I enjoy spicy food, and lately I have been making an effort to move away from pre-packaged meals and eat more whole foods. To that end, I’ve been wanting to experiment with peppers. I’m not a huge fan of green bell peppers; they’re unripe, and to me not that tasty. I prefer orange and red peppers, but I have two issues with them: one, the peppers in the store are always huge (way more than I need), and two, organic ones are expensive, frequently running around $6.00 a pound.

So last spring I decided to try and grow my own. I bought a pepper plant (as well as sage and parsley) and put it in a pretty pot in my kitchen window. It didn’t do anything for almost a year, and then one day it flowered and sprouted a baby pepper. This one is really too tiny to eat, but I’m pleased that my plant seems to be doing okay. I really like the idea of growing my own herbs and veggies, and I kind of wish I could convert my yard into an orchard. However, I’m not a big gardener and we don’t have year-round sunshine, so potted veggies seem to be the best option for me, in terms of having affordable, organic produce on hand.

Interested in trying it? I recommend reading Bob Purnell’s Crops in Pots for tips and ideas.