Have you ever wondered where the pepperoni you bought from the supermarket actually comes from? Which fertilizers were used, what transport route did the vegetables travel and how fresh are they? All of this will no longer worry you if you grow a hot pepper yourself. Not only will you taste the difference, but you'll also enjoy watching your efforts slowly bear fruit.
How to grow hot peppers successfully?
Hot peppers can be grown from seeds or purchased as a plant. For successful growth they need a sunny, warm and wind-protected location, regular watering with clean water and a harvest period between August and October before the first frost sets in.
The rearing
First you have to choose whether you want to buy an early copy from a specialist retailer or grow your peppers yourself from seeds right from the start. The latter has some advantages:
- significantly more selection of different species
- no risk of a second generation plant producing fewer fruits
- The joy of raising your own food
You can get the required seeds (€3.00 on Amazon) online or at the tree nursery. If you already have a hot pepper, you can also take the seeds from it and plant them in the ground.
Care
First, grow your pepperoni in the pot. Only in May, when ground frost is no longer expected, can you plant the cold-sensitive vegetable plant in the ground. Alternatively, you can continue to cultivate the peppers in the pot, which makes the upcoming wintering easier. Please note the following:
- the location
- the watering
- the harvest of ripe fruits
The Location
Peperoni plants love sunny, warm locations. However, you should also place your plant protected from the wind. The pepperoni is also protected from precipitation under a small projection. If you don't have the capacity to do this, a small greenhouse can help.
Pouring
Watering the peppers daily is mandatory, especially in very warm locations. The substrate should always be moist. However, waterlogging must not form. Always water the ball directly, but never the leaves. Clean, ideally filtered rainwater is best.
Harvesting pepperoni
In late summer, your pepperoni will reward you with a rich yield. You can pick the fiery pods from August to the end of October. By the way, this is also possible when it is green. Then only small amounts of capsaicin have been formed. Accordingly, the taste is somewhat milder. Be sure to collect the pods before the first frost and move your peppers to a warm location as soon as temperatures drop below 5°C. You can use the harvested fruits fresh or freeze them to preserve them.
