Varieties of Hot Peppers

Anaheim Chili - This pepper has the least "heat". But it has a good flavor. The large, six to eight inch fruit turns from dark green to a brilliant red when ripe. This pepper is popular for drying.

Caribbean Red Pepper - A Habanero pepper that is fiery hot. It produces red, wrinkly fruit. This hot pepper rates between 350,000- 450,000 on the Scoville scale.

Cascabella - This is a pungent, cone shaped fruit, just a little over an inch long. Cascabella plants  are prolific producers of fruit, that is bright yellow or red when ripe. Try this pepper in salads and sauces.

Long Cayenne Pepper - This pepper is fiery hot. Fruit grows about five inches long, turning from deep green to a brilliant red. It's best known for heating up chili.

Habanero Hot Peppers  - This electric-orange pepper is the King of the hot peppers. It is absolutely the hottest pepper you can grow.  Slightly wrinkled fruit grows one inch long, turning from light green to a fiery orange when ripe.

Hungarian Wax  - These "medium hot" pepper is especially zesty and attractive when pickled. It is good raw and cooked. 5 to 8 inch long fruit has a smooth skin. They turn from bright yellow to red when fully ripe.

Jalapeno Pepper - One of the best known hot peppers is Jalapenos. Most people think this is a pretty hot pepper. Many growers pick the dark green fruit when it reaches 2-3 inches long. If left on the plant, it turns a fiery red when ripe. Jalapenos are great stuffed, or sliced for use in a wide variety of Tex-Mex dishes.

Pepperoncini - These peppers pack a mild heat, and turn sweeter as they ripen. The fruit starts out as green or yellow, ripening into a Mars-like red color. Pepperoncini are delicious in Mediterranean salads, pastas and sandwiches.

Poblano / Ancho - As far as hot peppers go, Poblanos are on the mild side. But, they are tasty. They are the main ingredient in chile rellenos. Poblano peppers are wonderful roasted and peeled. Mature fruit measures 6 inches long and 3 inches wide, and are reddish-brown when ripe. They are called Poblano when fresh, and Ancho when dried.

 Serrano Chili -  One of the hottest around, Serrano Chili pepper plants produce an abundance of small fruits, ripening from dark green to crimson. As it's name implies, it is used to make chili sauce and pepper sauces.

Thai Hot Pepper - Many people grow this plant as an ornamental. It is attractive in your garden or in a container on your patio or deck. In addition to being a hot looking plant, it's fruit is fiery hot, too. Thai peppers grow about one inch long, and are bright red. When it comes to hot, they take second place. Only Habaneros are hotter. Plants grow about 18 inches tall.

Tobasco Chile Pepper - Best known for it's use in tobasco sauce, tobasco pepper is a real "hottie"with good flavor. They are also good in salsa and stir-fry dishes. Plants grow up to four feet tall. As the 1 1/2 inch fruits ripen, they turn from green to orange to red.

How to Start an Ostrich Farm

Cows and corn are often the first images that come to mind when thinking about farms, but many non-traditional types of farms also exist. Ostrich farming is one type of agriculture that can have many advantages. Ostriches produce meat and consume resources at a ratio that is much more profitable than beef cattle. A ostrich farm requires only a small areas of land and can generate revenue in several different ways.

Step 1
Determine which ostrich products to sell in order to produce revenue from the farm. Ostrich meat and ostrich hide are two common sources of revenue. The eggs and feathers of ostriches can also be sold and do not require the slaughter of the bird.

Step 2
Locate an area of land that can be used for the ostrich farm. Ostriches require between one and three acres of land in order to run and remain healthy. Build a simple shelter to protect the birds from harsh weather, and construct a fence to prevent the ostriches from escaping.

Step 3
Provide a sufficient supply of food and water for the ostrich farm. Large birds can drink several gallons of water each day. Ensure that the water is kept fresh. Purchase feed that is specially formulated for ostrich nutrition. Alternately, plant crops and grasses for the ostriches to eat.

Step 4
Choose a type of ostrich to raise. Red neck, blue neck and African black ostriches are the three general types of birds. Red neck and blue neck ostriches are often large and aggressive, while African black birds are smaller and easier to manage. The African black ostrich is often recommended for first-time farm operators.

Step 5
Purchase ostriches for the farm. Select from unhatched eggs, young chicks or adult ostriches. Unhatched eggs and young chicks are relatively inexpensive but require a significant amount of time and expertise to raise properly. Adult ostriches can begin producing new eggs quickly yet are more expensive to purchase initially.

Tip
Before opening an ostrich farm, check with the state agriculture or small business office to determine if a license is required. Contact a veterinarian to obtain an interstate health certificate before transporting animals or live eggs.