[CH] Re: Peri Peri
Peter Moss (pmoss@yoda.alt.za)
Mon, 19 Nov 2001 21:11:15 RSA-2
Hi Susan
On 19 Nov 01 at 6:39, Susan Byers wrote:
> I have several different chiles that were sent to me as Peri Peri. Most
> are the fructens type but one was like a small serrano -- it was a
> beautiful plant.
The African devil just to use a local name that I had was
donated to me by the birds. Lovely hardy bush (4..5ft) high.
It obviously has adapted to our climate and conditions through
the years of naturalisation. Seed germination (fresh) both here
and Jim C's seed germination service is low (20..25%) Possibly
because the norm is passage through a bird ;-)
Unfortunately I moved house and left that bush and one of its
children behind. I have about 500 odd seeds (~4 year old) and if
I get a chance in the near future will plant out 100..200 or so.
I have plenty of friends who will take any I don't need ;-)
Interestingly enough where I am now, the considerably wetter
side of town I have not seen this chile growing. It is replaced
by a birds eye C. baccatum. There are at least four of these
growing under my trees and I have seen many others in and
around the area.
Due to other pressures I have not had much chance to give my
chile patch much attention for two years. The C. chinense types
are decimated along with most C. annuums. The survivors are C.
pubescens (rocoto) all and most C. baccatums.
> I had Peri Peri in the plant catalog a few years ago and they pretty mcuh
> ended up in the community kitchen garden as they did not sell. The similar
> annuum types sell like hotcakes---what is the difference I wonder?
Probably due to ignorance of the name and lack of any
connection or association with it. This seems to be changing
slowly with quite a few peri-peri sauces on the US market now.
I doubt that it will ever be a big seller unless promoted by
some hollyweird block buster movie. ;-)
Or just sell them as birds eye chiles ;-)
Regards
Peter
--
Peter Moss
After one hundred and fifty years and many thousands of firearms
control laws to reduce crime the list of successes should be
long and illustrious. Where is the list?