Capsicum annuum pepper
Red pepper
Capsicum annuum pepper black foliage red fruits
Capsicum annuum purple pepper
Capsicum annuum pepper flower
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
The pepper: a Capsicum annuum with a strong character
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Scientific classification
Family
Solanaceae
Type
Capsicum
Species
Capsicum annuum
The chili pepper is one of the few fruits to have inspired an official scale of measurement: the Scoville scale, which ranks its intensity. It comes from the Capsicum annuum species and belongs to the Solanaceae family, like tomatoes and peppers. The latter is a close botanical relative - the difference lies essentially in the concentration of capsaicin, the molecule responsible for the burning sensation.
How to recognize Capsicum annuum?
The chili pepper Capsicum annuum) is a perennial herbaceous plant found in tropical climates, but cultivated as an annual in our latitudes due to its sensitivity to frost.
Chillies grow to a maximum height of one metre, with a spread of 80 cm. Some varieties are very compact, growing to no more than 30 centimetres. But whatever its size, this shrub has a bushy habit.
The stem lignifies in older specimens. Dark green and glossy ,they grow on a long stalk.
The starry white flowers, sometimes tinged with green or purple, are hermaphroditic and self-fertile: a single plant can produce fruit without external pollinators.
Chillies grow to a maximum height of one metre, with a spread of 80 cm. Some varieties are very compact, growing to no more than 30 centimetres. But whatever its size, this shrub has a bushy habit.
The stem lignifies in older specimens. Dark green and glossy ,they grow on a long stalk.
The starry white flowers, sometimes tinged with green or purple, are hermaphroditic and self-fertile: a single plant can produce fruit without external pollinators.
The fruits, smaller than peppers, come in a wide variety of shapes (elongated, conical or rounded) and textures (smooth or slightly crumpled). Always green when first formed, they take on their final color (red, orange, yellow...) when ripe.
Which chilli varieties to grow?
There are hundreds of varieties of chillies that can be grown. The choice depends on the level of spiciness required, the climate and the space available. Among the most widespread are :
- Piment d'Espelette (Espelette chilli pepper): highly productive and not very hot;
- Cayenne pepper: very strong, vigorous and easy to grow, even in pots;
- Jalapeño chillies: heavy, fleshy fruits, often eaten while still green;
- The Padrón pepper, an early variety with more or less sweet fruit;
- Hungarian Hot Wax pepper, with long yellow fruits. Hardy and early, this variety is ideal for regions with short summers
- The Anaheim or California pepper: its elongated, slightly prickly fruits can reach 25 cm in length.
Are chillies toxic?
Chili peppers are non-toxic and are consumed as a condiment worldwide. However, its high capsaicin content can cause intense burning sensations, digestive irritation in excess, or inflammation of mucous membranes on contact.
We therefore advise you to handle chillies with care, avoid touching your eyes and wash your hands thoroughly after cutting. In pets, heavy ingestion can also cause digestive problems.
We therefore advise you to handle chillies with care, avoid touching your eyes and wash your hands thoroughly after cutting. In pets, heavy ingestion can also cause digestive problems.
The leaves and stems, which contain alkaloids and solanine, are toxic. Keep them away from your pets.
Our maintenance tips
Peppers are greedy plants. Don't grow them two years in a row in the same spot. Then plant bulbous or root vegetables to rebalance the soil.
They are also sensitive to frost. Wait until all risks have been eliminated before planting them in the ground.
They are also sensitive to frost. Wait until all risks have been eliminated before planting them in the ground.
Watering
Water your plant generously during the growing season.
Peppers like to keep their base moist, especially during the flowering and fruiting period.
Water your Pepper at the base, taking care not to wet the leaves. Preferably use rainwater at room temperature.
Adapt your watering when the days get shorter.
Water the base of your Pepper when the substrate surface is dry. Do not wet the leaves to avoid the development of diseases and fungi. Watering is best done with rainwater at room temperature.
Water moderately to keep the soil fresh. Avoid watering if the ground is frozen to preserve the roots.
Repotting
Obtain a pierced pot or tub 30 to 60 cm deep and 15 to 25 cm in diameter.
Pour clay balls or gravel at the bottom to make a drainage layer.
Fill your pot with a rich, light substrate. Use vegetable potting soil (80%) with a little perlite (20%).
Plant your Capsicum annuum. The crown should be level with the soil. Fruits can be large and heavy. Add a stake to prevent stem breakage. Pack gently and water.
You can mulch the base to retain moisture and cover the plant with a tunnel if the nights are still cool.
Pour clay balls or gravel at the bottom to make a drainage layer.
Fill your pot with a rich, light substrate. Use vegetable potting soil (80%) with a little perlite (20%).
Plant your Capsicum annuum. The crown should be level with the soil. Fruits can be large and heavy. Add a stake to prevent stem breakage. Pack gently and water.
You can mulch the base to retain moisture and cover the plant with a tunnel if the nights are still cool.
Fertilization
Fertilize until the first fruits appear.
Apply a fertilizer rich in nitrogen and potassium, such as a special tomato fertilizer.
Harvest
Harvesting begins in summer and lasts until the first frosts.
When the fruit has stopped growing and its skin is shiny, you can harvest it.
You can pick the fruit as soon as it's green, or wait until it changes color. The flavor will then be sweeter and the flesh thicker.
Slice off the stalk with a knife and remove the fruit carefully, so as not to damage your Capsicum annuum.
Prune
Prune after the second wave of fruit appears.
When your plant has formed its first two waves of fruit, shorten the branches one leaf above the last fruit.
If you live in a region with little sunshine, deadhead your plants when they bear around ten fruits. This way, the plant will concentrate its energy on harvesting rather than growing.
Plantation
When the risk of frost has passed, it's time to plant.
Prepare the soil by adding compost. Make a planting hole slightly larger than the root ball.
Plant your Pepper. The collar should be level with the ground and not buried. Add a stake to support the stems: fruit can become heavy and cause them to break. Pack and water.
If planting several specimens, space them at least 50 cm apart.
Mulch the base to retain moisture. You can also install a tunnel to protect your young plants from cool nights.
Plant your Pepper. The collar should be level with the ground and not buried. Add a stake to support the stems: fruit can become heavy and cause them to break. Pack and water.
If planting several specimens, space them at least 50 cm apart.
Mulch the base to retain moisture. You can also install a tunnel to protect your young plants from cool nights.
Seedling
You can start seedlings indoors when the days get longer.
Peppers seedlings need a temperature of at least 20°C to germinate(ideally 24°C). Grow your seedlings indoors, using a heated mini-greenhouse or heat mat if necessary.
Pour a drainage layer into cups or a terrine, followed by potting soil for seedlings and plantations. Water: the substrate should be moist, but not soggy.
Plant your seeds. You can plant them in rows in your seed tray, or arrange three seeds per cup. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of potting soil (about 5 mm).
Water regularly to keep the soil fresh and aerate your mini-greenhouse to prevent rotting.
Pour a drainage layer into cups or a terrine, followed by potting soil for seedlings and plantations. Water: the substrate should be moist, but not soggy.
Plant your seeds. You can plant them in rows in your seed tray, or arrange three seeds per cup. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of potting soil (about 5 mm).
Water regularly to keep the soil fresh and aerate your mini-greenhouse to prevent rotting.
Diseases / Threats
Information
| Lifecycle | Perennial |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Exposure | |
| Substrat | |
| Planting methods |
Open ground In pots In tubs Planter |
| Categories |
Vegetable |
| Tags |
Beginner Fritillary Soiffarde Edible vegetable |
| Origins |
North America Central America South America |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 12a (10°C ≤ T° < 12.8°C) |
| Leaf color |
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| Flower colors |
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| Fruit colors |
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