Six Week Outdoor Update for the 2021 Pepper Season

Six weeks. I can’t believe the pepper plants have been outside for almost two months now. It seems like – after the long wait to get them out of the house – time is just flying by. Since the last update, the plants have continued to grow and produce little peppers at a solid clip – the first harvest in site for a couple of plants in the next week or so.

Let’s start this update with the self-watering buckets. There are only five plants in this section of the yard for 2021, but so far all of them are looking really good and sporting at least a couple of immature pods. I don’t believe that the plants here are the same size as those from last year that spent time in the buckets, but they certainly do look good. Both the PBJ x Neyde (pictured below) and Moranga Peach Cross are packed with fruit. I’ve did have a small issue with Four-Lined bugs nibbling on a few leaves, but I caught them in the act and they are no longer a problem.T

The raised beds are also progressing along nicely with just about every plant sporting at least one immature pepper. I’ve already snacked on a few of the Buena Mulata (a review of an immature pod is coming soon) and will be stealing a Hatch pepper this week for dinner prep. As you can see below, they plants are starting to fill the beds nicely.

Pictured below is the Testanera. It’s one of the smaller plants in the raised beds, but it is absolutely packed under its canopy with little pods, some of which just look mean already.

And I am happy to announce that the Lava Scorpion – victim of a stalk boring worm earlier this season – is making a solid come back. It doesn’t have any buds yet, but as you can see below (right side, second from bottom), it is really doing its damnedest to catch up to the rest of the superhot peppers in this bed. I will continue to be its biggest cheerleader, of course.

And finally, the potted plants. All of these, including the Solid Gold Bhut which just showed off its first little pod this morning are looking exceptional. Every one of the plants looks super healthy with great foliage and many immature fruit. The photo below is of the White Chupetinho that looks like it will have a tasty treat for me later this week.

So far this season, the plants have been survived tremendous thunderstorms, lots of rain and are now entering another heat wave – and, so far, all have come out the other side great. Looking at the large number of unripe fruit on the plants, I am anxious to try out many of these new-to-me varieties and start feeling the burn. Until next time, happy gardening!