I would like to hear about, when you get back. Mary

It was good. Dr Dave is a proff at the univ of Minnesota. He is doing a lot of research on Peppers and did a good job sharing some of his knowledge. Plus they had a good selection of hard to find super hot starters for sale. It probably would have been a good idea to post this earlier. I didn't even think about it. I am looking forward to the review from loweride.

By the way, I was the one there with the Minnesota Vikings shirt on.

Bruce

(I was the one that stayed home to watch the Preakness, on NBC this afternoon.)

I'm not very good at reviews. I thought the fb post said he'd have 300+ varieties there, but I think he had around 30. I still got the two that I wanted -- a white bhut jolokia and a peter -- plus I got some others.

It looks like he's done a lot of testing on the nutritional value and antimicrobial properties of a lot of different peppers. Sounds like he's trying to get a food that will help people around the world. That was interesting.

There was a lot of basic stuff that most of us know. It was probably good for those who don't know anything about peppers, but I was getting restless. My 8yo son and my wife came with me. I was a little worried about them getting bored, but Dr Dave kept my son involved and my wife found it interesting.

Yah, I would have hoped the subject matter was more geared towards the average joe grower. He really didn't talk about soils and potting mixes very much. He didn't talk much about growing them from seed under lights. He did talk just a bit about fertilizers but only to say that Calcium is a key nutrient. Very little about N-P-K and soil acidity. Little about sun, heat and water requirements. Very little on common pests and other environmental problems. These are all things us hobbyists are interested in. It seemed more like an hour long Botany class geared on the history of peppers. But I did find it entertaining and picked up a couple points that I will incorporate this year.

For one thing, I have used peletized lime the past couple seasons to provide the calcium, but this year, I think I will go to a "witches brew" with white vinegar mixed into the pelletized lime to produce a calcium rich solution that should be more readily available to my plants. I also bought an "Elephants Ear" pepper plant at the show. I had not heard of them before so it piqued my interest and I bought one.

BTW: Loweride: I didn't know that you were on this forum. Glad to know. Has your son played that CD yet? I figured it was just more of the toy banjo stuff.

Bruce

We haven't listened to the CD yet.

There is so much information on peppers that could be taught. It would be nice to see a seminar that someone could walk away knowing how to grow peppers. I could hold one at the library, but I'm way too scared to speak in public. Also - I know there will be folks that are more knowledgeable than me in the audience.

My coworker also mentioned that he would've liked to hear about how they performed the tests.

Here is his web site for his lab. http://baumlerlab.com/chili-peppers/

BTW: esox07 -- this is the web site where I was introduced to you (back when it was gardenweb). :)

Hey loweride:

I agree. It wasn't geared towards the novice grower. Just more of an overall pepper info session.

You would do great doing a talk at the library. If they want you to do it, and you would be willing, then do it. I would be willing to help out in any way you would want, even just moral support. Sure there will be some in the audience that might know more, but, IMO, in some areas, I think you were more knowledgeable than Dave. That is the nature of the beast. And as long as you accept that, no big deal. I too am anxious in front of people but after 13 years in the army and having to train others on crap that I didn't know anything about, it got easier. After I got out of the service, I went to Mid State Tech in Wisconsin Rapids and was asked to be the student speaker for the graduating class.....for the whole damn school. I was really hesitant, but it was right after 9/11 and I was kind of propped up with the Patriotism going around and made it kind of the theme of my talk. If you are confident in your subject matter, it is a snap. And the trick with the bothersome idiot in the class that thinks he knows a lot and wants to show it is to make him part of it....ask them what they would do in certain situations, Sometimes they even show their spots and make fools of themselves.

But anyway, I don't think you are going to have any botanists attending, just some curious folk who are interested in getting into the HOT PEPPER craze going on. That is one think Dave was right about, the Pepper Craze is just beginning and growing very fast.

Another good thing is doing a couple videos ahead of time showing what you are talking about. That way you can make sure all the info is correct and complete and then play them during the talk. Or put them online and tell the crowd where to find them if they need more info on a certain subject. I have a video I did on how to make the 5-1-1 mix on youtube. It takes a lot of the mystery out of the process. Bring a few props like live plants and even samples if you have them. Like Dave did but you only need a couple, maybe a bell, a Jalapeno/cayenne, a habanero and a Super hot. Half the class can be watching the bad ass guy in the back that thinks he can eat a super hot and not flinch. hahaha.

I suppose even some mardi gras beads for the kids...just leave the mini-banjo at home.

Regarding GW. I was on garden web quite a few years before I met you. I dont know exactly when I joined, but it was probably 2010. Maybe 2011 latest. I still havent quite gotten used to the layout of this site, but I think I like it better than the C2C site that a lot of the old GW users migrated to.

So, buck up and set up a pepper class. And let me know if you want any assistance.

I hate continuing negativity, but he showed a recipe for sriracha sauce made in vinegar. I thought sriracha was fermented.

Loweride:

I don't even remember that part but I wouldn't know the difference anyway. See, you know enough to give your own class. I am targeting Friday for planting out. Maybe Saturday. How about you?

I am hoping tonight is the last time this spring that we hear about Frost Advisories.

Bruce

Friday or Saturday sounds good to me. I might have to run to the greenhouse to get a few bags of Fafard.

I am reusing my 5-1-1 for the third season. I will be refreshing it with some new Fafard and Perlite and nutrients. I will probably have to stop by and pick up some more Fafard as well. Using the 5-1-1 for the third year it is probably getting closer to 3-1-1 but that is fine. Any bark in there helps with drainage. I just don't have the motivation to sort a whole bunch more bark. My back would rebel. Just potting up is enough abuse for my back.

I am glad that I didn't bother to go out and cover all my outside stuff last night. I don't think it got much below 40 last night even with the Frost Advisory. Hopefully, that is the end of that crap until November.