New peppers, other veggies add spice

Last week we looked at this year's floral winners of the All American Selections honors. This week, we'll take on the vegetables — and one ornamental vegetable that made this year's cut.

When I first saw Ornamental Pepper "Black Pearl," I could tell it was an unusual introduction. First, it is a handsome plant with unusual striking black foliage. Second — and even better — is its ability to look good as the summer season progresses.

The plants branch out as they grow and produce more clusters of shiny, black, pearl-like, peppers. They grow tall and wide and develop a black pyramid shape without pinching, pruning or other grooming. Like most peppers, they have few serious insect or disease problems.

Another of "Black Pearl's"outstanding characteristic is its exceptional heat tolerance. It thrives when many other flowers start to fade. It requires minimal water and fertilizer, making it another good choice for Utah gardens. The plants are easy to grow from seed or as bedding or potted plants with the fruits already set.

Because the peppers last so well on the plants, they are never out of color. As the plants mature, the black peppers turn red, adding new color to the garden. Although these peppers are edible, they are very hot.

Two other peppers are top vegetable winners. Pepper F1 "Carmen" is an improved sweet pepper with an unusual shape. Most gardeners think of a bell shape when discussing "sweet" peppers, but Carmen changes that.

This is an Italian bull's horn type, meaning it has an elongated shape about 6 inches long. The medium thick flesh becomes sweeter when it is ripe red, but these are sweet even when immature or green. As an added bonus, this pepper turns red earlier than most other varieties.

In addition to the improved coloration, the peppers have a sweet flavor and high yield. "Carmen" is widely adaptable, and it flowers and sets fruit over a wide temperature range. However, like all peppers, it produces the highest number of peppers when grown in full sun with proper nutrients and water.

The upright plants are productive at a height of 28 to 30 inches. This is the perfect size for large patio containers. Grow them with sun-loving, trailing annuals, such as verbena to drape over the edge for a perfect combination of ornamental and edible plants.

Pepper F1 "Mariachi" is another tasty treat. This pepper is a beautiful plant when grown in a sunny location. It produces an abundant crop of high-quality, mild, pendant chili peppers — meaning they hang below the stem.