Daily Botanical: ‘Chinese Ornamental’ Hot Pepper
I know it’s been a slow week around here. I’ve been fighting off the worst cold/flu/virus I can remember in recent history and have been in bed all week feeling like utter crap. Today is the first day I have felt confident about sitting up for more than an hour-long stretch or forming complete sentences (sort of). Poor me.
Not the best picture but I am very proud of my little ‘Chinese Ornamental’ hot pepper this year. I grew it from seed in spring 2008 and brought it inside over the winter. This is its second year producing lots of tiny peppers and it won’t be long before I bring it back indoors again.
I grow mine in a very small pot (about 5″ tall) as a test to see how well it will thrive and produce when pushed. Grow yours in a bigger pot and you’ll turn out a bigger plant and a lot more peppers.
Don’t let the word ‘ornamental’ fool you. These diminutive peppers are fiery, but definitely edible. My hot pepper days are long behind me; however, I like to put a few of these in my pickles to give to friends who like theirs spicy.
September 17th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Pretty and useful. Great combination. Feel better soon.
September 18th, 2009 at 6:39 am
Gayla! Is that ever a pretty plant! Thanks for sharing the photograph with us. Get well soon.
September 18th, 2009 at 11:04 am
I like this photo!
I hope you feel better soon.
September 18th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Sorry to hear you’re under the weather. It sounds like you’re going to pull through though! haha. I’ll have to give peppers a try. I had several old fruit picking buckets adn tried to grow tomatoes in them this year..not good. They can’t spread out their roots and the pails got reeealy hot. (Our summers top 100 degrees for weeks on end). I may try pepers in them next spring though.
September 18th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
What a pretty plant. I like putting a small hot pepper in my pickles as well.
Hope you feel better soon.
September 18th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
My mother sent what was supposed to be a flower arrangement to my boyfriend’s father’s funeral, and what ended up getting there was an ornamental pepper plant. While adorable, not quite appropriate! It was rather embarrassing:)
September 19th, 2009 at 1:32 am
i love peppers , you know sometimes i cant it with out peppers as much i love ales ornaments i love it i take care of plants m actually, i like the colors .as ornaments and the same time a food supplement.
September 19th, 2009 at 1:37 am
just now i printed the pictures . i even make a title for the pictures , the colorful and savory peppers , pronto very interesting pictures to those who could take alook into.
September 19th, 2009 at 1:38 am
i couldnt help myself but to adore the pictures ,i love it really.
October 13th, 2009 at 7:25 am
Hey, Gayla, this is a hello from Egypt!
Just had to tell you: Beautiful picture and gorgeous pepper plant!
In a fit of gardening fervor (after being inspired by your website) I just planted four of those a few weeks ago, and they’ve sprouted little seedlings that are rapidly growing (but not quick enough for my impatient self).
October 13th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Fantastic Marwa! Hope you have great success with it