what is growing zone 10


The latest version of the USDA Zone Map was jointly developed by USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Oregon State University's (OSU) PRISM Climate Group, and released in January of 2012. The Large Flowering Amaryllis group is the most popular group with single flowers up to 8-10 in (20-25 cm). They have a somewhat fruity profile, so I still use them for hot sauce and dicing into salsas (mango salsa especially!). They weren’t as finicky. Now, a little secret is that any vegetable will grow where you live. My First Attempt at Growing & Curing Homegrown Sweet Potatoes, Grow Your Own Everlastings: Beautiful Flowers for Growing & Drying, Growing Peppers~ My Tips for Zone 10 & My Favorite 2020 Peppers, 5 Flowers to Grow Through Winter in Southern California. Everyone in the contiguous United States lives in Zone 3 or higher and has at least a 123 day growing season - enough to … More specifically, I am in zone 6b. Gardening Australia. For example, the coldest average winter temperatures in zone 5 are -20 to -10 F (-29 to -23 C). Easy to grow, and prolific. Growing Zones . Best Plants For Maryland Winters. Regardless of special planning, in extreme heat your pepper plants might stop producing and experience heat-stress. Use our Growing Zone Finder to help you determine which types of plants can be grown in your locale. Most of the time peppers are considered “full sun” plants, but I have issue with that in our desert climate. Cornito Giallo– great sweet pepper, similar to aura in productivity and flavor. 11641 views. As a friendly reminder, whenever you choose plants that prefer your climate you’ll be more successful as a gardener—-embrace nature rather than fight it. Anyways, love this article Randi so thank you for the chat! If you’d like to know how we amend and prep our garden beds between seasons, check out 5 Ways To Amend Your Garden Organically. The warmer the climate, the higher the number of the zone. ... Because melons require a long, warm growing season, their best yields occur in the southern United States (or similar), where there is ample growing time. There are other pieces to the gardening puzzle. While it was all about sweet peppers this year, I actually did miss the super hots….so I’ll aim for balance next year. Zone 10 has the longest growing season with the mildest winters and long summers. Planting zones define, generally, which plants can survive winter in your area, and the zones are typically listed in plant growing guides for reference. ©2019 Freckled Californian All Rights Reserved. Carnations can be grown in USDA hardiness zones three to 10, depending on which of the 300 varieties of carnations you are growing. I've planted it in pot on my patio. The current USDA Hardiness Zones divides a region or country into 13 separate planting zones, with each growing zone being 10 0F colder or warmer than the adjacent zone. Whether your garden is large or small, there is a compost setup for you! The temperatures are warmer, meaning you have long growing seasons and shorter periods where frost could occur.. Below is a picture of my 2020 pepper garden setup. Over the years I’ve learned a few helpful tips for growing peppers in our climate that really surprised me because they go against what you might read on seed packets or in general gardening articles. By Mary H. Dyer, Credentialed Garden Writer. After you buy, we will ship our plants when they are ROOT READY. A Look at the USDA Growing Zone Map. link Fact Sheets . You guys enjoy the rest of the week out there and thanks again for always offering to keep in touch despite your personal situations! In Zone 10, winters are so mild that it is possible to grow vegetables year-round, in three different growing seasons. This year sweet peppers got top priority in my garden because, in all my years of growing, I never felt like I grew enough sweet peppers to feed our family. What Herbs Like Winter in Mild Zone 10?. Depending on temperature, they bloom 6-10 weeks after planting. Fun fact: it is generally believed that 1 in 10 shishitos is spicy! Alright, so maybe I should clarify that my favorite “super hot” pepper to grow is the chocolate habanero, but my favorite hot pepper or “spicy” pepper to grow is a jalapeno. If exotic fruits and cool season veggies are your go-to, then Related: 5 Simple Ways to Prepare Your Garden for Winter. The hardest part of this question is that different types of peppers react differently to pruning, therefore there isn’t one answer. Based on the 1990 USDA Hardiness Zone Map, this interactive version covers the state of Oregon which ranges from USDA Zone 4a to USDA Zone 9b. Hardiness zones are important to protect sensitive plants and get the best growth and health out of your favorite flora. Using indigenous plants can alleviate a lot of the stress of finding the "perfect plant" … The process of growing pepper seeds follows the same process I use for all my seed starting. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know that this seems to be the case for much of Southern California gardening. In regards to peppers specifically, I would recommend avoiding most bell peppers in your Southern California garden IF you are short on space and want to maximize production. If you see a hardiness zone in a gardening catalog or plant description, chances are it refers to this USDA map. It relies on decades of records of weather patterns to determine the average highs and lows of any specific area. Other articles you might find helpful after reading this: Flowers & Vegetables to Grow in Summer Heat, Urban gardening is my jam. COOL ZONE. If you see a hardiness zone in a gardening catalog or plant description, chances are it refers to this USDA map. I really want to try and grow a wider variety of all peppers next season and not just the superhots so I’ll be keeping this post close by and I’ll be working on my list. 1. I have thai chili, jalapeno, and sugar rush peach pepper plants that I’ve overwintered for the last few years and they perform better each year. Johnny’s was kind enough to send seeds my way for me to trial in the garden and the epic sweet pepper summer began! Lisa, I thought that Palm City was Zone 9b, but when I registered for GardenWeb it asked my zip code and assigned Zone 10. It’s especially interesting to read about your woes with bells. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map was created by the USDA to help growers and gardeners understand which plants are most likely to thrive in a specific location.The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones. link Vegie Guide . Planting zones are the beginning of growing a successful garden. Determinate only grow to size, produce fruit then die off. In general, there are many other sweet peppers that will give you the same flavor and texture as bell peppers, but are better performers in a very hot, dry growing climate. Every 10 degrees Fahrenheit is 12.2 degrees Celsius. First, you know how many growing days you have which dictates what you can grow. In addition to the USDA map, the National Arbor Day Foundation created its own Plant Hardiness Zone Map in 2006, basing their renderings on data gleaned from 5,000 National Climatic Data Center stations across the country. Hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum temperature during a 30-year period in the past, not the … Love this format of you going over (sharing) your pepper season with us, especially becasue it does seem like we’re just chatting about peppers… then again you may have come to know that I just absolutely love peppers so you had me at the title of your post Seriously though, what an impressive list of all the peppers you’ve grown and I might be a little bias in saying I love your (Sam’s) superhot list but the hot and sweet peppers sound and look just as amazing! Amend your beds with compost before planting. They eventually turn red for the sweetest flavor, but can be eaten at the different color stages. Required fields are marked *. Once you find that you are in the right zone for a given plant and its water, soil, and sunlight requirements are met, you will need to know how to give it the best care. Make a garden plan for three growing seasons. Google about growing it. Yum! The … Blueberries are usually associated with places like Maine, where winters are bitter and wild blueberries grow abundantly. That is why many growers start seeds indoors in August and plant hardy vegetables in fall. TROPICAL ZONE. You can find this zone covering the West Coast and most of the South, such as Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolinas. As a gardener, I tend to plant my garden closely and crowd things a bit. The map is also a good way to compare your climate with the ideal climate for a particular plant you're interested in growing. She’s Vietnamese and said they reminded her of a jalapeno side she used to eat a lot in Vietnam but hadn’t really found here. Each bulb usually produces 2-3 stems and 4-6 flowers per stem. For instance, I am in zone 6. Mulching a Backyard Vegetable Garden, Sweet Potato Harvest! Things are starting to heat up in Zone 8. Zone Ten Gardening Tips. Hello all! Planting Calendar – Zone 10. Custom programming and server maintenance by Reinvented Inc.. Connect With Us For my notes and best tips for growing peppers in your garden, keep on reading…. Fast-maturing crops, such as cilantro or lettuce, may be planted twice: in August or September, and again in January or February. The accuracy of zone coding can be substantially distorted by a lack of water. No ZIP Code results were found. The tricky thing about ranunculus is that they are cool season flowers, but they don’t tolerate freezing temperatures. The USDA Hardiness Zone Map divides North America into 11 separate planting zones; each growing zone is 10°F warmer (or colder) in an average winter than the adjacent zone. For peppers, I’m going to be giving them more space from now on. Living in zone 10 is wonderful--sunshine, mild temperatures, lots of outdoor activities. Seasonal, simple living is what inspires me~ I hope it will inspire you too. Apart from hardiness zones, several other factors also contribute to the success and failure of crops. USDA growing zone map for the Northeastern U.S. USDA Southeastern U.S. Sugar Rush Peach-an accidental discovery. They are typically served blistered or grilled as an appetizer as I outline in my recipe for Fire Grilled Shishitos. See more ideas about plants, planting flowers, zone 10. For other pepper seed starting tips, check out my whole seed starting section! Any of the cool season spec… We had worked together on a giveaway a little while ago, and in that process I mentioned I was trying to find some sweet peppers that would grow well in Southern California. One exception might be the California Wonder bell pepper. The two most commonly referenced hardiness zone maps are those produced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Natural Resources Canada (NRC). I’m Randi, California girl who obsessively gardens to grow food and flowers around my urban home. Simply type in your zip code and you will find the climate zone you are in. New posts will not be retrieved for at least 5 minutes. Carolina reaper– Once called “the hottest pepper in the world” these were grown specifically for bragging rights—Sam had to grow them. Lots of wonderful, smaller sized sweet peppers that ripen to a golden yellow. If you garden in zone 6, both of these varieties would thrive for you, because zone 6 is within the hardiness range of both plants! Design a Beautiful Drought Resistant Yard. The peppers that I grew in a dedicated bed, as opposed to my more crowded/mixed vegetable beds, performed better. Despite it’s name, the Sweet Chocolate bell pepper is smaller than your traditional bell and more elongated. Start peppers multiple times a season. The extreme southern tip of Florida, however, is one rank higher. Your browser's Javascript functionality is turned off. But it has dropped into the -30s in my area. 13 Feb 21, SarahM (USA - Zone 10b climate) In 10b here. Not only that, but plants will start to have a longer growing season in Zone 8. In the years past I always tried growing bell peppers, and the plants would end up stunted or produce one or two sad, misshapen peppers before stopping. Growing bushes in zone 9 isn’t difficult, as many adapt well to the mild climate. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). Plant Hardiness Zones for Australia. In this zone, native plants are loving the warmth. There are many choices for irrigation, so I think it’s important to think of each garden individually when deciding which method is best. U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 10 has one of the mildest growing climates in the country, with the … The regions are defined by a 10-degree Fahrenheit difference in the average annual minimum temperature. Everyone in the contiguous United States lives in Zone 3 or higher and has at least a 123 day growing season - enough to grow watermelons, pumpkins and butternut squash. Most cool-weather crops can be planted just once per year because they hate the heat. Hola to you, Sam and Pete! If you have better conditions than desert you could try. I often swing by my local arboretum’s plant sale and buy a plant for $3-$4 so I don’t need to go through the hassle of germinating them. Planting zones are essential to your garden, but they aren’t the know-all-end-all. Please turn it on so that you can experience the full capabilities of this site. Oregon Interactive 1990 USDA Hardiness Zone Map. Why select my growing zone? The different zones on the map below are determined by averaging the lowest recorded temperatures of each winter season. Here are some other hot or spicy peppers we have enjoyed growing here in Southern California: Buena Mulata-the colors on these peppers are spectacular. Find your grow zone at Burpee Seeds. Apr 18, 2017 - Explore Abby D's board "Zone 10", followed by 225 people on Pinterest. by Iain Dawson (Horticultural Research Unit, ANBG) 1991 (Iain has since retired from the Australian National Botanic Gardens) Plant hardiness maps allow producers to label their plants as being suitable for particular areas, and, in theory at least, this results in happy customers who can confidently buy plants that will survive in their locality. Select your zone Zone 1 - Zone 2 - Zone 3 - Zone 4 - Zone 5 - Zone 6 - Zone 7 - Zone 8 - Zone 9 - Zone 10 - Zone 11 - Zone 12 - Zone 13 I’ve also fermented these with other peppers for a flavorful, but not unbearably hot, hot sauce. At the start of 2020, I had committed to de-mystifying sweet peppers in my garden. NOTE: I did have to support my sweet peppers this year with simple bamboo stakes and small tomato cages because I didn’t prune them and they got tall, but I don’t regret my decision. Now, a little secret is that any vegetable will grow where you live. No. They are hotter than jalapenos, with a scoville range of 30,000-50,000. Zones are changed on an as-needed basis. I have kept it on my patio -- however it hasn't been too dry or hot lately. This is because deep watering encourages larger, deeper root systems that will be less susceptible to temperature changes or damage as opposed to shallow root systems. Very sweet and crisp! Container Fruit Trees for Zone 10 Choosing Zone 10 Fruit Trees. Zones 10 has a long growing window for gardening. PS: if you love making tacos, these jalapenos are a must! This hardiness zone converter makes it easy for any gardener in any country to figure out their hardiness zone, provided they know the lowest average temperature of the region. This is simply a good gardening practice. When to Plant: Mid-March I left my ‘carmen’ peppers on the plant until they were a bright red, and they were the sweetest of all the peppers I grew. Sam would take our hot peppers and make delicious hot sauces. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. I know fermented hot sauce is all the rage right now, but he prefers boiling down the peppers with carrots, onions, and garlic to make his hot sauce. by chuck.mcmullan August 28, 2020. Subscribers have access to my current seed schedule in the Garden Resources Library. United States hardiness zones (USDA scale) The USDA system was originally developed to aid gardeners and landscapers in the United States. Continue. Burpee Remember...Zone maps are not perfect and could be incorrect if you live in a micro-climate within a zone. Holland Bulb Farms makes it easy to look up your hardiness zone. The above European Hardiness Zone Map divides Europe into 11 zones, ranging from -51°C to 10°C. I think peppers like their space, and therefore mulch plays a large part in retaining water and protecting the root system. The light color of each zone represents the colder section; the dark color, the warmer section. Hardiness Zones, Gardening Zones, Growing Zones and Plant Zones refer to defined geographic regions that can support specific plants, flowers and trees. We love grilling peppers, making stuffed bell peppers, and adding that sweet crunch to many Summer dishes, so it was kind of heartbreaking that I always seemed to fail at growing sweet peppers. This year was my best pepper year ever. It’s possible that our triple-digit Summers combined with a total lack of humidity makes it difficult for large bell peppers to truly get to the proper size and develop thick, juicy walls. Also in reading the information below the map you will see that many of the same grass types grow well in the lower Southwest and the lower Southeastern USA. Ranunculus are my all time favorite flower and even though they don’t typically overwinter in my zone, I am determined to give it a shot. What a fantastic post. First, you know how many growing days you have which dictates what you can grow. Yep, even my mom (who lives nearer the coast in zone 10a) has her sweet peppers in partial sun and they perform beautifully. In all honesty, I have gone back and forth here. You can grow either. Mulch! I grew the following peppers using the tips and guidelines I’ve discussed above. Overall, I haven’t been convinced that it is worth it to prune peppers, and feel that with healthy soil and a good growing environment your peppers will do just fine left alone. It actually has a slight smoky tinge in the flavor profile, and we will typically throw one in the pot when we are making carnitas to add a smoky spice. I’ve heard excellent reviews on the Cal Wonders and have yet to try growing them myself. Don’t feel like you need to start peppers from seed. The USDA Hardiness Zone Map divides North America into 11 separate planting zones; each growing zone is 10°F warmer (or colder) in an average winter than the adjacent zone. Haha. SHOP SEEDS BY USDA GROW ZONE ⫸ USDA GROW ZONE LOOK-UP TOOL FIND MY ZONE! © 2021 W. Atlee Burpee & Co. All Rights Reserved. Zone 10 Vegetable Planting Calendar/Schedule. You can also start peppers throughout the Summer season in June/July which can provide you with peppers until frost hits (our first frost doesn’t come until January sometimes). With a last frost date of January 30th or earlier and first frost date as late as November 30th to December 30th. Official USDA Zone Maps, the best site on the Internet with thousands of original digital photos, the best site on the Internet for tropical plants, sub tropical plants, exotic plants with growing guides plus solid HOW TO information for growth and care Other factors to consider that also affect the viability of individual plants are soil, moisture, humidity, heat, and wind. Don’t forget! Then in 2012, the United States Department of Agriculture created a new Plant Hardiness Zone Map, which further divided the zones from 10-degree ranges to five-degree ranges. Zone 9 and 10 gardeners can start most cold-hardy vegetables in late summer or early fall (August to early October) so they can grow in the relative cool of late fall and early winter. I live in the dry, hot inland area of zone 10. One of my favorite seed companies, Johnny’s Selected Seeds (not sponsored!) Do you have a preference on drip lines versus soaker hoses? I am a huge fan of compost, and have personally seen the difference it makes to the health of a garden. Over the years I’ve learned a few helpful tips for growing peppers in our climate that really surprised me because they go against what you might read on seed packets or in general gardening articles. Thai Red Chili– a great pepper for any kitchen garden. If so it might not grow in those conditions. These peppers (pictured above) have been popular in the culinary and restaurant scene for a while now, and I highly recommend growing them. Frost dates are short, with a last frost date of mid to late January and a first frost date of mid to late December means a frost-free growing season from late January to early December. This year I experimented with a fabric mulch that is utilized on one of my favorite flower farms—Floret Flower Farm—but I don’t think it made a difference to the peppers specifically. The U.S. zone 11 has an average lowest temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 C.). Each zone is 10°F warmer (or colder) in an average winter than the adjacent zone. Many gardeners like to use a heat mat for pepper seeds, but I simply keep mine indoors where it averages anywhere between 65-80 degrees anyway. Warm-season vegetables can be planted in the garden in late March or early April. ARID ZONE. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map was created by the USDA to help growers and gardeners understand which plants are most likely to thrive in a specific location.The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones. Habaneros, Jalapenos, Carolina Reapers, Sugar Rush Peach—-almost any hot pepper did great in our garden. I have big dreams of growing ranunculus here in my zone 6b/7 climate. link Plant Finder . The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones. Mmmmm so good! https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/.../gardening-by-zone/zone-9-10-11 Gypsy- ripens at different times for beautiful colors on the plant. Are you a SoCal Gardener? Peppers really can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks to sprout, especially if it is colder and you don’t utilize a heat mat. I raised rare tropical fruits and palms at my former home in Davie, Zone 10b. I’ve got you covered! Shishitos are not necessarily “hot” or “sweet”. Dec 26, 2013 - Explore joe smith's board "growing in zone 10" on Pinterest. Not a cold hardy flower, carnations may be prematurely lost to cold weather when planted in zone three. Our, 'Tis the season. Freckled Californian receives commissions on purchases made through our links to affiliated retailers. Other Factors Which Will Impact Your Garden. Planting zone: Enter ... As winter marches on, avid gardeners become more and more eager to get growing. How Often Are Growing Zones Adjusted? Before I get to the results of my sweet pepper trial, I wanted to share how I set up my pepper garden for a good growing season. While not all fruit trees acclimate well to container growth, with proper care, many trees settle nicely into a large container even after they reach maturity. I truly appreciate you my friend , Thanks for the feedback on the Cal Wonders and replace those bells my friend! They did happen to ripen around the same time as our intense heat, so that might have accounted for the extra sweetness. Zone Low Temps Nourse Farms Recommended Planting Season; 3-40° to -30° May 5 on: 4-30° to -20° April 20 - May 30: 5-20° to -10° April 8 - May 20: 6-10° to 0° March 25 - May 15: 7: 0° to 10° March 8 - May 5: 8: 10° to 20° March 1 - April 20: 9: 20° to 30° February 1 - April 15 Here in Southern California, our seasons are sooooo long—-sometimes they almost feel like one big season. Hardiness Zone 10; Hardiness Zone 3; Hardiness Zone 4; Hardiness Zone 5; Hardiness Zone 6; Hardiness Zone 7; Hardiness Zone 8; Hardiness Zone 9; Honeyberries; Raspberries; Strawberries & Exotic Fruits; Info 807 Cedar Lane Prairie Grove, AR 72753 … USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 10 Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained, loamy, acidic soil T he zones define a minimum range of temperatures that a plant or tree can survive safely in that zone. Zone 7 has a medium length growing season and the first frost date is around November 15. A good option for larger frying pepper. While you may not be able to dig your spade into the soil just yet, there is plenty. Having your pepper plants exposed to 112 degree heat in full sun for months just dries them out and stunts them. 7b: 5 to 10°F ; 8a: 10 to 15°F; You might want to see what region you are in using this interactive map or this by-city list. 09 Nov 20, (USA - Zone 9b climate) Sounds like you live in arid desert country. The plant has sprouted and is growing nicely. Next year I will definitely be including all my award winners in the garden again. Haha! Water deeply but less often. While I am admittedly not a huge fan of growing hot peppers, I can honestly say that my favorite “super hot” pepper is a chocolate habanero. Please try again. This setup was just a really great way to control all the elements so I could better compare the peppers and their growth. Yes Round of Hungary– did not grow well for me. Desmond carnations, for instance, can be grown in USDA hardiness zones four through eight, while Hardy Mixed Carnations thrive in zones three to nine. Recently, we have been experimenting with both, but I’m leaning towards drip lines in our case because the chances for clogs is greatly diminished. Full sun here is simply too draining for the plants. In general, I’ve found that bell peppers and larger peppers do not react well to being pruned but smaller (and hot) peppers will do fine. Hardiness Zone Converter. Gardening in zone 10 can be a challenge, depending on what state you live in. You can read all about how we compost HERE. Remember...Zone maps are not perfect and could be incorrect if you live in a micro-climate within a zone. See more ideas about fruit trees, zone 10, fruit. SUBTROPICAL ZONE. Super hot peppers like ghost peppers or the carolina reaper are such high-yielding plants that we usually only need one to fulfill our needs. Our water can often have mineral deposits or calcium build-up, and I noticed the soaker hoses were more effected by this than the drip lines. There are 11 planting zones on the USDA Plant Hardiness Map in the contiguous United States and southern Canada. The seed packet 3 years ago called it a “snacking pepper” but mine were too darn hot to eat at all! Growing Bushes In Zone 9: Choosing Shrubs For Zone 9 Gardens. Here is a great website that lists tons of useful information about how to grow many varieties of plants as well as some guidance if they are not growing … These exquisite Amaryllis tend to grow up to 18-24 in. In general, I think any mulch will do the job so I’ll be sticking with the various methods of natural mulch I discuss in Let’s Talk Mulch! Zones assume that all plants are receiving adequate water. For many other climates with shorter growing seasons, it is imperative to start peppers early indoors because they can take a long time to germinate, grow, and ripen. Maybe nurseries here are doing a little "zone pushing". Zone 5 plants include violets, daylilies, lavender, and more. Step 1: Find your zone. Your geographic location will affect how successful your flowers or plants will grow in your gardening areas. Get access to FREE Gardening Resources & my newsletter straight to your inbox! My past problems growing peppers did not extend to any hot varieties. Zone 10 gardeners can plant a cool season crop in late winter, warm season vegetables in late spring, and then have a second cool season planting in autumn. This past Summer I discovered a recipe for fermented jalapenos from America’s Test Kitchen’s Foolproof Preserving book and wow! Knowing your gardening zones for hardiness and heat can help you decide which plants to choose. I won’t pretend I didn’t completely pamper and fawn over them—because I did. The frost dates typically run from mid-December to mid-January. Each zone can experience a range of 10 F (5.6 C) degrees variation in temperature. Zones 2-10 in the map have been subdivided into light and dark colored sections (a and b) that represent 5° F (2.8° C) differences within the 10° F (5.6° C) zone. Blueberry Growing Zones. Sweet Chocolate Bell –see note below on flavor. Click this article for some tips on growing bananas in zone 9 and enjoy a bumper crops of the glorious yellow fruit. When growing a garden in zone ten, you’ve hit the jackpot. Don’t worry! Peppers are both easy and complicated to grow from seed. To ensure that your plants thrive in your zip code, please use our tools: Special offers, discounts, and new products. The 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. This isn’t necessarily true for hot peppers though, so I give location priority to sweet peppers. While this list isn’t exhaustive, I do feel confident knowing some great options for sweet peppers to grow in my Southern California garden.