Chef Jeff

cecilsgarden1958 · July 11, 2017

Anybody ever here of Chef Jeff's Heirloom plants? I only ask, because a friend of mine was so happy to finally try an heirloom, but then the plant is "Jet Star" a hybrid. What's their deal???

MissS · July 12, 2017

Yes we have Chef Jeff plants here. It is just the name of a company. Maybe since "Jet Star" was introduced in 1969 they consider it an heirloom hybrid. LOL.

My Foot Smells · July 12, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissS

Chef Jeff

never heard of her, probably for good reason.

SacFly · July 12, 2017

I'm also from western PA, and we have chef jeff's at our local nursery. We usually wind up putting in a few plants each year to fill in for things that didn't take or that I just can't be bothered with starting from seed.

I have to say I've been pleased with the quality of their plants, to the point that I look for the brand. Larger single plants, interesting-ish variety, pest and disease free. It fits the bill if you only need a couple of plants.

I would also be interested to learn the origins of the Chef Jeff's brand. Tell your friend not to worry about the Jet Star. It's not an heirloom, but it's a good tomato.

Redbaron · July 12, 2017

Chef Jeff's is where I found Box Car Willie for the first time. I was so impressed I always go see if any other gems show up. Plus Chef Jeff's have the only tomatillos I can ever get to grow and produce for me.

greenthumbomaha · July 12, 2017

Chef Jeff is available here too. I love their plants, never a spot on them (unlike Bonnie). You can check their website for plants available in your area.

I bought a closeout "Worlds Hottest Pepper" plant today for under a dollar to grow in a pot. What was I thinking - you need gloves to touch the thing.

- Lisa

BTW, usual price here is $2.49. Much cheaper than the Bonnie Plants at the big box stores.

SteveP · July 12, 2017

I buy a few Chef Jeff plants each year and they seem to do well. We mostly have Bonnie here but one store gets Chef Jeff.

MuddyToes · July 12, 2017

Chef Jeff is how I got my Sun Gold this year (first time growing it). It was less expensive than the Bonnie version. Our garden centers are shrinking here and the choices are fewer.

dmforcier · July 13, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenthumbomaha

I bought a closeout "Worlds Hottest Pepper" plant today for under a dollar to grow in a pot. What was I thinking - you need gloves to touch the thing.

- Lisa

Bonnie Plants label, right? One of my first "exotic" peppers was a Bonnie Plants "Worlds Hottest" that turned out to be Fatalii (a very good and very hot pepper). They are supposed to be Orange Habanero. Neither is a worlds hottest by any reasonable stretch. Later I bought another hoping it was a Fatalii. It wasn't.

Confused, I called BP and got a very nice lady that explained the situation.

Fatalii was a seed error by the local contracted nursery. BP would think about adding it as a regular, but it's not a universally known pep and way hot.
The "World's Hottest Pepper" labels were a mistake too, or rather bad judgement a number of years ago. If you see one, it is just someone trying to use up the stock. It should be Orange Hab. Which was a very good and prolific pepper.

Oh, and you NEVER need gloves to handle an un-cut pepper. The pod is designed to keep the hot stuff IN until you start mucking around with its innards.

cecilsgarden1958 · July 13, 2017

My friend's plant looks great and has lots of tomatoes on. I would certainly buy the plants. Look healthy. I did tell her it was a good tomato!

July 11, 2017	#1
cecilsgarden1958 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: swPA Posts: 629	Chef Jeff Anybody ever here of Chef Jeff's Heirloom plants? I only ask, because a friend of mine was so happy to finally try an heirloom, but then the plant is "Jet Star" a hybrid. What's their deal??? __________________ Hybrids Rule, Heirlooms Drool!

July 12, 2017	#2
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,146	Yes we have Chef Jeff plants here. It is just the name of a company. Maybe since "Jet Star" was introduced in 1969 they consider it an heirloom hybrid. LOL. __________________ ~ Patti ~

July 12, 2017	#5
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	Chef Jeff's is where I found Box Car Willie for the first time. I was so impressed I always go see if any other gems show up. Plus Chef Jeff's have the only tomatillos I can ever get to grow and produce for me. __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

July 13, 2017	#10
cecilsgarden1958 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: swPA Posts: 629	My friend's plant looks great and has lots of tomatoes on. I would certainly buy the plants. Look healthy. I did tell her it was a good tomato! __________________ Hybrids Rule, Heirlooms Drool!

July 12, 2017	#4
SacFly Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: NYC Posts: 13	I'm also from western PA, and we have chef jeff's at our local nursery. We usually wind up putting in a few plants each year to fill in for things that didn't take or that I just can't be bothered with starting from seed. I have to say I've been pleased with the quality of their plants, to the point that I look for the brand. Larger single plants, interesting-ish variety, pest and disease free. It fits the bill if you only need a couple of plants. I would also be interested to learn the origins of the Chef Jeff's brand. Tell your friend not to worry about the Jet Star. It's not an heirloom, but it's a good tomato.

July 12, 2017	#6
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	Chef Jeff is available here too. I love their plants, never a spot on them (unlike Bonnie). You can check their website for plants available in your area. I bought a closeout "Worlds Hottest Pepper" plant today for under a dollar to grow in a pot. What was I thinking - you need gloves to touch the thing. - Lisa BTW, usual price here is $2.49. Much cheaper than the Bonnie Plants at the big box stores.

July 12, 2017	#7
SteveP Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Joplin MO Posts: 1,398	I buy a few Chef Jeff plants each year and they seem to do well. We mostly have Bonnie here but one store gets Chef Jeff.

July 12, 2017	#8
MuddyToes Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Delaware Posts: 234	Chef Jeff is how I got my Sun Gold this year (first time growing it). It was less expensive than the Bonnie version. Our garden centers are shrinking here and the choices are fewer.