kuvaszlvr: "one other thing, not sure if you know this or not (not related to cross pollination, but seed collecting) but they say you should collect seeds from the first peppers. Not only does the earlier fruit have a higher percentage of viable seeds, but (this is something I did not know) they are genetically predisposed to produce earlier fruit. If you collect fruit from the end of the season, they will be more predisposed to later fruiting and you will end up pushing your fruiting farther and farther out." Thanks! That's some good information to know! Would the same apply to tomatoes also I wonder?

I think 50 feet between varieties will give you an almost 100% probability of producing seeds that are true to type. I believe I have read that for commercial seed production the separation distance is even greater. However, for a hobby gardener with a small area available, you will probably produce seeds that are true to type even though the plants are quite close. In my small garden the plants are spaced about 2 feet apart, and the saved seeds are usually true. That said, I did have problems with a couple of varieties in 2012. Last year they did not grow true, and I've gone back to seeds from 2010, which should be fine. Some growers sleeve flowers in fine mesh bags to prevent cross-pollination by insects. Although there is a possibility of wind-borne cross-pollination, it's probably unlikely. What you choose to do will depend on how imperative it is that you get seeds that are true.

Not sure if it's the best way but this seems to work alright for me: - take all seed from healthy ripe pods - open pods and carefully remove seeds from the pod receptacle, careful to remove as much of the extra tissue as reasonably possible - soak seeds in 3% hypochlorite to disinfect. see here --> http://cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/research/horticulture/CTF5.pdf - rinse seeds in water to remove hypochlorite - lay seeds out on a paper towel and dry for 3-5 days - i put my seeds in pouches that i make from paper bags and masking tape. label and seal in an air-tight jar with silica gel. place the jar in back of the refrigerator until time to plant.

Let me give you a living example: Couple of months ago I bought some green SHISHITO peppers from Asian Market I made two jars of pickles and set aside some that were fully green and couple of them had a hint of red. I kept them on the counter And saved seeds from those that turned fully red first(the best ones). The rest was left there. They too eventually turned red. I did a test: I took seeds from one of the last ones that turned red and planted. Within 7 days they all germinated(in paper towel). Then I planted them in 3.5" pots . Now they are growing and have 6 leaves each. Now my problem is how to keep them growing indoor til April. LOL. I have saved seeds in similar fashion from Serrano, Gypsy, Cubanelle, Chilaca, and few others. The worst weak case was the SHISHITO that I just explained. So, my advice is that just keep the pods(the most mature ones) on the counter until they turn red and acually as long as they do not rot. Then save seeds from those. JMO.