Peppers (Capsicum) originated in the Americas. Native Americans cultivated peppers for food and flavoring for at least 5,000 years BCE. By the time of the European arrival, at least four varieties had been cultivated.
Columbus gave the plants the name “pepe,” because of their hot taste, assuming relationship with the black pepper Europeans were familiar with at the time, although they are definitely not related. A more accurate name for the fruit of this plant is chile.
Interestingly, it has been reported that just half a century after Columbus’ return, the “peppers” he had discovered were being cultivated in Africa, India, Asia, China, the Middle East, and over much of Europe.
Today, a wide variety Capsicum family members exists worldwide. Some more familiar examples include bell or “sweet” peppers, cayenne, jalapeno, Serrano and habanero.
The great thing about these peppers is they are relatively easy to grow.
Preparing The Soil
Do this by working it eight to 10 inches deep a couple of weeks before planting the peppers. Break up large clods of soil. Add organic matter (compost, leaf mold. Add more if the soil is heavy clay.
Fertilizing
Spread between two and three pounds of a 10-10-10 (10% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 10% potassium) organic fertilizer evenly over each 100 square feet of garden space. Work this fertilizer well into the soil.
For planting individual plants place two level tablespoons of the organic fertilizer on the soil in the spot you are going to plant each plant. Mix that in well with the soil as well.
Number of Plants
A few plants will produce enough peppers for an average-sized family, so it’s probably best to purchase the plants rather than grow them from seed. Three to four hot pepper plants and eight to 10 sweet (bell) peppers should furnish enough for a family of four.
Setting in Plants
Make a hole for each plant. The holes should be about four inches deep and about a foot and a half from each other. Rows should be three feet or more apart (this gives the gardener room to get between the plants to work the soil, to weed, or to harvest.
Fill each hole with water and let is soak in. Remove each plant carefully from the planting pot or flat. Do not pick up by the stem but by the leaf. (Leaves can grow back if broken. Breaking a stem will kill a plant.)
Place the plants in the holes. Fill the hole with soil and pack it loosely around each plant. Plant the pepper as deep as it was in the original pot, but not deeper than it was. Leave a small “dish” around each plant. This will help retain water when irrigating the plants.
After planting, water again.
Warm Weather Crop
Peppers are a warm weather crop so do not plant them until all danger of frost has passed.
For more information:
Cooking with Hot and Sweet Chile Peppers
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