Hot Pepper Pete

About Pete

Pepper Pete's "Gardening Journey" began over 27 years ago in a small patch of 10 hot pepper plants in his backyard on Monterey Street in Duquesne, Pa.,  where he was born and raised. It began, really, as a friendly contest/challenge with a neighbor to see who could grow the largest variety of hot peppers.....and Pete just never stopped! 

The pepper garden, now at his home in West Mifflin Pa., has grown to 2,000 square feet with about 55 varieties, give or take 5 or 10 varieties (currently 280 plants). The peppers are Pete's main passion, but he has also expanded into growing about 15 other types of vegetables from A to Z. Never one to let a seed or seedling go to waste, he will find an empty space or pot and plant it!
What to do with all of these peppers? Hundreds are stuffed and frozen (to enjoy through the winter and spring), hundreds more are jarred and thousands are dried and used to create Pete's Powerful Pepper Powder, many are just eaten raw as they are picked, and many, many more are shared with friends, neighbors, and loved ones. 

Pete is always looking forward to, and planning for, the next year's crop!