These chilies (Joe E Parkers) are capable of growing as long as 8 inches, 6 inches is average, but sometimes they can even go up to a foot if the plant is strong and soil loaded with extra organic fertilizer! However, as the heat in my area continues to climb, these chilies are turning red at just 3 inches - And it's not even the peak of Summer yet! Joe E Parker Chili turning red 1 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Joe E Parker Chili turning red 2 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
Wow, premature ripening, I wonder what it would taste like. Are they all like that? Are there any green ones left? Jerry
I'll trade you some rain for a few more degrees. I hope your peppers are tasty despite their early ripening.
Lovely pictures,..soooo red those peppers,..i was likewise wondering would they be any hotter to taste being ripened so early when still small.
Well guys, the Joe E Parker type of chili is not really know to be hot. It's popular because it's the highest yield pepper plant in the world. Plus the chilies are also very big (6 to 8 inches long is the average). Since they are so big, they are sometimes used to stuff things in them. Other times they are used to add some color to a dish, or to simply make pickles with. I myself use them for my Pizza! Anyway, when they are green - Their taste is mild (provided that you remove the seeds of course). So mixed with cheese, as is the case with my Pizza, they give a delightful chili flavor, but without the fire. Now once they turn red, than it's a different story. So where before you can easily work with them and simply rinse your hands with water - But now you have to wash your hands thoroughly. Otherwise if you accidentally rub your eyes, than you'll feel the chili for sure!!! So basically the heat of the chili goes up about 4 times when it turns red. Anyway, see this picture below to understand exactly how hot it has become over here these days - These are Marigolds which many of you will now be looking forward to growing this summer. Will, only time I can grow them is in late winter. Otherwise this is what happens to them in this heat... A result of hot weather. ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
But amazingly, other chili plants of mine are still doing well! Take this unknown type for example, which as you can see is right now thriving!!! Unknown chili type 1 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Unknown chili type 2 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
So sorry your marigolds all perished S-H. I can't say we ever have much of a problem here with too much heat. Your chilli peppers are all coming along nicely though and look good enough to eat already.
Well Eileen, the problem over here in Karachi is that we are just one degree above the Tropic of Cancer. So around this time of the year, the sun is directly overhead. These days the day time temperature in the shade is hovering between 35ºC to 38ºC. Now this may not seem like much (as at the peak of summer the temperature can easily shoot up to 45ºC or higher). But the problem is that there is no shade anywhere to be found - The sun is almost directly overhead. Now in a month's time the Monsoon season should start. So hopefully the rains will cool everything down. But if they don't come, than everything is likely to catch fire.
