Native to Galicia in northwestern Spain, the small Padron peppers (pementos de Padrón) measure between 5 and 10 cm. A rather sweet cultivar, a minority of fruits can sometimes reserve small surprises slightly pungent in mouth! Degree of spiciness on the Scoville scale: 2 to 4 – warm to hot – 500 to 2000 units. They can be eaten green or red, raw, simply sautéed with a little olive oil or in a marinade.

WARNING: The seeds of the peppers are pungent, we recommend to handle them with gloves.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Seeds

~25

Difficulty       

Medium

Sowing        

Indoor

Lifecycle      

Annual

Root cellar   

No

Sowing season       

Winter, Spring

Growing tips

Conditions of germination:

depth of sowing: 5 mm

optimal temperatures of germination: 25 to 30ºC

time for germination: 10 to 21 days

When to sow:

indoor sowing 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost date in your area

Sowing technique: in pocket

Inside the same hole, sow 3 to 5 seeds spaced about 1 to 2 cm apart; when the seeds have germinated and the seedlings have reached a height of 5 cm, keep all the plants if space is available or keep only the best plants. Transplant into individual containers while waiting for transplanting in the garden.

Transplant outdoors:

After any risk of frost, when the soil is warmed and the average nighttime temperature is above 12 ºC.

Distance in the garden:

between plants: 45 cm

between rows: 60 cm

Height of the plants: 50 cm

Soil: rich and well drained

Water: regular watering

Exposure: full sun

Days to harvest (after transplanting): 65 days for green peppers to 80 days for red peppers.

Specificities:

pinch off the first flowers to make the plant more robust and to stimulate the production of leaves that will protect the fruits from the sun burns in summer on very hot days

possible cultivation in pot