I've grown annuum varieties for a few years and I'm puzzled about the effect of potting soil quality on their growth. Since I recycle my soil, I tend to use a 50/50 mix on cheaper plants.
This year, by chance, I have gochu pepper plants that are in new soil, 50/50 mix, and completely recycled soil. The plant in completely recycled soil is by far the largest and is producing peppers already, while the one in new soil is about half the size. Last year I had a similar experience with a new soil vs. 50/50 mix as well, where the more recycled material there is the better the annuum does. I haven't seen this on chinense varieties for whatever reason, though.
Question is, what properties or deficiencies of the recycled soil might lead to the better growth? I'm looking to understand what might be happening so I can take advantage of it in following years as well.
I just learned this so apologies if it's common knowledge, but I figure on the chance it'll help someone else:
Turns out paprika is ground sweet pepper, or bell pepper, meaning it can cause problems for people allergic to capsicum annuum plants (chillies, peppers, capsicums, bell peppers) or nightshade plants (tomatoes, potatoes, bell peppers, hot peppers, eggplant, tomatillos, goji berries, blueberries*). The same goes for the spice cayenne.
I'm very allergic to bell peppers, among other things, and for years I've known I couldn't have "something" in spice blends. I'd previously ruled out paprika because, what even is paprika? It's like salt right? No, past me, it is the crushed essence of the very thing you're allergic to.
Anyway guess who's the clown who had fries with paprika on them yesterday.
*Edit: Blueberries are not nightshades! They just contain a similar chemical, solanine alkaloid. Thanks u/bituna
I've seen conflicting information about this-- Reimer Seeds claims that humidity domes create too humid an environment for certain varieties since some are desert-adapted. Does anyone know which varieties they're talking about specifically?
It sounds plausible, but then again, they also sent me a bunch of dead seeds and plenty of people germinate peppers with a humidity dome, so I'm not sure how seriously to take this advice.
Specifically, I'm trying to germinate Chimayo and Jwala peppers, both capsicum annuum.
