Hot Pepper – Pepperoncini

Pepperoncini (small peppers in Italian) are small peppers of about 7 to 12 cm long and 2 cm wide. The green fruits can be harvested as soon as they have formed and are 5 cm long. Very slightly hot (between 100 and 500 SHU on the Scoville scale), they are delicious eaten fresh, sautéed or pickled.

Growing tips

Conditions of germination:

depth of sowing: 5 mm

optimal temperature for 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: 75 cm

Soil: rich and well drained

Water: regular watering

Exposure: full sun

Days to harvest (after transplanting): 60 days for green peppers, 75 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 to grow in a pot

QUICK STATS

Number of seeds: ±40

Difficulty: Medium

Type: Heirloom / Open pollinated

Lifecycle:Annual

Additional information

Weight            0.1 g

Difficulty         

Medium

Sowing          

Indoor

Lifecycle        

Annual

Root cellar     

No

Sowing season        

Winter, Spring