Depending on the match you have in mind, cross breeding peppers is a fairly simple task. Most common peppers grown as annuals in the U.S. cross with abandon in nature and at the hybridizer's hand. Armed with a basic knowledge of pepper species and a few tools to simplify the pollinating task, you can cross breed peppers like a pro. A vital part of the equation is beating peppers to the punch, and then waiting until next year for your results.

Pepper Species and Compatibility

Five species dominate common peppers. The most-widely grown, Capsicum annuum, is composed of sweet bell-type peppers along with hot jalapenos (Capsicum annuum var. jalapeno). Capsicum chinense offers some of the hottest of the hot, from habanero (Capsicum chinense var. habanero) to Scotch bonnet (Capsicum chinense var. Scotch bonnet). Capsicum frutescens includes tabasco pepper (Capsicum frutescens var. tabasco) and Thai hot chile (Capsicum frutescens var. Thai hot). Varieties within these three species cross readily, especially hot with sweet. The other two species -- Capsicum baccatum, known as aji peppers, and the black-seeded Capsicum pubescens -- are more difficult to cross breed.

Planning for Pollination

Each pepper flower contains male and female parts. Known as perfect flowers, the blossoms can pollinate themselves and others. Breezes lend a hand in shaking pollen loose and carrying it on the wind. Insects aid self-pollination and cross-pollination as they buzz one pepper and the next. A successful cross requires preventing unintentional pollination. Plan your rendezvous for morning, when pollen production peaks. Bring a pair of forceps, string labels to mark crosses and small paper bags to protect newly pollinated blossoms for a few days. If numerous crosses are done, clean your hands and forceps with alcohol between each cross.

Making the Cross

Select an unopened flower on your female or seed parent plant. Blooms in the lowest tier generally produce the most seed. With the flower attached to the plant, remove the closed petals with the forceps. This leaves the female stigma at the center, surrounded by unopened male anthers. Remove all the anthers from the bloom. Select an open, pollen-producing flower from your male or pollen parent plant. Detach it from the plant and remove the petals. Then use the blossom like a tiny brush to paint the female parent's stigma thoroughly with pollen. Cover the pollinated blossom with a paper bag, and label the plant with the date, the seed parent's name and an "x" followed by the pollen parent's name.

Harvesting Your Seeds