Why do you care if the chiles are true to type and shape? Are you selling seed?

Nope not selling seed but I guess I am a purist and being in my climate I put a monumental effort into growing my peppers etc so I want to make sure what I am growing comes true.

Also I love to cook so when I am growing say scotch bonnets for jerk, I am going to make it from scratch and I want it to be 100% authentic. I've even ordered the pimento wood and leaves from Jamaica to get the proper BBQ experience!

But good point.

You can always bag a plant with netting to ensure it's isolated. Say you wanted to grow an off type just to try it. Bag it up so it doesn't cross pollinate with your pure ones. And you can always bag a branch of your pure ones for seed saving to ensure you get pure seed for the next generation.

"Also I love to cook so when I am growing say scotch bonnets for jerk, I am going to make it from scratch and I want it to be 100% authentic. "

"True" Scotch Bonnets are very hard to find as it has been crossed and grown non-isolated for many years. A good reference for this pepper is Growing Scotch Bonnet Pepper in Jamaica where it states (See page 39 for pix of fruit.):

Characteristics of Grade "A" Scotch Bonnet pepper:
• the classic Scotch Bonnet shape – three to four lobes and the
characteristic cup and saucer shape;
• the peppers should be a minimum of 3.5 cm or (11/2 in.)
wide;
• the length of the pedicel (fruit stalk) should be no more than
3cm (11/4 in.)

Thanks guys, good ideas about growing out the imposters. So what causes this as I am not an expert plant breeder? Did these seeds cross inadvertently at the sellers or are they most likely not growing a true type?

Thanks chile man, great info! They really are very lobey arent they? And yes the real ones must be hard to find very few look like that!

Who is the best and most authentic Caribbean seed vendor do you think? Pepper lover.com? I also go with Baker Creek a lot.

"So what causes this..."

Meh, who knows ? It could be simply an honest mistake in labeling. Although, in your case, it sounds like a cross happened at the breeders end. It's true that peppers are self-pollinating, but that does not mean they are 'only' self-pollinating. In most instances, the pepper flower will pollinate itself. But especially if you have a healthy bee and insect population (or a windy day during the right conditions,) while less likely than self-pollination, pollen from one plant will find it's way to another.

The only way to insure, and therefore guarantee purity is through isolation. As suggested above, a plant or branch could be bagged. All the plants of a single variety could be grown under a tunnel or in a green house. Or, only one variety could be planted and (while I don't know the exact distance recommended for peppers) neither the grower, nor their neighbors are growing a different strain.

Most breeders are quite careful. They too care about doing it correctly - besides, their reputation is at stake with every packet sold. But, things happen.

Most true scotch bonnet chiles will be landrace varieties if they are grown in the islands and will look different than the farmer's next door.

I know I am already planning trips to go pepper seed hunting! I also tried to grow the Guyana wiri wiri last year but the plants seemed to never take off. That one I am also desperate to get true to type.

""True" Scotch Bonnets are very hard to find as it has been crossed and grown non-isolated for many years. A good reference for this pepper isGrowing Scotch Bonnet Pepper in Jamaica where it states (See page 39 for pix of fruit.):"

Tru dat! Don't get me started. I have grown almost every "scotch bonnet" available and my in laws from Jamaica still say they are not right. I think for them it's more about shape than flavor, and that aroma might be most important.

My mom's family is from Nevis, but with mostly Trini influences, and we go round and round about "peas and rice" vs "rice and peas" as well. When I'm cooking, I'm using gungo/gandule/pigeon peas.

I just found these and ordered them, apparently right from the Jamaican Ministry of Agriculture: http://peppernorth.com/index.php?route=product/search&search=scotch%20bonnet

So I am excited! I am obsessed with caribbean seasoning peppers these days (and the hot ones too). And I go with pigeon peas too :).

Best wishes! Does that source have any pictures?

Seeds from CARDI can be purchased here, these also have the "classic" scotch bonnet shape:

CARDI seeds

Interesting! I am curious about "fair trade" for these seeds and plants.