Note that this Pepper Section has been revised between the 2011 and 2012 growing seasons to reflect my changing thinking about how we use peppers. Also note that I have given a rating for each variety based upon days-to-maturity, size, and productivity. In each case, I have selected short-season peppers that should do well in our climate.

= Rated for Taste
= Rated for Production

Sweet Peppers - Standard and Nonstandard Bell Types
Days to Maturity		Name - Description		Dimensions		Rating
Park 45,		Early Thickset - BELL, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 4 inches wide, green or red. From the Park catalog: "The Earliest Pepper Yet! Big Blocky Bells are Borne in the Crown--No Sunscald! Thick-walled, 3- to 4-lobed bright red fruit arises in clusters of a dozen or more! Earlier and more prolific than ever! 3- to 4-lobed bells have walls an incredible 1/2-inch thick, offering great texture and flavor retention! 5 inches long and 4 inches wide, these bulky bells arise in clusters of 12 or more right at the crown of the plant, perfectly protected from sunscald! They begin glossy green and then mature to bright red while remaining firm, thick, and juicy! Ready to harvest 2 to 3 weeks earlier than most other big bells, Park's Early Thickset Hybrid Improved is one of the finest peppers you can grow for the home garden. The yields are huge on TMV-resistant plants, the harvest is early, and the fruit is simply mouth-watering! Set 2 feet apart in full sun. If planting many, space rows about 3 feet apart. Fertilize when the blooms appear, and water well. Fruit is most nutritious if allowed to ripen on the plant."		?" plant, 4"x 5" fruit		5,120 points
Feld 65, Gurn 65, Jung 62, Ttom 61, Vrmt 61,		Recommend Fat N Sassy - (also known as King Arthur) BELL, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, blocky, sweet, harvest either green or red, exceptional yeilds. Grown in 2004-11. Will grow in '10. We think this is the best bell pepper you can plant. High Seed Potency		22" plant, 3"x4.5" fruit		2,592 points
Jung 62,		Margaret's - NONSTANDARD BELL, GREEN TO RED - thick walls. From the Jung catalog: "The sweetest, biggest, most beautiful sweet pepper you'll ever grow. The fruits are huge, about 7 inches long, with color that transitions from green to orange to bright red and finally to deep red. They have thick walls and outstanding mild, sweet flavor. The plants bear early and prolifically. This superb pepper was presented to us by Margaret Gubin, a long-time Jung customer from Cambria, Wisconsin, who urged us to produce it for our customers. The original seed was hand-carried from Hungary to the U.S. by a family member and seed stock was carefully maintained by Margaret for over 50 years."		? inch plant, 3"x7" fruit		2,520 points
Jung 58,		Gourmet Sweet - BELL, GREEN TO ORANGE - thick walls. From the Jung catalog: "Big, beautiful, brilliant orange bells with ultra-sweet flavor. It's hard to believe the short, compact plants can produce fruits so large and in such prolific numbers. The blocky, thick-walled, 3 inch wide by 5 inch long fruits quickly turn from green to vibrant orange. Bears over a long period. TMV resistant.		? inch plant, 3"x5" fruit		2,280 points
Park 68,		Colossal Hybrid - BELL, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 6 inches wide, green or red. From the Park catalog: "6 inches long and wide, no wonder it's called Colossal! The plants set fruit vertically, for a perfect "blocky" shape every time! 68 days. This hybrid is just built along larger lines than most others -- the fruit is a massive 6 inches long and wide, the plants are exceptionally tall and upright, and the crunchy-sweet flavor is a full-bodied peppery bite! These thick-walled, blocky green bells are held vertically on the plant, so that they form with no restrictions on their shape. The result is the most perfectly-formed pepper you may ever see -- as well as one of the largest! Great foliage coverage adds to the beauty and lets the peppers mature fully on the plant without scalding. Start seeds indoors or, in climate with short growing seasons, outdoors at least one week after last frost. If starting indoors, allow 7 to 10 weeks for the seeds to mature into seedlings large enough to transplant safely. Set seedlings (or thin direct-sown seedlings) 2 feet apart in full sun. If planting many seedlings, space rows about 3 feet apart. Fertilize when the blooms appear, and water well. Fruit is most nutritious if allowed to ripen on the plant. Pkt is 25 seeds."		?" plant, 6"x6" fruit		1,944 points
Park 65,		Gusto - BELL, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 4.5 inches wide, green or red. From the Park catalog: "This is an open-pollinated variety, but you'd never know it from its vigor and big yields! Fruit matures over a long, long season! 65 days. Get ready for big, long, delicious harvests of crisp, tender, thick-walled green bells with Gusto, the open-pollinated Pepper that behaves like a high-powered hybrid! You will love the flavor of these Peppers and appreciate the super-easy growth of this tough little plant! Gusto is a blocky green bell about 4½ by 4 inches wide, maturing over a long, long summer season. Unlike some varieties that set fruit to ripen all at once, Gusto matures a few fruit every day for weeks on end, so that you can actually eat it all (rather than bringing a basket for the "help yourself" table at church or begging your neighbors to take the last 2 dozen off your hands!). And with flavor like this, you'll want to savor every bite -- Gusto is crisp and sweet with a good peppery bite, delicious right off the plant or cooked in your favorite dishes. Gusto is an open-pollinated variety, and most O-Ps tend to be short on vigor and yields, but not this one! It is a VERY high-yielding pepper, and the plant itself is as weather-tough and adaptable as any I've seen. Measuring up to 2 feet high and 12 to 16 inches wide, this is a Pepper that will grow in gardens where others have failed or yielded just a few disappointing fruits. Resistant to Tobacco Mosaic Virus, it is a first-rate variety for the new gardener to try, and all pros should give it a whirl just to see what a really superb O-P can do! Pkt is 25 seeds."		24" plant, 4.5"x4" fruit		1,728 points
Shum 70,		Jupiter - BELL, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 4 inches wide, green or red. From the Shumway catalog: "Produces big, heavy, blocky, 4 lobed peppers like mad. The 30 inch plants are strong, and set on a load of fruit that have very thick walls and great taste whether harvested as traditional green bells or as mature reds. TMV tolerant. "		30" plant, 4"x6" fruit		1,344 points
Park 65,		Oregon Hybrid - BELL, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 3.5 inches wide, green or red. From the Park catalog: "Up to 8 ounces each, these 4-lobed fruit are scrumptious and generously sized! BIg blocky bells are simply packed with juicy sweet flavor boasting a hint of spice! 65 days from setting out transplants. If you love orange bell peppers, chances are you grew the old favorite Valencia. Well, meet its successor: big, crunchy-sweet, delicious Oregon Hybrid! Oregon is a very heavy bearer over a long season, so prepare for a bumper crop no matter where you live or what happens with the weather! The plant reaches about 28 inches high, laden with big bells. You can harvest and eat the fruit green, of course, but you'll get more nutrition if you let it ripen to orange (either on the plant or in your kitchen window). It achieves a bright, glossy, deep orange hue that looks as good as it tastes! The fruit measures about 3½ inches high and wide and weighs in at 6 to 8 ounces on average, a generous size. It boasts the 4-lobed blocky shape that makes bells so appealing for stuffing and slicing into rings, and it is blemish-free and beautiful. You will admire these peppers almost as much as you enjoy eating them! Start seeds indoors or, in climate with short growing seasons, outdoors at least one week after last frost. If starting indoors, allow 7 to 10 weeks for the seeds to mature into seedlings large enough to transplant safely. Set seedlings (or thin direct-sown seedlings) 2 feet apart in full sun. If planting many seedlings, space rows about 3 feet apart. Fertilize when the blooms appear, and water well. Fruit can be picked green and allowed to ripen and turn color in a sunny window, but is most nutritious if allowed to ripen on the plant. Pkt is 30 seeds."		28" plant, 3.5"x4" fruit		1,344 points
Nich 60,		Chablis - BELL, GREEN TO YELLOW TO RED - thick walls, 3 inches wide, green or red. From the Nichols catalog: "Hybrid. 60 days. Extra early maturity, juicy, sweet, fruits mature from cream, though orange and finally to luscious deep scarlet. Blocky shape, thick walls, and useful 4" x 3" size make these 18” bushes ideal for the small garden and in containers. Tobacco mosiac virus resistant, replaces North Star. Short Season, Space Miser"		18" plant, 3"x 4" fruit		1,224 points
Park 71,		Recommend Whopper Improved - BELL, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, turns red at maturity, fruit is shielded by leaves. 4 inches wide. Developed by Park. Barry Franck grows this every year with good luck. He had such good luck with it in 2011 that I have to recommend it.		? inch plant, 4"x4" fruit		1,152 points
Gurn 70, Jung 70, Ttom 70,		Recommend Bell Boy - BELL, GREEN TO RED - thick walls. From the Jung catalog: "Considered one of the best all-purpose early bell peppers. Sturdy, vigorous plants bear a heavy crop of large, blocky, mostly 4 lobed peppers which can be used when a deep glossy green or left to turn bright red. Fruits are uniformly large, thick walled and fine quality. Resistant to tobacco mosaic virus. 1967 AAS Winner". This variety is sold in many greenhouses because of its dependability.		? inch plant, 4"x4" fruit		1,008 points
Feld 72, Jung 72, Park 72, Pine 70, Shum 70, Ttom 70, Vrmt 73,		Big Bertha - GREEN - usually tapering, light green, offered by many greenhouses, a vigorous producer of large bells, usually 3 crops in a summer. This is a good producer, but it has thin walls. Medium Seed Potency		18 inch plant, 7 inch fruit		? points
Varieties We Rate as Failures:		Karma, Goliath, Red Beauty, Gurney's Giant
Varieties We Rate as So-So:		Redstart,
Sweet Peppers - Other Types: Horn, Cone, Cubanelle
Days to Maturity		Name - Description		Dimensions		Rating
John 60, Jung 60, Park 60, Stok 75, Ttom 60, Vrmt 60,		Recommend Carmen = AAS Winner - HORN, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 2.5 inches wide. From the Park catalog: "Big, horn-shaped fruits have wide shoulders, a tapered shape, and green-to-red color. 75 days from transplanting. Here's a Sweet Italian Pepper you can grow on the porch or balcony as well as in the vegetable patch! Just 28 inches high and about 16 inches wide, these plants are so compact they'll "fit in" anywhere, yet so heavy-bearing and delicious they won a 2006 All-America Selection! The peppers are horn-shaped, with wide shoulders and a tapering body. They turn from green to deep red, increasing their vitamin content as they redden. And the flavor is remarkable -- super-sweet, either raw or cooked! Widely adaptable, Carmen is the Pepper your whole family will love. Stuff them, saute them, or chop and eat them fresh from the plant -- this is certain to become your new favorite! Start seeds indoors or, in climate with short growing seasons, outdoors at least one week after last frost. If starting indoors, allow 7 to 10 weeks for the seeds to mature into seedlings large enough to transplant safely. Fertilize when the blooms appear, and water well. Fruit is most nutritious if allowed to turn red on the plant, but it will have its full complement of flavor even when green. Pkt is 15 seeds." High Seed Potency		28" plant, 2.5"x 6" fruit		3,060 points
Park 65,		Atris Hybrid - HORN, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 2 inches wide. From the Park catalog: "Thick-walled fruit is very heavy -- great for stuffing! Winner of Britain's Top Honor, the Award of Garden Merit 65 days. Indeterminate. Giant, packed with sweet flavor, and so lovely, these horn-shaped peppers measure 9 inches long, maturing from green to rich, glossy red on very heavy-yielding plants. Everything about Atris is satisfying and over-the-top delicious -- no wonder it received England's top honor for a vegetable from seed, the Royal Horticulture Society's prestigious Award of Garden Merit! The fruit is long and slender, yet the walls are very thick (great for stuffing!) and surprisingly heavy, filled with meaty, juicy, super-sweet flavor. Better plan to pickle some of these peppers, because the plant is very heavy-yielding over a long season, and you're soon going to be harvesting armloads of delectable goodness! But that's all right -- you will keep finding new uses for this versatile fruit, dicing it into sauces, chopping it into salads, grilling, stuffing, and baking it. Vigorous and highly productive, this is one of the best peppers of any type you can grow. Discover its attractive plate appeal, ease of culture, and scrumptious flavor this season. You'll be back for more! Pkt is 10 seeds." High Seed Potency		?" plant, 2"x 9" fruit		1,728 points
Terr 70,		Astor - HORN, GREEN TO ORANGE - thick walls, 3 inches wide. From the Territorial catalog: "70 days. Golden and delicious, these meaty, enormous fruit reach up to 12 inches long on vigorous, upright plants. Young peppers form with a deep green color, ripening to bright yellow at maturity and peak flavor. Pair with Thor and Black Knight for the most productive, sweet and colorful pepper harvest. Also available as a plant." High Seed Potency		?" plant, 3"x 12" fruit		1,512 points
Terr 70,		Italian Sweet - HORN, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 3 inches wide. From the Territorial catalog: "70 days. Produces a heavy set of 8 inch long, conical, thick walled, very sweet peppers that turn red very quickly. When fully ripe the fruit is amazingly tasty and great for making sweet pickles. Perfect for munching or in a salad. Also available as a plant." High Seed Potency		?" plant, 3"x 8" fruit		1,344 points
Terr 70,		Thor - HORN, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 2 inches wide. From the Territorial catalog: "70 days. A pepper of mythological proportions! Growing to a thundering 12 inches long, we were all impressed with the size and stature of this fruit at our trials. An Italian variety with thick walls, smooth skin, and a sweet flavor, it is ideal for stuffing or roasting. Peppers turn from green to chartreuse, maturing to red. Prolific plants need no support even under a heavy fruit load. No doubt, this is a very nice pepper. Also available as a plant." High Seed Potency		?" plant, 2"x 12" fruit		1,344 points
Jung 65, Ttom 65		Gypsy - CUBANELLE, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 2 inches wide. From the Jung catalog: "Early and productive. Sweet, tasty peppers with medium-thick walls are ideal for salads or frying. Elongated 4 to 5 inch fruits can be used at early yellow-green stage or left to ripen to orange-red. The 18 inch plants are resistant to TMV. 1981 AAS Winner. " High Seed Potency		18" plant, 2"x 5" fruit		1,440 points
Nich 65, Terr 65,		Whitney - CONE, GREEN TO YELLOW TO RED - thick walls, 2 inches wide. From the Nichols catalog: "Hybrid. 65 days. Sweet and early, matures cream to lime through to a sweet juicy thick walled red. Stunning plants when loaded with multiple fruit colors. This early Hungarian stuffer replaces Gypsy with it’s 5" x 3" tapered wedge, earliness, productivity, and great flavor. Short Season, Space Miser" High Seed Potency		?" plant, 3"x 5" fruit		1,080 points
Mildly Hot Peppers - Many Types
Days to Maturity		Name - Description		Dimensions		Rating
John 65, Park 65,		Tiburon - ANCHO, GREEN TO RED TO BLACK - thick walls, 2 inches wide. From the Park catalog: At 2,000 Scovilles, this pepper is just mildly hot! The fresh pepper is called Poblano; the dried form is Ancho, with a raisin-like flavor combined with mild heat. 65 days. The mainstay of southwestern and Latin cuisine, the Poblano pepper is the fresh form of the popular spice called Ancho pepper. And Tiburon Hybrid is just about the best Poblano available anywhere, offering huge yields of disease-resistant, extra-large, dark green to red fruit! Each of these horn-shaped fruits is 3-lobed, very thick-walled, glossy, smooth, and larger than expected, reaching up to 7 inches. Perfect for stuffing fresh, it holds up well when cooked, and is ideal for drying whole and then grinding into Ancho spice. With a heat factor of 2,000 Scovilles (as compared with, say, 215,000 for the fiery Habanero!), Tiburon Hybrid is a barely-warm, fruity-sweet pepper whose flavor has been compared to that of a raisin . . . plus a little spice, of course! Tiburon is resistant to bacterial spot and tobacco mosaic virus, offering big, healthy yields on plants 20 to 30 inches tall. Pick it when it turns dark green for firm fruit suitable for stuffing, or let it turn red (which contains more vitamins) before harvest. Either way, you'll have plenty of spicy-sweet eating from this meaty, generously sized pepper! Start seeds indoors or, in climate with short growing seasons, outdoors at least one week after last frost. If starting indoors, allow 7 to 10 weeks for the seeds to mature into seedlings large enough to transplant safely. Fertilize when the blooms appear, and water well. Fruit is most nutritious if allowed to ripen on the plant. Pkt is 20 seeds." High Seed Potency		20" plant, 3"x 7" fruit		2,016 points
Jung 65, Ttom 65,		Aruba - - CUBANELLE, GREEN TO ORANG/RED TO CHOCOLATE - thick walls, 2 inches wide. From the Jung catalog: " A Cubanelle-type pepper producing unique, elongated, 3 to 4 lobed fruits up to 10 inches long. Distinctive flavor is mildly sweet and fruity with a hint of heat, perfect for salads and stir-fries. Peppers mature from lime-green to orange to red to chocolate. Vigorous plants bear a huge crop. ."		18" plant, 2" x 10" fruit		1440 points
Park 70,		Jolly Giallo - BELL, GREEN TO YELLOW - thick walls, 5 inches wide, green or yellow. From the Park catalog: "Pick this ultra-sweet bell promptly and the plant may refruit! Thick-walled, meaty, and juicy. 70 days from setting out transplants. TMV. The largest yellow bell pepper we have ever seen, Jolly Giallo (the name is Italian for "yellow") is as delicious as it is attractive, with an ultra-sweet, juicy bite with a hint of pepper. These enormous 4-lobed fruits arise very abundantly on plants so vigorous that if you pick the first peppers promptly, it may just set a new crop before season's end. Jolly Giallo won the coveted Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticulture Society when it was introduced in 2005, and has proven to be a favorite among gardeners in all regions. The plant is stocky and very robust, resistant to Tobacco Mosaic Virus and holding its giant crop nicely. Keep the fruit picked for even more peppers! Start seeds indoors or, in climate with short growing seasons, outdoors at least one week after last frost. If starting indoors, allow 7 to 10 weeks for the seeds to mature into seedlings large enough to transplant safely. Set seedlings (or thin direct-sown seedlings) 2 feet apart in full sun. If planting many seedlings, space rows about 3 feet apart. Fertilize when the blooms appear, and water well. Fruit can be picked green and allowed to ripen and turn color in a sunny window, but is most nutritious if allowed to ripen on the plant. Pkt is 25 seeds."		?" plant, 5"x5" fruit		1,225 points
John 70, Park 68,		Sahuaro - HORN, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 2 inches wide. From the Johnnys catalog: " Traditional, semi-flattened fruits for roasting, chile rellenos, and stir fries. Strong, sturdy, upright plants keep the 7-8" long peppers off the ground and protect them from sunburn. Much earlier and more prolific than Big Chile II. Avg. 5,200 seeds/oz. Mini: 30 seeds." High Seed Potency		?" plant, 2"x 8" fruit		972 points
Jung 60,		Cajun Bell - BELL, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 2 inches wide. From the Jung catalog: " The 2 inch to 3 inch by 3 1/2 inch bells have a sassy flavor that adds a little sizzle eaten fresh or for salsa. Fruits are ready to pick at the green stage up to 2 weeks earlier than others of this type, or if left on the plant their color changes to deep red. Compact and well-branched, 2 foot plants are very disease-resistant and highly productive. Can be grown in containers or the garden. Plant in full sun. " High Seed Potency		?" plant, 3"x 3.5" fruit		714 points
Jung 69, Gurn 68, Shum 68,		Biggie Chile - HORN, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 1.5 inches wide. From the Gurneys catalog: " Discriminating gardeners are falling in love with this crisp, sweet pepper whose clean aftertaste is quite refreshing fresh or stir-fried! Thick-walled fruits blush in shades of citrus, berry, and cherry red for beautiful color no matter when you pick. Highly adaptable, 28-in. plants set fruit in both hot and cool weather. 68 DAYS. Seed counts: 100 seeds sow a 20-ft. row." High Seed Potency		28" plant, 1.5"x 9" fruit		648 points
Jung 65, Ttom 65,		Fooled You - JALAPENO, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 1 inch wide. From the Jung catalog: " Enjoy the distinct jalapeno flavor that's so essential in salsa and picante sauces without the heat. It tastes like its hot relatives, but without the pain. The 24 to 28 inch plants yield a profuse crop of thick-walled, deep green, 3-1/2 inch fruits that mature from green to red. " High Seed Potency		?" plant, 3.5" fruit		336 points
Park 68,		Mucho Nacho - JALAPENO, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 1 inch wide. From the Jung catalog: " Stuff them, slice them, mince them -- these big, fat, meaty peppers give you a family-pleasing flavor! A great "compromise" Jalapeno for folks who love that flavor but can't take the super-hot bite! 68 days. At last, a Jalapeno that satisfies your craving for hot, pungent spice without burning out the roof of your mouth! Mucho Nacho is a big, fat, heavy pepper with less heat and more meat (robust, thick-walled flesh) than Jalapeno M. If your family loves Mexican food but one or more members can't take extreme spiciness, this is the Jalapeno you've got to try! These 4-inch peppers are much weightier than other Jalapenos, with thick walls, a good crisp and juicy bite, and firm skin. You can stuff them without worrying about their collapse, and they're terrific for pickling, giving you a few extra slices from every fruit! But my favorite way to eat them is fresh from the 20- to 30-inch vine, minced into salsa and sliced on top of nachos. You can really taste the garden-fresh bite of this delicious Jalapeno! Start seeds indoors or, in climates with short growing seasons, outdoors at least one week after last frost. If starting indoors, allow 7 to 10 weeks for the seeds to mature into seedlings large enough to transplant safely. Fertilize when the blooms appear, and water well. Fruit is most nutritious if allowed to turn red on the plant, but it will have its full complement of flavor even when green. Pkt is 20 seeds." High Seed Potency		20" plant, 4" fruit		216 points
Hot Peppers - Many Types
Days to Maturity		Name - Description		Dimensions		Rating
Burp 65, Jung 62, Terr 58, Ttom 62,		Gypsy - - CONE, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 2.5 inches wide. From the Burpee catalog: " Very prolific frying pepper. All-America Winner. Very prolific frying pepper that goes great fresh in salads as well. Tapered fruits grow 4 ½" long by 2 ½" wide, and mature yellow to orange to red. Harvest starts about 65 days after plants are set out. Product Details: Sun: Full Sun, Sowing Method: Indoor Sow, Days to Maturity: 65 days, Height: 18-24 inches, Spread: 12 inches"		18" plant, 2.5" x 4.5" fruit		1200 points
Ttom 63,		Sweet Havana - - CUBANELLE, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 2 inches wide. From the Totally Tomato catalog: " An improved Cubanelle with 5" blocky, 3 or 4-lobed fruits that have thicker walls than the older varieties. Other improvements are an earlier maturity, more prolific yields, and a flavor that's sweeter than open-pollinated types. "		?" plant, 2" x 5" fruit		1120 points
John 62,		Krimzon Lee - - CONE, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 2 inches wide. From the Johnnys catalog: " Sweet and hot. Beautiful, big, 6-8" x 2", thick-fleshed, paprika type pepper holds heat in its ribs. Sweet and spicy thick flesh is choice for roasting, frying, and grilling; salsa; and for adventurous salads. Medium-size plant is upright and bushy. Avg. 5,300 seeds/oz. Mini: 30 seeds. Days to Maturity or Bloom: 62 green, 82 red ripe."		?" plant, 2" x 6" fruit		1080 points
John 70,		Cheyenne - CAYENNE, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 1 inch wide. From the Johnnys catalog: " New! Sweet and hot cayenne for fresh use. Attractive wrinkled fruits avg 8-9" with moderately thick walls. Flavor is excellent-fruits are both sweet and moderately hot. Excellent for frying and in salsas. High-yielding, medium-sized plants. Avg. 85,000 seeds/lb. Mini: 30 seeds. Days to Maturity or Bloom: 65 green, 85 red ripe" High Seed Potency		?" plant, 1" x 9" fruit		864 points
Stok 67, Terr 65, Ttom 65,		Recommend Big Bomb - - CHERRY, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 2 inches wide. Grown in '09 and 2010 with good success. From the Totally Tomato catalog: " Move over Cherry Bomb - an even earlier cherry pepper is taking the market by storm! Big Bomb has it all - vigorous habit, fast cropping and extra-prolific yields of uniform, 2" fruits that explode with rapid maturity to a brilliant red. Fruits are moderately pungent, with thick walls that retain their shape when pickled. Resilient under a wide range of growing conditions."		?" plant, 2" x 2.5" fruit		720 points
John 55,		Serano del Sol - - JALAPENO, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 1 inch wide. From the Johnnys catalog: " Biggest and best yielding serrano! Early, with dozens of cylindrical fruits that are twice the size (3-3 1/2") of regular serrano chiles. Serrano del Sol quickly sizes up, turns from dark green to scarlet, and has excellent, very hot flavor. The serrano originated on the mountain ridges north of Puebla and Hidalgo in Mexico. Rarely dried, they are usually eaten fresh green in sauces, condiments, or as a key ingredient in fiery Mexican dishes. Mini: 30 seeds. Days to Maturity or Bloom: 55 green, 75 red ripe"		26" plant, 3.5" fruit		616 points
Park 42,		Giant Thai Hot - THAI, GREEN TO RED - thin walls, 0.75 inch wide. From the Park catalog: " Festive red and green peppers dangle from this plant like tiny Christmas lights! Wicked little 2-inch peppers really pack in the heat at 6,000 Scovilles. 42 days. With twice the flesh per pod as Thai Hot, this fabulous new workhorse gives you even more piping-hot spice in every bite! The 2-inch peppers mature from green to red, with both colors present at once on the plant. This creates a festive look, somewhat like a string of Christmas tree lights! Resist the temptation to pop one into your mouth, though -- they deliver a good zing at 6,000 Scovilles! Start seeds indoors or, in climate with short growing seasons, outdoors at least one week after last frost. If starting indoors, allow 7 to 10 weeks for the seeds to mature into seedlings large enough to transplant safely. Fertilize when the blooms appear, and water well. Fruit is most nutritious if allowed to ripen on the plant. Pkt is 25 seeds." High Seed Potency		?" plant, 2" fruit		560 points
Burp 65,		Ristra Cayenne - CAYENNE, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 0.75 inch wide. From the Burpee catalog: " This super producer yields impressive numbers of foot-long fruits. They start off a lovely lime green then ripen fully to bright crimson red. Exceptionally thin walls make the harvests excellent for stringing into large 'ristras' for quick drying. Then snip one from the bunch when ready to use and crumble into a pot of chili or bowl of salsa. Chop or slice thinly and eat fresh too. Strong plants hold fruits high for easy picking. Cayenne peppers have 30,000-50,000 Scovilles of heat- 6 times hotter than a Jalapeno but one-third to one-tenth the heat of a Habanero." High Seed Potency		?" plant, 0.75" x 12" fruit		432 points
Jung 69, Shum 65, Stok 68, Ttom 69,		Recommend Cherry Bomb - - CHERRY, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 1.5 inches wide. Grown in '08 with good success. From the Totally Tomato catalog: " First hybrid hot cherry, with 30-50 percent greater yield. Used both green and red for canning and pickling. Medium-hot, 2-1/2" by 1-1/2" fruits are thick-walled. Resists Tobacco Mosaic."		?" plant, 1.5" x 2.5" fruit		360 points
Park 65,		Early Jalapeno Organic - - JALPENO, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 1 inch wide. From the Park catalog: " More than a week earlier than the standard Jalapeno M. Very heavy-yielding over a long season! 65 days. Where would we be without the Jalapeno atop our nachos and chopped into our Mexican food? Now everyone's favorite hot pepper is available in Certified Organic seed form, for a heavy-bearing little plant that will keep you in great eating for months to come! Just 3 to 4 inches long and about 1 1/2 inches wide, these cone-shaped, thick-walled fruits are borne in great numbers on very vigorous plants. They are ready to pick when dark green, delivering a wallop of pure heat! And if you want to keep pesky bugs out of the garden, edge it with Jalapeno plants! The hot fruit is a good deterrent to many destructive pests! Start seeds indoors or, in climate with short growing seasons, outdoors at least one week after last frost. If starting indoors, allow 7 to 10 weeks for the seeds to mature into seedlings large enough to transplant safely. Fertilize when the blooms appear, and water well. Fruit is most nutritious if allowed to ripen on the plant. Pkt is 25 seeds."		?" plant, 3" fruit		288 points
John 70,		El Jefe - - JALAPENO, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 1 inch wide. From the Johnnys catalog: " Large, smooth fruit. Tall, high-yielding plants with resistance to BLS 1-3. Compared to Conchos, El Jefe has slightly larger fruit with narrower shoulders and less checking (cracks in skin). Easy to pick. Avg. 4,000 seeds/oz. Mini: 30 seeds. Plant Cycle: Days to Maturity or Bloom: 67 green, 90 red ripe"		?" plant, 3.5" fruit		280 points
Burp 66,		Biker Billy - JALAPENO, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 2 inches wide. From the Burpee catalog: " A blazingly hot jalapeño 59 days to harvest. the hottest we've ever tasted. Burpee Exclusive. Customer Favorite! We've named this flaming red pepper after Bill (Biker Billy) Hufnagle, a guy who loves hot peppers as much as we do. Biker Billy's a freewheeling food lover, pepper gardener, vegetarian and Harley rider, whose motto is "Life's too short for dull food." Hot peppers, he says, offer more fun and more flavors than any other vegetable. So take your taste buds on a culinary road trip with our hot Biker Billy pepper, a jalapeno packed with rich flavor. Billy likes them flaming red and at their sweetest. Fruits are large, measuring 2" at the shoulder and 3.5" long. " High Seed Potency		?" plant, 4" fruit		264 points
Terr 66,		Early Jalapeno - - JALAPENO, GREEN TO RED - thick walls, 1 inch wide. From the Territorial catalog: " 66 days. Most familiar in their green stage, jalapenos are hottest and fully ripe when they turn red. The stocky 2 foot tall plants will not fall over or break branches even with a heavy load of fruit. The short, 2-3 inch peppers are thick-walled and juicy. Use fresh, pickled, or in sauces. Early Jalapeno will set fruit under cooler conditions than other jalapeno varieties. Also available as a plant."		?" plant, 3" fruit		264 points

Potato

Days to Maturity		Name - Description		Maturity		Size/Yield
Considering: none for 2007-2011

Pumpkin

Days to Maturity		Name - Description		Product
Recommend:
Jung 90,		Recommend Autumn Gold , [AAS Winner] starts out yellow, then turns gold and finally orange when ripe. You may be harvesting your first one in mid-August. Medium Seed Potency		5 to 10 pounds
Feld 95, Jung 100, Pine 99,		Recommend Bush Spirit , [AAS Winner] a true bush pumpkin, can grow good sized fruit. Dependable. Medium Seed Potency		5 to 20 pounds
Considering:
Burp 85, Farm 85, Shum 110, Stok 100,		Lumina - White skinned, tinged with green, pumpkin with deep orange flesh...very different looking. From the Farmers' catalog: "The Lumina PVP Pumpkin is white and perfect for Halloween carving! The bright orange flesh cooks well, makes great pies. Lumina PVP Pumpkins are eerie pumpkins that grow 8 to 10 inches. Weigh about 10-12 pounds. 80-90 days." We grew this in 2002. We will grown this in 2011.		10 to 12 pounds
Jung 85-100,		Winter Luxury - From the Jung catalog: "Makes the most velvety pumpkin pie you'll ever eat! Nearly 100 years later, we still rate this pumpkin among the best. It is enormously productive, medium in size being about ten inches in diameter, almost globe shaped and ripens early. The skin is finely netted and color is a beautiful golden russet which is a sign of fine quality. The flesh is very thick, sweet and sugary and deep golden in color. An excellent keeper for winter use."		8 to 12 pounds
Jung 60-80, Stok 65, Terr 90,		Neon - From the Territorial catalog: " C. pepo 80 days. We saw Neon glowing orange in our pumpkin trials far earlier than any other variety. Ripening extra early to accelerate the pumpkin harvest, you can start picking up to a month earlier than many other pumpkins. Just right for pies and jack-o-lanterns, the 7-8 pound, uniform globes measure about 10 inches wide and 8 1/2 inches tall. Semi-bush plants. "		7 to 10 pounds
Stok 100, Vrmt 100,		Sorcerer, [AAS Winner] - Deep orange, heavy ribbing. Excellent performer in hot and cold seasons. Grown in 2004-10. Grown in 2010, a very cold season, and it did not perform well. Will try something else in 2011. Medium Seed Potency		15 to 25 pounds
Bakr ?, Seed ?,		Lady Godiva - green-speckled stripes, hull-less seeds. Yeilds 2-3 fruits/plant, Grown in 2008 by partner Mark McAtee, and by all of us in earlier seasons with great success. Fruit remains dark green and never does turn orange. Low Seed Potency		5-8 pounds
Stok 100,		Magician - Good yeilds, vigorous plant.		20 to 30 pounds
John 100,		Kakai- green-speckled stripes, hull-less seeds. Yeilds 2-3 fruits/plant, Grown in 2006-07, So-so performance. Low Seed Potency		5-8 pounds
Stok 65,		Neon - perfect shape, 10 to 13 inches, semi bush, very early, probably the earliest pumpkin you can grow.		7 to 10 pounds
Stok 90,		Trickster- Semi bush, multi purpose		3 to 3 1/2 pounds
Pine 90,		Harvest Moon - Vigorous and prolific		8 to 12 pounds
Burp 95, Home 90, John 95, Pine 90,		Orange Smoothy - AAS Winner - (Cucurbito Pepo) strong handles, smooth skin		5 to 8 pounds
Jung 95, Shum 90, Terr 90,		Snack 'R Jack/Snack Jack - light ribbed pumpkin with hull-less seeds, 6 to 10 fruit per vine		1 to 3 pounds
John 98,		Rock Star - (Cucurbito Pepo) Vigorous, adaptable, 1-2 fruit per plant		25 pounds
Stok 100, Terr 95,		Magic Lantern - vigorous, compact vine, 12 X 16 inches		16 to 24 pounds
Stok 100,		Magic Wand - Deep orange skin		15 to 24 pounds
Stok 98,		Magician - Round and very dark orange		8 to 16 pounds
John 85,		Racer - (Cucurbito Pepo) Very Early, Highly Productive, short vines, 3-4 fruit per plant. Grown in 2002. Steady producer. Would consider growing this variety again.		12 to 18 pounds
Have Grown in the Past:
Varieties We Rate as Failures:		Golden Hawk, Casper, Streaker Jack, Howden
Varieties We Rate as So-So:		We-B-Little, Baby Boo, Jack-Be-Little, Gurney's Giant

= Rated for Taste
= Rated for Production

Squash - Summer
Days to Maturity		Name - Description		Plant Height/Length		Product
Recommend:
John 50, Nich 52, Park 45, Pine 50, Stok 52, Terr 55,		Recommend Gold Rush Zucchini, [AAS Winner] (Cucurbita pepo) - vigourous plants, yellow fruit has sweet flesh, not ever bitter, tender skins, pick early and often. Grown in 1999-2007. Will grow in '08. High Seed Potency		4 feet		6 to 18 inches
Burp 48,		Recommend Super Zuke (Cucurbita pepo) - extremely productive zucchini, seedless. Grown in 2002-2007. Will grow in '08. Low Seed Potency.		5 feet		long as you want
Feld 50, Home 50, John 52, Nich 50, Pine 50, Park 50, Terr 60, Vrmt 50,		Recommend Sunburst Scallop/Pattypan, [AAS Winner] (Cucurbita pepo) - vigorous producer, fruit is 2 inches high and has great flavor. Grown in 2002-07. Will grow in '08. Medium Seed Potency		5 feet		3 to 6 inches
Considering:
Jung 58,		Recommend Perfect Pick Hybrid Zuc (Cucurbita pepo) - extremely productive zucchini, seedless. Low Seed Potency.		5 feet		long as you want
Squash - Winter
Days to Maturity		Name - Description		Plant Height/Length		Product
Recommend:
Jung 90, Vesy 90,		Recommend Acorn - Heart of Gold (Cucurbita pepo) - white with green stripes, acorn-type fruit but heart-shaped, about same size as acorn, milder flavor than Table Ace. Produced well in 2004 and 2005 - a very cold seasons, grown in 2006-07. Will grow in '08.. Medium Seed Potency		8 feet		7 inches
Feld 70, Gurn 70, John 85, Jung 80, Park 70, Pine 75, Sche 70, Stok 78, Vrmt 70,		Recommend Acorn - Table Ace (Cucurbita pepo) - dark green, delicious, semi-bush plant, 5 inch wide fruit, productive in our climate. Have planted every year from 2000 to 2008. Did not grow well in 2004 or 2005 - very cold seasons, but did alright in 2008 another cold year. Medium Seed Potency		3 feet		7 inches
John 95, Jung 88, Nich 85, Park 95, Stok 95,		Recommend Kobocha - Sunshine, [AAS Winner], (Cucurbita maxima) - an Ambercup type developed by Johnnys, very sweet and nutty flesh, stores well. Produced well in 2004-09. Will grow again in '10. From the Jung Seed Catalog: "Recognized by its bright red-orange color, but sought-after for its flavor. The vitamin-rich, bright orange flesh of this Kobocha-type winter squash is thick, creamy-smooth and stringless with outstanding sweet, nutty flavor. Space-saving 6 to 8 foot vines yeild a good supply of the flattened, globe-shaped, 3 to 4 pound fruits. Early maturity and wide adaptability makes it a good choice for almost any growing location in North America."Medium Seed Potency		6 to 8 feet		3 to 4 pounds
Considering:
Burp 100, Pine 100, Seed 88,		Hubbard - Lakota (Cucurbita maxima) - a small hubbard, developed from an heirloom originally from the Lakota (Sioux). It produced squash for us in 2008, 2009, and 2010 cold years. We have grown this for at least 8 seasons and will grow it again in 2011.		12 feet		5 to 7 pounds
Jung 83,		Butternut - Canesi (Cucurbita moschata) - Very early Buttercup, worth a try. From the Jung Seed Catalog: "The earliest butternut squash to date. Smooth, tan-skinned fruits are large for an early variety, measuring 10 to 12 inches in length and weighing about 6 lbs. each. The seed cavity is small, so you get more flesh per fruit. And great-tasting, bright yellow flesh it is - sweet, fine-textured and smooth. Bigorous and productive. Fruits keep well in storage." Grown in 2010, a very cold season, and we were on the verge of getting a ton of these when the first hard frost hit. Will try again in 2011.		5 feet		6 pounds
Burp 75,		Butternut - Butterbush (Cucurbita moschata) - Very early Buttercup, worth a try. From the Burpee Seed Catalog: "Deep red-orange flesh is rich and delicious. Space-saving, bush-type plants grow only 3 ft long. Each bears 4-5 butternut-shaped fruits averaging 1½ lbs. A sweet staple and a great source of vitamin A. Winter squash keeps for months and makes superb pie. Plant when soil is warm. For bush types, sow 3-4 seeds in groups (hills) spaced 6-8 ft apart. 25 seeds per packet, will plant 6 groups."		5 feet		1 1/2 pounds
Gurn 85,		Recommend Hubbard - Hybrid Blend (Cucurbita maxima) - A blend of baby hubbards: Green, white, orange. Medium Seed Potency		3 feet		7 inches
Jung 84, Pine 85, Stok 75, Vrmt 84,		Kobocha - Sweet Mama - [AAS Winner] (Cucurbita maxima) - fat-disk shape, black, Grew in 2009, a cold year, adequate production. SSP		5 feet		2 to 3 pounds
John 85,		Acorn - Jet (Cucurbita pepo) - Bigger and better tasting than Table Ace.		6 to 8 feet ?		3 to 5 pounds
John 95,		Kobocha - Confection , (Cucurbita pepo) - a Buttercup type,grey color, very sweet and nutty flesh, stores well. Yeilds 3/4 fruits per plant. Grown in 2005-07. Would consider growing this again some time. Medium Seed Potency		6 to 8 feet ?		3 to 5 pounds
Bakr 95, Feld 105, Gurn 105, Home 100, John 95, Jung 100, Pine 100, Seed 100, Shum 100, Stok 90, Terr 115,		Buttercup - Burgess (Cucurbita maxima) - extra sweet flesh. This squash and Hubbard Squash have the best flavor. Black, round, straight sides, rounded button bottom. Produced well in 2004 and 2005 - very cold seasons. Grown 1997-07. Would grow again some time.Medium Seed Potency		11 feet		3 to 10 pounds
Burp 75,		Acorn - Early (Cucurbita pepo) - yeilds 5 fruit per plant, sweet nutty and smooth flesh SSPPP		?		3 to 4 pounds
Stok 75,		Acorn - Autumn Delight (Cucurbita pepo) - high yeilding, Semi Bush. Several Days earlier than Table Ace. SSPPP		?		3 to 4 pounds
Vrmt 95,		Buttercup - Autumn Cup (Cucurbita maxima) - Semi bush plants, buttercup-type, dark green, plants produce 3 to 4 fruits, SSSP		?		2 1/2 to 5 pounds
Terr 90		Buttercup - Discus Bush (Cucurbita maxima) - True bush plants, up to 4 fruit per plant SSSP		3 feet		3 pounds
Jung 95, Shum 90,		Hubbard - Baby Blue(Cucurbita maxima) - same as the big blue, but much smaller SSSP		?		5 to 7 pounds
Seed 95,		Hubbard - Blue Ballet (Cucurbita maxima) - A smaller version of Blue Hubbard.		?		3 to 6 pounds
Terr 110,		Hubbard - Sugar (Cucurbita maxima) - Cross between Sweet Meat and Blue Hubbard, blue-grey skin color, stores up to a year, 4 to 5 fruit per vine SSPP		10 feet		15 to 20 pounds
Bakr 95, Nich 95, Terr 115,		Hubbard - Sweet Meat (Cucurbita maxima) - best squash for pies period, SSSP		10 feet		10 to 15 pounds
Seed 100,		Kobocha - Hopi Orange (Cucurbita maxima) - traditional, tasty, juicy, great for pies, vigorous vines, great keeping qualities SSSP		?		10 to 15 pounds
Bakr ?, Jung 105,		Red Warty Thing/Victor very small orange hubbard		?		? pounds
Have Grown in the Past:
Jung 95, Nich 75, Park 85, Pine 82, Sche 82, Stok 75, Terr 85, Vrmt 85,		Early Butternut , All America Winner(Cucurbita moschata) - sweet-nutty flavor, fat neck of the fruit is solid meat., small seed cavity. Grown in 2001, and 2008, and we are not happy with its performance in a cold season.		6 to 8 feet ?		3 to 5 pounds
Acorn - Royal (Cucurbita pepo) - high yeilding, stores well, moderately sweet , very good baked SSPPP. We grew this in 2003. Did not grow well in 2004 - a very cold season.
All Seasons (Cucurbita maxima) - a bush buttercup, at least that is what is claimed, 4 to 5 inch wide fruit on a compact plant, sweet and tender flesh. Fruit look like little orange pumpkins. Grown in 2001. Would consider growing this variety again
Early Butternut, All America Winner(Cucurbita moschata) - sweet-nutty flavor, fat neck of the fruit is solid meat., small seed cavity. Grown in 2001. Would consider growing this variety again
Golden Hubbard (Cucurbita maxima) - same taste and storing qualities of its bigger brothers, orange, this is the one hubbard you might actually get to harvest, matures earlier than most other hubbards. Grown in 2000, 2001, 2002. Would consider growing this variety again
Kobocha - BonBon, (Cucurbita pepo) - AAS Winner (2005) - a Buttercup type developed by Johnnys, very sweet and nutty flesh, stores well. Yeilds 4 fruits per plant. We found nothing special about this buttercup in 2005.
Hubbard - Green (Cucurbita maxima) - introduced in the 1790's, sweet dark orange flesh, Vigorous vines, prolific yeild. We grew this in 2003. It was productive in a tough year. Did not grow well in 2004 or 2005 - very cold seasons.
Kobocha - Jung's Mooregold (Cucurbita maxima) - Orange, fat-disk shape, 4 to 5 inches deep, vigorous, productive. It was productive under tough conditions. Produced so-so in 2004 - a very cold season. We will replace with Sunshine.
Varieties We Rate as Failures:		Bush Delicata, Ambercup, Gold Nugget, Sweet Dumpling, Rumbo

Click here to email Fred Jacquot