Hot chili peppers belong to the genus Capsicum and family Solanaceae (assistant). The name “chili” comes from the word “chile”, which is actually the Spanish name for a certain type of pepper. In the past, it was mostly used as an ornamental plant, while today it is mostly used as a natural medicine and food.
They are close relatives of peppers, so if you have successfully grown cucumbers or tomatoes from seed, planting and growing hot peppers will require less experience and care. All they require is full sun, quality seeds, good soil and moderate watering. An excess of water could affect the reduction of its spiciness and the appearance of rot.
These are branched plants that can grow up to half a meter in height. Their fruits differ, depending on the variety and cultivar, and can be green, red, yellow, orange, purple, brown and in various sizes and shapes – elongated and narrow, short and round, round and flat and many others.
In addition to shape and color, they also differ in smell and taste. There are more or less pronounced smells of peppers, and they can be nutty, floral, fruity and other smells. Their taste varies from slightly sweet to sour. But regardless of the color, shape and smell, the selection of hot peppers for planting is usually done by their spiciness for which they are known. There are quite mild, medium spicy and fierce ones.
Varieties of hot chili peppers
Some of the most interesting types and cultivars of hot peppers are:
- cayenne
- Thai peppers
- habanero
- Tabasco
- anaheim
- jalapeño
- rocoto
There are several peppers that produce a particularly good yield in our areas, so they are rightly recommended for beginners in planting, and they are:
- Hot Portugal
- Aji varieties
- Serrano
- Jalapeno
- Jamaican Hot
Cultivation of hot chili peppers
Chili peppers can be planted from seeds or seedlings, and cultivation is possible outdoors in the garden or in containers. If you are going to plant them from seeds, the procedure is somewhat more complicated, but certainly more exciting, especially for those who have a little more experience with growing herbs.
Matching cultures
Places where legumes were previously planted will suit chili because they enrich the soil with larger amounts of nitrogen, which chili needs.
It will succeed next to garlic, onions, cabbage, green beans, celery, broccoli, lettuce, radicchio, korabica, spinach and asparagus. Also, from the spices, the company of dill, basil, mint, oregano, thyme and others will suit them.
Never plant it next to relatives such as peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, turnips, red cabbage, eggplant, sunflower.
Planting from seeds
Before sowing, provide enough jars or containers to place the seeds. If the quantities you want to sow are larger, get a styrofoam container. It can hold up to a hundred seeds. When they sprout, you can easily transplant them into the ground or into jars. You can get the mentioned containers in almost all agricultural pharmacies.
In case you want to sow a smaller amount of seeds, you can use plastic cups made of, for example, yogurt or Jiffy peat pellets. Pellets are an excellent and simpler choice than classic sowing. Soak them in water, and when they swell, place the seeds in it. You will not need a classic substrate for this hatchery at the beginning.
The jars in which you will place the seeds must necessarily have holes drilled in the bottom through which the excess water will flow freely after watering. What you still need to pay attention to is the planting density if you are going to sow more seeds in one jar, because the plant could be damaged when it develops roots.
When you get the seeds you want, it is recommended to soak them in plain water, chamomile tea or potassium permanganate solution for a few hours or overnight. This way you will soften the outer hard membrane of the pepper and promote better conditions for sowing. In addition, chamomile tea and potassium permanganate will prevent and disinfect possible diseases such as bacteria or fungi that can be transmitted by seeds and harm the plant at the beginning of growth.
If you use a potassium permanganate solution, make it a 0.5% solution. Soak the seeds in the mentioned solution for 20 minutes, then rinse them well and dry them.
No one can guarantee you exactly how many days it will take for the seeds to germinate. It depends on the species you sow, but even more depends on the uniformity of air temperature and soil temperature. The more ideal and uniform the temperature (with small variations), the better the peppers will germinate.
The process of germinating peppers in jars is from 5 to 30 days. There is a possibility that some peppers will sprout in as little as five days, while some will take up to two weeks. Be persistent, provide them with enough heat and moderate watering (only when necessary)
Sowing time
At the end of January, preparations for planting chili peppers from seeds begin. If you haven’t got the seeds by then, it’s the last hour because the sowing of chili starts already in the middle or end of February.
Ground
You will get the best quality soil or substrate if you choose one of the substrates available in agricultural pharmacies or garden centers. It is a sterilized and at the same time safe land for growing peppers. Such soil does not contain weeds or pests or possible disease-causing agents.
Pre-soaked seeds should be covered with 5 millimeters of soil. It is important not to cover the seeds with too much soil because they will not have the strength to sprout.
Temperature
Since chili peppers come from warm regions, apart from the fact that they will take a long time to germinate, you also need to provide them with a lot of heat in order for them to germinate and later bear fruit. It is important to know – the hotter the pepper, the longer it will take to germinate, grow and develop. Earlier sowing is not recommended because the weather conditions will not allow the seedlings to be planted outdoors, the plants will not develop well, which puts you at risk of the appearance of numerous diseases.
To achieve successful seed germination, provide ideal temperatures ranging from 25 to 30 degrees. The more ideal the conditions, the better the germination. Under ideal conditions, germination ranges from 70 to 80%. If the temperature of the substrate is around 21 degrees, the germination process takes longer.
If you sow chili at home, keep the jars in a place where the constant temperature will be from 25 to 30 degrees. You can also put them right next to the radiator, but make sure they don’t get too hot, so never put them directly on the radiator. You can also use other heat options such as a router, close to a water heater or the top of a refrigerator. Such sources of heat will help plants sprout better. It is important that night air temperatures are not lower than 10 degrees.
Light
When you notice that the plant has sprouted, be sure to provide it with enough natural light and sunshine. Keep in mind that one sunny day means a lot more to a plant than several days spent under artificial light.
There are many theories about how much light chili peppers actually need. If you grow them from seeds and sow them indoors, try to provide them with 24-hour light in the first 2 months during the growing season. If for some reason you can’t make it happen, let me be at least 12 to 16 hours a day.
Later, when the plant reaches the flowering period, it will also need darkness, otherwise it will not bear fruit.
Feeding
At this stage of sowing, there is no need to add fertilizer to the planting substrate. Everything the plant needs for sprouting is in the substrate.
Watering
Once you sow the chili and water the soil where the seeds are, it is best not to water the plant until the topsoil is completely dry. Due to the excessive amount of moisture on the surface of the earth, various fungi and algae could appear, which can be fatal for the seedlings.
It is recommended immediately after sowing, when the soil is moist enough, to wrap the plants with transparent kitchen foil, which will maintain a higher concentration of moisture and a higher temperature, which together must be satisfied for the growth of peppers.
Planting from seedlings
When the plant develops its first true leaves, it is ready to be planted in larger jars. Provide such plants with a temperature of 20 degrees. When transplanting young plants, be careful because they are fragile. Spray them with water from time to time and do not expose them to direct sunlight. When they harden a little, they will benefit from the sun on the windows. If you decide to grow plants in containers, water and feed them more often.
Planting time
A sign that we have grown real seedlings ready for planting in larger jars are three to four real leaves. Be careful not to make a mistake in your estimation because the plant will initially develop cotyledons – the germ leaves from which the real ones develop.
Only when the danger of late frosts has passed, which is usually at the beginning of May, you can plant the plant outdoors.
When planting chili peppers outdoors, choose sheltered places, that is, places where they will not be exposed to strong winds.
Ground
Chili likes humus-rich and permeable soil, with a slightly acidic to neutral pH value. Before planting chilies, the soil should be well dug and loosened.
With a sufficient amount of fertilizer, plant the plants in the ground so that their first leaves are level with the ground. This way they will be able to develop a stronger and stronger root. After planting, water the plant.
Feeding
Fertilization of chili peppers begins in the vegetative phase (stage of development of the stem, leaves and roots), i.e. in the transplanting phase when the chili develops a minimum of four leaves. When planting peppers in larger pots, use a starter fertilizer for vegetable growth.
When chilies reach the generative stage (the stage of bud development), then reach for a fertilizer to help with flowering and fruit set, which is one that has added amounts of calcium. Peppers are very sensitive to its deficiency during the generative phase. In this case, they could be affected by rot or they could turn yellow, dry out and fall off.
Watering
Since the plant has a long root, it needs to be provided with sufficient amounts of water during the summer months. Water it only in the early morning and with stagnant water or rainwater.
Maintenance and care
Air temperature between 22 and 29 degrees is best suited for plants to grow and develop. Chili does not like too high temperatures, because in this case the flowers may fall off. If the temperatures are too high during the summer, protect the chili with shade, which will prevent damage to the leaves and fruits.
It is important to know that temperatures below zero do not suit it either. Even the slightest frost can destroy the plant. In case of frost, protect the plants with a tunnel or foil, which will protect the young plant in the spring months and extend the harvest time during the fall.
Regular hoeing and raking of the soil will encourage better growth of the plant, specifically the roots. The plants will receive more water and nutrients, which will help them achieve better and better growth. After hoeing the plants, don’t forget about mulching either. Otherwise, the soil around the plant could dry out too much.
Chili peppers do not have too many problems with diseases and pests. They attack them to a lesser extent than pepper. In order to prevent an attack on the plant, it is necessary to meet all the conditions of sowing and planting.
Cultivation of chili peppers on the balcony
If you like to eat chili peppers, you don’t have a garden, but you have a balcony – plant chilies on the balcony in containers! In addition to being tasty and healthy and you can enjoy their fresh or dried fruits, they will decorate your balcony with a wealth of different red, yellow and green colors.
Planting from seeds
Although the cultivation of chili from seeds is somewhat more complicated and difficult than that from seedlings, since it requires somewhat more serious conditions, sowing chili is still not impossible.
Hot peppers will need optimal temperatures of around 15 degrees for germination, and since sowing takes place in March, it is best to sow them in jars in the house.
The same rules apply to sowing chili peppers in pots for growing on the balcony as for sowing outdoors, because the cultivation of chili peppers outdoors (in most of our regions) begins with sowing indoors. The only difference is if you plant chilies from seedlings, but then you already have a ready-made plant and you can skip this step for planting from seeds.
When the peppers sprout, they need a lot of light for further growth. Before sprouting, they do not need light.
Planting from seedlings
Three weeks after placing the seeds in the jars, the peppers should sprout and already have four developed leaves. Then you can plant them in jars. Care must be taken when choosing jars. Namely, the size of the jar depends on the size of the variety, so use 10-liter jars for smaller varieties, and 30-liter containers for larger ones.
Ground
For transplanting plants into containers, you can use a universal substrate for planting vegetable seedlings. Make sure that the soil is well-drained so that water does not remain among the roots for a long time, as this could lead to rot.
Temperature
When transplanting plants into jars, do not take them outdoors until optimal weather conditions are met, which include night temperatures above 12 degrees and minimum daytime temperatures of 15 degrees. Therefore, depending on the area in which you live, you will probably not move the peppers to the balcony until April.
Chili peppers like a lot of sun. Place the jars in a sunny spot and they will thank you. They will enjoy it if your balcony is bathed in the sun all day. Although you do not have to leave a particularly large distance between the plants, it is still recommended to respect the minimum distance for better air circulation between the plants. In this way, you will reduce possible fungal diseases of plants to a minimum.
Feeding
For fertilization at this stage of planting, see fertilization when planting chili seedlings. She is identical.
Watering
Water the peppers only when necessary. If the top layer of the soil is dry, check its interior as well. Place your finger deeper into the soil and check if the substrate is dry there as well or if it is still moist. If the soil feels moist enough, do not water.
Maintenance and care
Chili will decorate your balcony almost all year round. However, its cultivation does not have to stop there. Chili peppers are perennials, and the only thing that bothers them is harsh and cold winters. Therefore, if you have a suitable space, bring them indoors and place them on windowsills.
The room for wintering chilies should be slightly cooler, but bathed in light. Even during the winter, peppers like a lot of light, and if you provide them with good conditions, they will continue to grow, bloom and bear fruit. Of course, not to the same extent as in the summer months, but they will survive until the next season, which means that you will not have to grow them again from seed every year.
Pinching chili peppers
Pinching is done in order to remove the overgrown parts of the plant that are not needed and do not affect the quality of pepper cultivation. That is, they can even set it back, because such shoots spend too much energy for their development, which should be directed to the growth and development of the stem, buds and branches. The rule is that it is necessary to remove everything that grows between the real leaves and the stem.
By pinching, you shape the peppers according to your wishes and direct their growth the way you want it.
Cultivation of decorative chili peppers
By the time peppers arrived in Europe, many of them had become prized ornamental plants. Individuals found them interesting for planting because of the beautiful fruits that come in many colors.
In the period from 1800 to 1920, peppers were given as gifts for Christmas, since they are decorated with the beauty and colorfulness of the fruits.
If you want your home to be decorated with beautiful hot peppers, you can easily grow them in jars and indoors, and you can also transplant them outdoors when the danger of frost has passed. They are easy to grow and you can grow them like any other indoor plant.
If you buy them in the form of seedlings, carefully read the instructions that come with them. Namely, although most ornamental peppers are edible, there are some that are not suitable for eating because they have been treated with means that regulate their growth, which is why they remain dwarf.
Some of the most famous decorative chili peppers are:
- Aurora
- Sangria
- NuMex Twilight
- Medusa
- Black Pearl
Decorative chili peppers are not difficult to grow and do not require special conditions. If you want to grow them from seed, grow them like any other chili pepper.
Water them when the substrate dries on the surface, but be sure to drill holes in the bottom of the glass so that the water can drain freely.
The same rules apply to fertilizing as we have already mentioned for growing hot chili peppers. It is important not to fertilize the plants until they have developed a few true leaves.
The only thing that could give you headaches when growing are leaf diseases, and you can prevent them by watering the plant less. Namely, this disease mostly appears when plants grow in insufficiently drained and wet soil.
If you want to plant decorative chili peppers in the garden, wait until late spring when the danger of frost has passed. Since they like the sun very much, do not plant them in a place where you cannot provide them with 8 hours of sun a day, because then they will not be able to develop fruits.
Harvest
Peppers are harvested with scissors so as not to damage their delicate stems. You can also pick them unripe. By standing in the sun and heat, it will ripen later.
It is recommended that you pick the fruits regularly, in order to leave room for new ones.
Storage
You can use the peppers fresh, add them to the winter storage or dry them.
Ripe and high-quality chili fruits are dried in the air or in an oven at a temperature of 50 degrees. They are often stacked on a string, hung in an airy place and thus dried. Then they are also a beautiful decoration that adorns our pantry or kitchen.
Dried chilies should be stored in containers or paper bags. Before use, you need to grind them into a fine powder with your hands or in a blender. It is recommended to do this just before use in order to retain the taste, smell and aroma.
Pests
In May, when the young chili plant is transplanted into the open air, it is immediately under a possible infestation of insects, which at that time naturally wake up in a big way. We bring the most common pests of chili peppers.
Aphids
Peppers grown on the balcony and in general all peppers that are planted outdoors are often infested with aphids. These are tiny insects that sting and suck the leaves and cause them to curl and spread plant viruses among plants.
Aphids most often attack all types of peppers, and are barely visible to the naked eye. They can also attack other fruits and vegetables. Their body is 1.5 to 2.5 mm long.
Both adult insects and larvae cause damage to plants by sucking the juices from the leaves and thus causing curling. When sucking the leaves, they release honeydew on which black fungi settle, which lead to a decrease in the quality of the fruits. In addition, aphids can also transmit viruses from plant to plant.
In herbal pharmacies, look for help in the form of chemical or biological means to fight these tiny pests.
White fly
The whitefly (flower shield moth) is only 2 mm long, and since its body is covered with a white waxy powder, it got its name from that. Larvae and adult flies damage the undersides of the leaves. It can have up to 12 generations in a year.
The mentioned flies suck the leaves, which causes them to fade, and the part where the sucking happened starts to turn brown and die. While feeding on the leaves, it releases honeydew at the same time, which becomes a favorable place for the black sooty fungus to settle. This leads to contamination of the pepper, its fruits and leaves.
In order to prevent this pest, it is important to work on controlling weeds in the greenhouse because they can also feed on them. Remove all those heavily infected leaves and place yellow sticky boards that attract the pest and thus destroy it.
California thrips
This yellow or brown insect, up to 1.4 mm in size, can damage a large number of vegetables, including chili peppers. It most often attacks chili that is grown in a closed space such as a greenhouse or greenhouse. During the year, it can have up to 15 generations.
It attacks the plant by feeding on its fruits and leaves. When it attacks the plant, white lines or dots appear on the leaves, which eventually turn brown or die. In plants that have been exposed to a strong attack, the leaves dry up and fall off. The fruits are deformed and experience depigmentation.
In order to protect the plant from the attack of this insect, place protective nets at the entrances to the indoor area where they are grown. Do not forget to install protection on the ventilations as well. When the season is over, destroy all weeds and plant remains and be sure to remove them from the greenhouse. Otherwise, the insect could overwinter on them. Also if you can put blue sticky boards as these will attract the thrips and thus destroy them.
Green bug
Although at first glance similar to the stink bug, the green bug differs from it only in color. While she is green, the stinking martin appears in brown. Adult females of this insect lay eggs on the lower parts of the leaves, from which the larvae later hatch. Larvae are the same as adult insects, differing only in size. They can have a maximum of two generations, and they appear both outdoors and in the greenhouse.
Larvae and adult insects feed exclusively on pepper fruits, and a yellow spot appears at the site of their sting.
It is possible to remove them manually or mechanically.
Corn moth
It is a butterfly whose 2.5 cm caterpillars damage peppers and corn. Butterflies come to light, and their flying season begins in May with a maximum of two generations per year. They fly in the morning and in the evening. They can attack plants outdoors and in the greenhouse.
When the caterpillars hatch from the eggs, they crawl into the fruit, which begins their feeding process, and ultimately the fruit begins to rot.
Destroy all plant remains if you suspect these harmful moths because they can easily overwinter in them. If you also grow corn, plow it after harvest because it can easily spread to it as well.
Diseases
If you grow chili peppers, you will probably be interested in which diseases chili could be affected by. It is good to know that many of them are transmitted by seeds, so be sure to disinfect the seeds before sowing.
Laying of seedlings
This fungal disease is caused by fungi called:
- Phytium
- Sclerotinia
- Fusarium – Rhizoctonia solani species
- Phytophthora capsici
Fungi from the Phytium genus affect the plant at the point where the stem emerges from the ground and cause a water zone on it. The plant can easily break and be destroyed under such damage. During the first 48 hours, damage can occur on the entire seedling.
The fungus Phytophytora capsici attacks the root neck or the pepper root itself, as a result of which the root turns brown or black, and the root neck acquires dark green ring zones and narrowing of the stem.
Rhizoctonia solani fungi can cause the plant to turn brown, rot and fall.
Diseases caused by the fungi Fusarium spp. and R. solani occur in sunny and warm areas, while Phytophtora and Phytium occur in wet areas with a cold climate.
The only way to deal with this plant is to make sure that you choose healthy seeds for sowing and that you sow them in sterile soil. You can treat the plant preventively with fungicides.
Wilting peppers
This disease is caused by two fungi called V. albo-atrum and Verticillium dahlia. Both lead to the same symptoms, and the only difference is in the time when they appear and the way of hibernation.
The symptoms cause the leaves to wilt (they look like they are not getting enough water), they turn yellow and die. If you were to cut the pepper lengthwise, you might notice the dark parts.
If these fungi become infected, it is not recommended to re-grow peppers in the same place in the garden for several years. If you grow chilies in a jar, be sure to sterilize the jar and remove the soil.
Gangrene root neck
The disease that occurs on the root neck is caused by a pseudofungus called Phytophtora capsici. It can occur on all parts of the plant, and the main symptoms of infection are browning of the neck of the root, rot, which leads to lying down. Round red and wet spots appear on the leaves and branches, and the fruits dry up due to water spots.
Infection occurs at high temperatures and due to excessive amounts of water created by irrigation or summer rains.
Protect the plant by sowing the seeds in sterile soil, and use fungicides as a preventive measure.
Bacterial scab of fruits
This disease is caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria, and occurs in July when there are heavy rains. In order for bacteria to appear, high air temperature (25 to 30) and high air humidity are necessary. The bacterium is transmitted through seeds and can overwinter in plant residues. It enters the plant through wounds caused by wind and hail.
The disease is manifested by watery, dark green spots with a light edge, and swelling occurs on the lower part of the leaves. The fruits get brown spots, and the seeds turn black.
To prevent this disease, sow only healthy seeds and regularly ventilate if you grow chilies indoors. Do not water the plant over the leaves, but only in the soil and not directly over the roots. You can also protect with fungicidal agents, and act preventively with copper-based fertilizers.
Powdery mildew
Also one of the fungal diseases, and it is caused by the fungus Leveillula taurica. The infection occurs exclusively on the leaves, in the summer months when the air temperature is higher than 32 degrees and the air humidity is 50%.
One of the main symptoms of infection are yellow leaves that curl and eventually wither. One of the main symptoms of powdery mildew is a whitish coating that looks like cobwebs and appears on the lower parts of the leaves.
To prevent the spread of infection, remove all plant remains at the end of the season and destroy all weeds. Powdery mildew can easily overwinter on plant remains. You can also protect the plant with a sulfur-based fungicide.
Gray mold
Gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) occurs on peppers at temperatures of 12 to 23 degrees and high air humidity, more than 85%. Symptoms of infection appear on the fruit, stem and leaves, usually in places where the stipules have been removed or where any other damage has occurred. It is through the aforementioned damage that mold enters the plant and infection occurs.
If you notice watery wet rot on the stem and leaves, this is a sign that the plant has been affected by mold. Olive-colored spots of different sizes may appear on the fruit, while the fruit decays.
If you plant the plant in a protected area, perform regular ventilation and, if necessary, treat with fungicides.
Using
Chili peppers are known as one of the healthiest foods in the world thanks to capsaicin, the compound responsible for its spiciness. So, the hotter the peppers are, the healthier they are. In a scientific study, it was proven that people who regularly consume dishes in which chili peppers are added can prolong their lives. Hot peppers create heat in the body, which leads to additional calorie consumption. Therefore, if you are on a diet and want to lose weight in a healthy way, include hot peppers in your diet.
Often added to food preparation, chili powder is widely known in many kitchens around the world.
Chili can also be used as a natural pesticide to protect plants from diseases and pests without using harmful chemicals.
Preparations
Cookery
You can add chili to any dish you want! There is no need to limit it exclusively to Mexican or Asian cuisine, add it to stews, side dishes, soups, sauces, salads and all other savory dishes.
Chili pepper is the most famous hot pepper, from which various types of sauces and salsas are prepared, and when the peppers are ground and dried, we get cayenne pepper. Chili is also one of the main ingredients of curry and is generally used most often as a spice by adding it to various dishes, from stews, side dishes to meat dishes.
The taste of chili is sharp, and if we want to compare it with ordinary hot pepper, we find that its spiciness is even 20% higher.
You will often find dark chocolate with chili, which means that you can add chili to sweet chocolate dishes, other desserts, drinks and smoothies.
Be careful when using chili because its spiciness can often irritate the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes and skin. If you want to avoid possible inconvenience, wear protective rubber gloves when using chili.
Medicine
Peppers are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, of which vitamins B and C and the minerals iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and sodium lead the way.
Chili not only gives the dish a special spiciness and taste, it also acts as an anti-inflammatory and reduces pain. Since it reduces inflammation, it is recommended for arthritis.
Peppers can lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce the possibility of blood clots. Therefore, if you want to avoid heart attack, stroke or thrombosis, regularly consume chili.
By regularly consuming chili, you can prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes because after consuming it, the need to secrete insulin after a meal is reduced.
Chili promotes the proper functioning of digestion, which also means that the body is freed from the harmful effects of toxins.
Before, it was thought that hot food can lead to stomach ulcers, but today it is known that hot peppers can prevent the appearance of bacteria and lead to additional production of gastric juices that protect the health of the stomach.
To prevent the possibility of problems, take 400 milligrams of capsaicin three times a week.
A natural pesticide
In powder form, you can use pepper against pests in the garden. It has proven to be particularly good at controlling snails. Sprinkle some chili powder on the damp leaves of the plants, and the pests may disappear in no time.
You can make a natural remedy from chilies against aphids, which are common on chili plantations. Grind the peppers into a powder and pour 300 grams of the powder with 15 liters of water that had previously stood. Rain water turned out to be the best. After mixing the water and chili, let the mixture stand for 24 hours. After that, strain it through a strainer and you have obtained a concentrate for protecting plants. Before application, be sure to dilute it with water, and the ratio should be 1:10.
You can also use pre-dried peppers as a macerate that will serve to protect the garden from pests. Chop the chili, mix it with vegetable oil and let it stand for 24 hours. After that, strain the mixture and use it as a concentrate. Mix one spoonful of chili macerate with one liter of water and use it in case your garden is attacked by snails, aphids and other pests.
History
Hot peppers have been used for thousands of years, and are thought to originate from Central and South America, specifically Mexico, where chilies were cultivated more than 9,000 years ago. Fans of spicy dishes throughout the past and up until today are: Mexicans, Vietnamese, Indians and Hungarians. It will do best in warm areas, with Mexico, the Carolinas, California and Louisiana leading the way.
The Spanish brought the chili pepper to European soil at the time of Columbus. Some believe that Christopher Columbus himself brought chili to European soil when he traveled to the Caribbean, and at first he thought it was a new type of pepper. Ferdinand Magellan brought it to the soil of Asia and Africa, where it is widely used in dishes today.
Interesting things
The degree of spiciness of each individual pepper varies, so the spiciness of peppers can also differ within the species itself. Hot peppers are expressed in SHU – Scoville units. The hotter the pepper, the more capsaicin it has, the medicinal ingredient for which the medicinal properties of peppers are known. It is believed that the hottest pepper on record is the Carolina Reaper with 2.2 million Scoville units.
Below we present some of the most famous chili peppers and their spiciness according to SHU.
- sweet pepper – 0 units
- pepperoncini – 100 to 500 units
- jalapeno – 2,500 to 5,000 units
- vserrano – 10,000 to 23,000 units
- cayenne pepper, guntur chili, tabasco – 30,000 to 50,000 units
- naga viper, infinity chili – 855,000 to 1,500,000 units
Growing and planting hot peppers has become very popular these days, so there really isn’t a pepper you’d want to grow that isn’t available. There are specialized shops and nurseries exclusively selling hot peppers where you can get seeds and seedlings to grow. Chili pepper lovers exchange seeds on the Internet or purchase them from certified producers from abroad.
Photo: nevena313 / Pixabay