Sexing Green Peppers: Is it male or is it female?

A friend of mine just sent me this picture that is apparently making the rounds on Facebook. The blogger who posted the picture on her site claims that you can tell what sex of a pepper is by turning it over and counting the lobes. 


It's a fascinating idea, but  It's NOT true!

Here's why. Peppers produce complete flowers that have both male and female parts. The resulting fruit is the swollen ovary of the plant. Fruit, like the pepper, is always female. (There are some exceptions in the plant world, but peppers are not one of them.)

The number of lobes on a green pepper is due to the variety of pepper. There are three, four and five lobed peppers but don't be fooled by those Facebook posts All green peppers are female.


                                                              Until next time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!

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