Chili peppers are popular for seasoning unique cuisines and even as decorations during a feast. There are many varieties of these hot peppers, and they go through several different color stages during the ripening process. Chili peppers range in taste from mild to extremely hot, and usually become the hottest when grown during dry and hot summer temperatures.
Getting an Early Start
You can start your chili peppers early by planting them indoors in a pot or other gardening container with proper drainage during late winter. Once the outdoor temperatures become warm and the danger of frost has diminished, transplant your chili peppers into the ground. If you plant them in early spring and cooler temperatures still exist, you can use a raised garden bed along with plastic to warm the soil. The chili pepper plants should be planted in warm temperatures and very fertile soil that has plenty of moisture and drainage.
Place your plants in the ground approximately eighteen inches apart in any direction. If you're growing chili peppers for your family only, ten to twelve plants will be sufficient.
Caring for Chili Pepper Plants
When transferring your chili pepper plants from indoors to the ground, use a starter fertilizer and water abundantly to be sure the soil is moist. You can add additional fertilizer later as needed. The plants need a steady supply of moisture at all times, especially at harvest time. When dry weather occurs, irrigation to your plants is important for growth and maturity.
When to Harvest
You can pick or cut chili peppers at the desired size and color. Letting the peppers ripen and mature longer usually results in a hotter, more spicy taste. Chili peppers are considered the hottest and ripest when they reach the "red" color, however, immature peppers are used in some recipes as well.
Why Are Chili Peppers So Hot?
Chili peppers contain chemical compounds called capsaicinoids. These compounds are stored in several areas of the pepper and cause pain in the mouth, but not the taste buds. Some people are more tolerant to these chemicals than others. Sensitivity of the pain receptors in a person's mouth can determine whether or not they can tolerate eating hot chili peppers.
Chili peppers have become more popular around the world in recent years. Perhaps this can be attributed to the variety of cuisines being introduced from nation to nation. Chili peppers are also easy to cultivate, and have become a favorite for many individual gardeners.
For more growing tips for other plants such as garlic, roses, mushrooms or many others, please visit our site.
» left by Anonymous from Lakeside, Ca, USA (3 years 60 days ago.)
How tall do chili pepper tree grow? Respond to this comment
» left by Greta from South Yorkshire (2 years 184 days ago.)
Pity we didn't read this article before planting. We have more than 70 plants growing so looks like a freezer full of chillies!!! Respond to this comment
» left by Liam from East Yorkshire (2 years 63 days ago.)
damn got over 100 peppers growing now Respond to this comment
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