Hot Pepper Variety Trail 2022

2022 is the second year for the hot pepper variety trial, with purpose to diversify the local horticulture market.

The peppers are being grown in the same location as last year, due to the continuation of collaboration with the growers as well as two new locations in Sault Ste. Marie. The six varieties, with Scoville heat units (SHU) are as follows:

  • Devil Serrano- 6,000 SHU
  • Feroz Serrano- 10,000 SHU
  • Fresno 3429- 10,000 SHU
  • Velociraptor Habanero- 250,000 SHU
  • Megalodon Habanero- 270,000 SHU
  • Kabal Habanero- 300,000 SHU

Site one, located in Desbarats started all six varieties in early March and were transplanted to the greenhouse in early May. All varieties have 10+ healthy plants. Harvest of the hot peppers taken by RAIN will begin in the first week of July, and hopefully extending to the end of August.

Site two, located in Bruce Mines started all six varieties in early March, and were transplanted to the greenhouse early May. All varieties have 6+ healthy plants. Harvest of the hot peppers taken by RAIN will begin in the first week of July, and hopefully extending to the end of August.

Site three, located in Sault Ste. Marie started all varieties except Fresno 3429, with 15+ healthy plants. All plants were started early March and were transplanted outside early June. Harvest of the hot peppers taken by RAIN will begin in the first week of July, and hopefully extend to the end of August.

Site four, located in Sault Ste. Marie started only the Kabal habanero. These peppers were started indoor in early March and were transplanted to pots placed outside on May 30th. There are 28 peppers in total, with 9 plants being treated with an Epsom salt foliar spray, nine plants with an Epsom salt soil amendment and 10 plants being used as a control (no treatments).

Epsom salt is a chemical compound of magnesium, sulphur, and oxygen. Starting with a small trial of Epsom salt may be a great way to see if larger application of magnesium/sulphur are necessary on hot peppers.

At harvest, each treatment/plant will be analyzed separately. We will be looking for height of the plant, number of peppers per plant and the total weight of the peppers per plant in all trial locations. When all results have been pooled, we will be able to better determine the best varieties and option for a continuation of the trial.

For more information about this project, please contact:
Mikala Parr, Research Technician
705-942-7927 x3046
mparr@ssmic.com

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