I was not able to plant a full garden this year due to monetary and time constraints. We recently moved to this new house and there was so much to do! I compromised by planting my favorites in container gardens. The herbs have been flavoring my cooking all summer, but I just picked the first vegetable of my labor, a medium hot pepper.

My favorite thing to do with hot peppers is to slice them and put them in my salads for extra zip. I have pimentos and cayenne peppers ripening also, so I will be able to make salsa soon.

I am already thinking about next year and what I am going to plant. Because they are my favorite, I am planning the pepper section first. I am going to order my pepper seeds from fantastic site, pepperjoe.com, they have a great selection. It is a favorite of Martha Stewart, don’t just take my word for it. They offer no genetically- altered seeds, and they are 100% organic. You should check out the X-rated pepper that is shaped like a (gasp!) penis. No really, it is…see the “Peter Pepper” here.

I grew the PEPPER JOE CAYENNE this year, and I cannot wait to try these other varieties next year…

• HAITI CLUSTER PEPPER
• PAPRIKA PEPPER
• 5 COLOR MARBLE
• BARNEY PEPPER
• FIRECRACKER CHILE
• CHICKEN HEART PEPPER
• JALAPENO PEPPER-EARLY
• ITALIAN PEPPERONCINI
• CHARLESTON PEPPER
• SWEET CRIMSON
• FLUORESCENT PURPLE PEPPER
• and of course, the “Peter Pepper”

You can see all of the Pepper Joe pepper varieties on the Pepper Joe website. Happy browsing!