This summer The Deer Hunter and I found a new favorite sweet pepper to grow-Gypsy Peppers.
B. Ruth, Blind Pig reader, attended my Celebration of Appalachia last May-and she came bearing gifts!
B.Ruth brought me a little packet of Gypsy Pepper plants-if I remember correctly there was six. I shared 2 with Granny and that left us with 4 to try.
Those 4 plants have produced boo-coos of peppers. There are so many peppers the plants begin to droop over if you don’t pick them ever few days. They are tasty peppers too.
We’ve eaten them raw, diced them and put them in the freezer for future use-and I’ve even roasted some of them to use in my favorite Red Pepper Roast Soup (I don’t think the soup will notice they’re not red do you?).
I believe Gypsy Peppers are hybrids, B.Ruth can correct me if I’m wrong, since that is the case-I’m hoping I can find the plants for sale in my area come next spring.
Ever grown Gypsy Peppers?
Tipper
p.s. THANK YOU B.RUTH!
I looked on the net and saw Burpee sold the seeds for your peppers and I saw several places that was selling the plants so you should be able to find your pepper if you order them.
Tipper,
and Don…the All American Award Winner Gypsy Pepper seeds are available thru Burpee Seed Company. I suppose others have the seeds as well.
Bonnie Plants also carry the seedling plants in the Spring. I always like to get there early and make sure I get my pepper, etc. from a tray that hasn’t been picked over. I have made the guy give me plants off the incoming truck if I am lucky enough to catch the Bonnie Company unloading at Lowe’s…Why you ask? Well, folks have a way of swapping out labels and plants for bigger or greener plants and you just might not get the plant you think you are buying! Save your receipt…One year I had a mix-up on some six-pacts of plants. They turned out to be entirely different from what I bought. I took my receipt and back to Lowe’s I went. Talked to the manager and they gave me my money back. No, they didn’t give us our time and weeding chores…LOL
Just sayin’
Thanks Tipper,
PS…We have grown Gypsy since the first year they hit the market and we love them!
Don’t you remember Gregor Mendels theory about the hybrid peas from school. You cross A with B and get AB. Then cross AB with AB and get either AA, BB or AB. AAs and ABs are OK but be careful with BBs. You could put somebody’s eye out.
I like the sound of Gypsy Peppers. Love all kinds of peppers both hot and sweet. Either kind added to a grilled cheese sandwich tastes super good. Hope you share your recipe for Roasted Red Pepper Soup.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN GET SOME OF THOSE GYPSY PLANTS .
THANKS YOUR BLIND PIG READER
JOHNIE IN ARKANSAS.
Cheryl-thank you for the comments! We have planted a few things for fall-weve got sugar snap peas, lettuce, turnips, and mustard greens growing. I also planted a few more cucumbers and squash-they should have time to produce before the cold arrives but we shall see! Thanks for the link-looks like a great source!
Not sure about Gypsy peppers, but my old college friend, Ira Wallace works for Southern Exposure Seed Exchange a cooperative farm in Virginia that provides heirloom and shared seeds. Just re-connected with her in time to maybe order some seeds for fall planting. What do you plant for fall? Down here in Columbia, it’s still so hot I don’t know if I can plant yet, but hoping to start some late beans, and later some lettuce and maybe spinach. What varieties do you like for fall?
Tipper,
I think I am going to need your recipe for Red Pepper Roast Soup!
Have you posted the recipe before? I don’t remember seeing it! Sounds great for the men around here that really love peppers! I could drop in a hot pepper for them and mild for the ladies…maybe!
That really sounds good for serving on a cool Fall evening. Especially, if all the gang is a watching the football games!
Thanks Tipper
Try saving a few seeds and give them a try next year. You might get a pleasant surprise!
Tipper,
I am glad you liked the Gypsy pepper. I let some of ours get ripe (turn red and orange) then mix the green and red diced or slivered to go in the freezer.
Ours didn’t make till late due to our silliness of planting some giant tomatoes in front of them blocking out the sun they love.
We love slicing them in long wide slivers and dip them along with our cucumbers, etc. or use them in a garden slaw, with tomatoes, cabbage, cucumbers etc.
I love the mild crisp taste without the thickness of a bell pepper. I love bell peppers too, and have mixed them in packets for the freezer as well. Just take out a whole package, rap it against the counter, pour what you want in the meat loaf mix or whatever and put the rest back in the freezer. No buying those expensive winter peppers.
I believe I could eat them for breakfast, yes we have, chopped, in an omelet, lots of good vitamins.
Glad you enjoyed them,
Thanks Tipper.
PS…Yes, Gypsy is a hybrid!
Our greenhouse here grows them from seed!
Tipper and B. Ruth, I want some seeds!!!
Those look like the same peppers I ate for breakfast every day several years ago when doing some work in Szekesfehervar, Hungary. They were very sweet and of the same color as the one in your picture.
I’ve been unsuccessful in my searches here.
Ah! Another pepper for me to search for and try. I love to grow peppers and each year I find at least two plants to enjoy.
Tipper,
I had the pleasure of meeting B.
Ruth at the Martin’s Creek thing
awhile back, and I know she’s had
more experience at growing things
in the garden than me, but I’ve
never heard of Gypsy Peppers.
One time I growed some hot peppers and sent them to my Son-in-law in Seattle. Since he
loves hot peppers, I sent him a
whole shoebox full. (Cost a small
fortune), but he enjoyed having
some gardening stuff from home.
My daughter said she saw sweat
beaded up on his forehead and run
down his jaws but he didn’t mind.
Hope Chitter and Chatter enjoy
their new school…Ken
Tip, I’ve never heard of Gypsy Peppers but if It’s sweet I’s like to make it’s acquaintance. I’ve never met a sweet pepper I didn’t like!