The 2023 Crop of Peppers and Tomatoes For Every Taste
Bob Bedner is a vegetable aficionado. We kid him here on the farm that no one can possibly need this many varieties of tomatoes, but his research is painstaking and he aims to please.
A good rule of thumb is to always check the seed packet or plant tag on your pepper or tomato variety. This will help you find the right one for your needs. We’ve also taken the liberty of categorizing them here to get you started.
As you probably know, there’s something called The Scoville Scale that ranks peppers’ heat in Scoville Heat Units, a measure of the pungency or heat of a pepper based on the level of a compound called capsaicin. The Scoville Scale ranks peppers on a scale of Mild (100-2,500 SHU) to Medium (2,500 to 30,000), Hot (30,000 to 100,000) and Extra Hot (100,000 to 300,000). Proceed accordingly, and in some cases, with caution!
Look for the following pepper and tomato varieties this spring in mostly 4″ or 1-gallon pots. The best selection will be available by mid-May.
* indicates an Heirloom variety.
WHAT’S AN HEIRLOOM VARIETY?
Heirloom or ‘Heritage’ varieties were introduced more than 50 years ago and are passed down from generation to generation. They are open-pollinated, which means they are fertilized naturally by bees, birds, butterflies and other natural pollinators, the wind or self-pollination.
Heirlooms fruits, vegetables and even flowers are exact copies of their parent plants because they have not been cross-pollinated with other varieties.
BEDNER’S FARM & GREENHOUSE PEPPERS
HOT PEPPERS
Anaheim *
Carolina Reaper *
Ghost Pepper *
Habanero
Hungarian Wax *
Jalapeno *
Poblano *
Scorpio
Shishito *
Trinidad Scorpion *
SNACKING OR SWEET
Cubanelle *
California Wonder *
Red Bell
Yellow Bell
Yum Yum / Lunchbox Snackers
BEDNER’S FARM & GREENHOUSE tomatoes
CHERRY/GRAPE
Chocolate Cherry
Grape
Husky Red Cherry
Red Cherry
Sungold
SunSugar
Super Sweet 100
SAUCE/PASTE
Belgium Giant *
Box Car Willie *
Opalka *
Roma
San Marzano *
Tomatillo
LARGE SLICING
Beefmaster
Beefsteak
Belgium Giant *
Better Boy
Big Boy
Black Krim *
Brandywine Pink *
Brandywine Red *
Brandywine Yellow *
Bush Early Girl
Carolina Gold
Celebrity
Early Girl
German Johnson *
Husky Red
Mortgage Lifter *
Mr. Stripey *
Oxheart *
Ponderosa Pink *
Let us know if you have any questions on the varieties that are right for you, growing and care tips and more.
The people of Bedner’s Farm & Greenhouse are here to inspire future plant people. We care about the vast benefits to our environment, health and quality of life, and would love to share it all with you.
