Peppers by Post

We – Michael and Joy Michaud – specialise in the production of chilli peppers on our west Dorset holding overlooking the English Channel. As the name of the business suggests the produce is sold by mail order.

We sell only what we grow, and pride ourselves in producing a quality product. The chillies are always sent out the same day they are picked so, delivery glitches aside, customers receive their chillies just the day after they were growing on the plant, fresher than anything that can be bought in the shops.

There are thousands of varieties of chillies in the world, and not all are created equal. The varieties we have selected represent those we believe offer the best flavour within a wide range of shapes, sizes, textures and, of course, heat level. They all have specific culinary uses, contributing to a particular cuisine or style of dish. We grow, for example, the centimetre long ‘Thai Hot’ that is perfect for stir fries, pickles and chutneys. In contrast, there is the spectacular ‘Whippet’s Tail’, whose fruit can grow up to 30cm long. We also offer the ‘Poblano’ a large, mild chilli that is perfect for stuffing.

Then, for people who want extreme heat combined with a wonderful flavour, we have our ‘Dorset Naga’, developed from naga morich, a Bangladeshi landrace variety, that is among the hottest chillies in the world (see www.dorsetnaga.com).

To view the full range of chillies we sell please click on the ‘Varieties’ window and it will reveal all.

Numex Twilight, one of the chillies that may go into a mixed bag (seed available from Sea Spring Seeds. See seaspringseeds.co.uk)

SEASONALITY:

We only sell what we grow ourselves, which means our selling period is highly seasonal. The 2009 selling season will start, weather permitting, in mid-July.

Dorset Naga Seeds

We have now started a seed company called Sea Spring Seeds (see www.seaspringseeds.co.uk).

Really Cool Seeds sells seed of Dorset Naga, several other chilli and sweet pepper varieties, three of the very best tasting cherry tomatoes we have ever tried and several other herb and vegetable varieties. We only sell seed of varieties that we have grown ourselves – and can truly recommend from our own experience.

The stunninngly beautiful Numex Twilight (see picture above) and three unique mini-habanero varieties that we developed ourselves have just been introduced.

Please note, Sea Spring Seeds is the only company authorised to sell Dorset Naga seed.

Open day

Our open day this year is on 23rd August 2009.

Every year in August we have an open day to which everyone is invited. Visitors will have the chance to walk around our polytunnels to see the chillies growing – the main crops and all the chilli trials – and to talk with us about what we do. Fresh chillies, seeds and potted chilli plants will be available for sale. Do come, it is a great day; we talk chillies all day and no one seemed to tire of the subject!

Please bear in mind, though, we are a small market garden and a visit is not likely to be a whole day event. So plan on taking advantage of your trip to West Dorset, it is a beautiful part of the country with lots to see, and we are just a quarter mile from the sea. Please wear appropriate clothes and footwear for the weather.

Shows

Every year we attend several shows. So if you live close to one come and say hello to us, and if you are a regular customer please introduce yourself! At some shows we will only be selling seeds, but at others it will be any combination of fresh chillies, chilli plants and seeds.

Shows that we know we will be attending in 2009 are:

• Exeter Food and Drink Festival (17th - 19 April). See www.exeterfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk

• Axe Vale Festival (20th - 21st June). See www.axevalefestival.org.uk

• RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show (7th - 12th July). See www.rhs.org.uk/whatson/shows/hamptoncourt2009/

• Bridport Food Festival (27th June). See www.bridportfoodfestival.org.uk

• Chilli Fiesta at West Dean, Chichester (8th - 9th August). See www.westdean.org.uk/gardens/chillifiesta.html

• Melplash Show (27th August). See www.melplashshow.co.uk

• RHS Hyde Hall Chilli Pepper Weekend (12th - 13th September). For more information phone 01245 400256 or email: hydehall@rhs.org.uk

• Abergavenny Food Festival (19th - 20th September). Not confirmed yet. See www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com

We may be going to more, and these will be posted here as they come up.

Grow and Cook courses

In August and September we run a series of half-day "Grow and Cook" courses for gardeners interested in exotic cooking. They are held at Sea Spring Farm, our market garden in rural West Dorset and home to Peppers by Post. The courses on offer are:

What's hot, what's not, which explores the unique and diverse world of sweet peppers and chillies.
Fusion Thai, a morning devoted to Thai vegetables that can be grown in Britain and British varieties of vegetables that can be used in Thai cooking.
Asian roots, covering how to grow and cook the vegetables necessary in authentic Indian/Pakistani cooking.

Each course will give detailed information on the cultivation and management of vegetables, including tips on variety choice, cultivation and their use in the kitchen.

For more information see www.growandcook.biz