Cal Poly Pomona Pepperzania Sale Begins April 25
Need to add a spicy kick for that burrito or chicken wings? Celebrate spring with a burst of color and spice. Cal Poly Pomona’s annual Pepperzania sale starts Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Cal Poly Pomona Farm Store.
More than 85 varieties in 4-inch pots will be available spanning a range of sweet and hot pepper plants, including Asian types, jalapenos, ancho, poblano/mole, serrano, bell pepper plants and numerous specialty peppers.
Varieties will include Sweet Cayenne, Santa Fe Grande (mole), Black Pearl (specialty), Jupiter (sweet bell), Golden Cal Wonder (sweet bell), Jalapeno Gigante, Sweet Pickle, Flaming Jade (hybrid Serrano), Jalapeno Tricked You Hybrid, Jimmy Nardello Italian, Garden Salsa, Biquinho Red (Brazil), Aji Dulce #2, and Pepperoncini Greek. Asian peppers include Cayenne Golden, Chinese Five Color, Mellow Star, Thai Hot and Shishito. A list of pepper plants is available on the Cal Poly Pomona Nursery website.
New this year is Black Pearl, a compact ornamental pepper with deep purple-black foliage and glossy fruits that ripen to red. The highly decorative plant has a mild cayenne-like heat.
Another unusual variety on offer is the Black Cobra, an uncommon variety with long, slender pods and a rugged look, delivering moderate heat and a slightly smoky flavor.
In addition to the peppers, the nursery also will have a grand array of spring plants to jump start the home garden, including heirloom tomatoes, herbs, zucchini, squash, beans, lettuce, strawberries, fruit trees and more.
Proceeds benefit the plant science program and students. More than 20 Cal Poly Pomona plant science students from the horticultural class will assist customers with finding the right pepper varieties and plant care tips. True Organic, a soil and fertilizer vendor, will have a representative on site to provide samples and information.
On Pepperzania’s opening day, the adjacent Cal Poly Pomona Kellogg Ranch will open its petting farm and run the Cow Train from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets for those activities can be purchased at the Petting Farm enclosure. There will also be family crafts, a food vendor and honey and fruit samples from the university’s apiary and farm. The Farm Store will sell root beer floats made with root beer from Innovation Brew Works.
There is no admission cost to Pepperzania, but Guests are asked to register online for the free tickets.