THERE are some vegetables that love the heat of a summer’s day and can be grown in hot parts of the garden, however liking the heat does not mean they need less water, some need more.
Plants like sweet peppers grow well, either in the ground or in a pot.
They are hardy and on a much milder scale than the hot peppers.
The mild peppers come in a variety of colours and shapes and are commonly known as bell peppers, round Hungarian, Shishitos or long elongated Italian peppers.
Capsicums which are mild and used in salads, mainly come in bright red, rich green and yellow colours and can grow quite large.
Matter of fact some store-bought capsicum can be huge.
Hot peppers, include jalapenos, chilli and cayenne have a vast array of heat values.
If you like the real hot stuff I think that red can be the most potent, depending on the type.
Way back in late July last year I wrote a small column on peppers in general, talking about their heat rating and which peppers were the hottest tasting. These past copies are available online at Local Ipswich News, should you wish to further your knowledge.
The smaller peppers can be grown in a large bush, trimmed to give added branches and therefore give more fruit.
They grow well and need little attention.
There are few pests to deal with and if you want, any spare hot peppers can be added to water and diluted to make a pesticide spray for your other plants.
Keep in mind that if gathering seed for planting they will cross readily and you may find that you end up with a hot one the next time.
An added advantage with peppers is that when they have fruited, the plant can be cut back quite severely, new growth will appear and it’s possible to have more fruiting.
Eggplant, another plant just so easy to grow, loves the heat and mixed with other veges, say on a B-B-Q adds a different texture to your food.
They are a large egg like, very dark purple plant, glossy in colour , beautiful to see growing on a bush.
There are a few pests but these don’t seem to affect the fruit.
It has a peculiar texture and taste and is probably not for everyone, though mixing them with other vegetables and grilled, brings out a different flavour.
Then of course we have the tomato in its many different varieties, styles, shapes, colours and tastes.
Everyone’s favourite fruit, the tomato can be used in a myriad of ways, eaten raw, cooked, or mixed with other fruits and can be heated, frozen, canned, grilled, roasted, juiced and blended in so many ways and eaten on biscuits, bread or toasted.
And what’s more, is probably one of the easiest fruits to grow, however, there are many different ways that they can be attacked by pests when growing, so one must be on the lookout all the time.
They thrive in hot weather and are adaptable to many climates.
Grown now in large humidified houses with expert care and attention, these now bring us tomatoes all the year round.
Till next time.
