Neighbour needed a couple of chillies. Gave him 2 of the 100s in the freezer.
He's just been in with a replacement 2 - from Tesco - 59P!!
Nice thought, but persuaded him to put them in his freezer.
I have a small ice cream carton with chillies in too, but I am the only one that touches them so they get used so rarely. I have no idea how much chillies cost now, either from our local market, or the extortionate pricing in the supermarket. The sentiment to replace them was touching though.
*sigh*
We've nearly eaten all the ones we got last summer, when we weren't growing many and bought an intact Thai Dragon plant for a fiver. This year we've got rather a lot growing of different kinds, though nowhere near as many per plant as was on the bought one.
How do you get lots of them? Is it pot size-related or temperature?
Anyone here planning on going to West Dean Gardens and the Chilli Fiesta this Saturday or Sunday??? I shall be going down there, having a good look at the walled kitchen garden and picking up interesting seeds for next year!
moonbells
edit: oops, should have put question in edibles... sorry Dan!
Don't know about others, but our 2 Jalapeno of 2004 produced 2 carrier-bags full.
In our cold 'house.
I'm still getting through the habaneros from two years ago. Have a carrier bag of Ring of Fire from last year plus more on the way this year. Each year I mean to limit the number I'm growing but it never works.
Chilli don't cost that much if you get from an indian veg stall but Tesco is well over priced. I've got two plants growing from seed from a shop brought one and i'm hoping they will give us a nice lot as we eat quite a few. Our plants have little chillis showing now and its getting very exciting. A week ago I did think the flowers were falling off to produce nothing.
Love your avatar!
Tim, how do you freeze them? Whole? Do you freeze them on a tray so they don't stick together, then bag them? I've inheritated a chilli bush from a friend who's moving abroad and it's got masses of fruits.
edit
Just read the answer on the Cayenne pepper thread ;D!
Just to confirm that. Just bag them!
I once lived in a town where opposite a large supermarket there was a small Asian grocery. There you could buy several varieties of chilli, sold by weight for a few pence. I never could understand why people bought them in the supermarket - pre-packed, only one variety, extortionate price ...
It's the same with herbs like coriander and flat leaf parsley. You can buy BIG bunches at the Asian stores and much cheaper than the supermarket.
Only a benefit if you have any Asian stores in your vicinity, which for us isn't the case. In fact when we moved from London to deepest, darkest East Kent I swear our cost of living went up substantially. I put it down to lack of competition, but found it very frustrating as I was unable to find, in the local supermarkets, the ingredients that I sourced so cheaply, used and took for granted in London.
Quote from: Jill on August 05, 2006, 23:17:27
Only a benefit if you have any Asian stores in your vicinity, which for us isn't the case. In fact when we moved from London to deepest, darkest East Kent I swear our cost of living went up substantially. I put it down to lack of competition, but found it very frustrating as I was unable to find, in the local supermarkets, the ingredients that I sourced so cheaply, used and took for granted in London.
No joy from independents - even if in the nearest town?
Not sure what you mean by independents. You just don't get the type of shop I mentioned unless there is a sizeable ethnic community.
Quote from: greyhound on August 06, 2006, 14:23:26
Not sure what you mean by independents. You just don't get the type of shop I mentioned unless there is a sizeable ethnic community.
Independent retailers sometimes spot a niche in the market and fill it. Some delis sell fresh fruit/veg and chillies are a niche market with a cult following. People can go a long way to flame their taste buds! :)
Yes, but the point is the low low prices in the ethnic shops, compared with delis and the like. And unless you live near one, the travel costs cancel out the benefits.