By Elizabeth Warburton-Smith
Chili peppers are a favorite in the Southwest for their flavor, versatility, and of course spiciness. Some of my absolute favorite chilis to grow are Jimmy Nardello which is a sweet Italian frying pepper and Anaheim for the very best chili rellenos. Chef Greg loves habanero and chili de arbol which looks like an explosion of firecrackers.
The amount of capsicum in a particular type of pepper is measured using the Scoville scale which goes from 0 for bell peppers to over 3,000,000 for the hottest recorded ones like the Carolina Reaper. Did you know that even rubbing the leaves of one of these super spicy gems will release capsicum onto your skin? Beware!
How hot is my pepper?
Chilis love well amended soil so add some organic compost to your garden bed when planting peppers and space them about 2 feet apart. Don’t forget calcium because chilis can get blossom end rot although not as easily as tomatoes do. Chilis also really love heat….from the sun that is. So plant directly in full sun and water regularly, but don’t drench them. If your soil is well amended, it should hold the water just long enough for the plant to take a long drink, and then drain off excess so its roots aren’t sitting in swamp land. Once your plants start to set fruit, fertilize again.
The Rita Ranch Community Garden is located across the parking lot from the Ace Hardware on Houghton, just south of Valencia: 7471 S. Houghton rd, 85747 or join us remotely through our YouTube videos (search for us under the name Rita Gardens and be sure and subscribe!)
If you would like to help us find a new place or volunteer with the move, please reach out to Elizabeth Smith at WeLoveToGrow@gmail.com. Our GoFundMe page is https://www.gofundme.com/a61a4c93
Elizabeth Warburton-Smith is the founder of the Rita Ranch Community Garden inspiring others to grow organic food. Elizabeth and husband Executive Chef Greg Smith recently opened Wrapido, a mobile food business selling grilled chicken wraps highlighting organic and local ingredients. Contact Elizabeth: WeLoveToGrow@gmail.com
