Have you ever tasted a pepper right from the plant?

One of the few things I have never experienced before is fresh peppers picked from the bush and brought directly into the kitchen. The fresh crispness as I cut it with my knife. The juicy crunch when biting into it with our teeth. Wow!

There were also two small red tomatoes that had ripened, along with the one green pepper – the sum total of all my efforts. I grew these plants from seed in our bathroom and then hardened them off on my front porch before planting them in the front garden.

We could have eaten that salad until I was full. It was just delicious!! If anyone has ever doubted why one should grow your own vegetables, this is it!!

Propagating Plants

To save money next year, I’m going to save the seeds.

I bought hot peppers from the couple that live on Evan’s Road in my town (if you live here, you know who I mean). I thought I might try saving them to start next year. I read through a few different methods and this is the plan:

  1. Once you have a mature pepper, rinse your seeds. Pat dry with paper towel.
  2. Lay seeds on wax paper in a warm airy place to dry for about 2 weeks.
  3. Package them in a well labelled paper bag or envelope (baggies work but can hold moister that can cause the seed to rot).
  4. Keep the seeds in a cool, but not cold, dark area until you are ready to start them in early spring.

Footnote

Peppers cross pollinate. This happens when two different types of peppers are grown close to each other. When they flower the pollinator, most likely a bee, goes from one plant to the next. If you are growing only one type of pepper then its safe to save your seed from a mature pepper. Otherwise, you might be surprised by a bell pepper that’s usually spicy next year.

AuthorBrooke Gordon

My name is Brooke and I love to cook, hence the nickname. I am passionate about eating for pleasure and nutrition, making jam, and supporting women who want to live a healthy life.