Late fall 2018 and I had one last harvest!

Forsyth Mo. - After retiring to the condo lifestyle, my growing opportunities had become more restricted. The past summer did allow me the opportunity to grow a few pepper plants in pots which turned out quite nicely. The banana peppers that all came from one plant, represented my last harvest of the season. I use these slightly hot peppers in both chili's and in beef stirfry's as they add just the right amount of bite!

Banana peppers generation III!

About two seasons ago, I ordered a packet of Banana peppers from some outlet and successfully grew them to maturity. I found the slight heat to be a welcome addition to many of the dishes I like to prepare, not the least of which is as a spicy addition to my hot dogs!

And, being a frugal sort of fellow, I decided to try and use the seeds from these for a new generation. I planted them in the fall into a small dish with potting soil and surprisingly they germinated and then produced a crop of similar peppers the next summer. Wait a minute! Fall? Yes, I like to start peppers from seed in November under a modest grow light and then will repot them in the spring to go outdoors on my balcony. Doing things this way gives me some greenery to look at in the winter months which is nice. The plants grow slowly and haven't seemed to be held back in any way!

That was two years ago and here I am planting Generation III. After harvesting a bright red pepper, I let the seeds dry out for about a week or so and then will plant them in a soil medium to germinate. And thus far, they've reproduced plants and peppers that are just like the originals!

Utilizing small corners for great veggies!

Whenever I plant my gardens in the early spring, I always keep an eye out for out of the way spots to throw in a vegetable or two or three. Doing this seems to often times throw off those insects that otherwise might decimate the more formal planting locations where larger numbers of similar plants may attract them.

I've done this type of planting for years and have had great success. The four plants pictured above, (2 long red stir fry cayenne and 2 banana peppers) have been productive all season long. This very small area has supplied me with all the peppers I've needed to make daily and chili dishes!