Celebrating the Heat of Summer with
Hot Peppers

Do you realize how lucky we are to have such a vast assortment of chili peppers available to us? Until the mid-20th century, hot peppers were just a regional treat in warmer climates. Now we can find seeds to grow just about any variety, from the hottest Thai chilies (a whopping 60,000 Scoville Units) to the tangy, versatile and prolific Jalapeno. Believe it or not, eating hot food is supposed to make you feel cooler. Give it a try. Here are some tips on growing hot peppers and choosing and growing the hottest of the hots as the National Garden Bureau celebrates 2006 as the Year of the Chile Pepper.