this on the GAL thread too.

I’m so frustrated. If this situation is any indication of the future, it will take weeks to get two packets of seeds. I paid almost $6.00 and they shipped UPS Mail Innovations. Not only do they truck that tiny package across the country, they take days to deliver to USPS, and may then ship ground again, which for me is 10 days extra.

Those seeds should have been here by now, and they just got to Seattle, where they will sit in the UPS warehouse until next week before even being transferred to USPS. It’s insanity.

I don’t see how I can participate unless you guys mail me seeds. They’d take 2-5 days Max.

I was so excited about starting my peppers, but it likely won’t happen for weeks now.

Oh and just for fun, Park Seeds tacks on a $20.00 surcharge for Alaska for a $2.45 max shipping fee for First Class Mail, so I'll never order from them. What a joke.

[MaryL]

Oh gosh Kate, you shouldn’t have to wait that long for your seeds, that’s ridiculous.  I have a ton of pepper and other seeds I’d be happy to mail you.  Go take a look at my list and pm me for any you’d like and I’ll pop them in the mail.  You’ll get them pronto!

It kills me how long they take to send seeds, even locally, and their shipping charges are ridiculous - seed packets are so small and lightweight that they shouldn’t cost more than a stamp!  

[Shawn]

Yes you can look at my Stash list as well.  Just PM me what you would like and your full name and mailing info.

[Kate]

My daughter went seeds shopping for me and got me Sweet Tangerine Dream, California Wonder Sweet Pepper, and Tequila Sunrise Hot(ish) Pepper. I’m going to start the California Wonder and the Tequila Sunrise as they’re close in height.

I’m pretty excited. I was really bummed. I sometimes feel like Alaska gets dissed, and it irritates me.

Thanks you guys for the really generous offers. I can promise you that I will take advantage of that kindness at some point. Luckily, I’ll be building my own stash to share too. That’s one good thing aboit growing from your own seeds rather than a kit.

What have you guys found is the best depth placement for most pepper seeds? Most sources say 1/4-1/2 inch, but I’d like your input too. Oh, also how do you store your leftover seeds to use later?

[MaryL]

I confess I have zero secrets or tricks.  I use needle nose tweezers to place the seeds at whatever the depth is in AG sponges, and I just fold and tape my seed packets.  I store them in a cabinet, but I’m in neither a humid nor arid climate.  Others will probably have more sage advice than I.

[Kate]

Clearly what you're doing works, so it's good advice.

Honestly with seeds, I've always folded, taped and stuck them all in a ziplock bag, together.

[mike]

I use these bags for storing my seeds. I bought them two years ago from Amazon. 500 bags for less than $10.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009LIOOPO/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Shawn]

I do what Mary does.  I also have those bags that Mike posted.  That is what I ship seeds to everyone in.

[Kate]

I use padded ones similar to that for shipping my samples First Class.

[ponicspilot]

I can assure you that the Hungarian Cheese pepper is ideal for our AGs.  Mine are fully loaded and at under 12" height with a conservative spread allowing at least two. Just harvested yesterday and they are sweet and crunchy.  I use Masterblend,  totally dump and replaced every two weeks.  PH adjusted R.O. water in between, 18 hour light schedule and all leaves not seeing light are progressively trimmed.

[ponicspilot]

Yesterdays harvest.

[Sher]

What gorgeous peppers, ponicspilot! Great choice, and great job growing them!