Some people like it hot while others like it sweet, but for those who prefer spicy food, nothing can be more rewarding than having their own heirloom pepper plants in their garden.
Imagine cooking your favorite dish, and a last moment garnishing can be done by just going out into your garden and picking out some fresh heirloom pepper varieties.
The relationship between people and peppers have been a long-running affair and chili peppers traces its origin back to 7000 BC, and is said to be from Mexican origin.
Heirloom plants have become quite popular recently and a lot of gardening enthusiasts today are switching their gardens into a total heirloom frenzy, not to mention the varieties they keep.
The best part about heirloom plants is that they can restore seeds which can be either exchanged or replanted for future use. Although, you might find tomatoes and melons to be some of the most popular choices in the heirloom category, very few people prefer heirloom pepper plants.
For those who haven’t got enough reasons to choose heirloom pepper plants over other fruits and vegetables. Here are some varieties that you would love to keep:
Alma Paprika Pepper – this is the best pepper for grinding and drying of paprika and can be eaten fresh. These plants are extremely productive and have a very thick wall with a very sweet taste. These peppers ripen itself to cream white, red or orange.
Black Hungarian Pepper – these peppers are extremely useful in the kitchen and can be used for decorative purposes. It has green foliage that has been given the beauty of purple flowers and greens. The shapes are similar to jalapenos, but are shiny red or black in color.
Cyklon Pepper – here is something that is extremely hot but with a very smooth flavor. This extremely red pepper is used extensively in the spice industry and is very popular in Portland as it is easy to dry.
Beaver Dam Pepper – these are widely hot and extremely crunchy fruits. It ripens itself to light green or red and has an excellent flavor. They’re great for your salsa treats.
Chervena Chushka Pepper - these are generally used for toasting but have a superb sweet pepper taste. Its bright red texture with its glossy feel is very close to a candy look.
Fatali Pepper – this is one of the hottest peppers ever found in the food industry. These plants grow 30 inches tall and have long shaped pepper that is Golden yellow in color. They have a very nice citrusy flavor, but are extremely hot.
Georgia Flame Pepper – this bright red pepper is yet another great addition to your salsas. They have a very thick and crunchy texture and are used extensively for salads too.
These are only a few among the list of heirloom pepper plants. If you wish to grow these plants from heirloom pepper seeds, they are easily available in your local nursery or with gardening hobbyists.