Tom,

Don't give up! You've had a setback a lot of new growers experience. Don't let a little bad luck discourage you. It will get better if you keep trying and learning from past fails.

Actually, from experience, great success in your first year gives you a cocky over confidence that damds you in year two and three.

With respect to paprika, I only have Alma paprika seed. I do however have a variety of other chili peppers if you want to give it another shot next season.

If you're interested, email me at: ottawapepper (at) hotmail (dot) com.

Ottawapepper,

Thanks for the words of encouragement, but I'm not giving up yet. I've got several varieties that seem to be doing well, and I'll try the Leutschauer again next year. I figure we all have our hard luck stories, and I thought people would get a chuckle from my little setback. I appreciate your kind offer of some seeds for new varieties, and I'll email you.

Tom

When seed shells don't come off, that means not enough friction was available to the plant to remove them in the soil and/or not enough humidity to soften the shell.

When that happens to me what I do is put the little guy in an enclosed environment, like a large clear plastic container and then put a cup or two of water in the same closed container. The water creates enough moisture for the little guy to ditch the shell.

Removing it by hand appears to be much much more stressful.

Rudy