HELP! Name these peppers!

[MommaKitten21]

Hey ladies!! I know absolutely NOTHING about gardening! DH knows all about it, but unfortunately, not me! Before he shipped off, he planted these peppers. I have been trying to give them the best care and make sure I water them everyday, but I have no clue when to pick them or what to do with them.

I wont eat them (he is the only one who will!) I would LOVE some help with these.

What type of peppers are these? When should I pick them? And do any of you have any ideas as to how to can/preserve/make them into something that I can ship to him and his army buddies? I bet DH would love to have some comfort from home, and to know I didn't kill all the stuff in our flower beds/garden this year

http://s118.photobucket.com/albums/o...arden%20Stuff/

Thanks in advance Mama's!

[MissMommyNiceNice]

They all look like hot peppers...not sure about the first ones, growing upright, but they could be sweet...a good way to tell is to rub them and smell your fingers. The second long red crinkly one is a cayene for sure. The last look like a habanero, but again, there are sweets that look like that, so it would be best to do a sniff test first.

A simple way to preserve them is to slice rounds & pickle them. Very little cooking involved - just make a pickle brine, fill your hot sterilized jars with the rings, and pour the brine in over it, the seal & process.

Here's a good basic recipe:
http://www.food.com/recipe/4-square-...peppers-425048

I only soak peppers if you're doing them whole...you don't have to if you're just slicing them. I like the look of mixing colors. Do take the advice of really shoving them in there tight. And wear gloves, of course!


If you don't have the equipment, they make this great new starter kit:
http://www.freshpreservingstore.com/...TCL+1440010790

All my local grocery stores have it. I shipped some pickles overseas when my BIL was deployed, they got there in very good shape. Just wrap in paper, then in bubble wrap, and then put it in a ziploc in case it does happen to break, it won't damage anything else.

I can see the hot pepper eating contest now! :

[lunarlady]

The ones growing up into the air look like Thai chilies. This very hot pepper is great ion stir fry, soup, or dried and used later. The crinkly one looks Like chayanne to me, and is usually dried then ground. The round ones look like mini bells, but could be spicy. Try one and see! Either way, they are great pickled. Just pierce with a knife, cover with brine, and process. Throw a couple of the Thai ones in for variety if your DH likes things hot. Most peppers are red when ripe, but can be picked early if you want them a little more sour.

[MommaKitten21]

Thanks for the help!! I purchased that kit!

Quick question... are those peppers ready to be picked? And is it ok to mix and match for the recipes? Or do I need to keep each different pepper separate from the other?

I am so nervous about this! ha.

[MissMommyNiceNice]

The last pic some are ready, they'll turn red or orange. I usually mix & match for peppers, it gives the nicest presentation. If those are thais, you can use them green or red.

Don't be nervous! Pickles are the hardest to mess up. As long as you get the brine right. Make yourself some nice jelly to, for the kids.