Not Starfish

Latest post from MARKSVEGPLOT – a blog about food and gardening in England”

These are fruits from my “Brazilian Starfish” chilli plant.

The only trouble is, they are not Starfish-shaped as they should be. This is what they ought to be like:

But mine look more like Scotch Bonnets, or even miniature “Bell Peppers”.

I wonder what it is that determines the shape of a chilli. The seeds for my plant came from a very reputable source – Victoriana Nursery Gardens, in Kent – but presumably some local factor, weather, soil or whatever, has made it turn out different to its parents. For me this has been a disappointment. I grew this chilli specifically for its unique shape, not for its flavour or heat. Still, maybe I should celebrate the fact that it is probably unique!

Last year I had lots of problems with deformed fruit (especially tomatoes and chillies) caused by compost contaminated by weed-killer, and I have had some similar, but fortunately less severe, issues this year, so I rather suspect that the failure of Brazilian Starfish to come true to type is part of this. In any event I won’t be saving seeds from the fruits pictured here. I still have some seeds from the original packet, so I will probably have another try next year.

I also grew a new plant from a side-shoot cutting of my Brazilian Starfish plant, and it seems to be doing well. I may be able to over-Winter it and see what happens next year…

I will not be posting to my blog for a few days now, because we will be away visiting family. Back soon!

To read more articles like this, on Gardening and Gastronomy, please visit * http://marksvegplot.blogspot.com/ *