Home grown jalapenos hotter than store bought?

[Pandemonium]

Is it just me or does anyone else think their peppers are at least twice as hot as store bought ones? I understand you can control heat by the amount of watering you give them some what I think

[Richtee]

Yeah there's a few things that control the heat. But...water being one...I bet they water the shit outta the commercial crops to up the weight.

[Pandemonium]

Yeah there's a few things that control the heat. But...water being one...I bet they water the shit outta the commercial crops to up the weight.

Ahh so you say that will make them bigger? Makes sense why mine are a lot smaller than the store ones too.

[Richtee]

Seen the size of somma them things?? I remember my Grandpa's... no bigger than yer thumb. And damned hot. Was a game as a kid... have a slice or two with a hunk of sausage and not tear up

[Pandemonium]

Seen the size of somma them things?? I remember my Grandpa's... no bigger than yer thumb. And damned hot. Was a game as a kid... have a slice or two with a hunk of sausage and not tear up

I bet he peed on them and gave them the magic fish poo

[Richtee]

I bet he peed on them and gave them the magic fish poo

He ALWAYS buried dead carp/whatever in his garden. Had a rain barrel he'd toss some in..along with cowshit... called it "garden tea". Christ but that thing STUNK! but he grew a great garden.

[GratefulDave]

So more water means larger pepper, means the capsacin (sp?) gets diluted? Makes sense i guess. Smaller pepper = more concentrated? My peppers aren't nearly as big as some of the ones in the stores and last week I ate one straight off the plant and it made me tear up, sweat, hiccup, belch and spit watery saliva for about a half hour. Not a pretty site. That bugger was HOT!
May have to try a heavy watering schedule for the next week before harvesting.

Interesting discussion.

Dave

[Richtee]

last week I ate one straight off the plant and it made me tear up, sweat, hiccup, belch and spit watery saliva for about a half hour.

You considered a creative writing sideline?

Yeah... withholding water is commony thought to increase potency in peppers. In my experience it's true.

[GratefulDave]

You considered a creative writing sideline?

Yeah... withholding water is commony thought to increase potency in peppers. In my experience it's true.

It just finished raining here. Turning on my sprinkler now!

Dave

[Hoser]

I'm with Rich on this one Dave...withholding water definitely increases the heat in peppers. They do it out in Napa to the grapes as well...they call it "distressing" the crop. That is what develops truly tasty grape skins and great vino.

[Pandemonium]

Well my cayenne plant will not let me drought it like I want, it wilts up and starts dying quick if I dont water it everyday, although I know know to put it in a bigger pot with better soil next year anyway

[SmokinOutBack]

It just finished raining here. Turning on my sprinkler now!

Dave

I just tasted my first this year from my garden, never grown them before. Keep in mind I don't give them a drink till I see they're starting to shrivel. Ouch! They are HOT!

[GratefulDave]

I just tasted my first this year from my garden, never grown them before. Keep in mind I don't give them a drink till I see they're starting to shrivel. Ouch! They are HOT!

My sprinkler has been running over an hour now and I am planning to water like a crazy fool for the next few days to see what happens. Might push my tomatoes along quicker too. BTW they are going CRAZY!

Dave

[SmokinOutBack]

I am not a gardner by no means, in fact I'll even go as far as to say I have no clue what I'm doing, but I have learned not to overwater tomatoes. They like heat and humidity and do their best then. Growin' tomatoes in Jersey is easy, we have the right sandy soil or so I've heard. I am figuring peppers might be the same but someone with some more knowledge like ALX or FireItUp can comment on that. Me, I do it cause it's fun each summer and it's neat to go out and pick a few each evening. Between beers of course.

[Mark R]

Between beers of course.