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How to Grow Calabrian Hot Peppers
How to Grow Calabrian Hot Peppers. Calabria is a region of Italy known for their hot peppers. While many varieties of hot pepper are grown in the region, most are referred to as Calabrian pepperoncino, and used in regional dishes. Growing pepper seeds from this region is the same as growing any hot pepper variety with similar cultural needs. Like...
Calabria is a region of Italy known for their hot peppers. While many varieties of hot pepper are grown in the region, most are referred to as Calabrian pepperoncino, and used in regional dishes. Growing pepper seeds from this region is the same as growing any hot pepper variety with similar cultural needs. Like all capsicum plants, Calabrian peppers require hot weather to flourish and develop the oils that give them their spiciness. The main varieties grown as Calabrian peppers are Italian cayenne, amando and ciliegia.
Things You'll Need
Pots
Potting mix
Plastic bag
Grow lights
Mulch
Fill individual seed-starting pots with a sterile potting mix. Water the mix until it is evenly moist throughout but not soggy.
Plant each seed to a 1/4 inch depth in the center of a pot. Cover lightly with potting mix.
Cover the pots with a plastic bag. Place in a warm, 70 to 75 degree Fahrenheit room to germinate. Germination takes up to 14 days.
Remove the bag once sprouts appear. Move the plants to a sunny window sill in a warm room or place under grow lights for 16 hours a day.
Keep the soil moist at all times, watering as needed to maintain soil moisture.
Transplant hot peppers outside two weeks after all frost danger has passed in spring. Choose a well-draining, full-sun garden bed.
Plant Calabrian peppers in the bed to the same depth they were at in their seedling pot. Follow spacing requirements as outlined on the seed envelope for the specific pepper variety, or space plants approximately 18 inches apart in rows.
Provide 2 inches of water per plant each week. Apply a 2-inch layer of mulch around each pepper plant to preserve soil moisture while preventing weeds.
Tips & Warnings
Fertilize with a vegetable garden fertilizer when peppers first begin forming to encourage a lush crop.
Harvest most Calabrian pepper types when they turn red and the skin begins showing small wrinkles near the stem.
Prevent transplant shock. Place pepper seedlings outside for a few hours each day in the week leading up to outside transplanting.
Cold, wet weather may prevent peppers from forming or negatively impact the heat of the peppers.
