Capsicum annuum

The look is hot but the flavor is not!

Yes, its a gorgeous little bush studded all over with shiny red-orange rockets-too pretty to hide away among rows of vegetables. But its very tasty too, with a hint of heat. The 3" fruit are sweet and delicious, either pickled or on salad platters. Height 18". Harvest about 70 days after plants are set out in the garden. Grows best in full sun.

125mg of seed

Like cucumbers and summer squash, peppers are usually harvested at an immature stage. The traditional bell pepper, for example, is harvested green, even though most varieties will mature red, orange, or yellow. Peppers may be harvested at any stage, but their flavor doesn’t fully develop until maturity. Fully ripe peppers in multi-colors are delightful in the garden as well as in salads.
Cut the fruit from the plant with a sharp knife or pruners leaving a small part of the stem attached.
Sweet bell, pimento and cherry peppers are delicious eaten green but are sweeter and higher in vitamins if allowed to turn bright red before harvest. Some varieties are yellow at maturity or may mature from green through yellow and red.
Hot peppers may be harvested at any stage. Anaheim is usually picked green and cayenne types red.
Bell peppers may be chopped and quick frozen for use in many recipes; sweet cherry and banana peppers and hot cherry peppers are perfect for pickling.
A popular and trouble-free way to store hot peppers is to dry them. String mature red peppers by piercing the stem with a needle and heavy thread. Hang the string in a warm, dry, airy place (not in the sun!) to dry. They can make a colorful kitchen accent. Pull a pepper from the string when you need one. Hot peppers remain hot even after they are dried. Remember that in recipes a little hot pepper can go a long way.
Please note that hot peppers can burn sensitive skin on contact and fumes from grinding or cooking them can irritate the lungs and eyes. When working with hot peppers use rubber gloves and wash your hands before touching your face or eyes.

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