[CH] Rocotos

Cameron Begg (begg.4@osu.edu)
Mon, 12 Jul 1999 09:09:10 -0500 

Hi C-H's,
Thank you all for your replies to my question about your plants. I am 
happy that you are having success. However, be warned that they are 
deceptively easy to grow but can be very trying in the fruit setting 
department. There is nothing so disappointing as having the soil 
strewn with purple blossoms and not a single pod forming. But hang in 
there. They become better after a year or two.

I'll add a few comments and suggestions to recent posts.
1:
"My question is what are typically good uses for the crop? Are they good
for drying and subsequent powder? Or do they have their own special
flavour to use fresh, such as habs? Or is there a particular dish in
which they are a "must-have" ingredient?"

They have a really good flavor and can be used in almost anything. It 
is impossible to describe a flavor; so you'll just have to wait and 
see. The heat effect is unusual. It must be because the ratios of 
capsaicins in rocoto pods are different to most other chile species. 
They certainly pack a reasonable wallop. I would say that they are 
not as suitable for drying because they are so fleshy. They freeze 
very well though.

2:
"Now that I've got to worry about cross-pollination even among the 
Rocotos, how do I prevent it (for seed saving)?"

Cheese cloth bags over the plants might work, but this would indicate 
that you have to do all the pollination yourself. Bags might shade 
the plants enough that you can grow them in full sun. Otherwise they 
do better in partial shade. Amongst other insects wasps and hornets 
are attracted to the flowers.

3:
"I think I should feed them.  All I have is a general purpose Miracle 
Grow to put on them.  They are all in the shade away from the 104 
degree sun we have here in NJ.  They are watered daily."

Capsicums are in the same family as tomatoes (Solanacea) and as a 
result of the similarity, tomato fertilisers work extremely well. 
Because it's easier to get the soil condition correct I grow potted 
plants in an "organic" mixture made from topsoil, rotted cow manure 
and sand. You can control the rate of growth and vigor of the plants 
by judicious application of tomato fertilizer solutions. The one I 
use happens to be "Schultz" but any other e.g. "MiracleGro" will 
work. (I advise you to go for the weakest solution recommended on the 
packet "for use every time you water.")

4:
"How hot is too hot?  Where I live the day time temperature will be 
from 105, to 120 degrees for the next few months.  The night time 
temps will hover around 80 to 90."

They (rocotos) come from mountainous tropical areas where the day 
length is always about the same and the temeratures are 75-85degF in 
the daytime and 55-65degF at night. At temperatures over 95degF they 
start to look a bit limp and I would consider misting. They seem to 
prefer moderate humidity to high, but you won't have much choice 
there. The lowest overnight temperature I expose mine to is 45degF, 
but other people on this list have reported that they will withstand 
light frost.

---
                      Regards,               Cameron.