Tall Pepper Varieties?

AlittleSalt · August 2, 2016

Both of these varieties are not what they were marked as The first two pictures are of a 7' tall variety. It is supposed to be Brazilian Starfish, but they're supposed to only be 3-4' tall.

The other pictures are of a 6' tall variety that I think may be Peppadew? The last picture shows a Peppadew on the left and beside it is whatever variety it is from the 6' tall plant.

Fred Hempel · August 2, 2016

What were they marked as?

Peppers cross alot, and if they are not isolated, saved seed has a high percentage of hybrids.

AlittleSalt · August 2, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Hempel

What were they marked as?

Peppers cross alot, and if they are not isolated, saved seed has a high percentage of hybrids.

Brazilian Starfish

Fred Hempel · August 2, 2016

The bottom photo looks like Brazilian Starfish, or at least a hybrid between BSF and something else.

AlittleSalt · August 2, 2016

I've been thinking they were hybrids too. BSF isn't 7' tall. I'm wondering if they are maybe a cross of BSF and Peppadew? I'll grow them again next year to see how they grow and if they produce or not.

Starlight · August 3, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

I've been thinking they were hybrids too. BSF isn't 7' tall. I'm wondering if they are maybe a cross of BSF and Peppadew? I'll grow them again next year to see how they grow and if they produce or not.

I would grow them out next year to see what you get. The only way to try and make sure you have the same seed from one year to the other is to bag. Peppers cross in a heartbeat. Tiny bit of wind, even from you getting close and brushing leaves can send pollen from one plant to another besides all the insects you don't see.

Bagging is your best bet, but sometimes even that doesn't work and you get a surprise.

Peppers take so long to grow, I think the goal is to get one you can eat at the heat level you like and tastes good with little or no disease problems.

I had a Mini Orange Bell and didn't notice it was sitting next to a Manzans and a Anaheim. Plant went to a neighbor who liked hot peppers. Then mini bells produced nothing but cute hot bells.

swellcat · August 2, 2016

That looks consistent with Peppadew®. (Are we supposed to use the trademark symbol?)

Surely, growing conditions affect height. In my calcareous (alkaline) clay of Cowtown, baccatums have tended to be 2 1/2 foot tall bushes. Elsewhere, folks have the same species threaten to overtake the house.

Annuums, for me, are likelier to adopt the telephone-pole form . . . although, never seven feet . . . so far.

Btw, my Peppadews™ are drying on the plant (in the shade), while the Brazilian Pumpkins stay firm, moist, and juicy. Same species; same watering regimen; similar containers.

dmforcier · August 2, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

It is supposed to be Brazilian Starfish, but they're supposed to only be 3-4' tall.

Says who?? Starfish are HUGE. So are Bishop's Crown, which seems to be a close relative. The pod form is correct for Starfish.

There are some habaneros that like to take the form of trees. Unsurprisingly they are called "tree habaneros" and can commonly nudge 8'.

kchd.. · August 2, 2016

Yeah, my bishop's crown is a beast. It has a *trunk*

dmforcier · August 3, 2016

Peppers are self-pollinating, which makes the cross rate relatively low. I recall a worst case rate of 10% (can't recall where I saw that). That's still kinda high, but again, worst case. I've been growing OP seeds for years and the observed cross rate is below that number.

And to repeat, there is no evidence that what Saltie is growing is a cross. It's doing exactly what a Starfish is supposed to do.

Starlight · August 3, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmforcier

Peppers are self-pollinating, which makes the cross rate relatively low. I recall a worst case rate of 10% (can't recall where I saw that). That's still kinda high, but again, worst case. I've been growing OP seeds for years and the observed cross rate is below that number.

And to repeat, there is no evidence that what Saltie is growing is a cross. It's doing exactly what a Starfish is supposed to do.

Thanks. That's the first I have heard of a % rate on the peppers. I grow op's as well as bagged.

I agree looks like a Starfish to me too.

Salt... Have you tasted one of your Starfishes yet? There are two Starfish. One the Brazillian Starfish which is hot and one just called Starfish which I grew for several years which is sweet. They both look the same. My sweet Starfish was a huge plant too.

Langley Ranch · August 3, 2016

Wow! Are you supporting that with anything?
Good heavens.

AlittleSalt · August 3, 2016

I put a 2' piece of 3/8 rebar beside the plant and drove it into the ground about 8" and loosely tied the plants to them. It has worked surprisingly well so far.

As it keeps getting hotter each day, I'm noticing more leaf wilt on these plants.

Langley Ranch · August 3, 2016

That's simply amazing. I've never seen pepper plants like this. I know they just keep growing where there is no frost, but I had no idea any of them could get so tall. Thank you for sharing photos of your glorious pepper plants!

erin

Aerial · August 3, 2016

Check Judy's note on height and taste of Brazilian Starfish.

http://pepperlover.com/pepper-seeds/...tarfish-detail

.

August 3, 2016	#10
dmforcier Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,825	Peppers are self-pollinating, which makes the cross rate relatively low. I recall a worst case rate of 10% (can't recall where I saw that). That's still kinda high, but again, worst case. I've been growing OP seeds for years and the observed cross rate is below that number. And to repeat, there is no evidence that what Saltie is growing is a cross. It's doing exactly what a Starfish is supposed to do. __________________ Stupidity got us into this mess. Why can't it get us out? - Will Rogers

August 3, 2016	#15
Aerial Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: CA Posts: 410	Check Judy's note on height and taste of Brazilian Starfish. http://pepperlover.com/pepper-seeds/...tarfish-detail . Last edited by Aerial; August 3, 2016 at 03:10 PM.

August 2, 2016	#2
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	What were they marked as? Peppers cross alot, and if they are not isolated, saved seed has a high percentage of hybrids.

August 2, 2016	#5
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	I've been thinking they were hybrids too. BSF isn't 7' tall. I'm wondering if they are maybe a cross of BSF and Peppadew? I'll grow them again next year to see how they grow and if they produce or not.

August 2, 2016	#7
swellcat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Cowtown, Texas – 7B/8A Posts: 192	That looks consistent with Peppadew®. (Are we supposed to use the trademark symbol?) Surely, growing conditions affect height. In my calcareous (alkaline) clay of Cowtown, baccatums have tended to be 2 1/2 foot tall bushes. Elsewhere, folks have the same species threaten to overtake the house. Annuums, for me, are likelier to adopt the telephone-pole form . . . although, never seven feet . . . so far. Btw, my Peppadews™ are drying on the plant (in the shade), while the Brazilian Pumpkins stay firm, moist, and juicy. Same species; same watering regimen; similar containers.

August 2, 2016	#9
kchd.. Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: MS Posts: 211	Yeah, my bishop's crown is a beast. It has a trunk

August 3, 2016	#12
Langley Ranch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Z8a TX Hill Country Posts: 99	Wow! Are you supporting that with anything? Good heavens.