Poblano Pepper

1. Poblano Pepper Group 6: Cherie Hughes, Jessica Richards , Zachary McNeely Kason Knickmeier

2. Chili pepper Poblano Etymology • Poblano – a term for the people from Puebla, Mexico, where the chili is thought to have originated. • Ancho – from the Spanish meaning “wide”. Poblano folklore & trivia • This particular pepper is thought to originate from the state of Puebla in Mexico. Other Names for Chili pepper 'Poblano' • Ancho • Latest Chili pepper 'Poblano' Reviews • Poblanos are sold both fresh and dried.  In their dried form they are called ancho chiles

4. Growing –Pepper seeds will not germinate until the soil warms up to about 70 degrees.  In order to get their peppers producing as soon as possible, most pepper growers start their seeds inside about three months before soil temps reach this level

5. Planting & Caring for Poblano Peppers • Poblano seeds are slow to get going, so sow the seeds about 8-12 weeks before the last frost date. • Sow several seeds ¼” deep in 2-3″ earth-friendly containers such as peat pots filled with lightly moistened seed starting mix. • Water well and place the pots in a well-lighted, warm area, 80° F – 85° F. To prevent the seedlings from damping off, keep the soil damp but not wet, and provide good air circulation around the plants. • Feed the seedlings with a good organic fertilizer every three weeks after they have established. When seedlings are about two inches tall, thin to one plant per pot by cutting out the smaller ones. • Once the plants are about five inches tall and the nighttime temperatures are above 60° F, harden the plants off by slowly acclimating the peppers to the garden.

6. After two weeks of hardening off, plant them in the garden. Peppers need full sun, rich soil (amended with compost, well-rotted manure, or leaf mold) and good drainage. • Allow two feet between plants. If the peppers are starting to produce flower buds, pinch them off and continue to do this for 1-2 weeks; this forces the plants to put their energy into growing leaves and roots. • Mulch with 2-3″ of organic matter. Mulch keeps weed growth down and maintains soil moisture. • Keep the plants lightly moist, but not soggy. Pull any weeds if they appear. Feed the plants with an all-purpose water-soluble organic fertilizer about six weeks after transplanting and again if the plants start to look pale or the leaves are small.

7. Plant in a location that enjoys full sun and remember to water moderately. Keep in mind when planting that Poblano is thought of as tender, so it is really important to ensure that the outside temperature is well above freezing before planting or moving outdoors. USDA Hardiness Zone 10 to 12 are typically the USDA Hardiness Zones that are appropriate for this plant (although this can vary based on your microclimate). Poblano requires a loamy and sandy soil with a ph of 7.0 - 8.5 - it grows best in neutral soil to weakly alkaline soil.

8. Harvesting Poblano Peppers • Poblano peppers look very much like a small wrinkled, bell pepper. • Leave the poblanos on the vine a little longer, if you want them to turn red. For eating poblanos, you can harvest them green or red – it is a matter of personal taste. For drying, fully ripe peppers are best. • Harvest the poblanos once they feel firm and get a glossy sheen. Cut the fruit off with clippers, as the branches of pepper plants are brittle and break off easily

9. Pests & Diseases of Poblano Peppers • Aphids, cutworms and hornworms can become problems while growing poblanos. You can knock aphids off the leaves with a spray from the water hose or use an insecticidal soap spray. • To avoid problems with cutworms (they can chew young seedlings off at the soil line) place two-inch-tall cardboard or aluminum foil collars around the new plants—with 1-inch below soil level and 1-inch above. • Caterpillars, including corn earworms and corn borers, destroy the fruits; hornworms eat both fruits and leaves. For information on controlling any pest infestation, contact your local Cooperative • Diseases are not very common with home grown Poblano peppers. Pests-Aphids, cutworms and hornworms can all be a problem for peppers.  Aphids can be controlled by regularly applying a good shot of water to the underside of the leaves.  Cutworms can be controlled by “wrapping” the stems of the young plants in cardboard.  Simply cut a toilet paper or paper towel roll into three inch sections.  Split these up the sides.  Loosely wrap this around the base of your plants after transplant.  Stick an inch or so of the tube into the ground and leave an inch or so above ground. If you have a bad infestation you can apply BT but is is really only effective if applied when the caterpillars are small

10. The plant itself is multi-stemmed, and reaches approximately 25" (63cm) in height. An immature Poblano is green in color, and as it matures goes from a dark green, to red, to a dark red that is so dark is can be mistaken for black. It is an extremely popular pepper to use in mole sauce • It’s flavor is very earthy and can be eaten fresh. When the Poblano pepper is fresh, it is called a “Pasilla”. • Poblano grows as a Perennial and is a Vegetable. Being a Perennial, it tends to grow best over several years (approx. 3 years and greater). Poblano normally grows to a max height of 2.05 feet (63.0 cm metric).

11. Growing Poblano from seed • Look to ensure a distance 1.95 inches (5.0 cm) between seeds when sowing - bury at a depth of at least 0.2 inches (0.5 cm) deep. Soil temperature should be kept higher than 18°C / 64°F to ensure good germination. By our calculations, you should look at sowing Poblano about 38 days before your last frost date. • Transplanting Poblano • Transplant out when all danger of frost has passed. • Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Poblano is a tender plant. • Harvesting Poblano • Expect harvests to start to occur in late summer.

12. How long does Poblano take to grow? • These estimates for how long Chili pepper 'Poblano' takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world. Start logging and journaling your observations to participate! • Days to Germination How long does it take Poblano to germinate? 11 days Average 11 days | Min 5 days | Max 27 days (41) • Days to Transplant How long until I can plant out Poblano?+ 92 days Average 92 days | Min 49 days | Max 178 days (5) • Days to Maturity How long until Poblano is ready for harvest / bloom?+ 104 days Average 104 days | Min 10 days | Max 182 days (29) • Total Growing Days How long does it take to grow Poblano?= 207 days

13. Blooming Poblano peppers • Peppers don’t flower until they have produced about ten nodes on the stem. It is common for the first flowers to drop off without setting fruit, usually because the soil was too dry, or because night time temperatures drop below 50˚ F. Don’t worry; as soon as it gets warmer they will set fruit.