sexing peppers

[Hgrove]

last night I went to a Pampered Chef party. The lady who was running it said you can "sex" peppers; she showed us two red peppers. She said the one with three "bumps" on the bottom was male, whereas the one with four "bumps" was female. She said female peppers are sweeter. Has anybody heard such a thing? Was she winding us up?

[andyjevs]

This takes me back 25 years to my botany days as a trainee gardener so things are a little hazy.

Plants that flower fall into two groups. monecious (a plant has both male and female flowers on the same plant.....begonias are a good example) and diecious (plants that have both male and female sex organs in the same flower such as tomatoes and i'm pretty sure peppers too)

I've personally never heard of male and female peppers. The pepper is a seed pod. Seed pods should only grow on either female flowers or on diecious flowers. Peppers belong to the family solanacae which includes tomatoes, potatoes, chillies, capsicum, deadly night shade, petunias and nicotiana.

Hope this helps a bit and i haven't confused you or myself too much

[nickmo]

As above. the pepper we eat is the fruit of the plant i e carries the seeds so won't be sexed as suggested.

How would the presence of the tiny unformed pepper you find occasionaly inside the pepper be explained - its about to have a baby? And I suppose 'cos they are long and turgid the

Too much info here: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/med-aro/factsheets/CA PSICUM_PEPPER.html

[nickmo]

Posted too soon for the above - meant to add what about the Anahein pepper which is a 'male looking' veg?

And heres the chilli shop in Devon by the way which millions and millions of pepper varities to choose from: http://www.southdevonchillifarm.co.uk/bigstuffingshop.html

[brachiopod]

"...a very 'male looking' veg."

Permission to snigger like a schoolboy?

Is there a word for a pepper that looks like a ..well...ahem?

How about androcapsicate?

[nickmo]

Hi brachipod - snigger snigger 'Good for stuffing and looks fantastic, up to 10 inches long. Fleshy and not too hot'

Tears to the eyes? And that just one description. Oh the fun you can have with a pepper! snigger snigger That'll be the New Mexico Big Jim variety. Don't believe it is a quote? See the chilli farm link and amaze all your chums......tee hee

[brachiopod]

Next Friday....

AB Fruit & Veg Corner will be discussing melons and peaches.....

[Plocket]

Sounds like utter tosh to me!

[nickmo]

Utter tosh indeed. Rant starts here in the nicest possible way...Begin indignant tone in Mr Angry of the Glen type of voice - Personally I can't wait. Its like looking forward to the seasons.

You should be enjoying freshly cropped chicory at the moment and tons of shellfish as this is the peak time for oysters, scallops, lobster and so on. January into February is a really decadent time of year. Soon be time for a nice and moist fresh sardine, just grilled, squeeze of lemon, twist of pepper and served with a beetroot and mint salad. About as un-tosh as you can get! Really. I ask you........

How vital it is that everyone understands the value of knowing your Sugar Baby and not getting stuck in a trailing Yellow Doll. Melons, by the way in case any rasied eyebrows)

Or that a tree ripened Wassenberger dribbling down the chin in September is worth a thousand nasty supermarket chilled things masquerading as a peach.

Deep chilling stops the ripening process of the fruit, and as the vast majority of s/market stock is harvested unripe for later finishing, its a complete con.

Tosh indeed, Rant still in progress...........have alook at the guide at http://thefoody.com/basic/vegseason.html for a useful guide as to what is ready and in season throughout the year. Then go to a supermarket and think storage time........Rant over. Drop the voice, lower eyebrows,.......and..........relax.