Although tabasco pepper, or Capsicum frutescens, grows wild in Central and South America, this type of pepper has been cultivated as a garden annual or short-lived perennial in other areas. There are also ornamental varieties of this species that are grown for the flashy colored fruit.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Capsicum frutescens is a wild chili pepper having genetic proximity to the cultivated pepper Capsicum chinense native to Central and South America. Pepper cultivars of C. frutescens can be annual or short-lived perennial plants. Flowers are white with a greenish white or greenish yellow corolla, and are either insect- or self-pollinated. The plants’ berries typically grow erect; ellipsoid-conical to lanceolate shaped. They are usually very small and pungent, growing 10–20 millimeters (0.39–0.79 in) long and 3–7 millimeters (0.12–0.28 in) in diameter.
Fruit typically grows a pale yellow and matures to a bright red, but can also be other colors. C. frutescens has a smaller variety of shapes compared to other Capsicum species. C. frutescens has been bred to produce ornamental strains because of its large quantities of erect peppers growing in colorful ripening patterns.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Tabasco pepper likes sufficient sunlight, but it cannot tolerate blazing sunlight. The length of sunlight exposure has little effect on its growth. Therefore, it is adaptable for cultivation in different latitudes worldwide.
Temperature
Tabasco pepper enjoys a high-temperature habitat and is widely planted in temperate and tropical zones. The plant generally grows in environments with temperatures above 5 ℃. The optimum temperature for its growth is 15 to 25 ℃. When the temperature is lower than 15 ℃, its growth and development stop, and when the temperature is above 35 ℃, germination and pollination are affected, leading to fruit deformation or yield decrease. Generally speaking, bell peppers are more sensitive to temperature than chili peppers, so they are more easily affected by hot weather.
Tabasco pepper has some drought tolerance, but there is a great difference among the varieties. In general, varieties with small fruits are more drought-tolerant than those with large fruits. The plant requires sufficient water in its soil, but should not be watered too much. Too much water will cause root rot. Its preferred air humidity for growth is 60-80%. If the air is excessively dry, it should be humidified by spraying water.
Watering
Tabasco pepper has a long growth period and requires a lot of water. Its roots are shallow, requiring frequent but not excessive watering. If possible, water it in the morning on sunny days. This way, the plant has sufficient time to absorb water before sunset and any excess water can evaporate. If it is watered on cloudy days or at night, excessive water around the plant may cause it to become infected by diseases.
Tabasco pepper requires different amounts of water during each growth stage. At the seedling stage, the plant requires less water but the soil should be kept moist. Excessive water will cause spindling and diseases. Too little water will cause aging in young seedlings. During the early blooming season, it requires less water. Proper watering can promote the growth of roots.
When in full bloom, the plant requires a lot of water; maintain the soil’s water content at 60-80%. Additionally, water it once before transplanting. Water should also be plentiful at the beginning of fruiting, and watering should be lessened when the fruit matures. The soil’s water content during this time should be maintained at around 65%.
Soil
Tabasco pepper requires a well-drained and permeable culture medium with sufficient nutrients and a soil pH of 6.2-7.2, or neutral to weakly acidic. The growth of its seeds and roots requires an air-permeable environment, so the soil should be turned over often to avoid hardening. If it is planted in a garden, plant it in a high place for good water drainage. The culture medium should be disinfected and sterilized before transplanting.
Sunlight and chemical sterilization of the soil is generally employed. This means evenly paving the medium, covering it with a black film, and then exposing it to the sun for 15 days. After that, pesticides like Carbendazim are added at the instructed dosage, then mixed evenly to achieve the effect of sterilization.
Fertilizing
Tabasco pepper likes habitats with sufficient nutrients and various fertilizers that are added in a balanced manner. Apply less fertilizer at the seedling stage. When it grows 2-3 leaves, apply fertilizers rich in nitrogen and phosphorus promptly to provide nutrients for flower buds to grow. Increase the fertilizer amount appropriately during blooming, and apply a proper amount of boron fertilizer to prevent flowers from falling.
During the full fruiting period, tabasco pepper needs a lot of nutrients. The fertilizer amount should be increased at this time, and it is best to use a mixed nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer. In the late stage of the fruiting period, nitrogen fertilizer application should be controlled and phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be applied to the roots so that the fruits will grow larger and brighter.
Planting Instructions
Seeds of tabasco pepper should be sown under good conditions, namely at a temperature of 25 to 30 ℃, humidity at 60-80%, and in well-permeable soil. Before sowing, the seeds should be exposed to sunlight for 2-3 days for sterilization and promotion of seed germination. The sowing spacing should be 2.5 cm, and the sowing depth should be 1.3 cm. After sowing, cover the area with a layer of fine soil.
Pay attention to heat preservation in the first 10 days after sowing. Cover soil with a film; no ventilation is required. This is because the seeds of tabasco pepper require a warm environment for germination. When the seedlings break the earth and grow 2-4 leaves each, the film should be removed for proper ventilation. The growth temperature should be maintained at 20 to 25 ℃ in the daytime and 15 to 17 ℃ at night. Remove any weeds and apply proper urea as a foliar fertilizer.
As for transplanting, healthy seedlings with 12-13 leaves each and hard stems are best. It is preferable to transplant them on a cloudy day, and the temperature should remain stable at over 10 ℃ to protect them from frost. It is better to transplant the seedlings with the surrounding soil to protect the roots and supply an adaptable amount of nutrients. The planting depth should be 10 cm and the plant spacing should be 20 to 30 cm. After transplanting, the gap can be filled with fine soil, and the seedlings should be watered promptly. The soil surface can be covered with a thin layer of mulch to keep tabasco pepper warm.
Pruning
Tabasco pepper is pruned mainly to meet the fruits’ need for nutrients. Be diligent about removing the old leaves and weak lateral branches at the bottom of the plant to ensure ventilation and light transmission and increase its photosynthesis. At the same time, pruning also reduces unnecessary nutrition consumption and ensures the nutritional demand of fruits are met.
Propagation
Tabasco pepper generally propagates by sowing. Wait for the seeds to germinate after sowing; these seedlings can be transplanted for the first time after 4-5 leaves grow out from each seedling. The plant spacing should be 5 cm. When the seedlings grow to be strong seedlings with 14-15 leaves and the stems that are beginning to harden, they can be planted. The plant spacing at this point should be 25 to 30 cm.
Transplanting
The ideal season for transplanting tabasco pepper is S1-S2, as it promotes stronger growth. Choose a sunny location protected from high winds for the plant. Refrain from over-watering post-transplant, as this can lead to root rot. Keep faith, and your tabasco pepper will flourish marvelously.
III. Uses and Benefits
Ethiopia
According to Richard Pankhurst, C. frutescens (known as barbaré) was so important to the national cuisine of Ethiopia, at least as early as the 19th century, “that it was cultivated extensively in the warmer areas wherever the soil was suitable.” Although it was grown in every province, barbaré was especially extensive in Yejju, “which supplied much of Showa as well as other neighbouring provinces”. He singles out the upper Golima River valley as almost entirely devoted to cultivating this plant, where thousands of acres were devoted to the plant and it was harvested year-round.
India
This pepper is common in eastern and southern India where it grows readily in a favorable climate. It is known locally by various common names.
Philippines
Siling labuyo, the local cultivar of C. frutescens in the Philippines, developed from plants introduced during the Spanish colonial era. The fruits are widely used for making traditional dips (sawsawan), spiced vinegar (like sinamak), and condiments like palapa. They are also commonly added to various dishes. The leaves are also eaten as a leafy vegetable, most notably in the soup dish tinola.
IV. Harvesting and Storage
After fruiting, tabasco pepper can be harvested at any time. The fruits, whether red or green, can be eaten and used as a seasoning. The plant’s longest fruit period is 120 days. Earlier fruit should be harvested promptly, which prevents the plant from supplying nutrients to the earlier fruits only and affecting the growth of later fruits. Tabasco pepper’s branches are very fragile, so be careful when harvesting its fruits to avoid accidentally breaking branches. Once found, abnormal and poor-quality fruits should be removed promptly to ensure the growth of other fruits.
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