If your locale is anything like typical scenes in the North East currently, certain sections of groceries stores are bare shelves. Dry pasta and canned fruits, vegetables and legumes have disappeared from shelves. It is not my place to opine on food - or toilet paper - hoarding.
But it strikes me as puzzling that, while people will buy up any food that is in a can, or that has so many preservatives it can last a decade . . . yet the produce section always seems well-stocked.
If you are here, you already value fresh-grown plants to fuel your body and those you love. There is just a satisfaction with KNOWING what was used on your food. Or maybe more importantly, what was NOT used on your food!
Part of our plan for eating garden-fresh, invigorating food this summer involves peppers.
One of the earliest peppers to come to harvest are pepperoncini.
As with most 'hot' peppers, the plants will be smaller than a typical 'bell' pepper. But they will be early, and moderately prolific.
Speaking of prolific . . . the early Jalapenos abounded last year. Like other peppers, you can get away with starting them early and growing them in a greenhouse. They will not get 'leggy' as long as you provide them with adequate T-5 lights.
Of course, our favorite sweet pepper are these Cali Wonders.
All the above have been potted up once into 2 1/2 X 3 soil blocks. Peppers 'air prune' well in blocks, because the roots will grow near the soil surface all season. Black mulch covering will keep the roots warm, which peppers love.