I received what was supposed to be a Scotch Bonnet Rainbow Collection seed pack from a popular chili pepper seed vendor last winter. I carefully labeled my seedlings when I started them in my greenhouse, as well as when I planted them in the spring. However, it seems to me that only a couple of the plants were actual scotch bonnets? In my photo, it's clear that #2 is scotch bonnet. #1 looks more like a habanero to me? 3 – 6 all appear to be the same pepper at various stages of ripening but they don't look like scotch bonnets to me. Thoughts from my fellow chili heads?
On a related note, I have a boatload of these peppers at various stages of green. Is there anything you would suggest I do with them other than drying and using as a powder for garden pest and deer control?
by GeneralPatten
9 Comments
6 looks like a ghost pepper before it turns red !
1- habanero
2- scotch bonnet?
3-5 no clue
6- ghost
3 and 4 might be a lemon drop and aji Amarillo.
Can’t help with identification except they all look too hot for me. (I’m a wimp lol)
As for what to do with them:
– I dice my peppers and store them in the freezer. Easy to add a few spoonfuls to an omelette or take out larger quantities for a chili. It also prevents food waste. Either dice and freeze on a flat surface before putting in a container, or dice and freeze in a plastic bag but massage the bag after an hour in the freezer to loosen it up. That will help avoid them freezing into one big block. I also take the time to save seeds during this process for planting next season. Perhaps try to label/organize the seeds so you know which pepper it came from and only plant the ones you like, regardless of knowing its name.
– check out r/fermentation for homemade hot sauce suggestions too. Even if you don’t like the final product, you could still dilute and spray it in your yard as a deer deterrent.
#2 looks like a Datil.
Sometimes people will just use “scotch bonnet” to mean “a habanero-type *C. chinense* with (supposed) caribbean ancestry”…..and they do all look consistent with that — lots of different pod shapes can be found in that general category.
With the exception of number 2, they all look very close to habanero at different stages of maturity
5 pepperoncini?
1 looks like a habanero or sweet pepper
3/4 looks similar to aji limon.