2016 Grow List Finalized

      It's that time of year again. It seems like we just got done with the final harvest of 2015 and we are already gearing up to start germinating seeds for the 2016 season. As we do every year, we will be making adjustments to our list of varieties and to crop sizes. There will be some new varieties for 2016 that we are very excited to grow for the first time, we will continue to work on our hybrid varieties, and some of our poor performing varieties will be phased out. Our sixth fresh pepper season will begin in July, 2016.

      First, the good news. We have chosen four new varieties to include in our main crop next year. Some we have grown before in test plots, some we have never grown, but we are willing to take our chances.

• Fatalii Jigsaw - Rumored to be a contender for the next World Record for the hottest chili. A lot of great things are being said about this pepper but we have yet to try it for ourselves.
• 7 Pot Bubblegum - With its odd "bleeding calyxes" the 7 Pot Bubblegum was a favorite out of our test plots last year. Many customers missed out on the limited number we had for sale in 2015, so we will be adding production by putting them in the main crop.
  
• Trinidad Scorpion Yellow - We grew these in a test plot back in 2013. Huge, yellow, super hot scorpion pods. They have been waiting patiently for their opportunity to make the main crop. 2016 will be their year.
• Datil - If you don't know what these are, you may not be a true pepperhead. Datils are native to Florida, one of the only varieties of peppers considered "native" to the US. We have never had much luck with them in the Midwest, but we think we have the bugs worked out this time.

      Our test plots are going to be full of interesting varieties that we are excited to grow but are not ready for commercial production.

• 7 Pot Primo Chocolate - We came across a natural brown variation of the 7 Pot Primo in our field this year. Hopefully the variation is stable and the next generation grows true.
  
• Apocalypse Scorpion - We don't know much about it, but it looks mean and sounds mean, time will tell.
• MA Wartyx - This one looks extremely wicked but is apparently not stable. We will see how they do.
  
• Jwala - a traditional Indian chili, very popular in India. It isn't a superhot but many customers have asked us for them since they are difficult to find fresh in the US.

     Now for the bad news. Many varieties will not be back for the 2016 season. There were either issues with production or lack of interest in these. Some were test plots that just didn't show enough promise.

• 7 Pot Douglah - After growing for four consecutive seasons, this one is sitting 2016 out.
  
• Brain Strain (Red and Yellow) - Interest in these has been lacking, and the reds just never produce well. These are permanently out of the main crop unless demand changes.
• 7 Pot Jonah - Even though we love them and they are one of the best producers, customer interest has lacked.
• 7 Pot Savannah - Has never been a great producer, nor has it had high demand.
• Bolivian Rocoto - Produced too late in the year last year but customer reviews were good. It will be back someday when we work out the harvest timelines better.
  
• Chocolate Moruga and Chocolate 7 Pot Barrackpore - We didn't see very much difference between these and the Chocolate Trinidad Scorpion and aren't convinced they are not all the same variety. We chose to stay with the Chocolate Trinidad Scorpion due to is slightly higher yield.
  
• 7 Pot Madballz - Nothing really to say about this one other than "Meh".

    In total, we are dropping our main crop down to 18 varieties, but we are going to increase the harvest size of many of our more popular varieties. Chocolate habanero, Fataliis, yellow ghost peppers, chocolate ghost peppers and peach ghost peppers will all be available in larger quantities next year!

    A big thanks to ALL of our customers over the last five years. Without them this dream would have died long ago!

    Finally, here is the official 2016 grow list in its entirety

Main Crop

7 Pot Bubblegum
7 Pot Primo
7 Pot Primo Yellow
Bhut Jolokia Chocolate
Bhut Jolokia Peach
Bhut Jolokia Red
Bhut Jolokia Yellow
Carolina Reaper
Datil
Fatalii Jigsaw
Fatalii Red
Fatalii Yellow
Habanero Chocolate
MOA Scotch Bonnet
Trinidad Scorpion (Butch T)
Trinidad Scorpion Chocolate
Trinidad Scorpion Moruga
Trinidad Scorpion Yellow

Test Crop

7 Pot Burgundy X Prik Ki Nu (F3)
7 Pot Primo Chocolate
Apocalypse Scorpion
Bhaji Hot
Jwala
MA Wartyx
Numex Suave Orange
Trinidad Scorpion Moruga X Bell Pepper (F3)