Planting Pimentos and Hot Peppers- Tips and Tricks

Planting Pimentos and Hot Peppers- Tips and Tricks

First things First Frugal Farmers... DO NOT plant these two peppers together. I recommend at least 20-25 feet apart because these hot pepper plants would certainly turn your pimento peppers HOT when they are used. Gents... this could get ya in some trouble so plant far apart.

 Planting Hot Peppers

Hot Pepper evolved in our part of the world, so they are perfectly adapted to our environmental conditions. Peppers contain capsaicin, which is used in a variety of medicines to treat arthritis, cancer, inflammation, pain and a variety of other ailments. Peppers are also high in vitamin A, B and C. One plant will provide all the peppers the average family needs.

As a start, transplant seedlings when seedlings are 3-4 weeks old. Late in the afternoon or evenings is better to plant them so they don't get to much sun on their first day at their new home. Ensure the hole is large enough to hold the seedling’s root plug. Mix two handfuls of well-rotted manure with the soil in each planting hole and into each planting hole place one seedling and ensure it is firmly positioned. 

Water seedlings immediately after transplanting. In the absence of rain, water daily; ensure that excess water drains off the planting area.

Planting Pimentos 

Pimento Pepper, Chile, Trinidad Seasoning Pepper ! Trinidad pimento peppers are also known as seasoning peppers. I would have to say that pepper is adored by Trinidadians and is easily the most popular cooking pepper in the country. Unfortunately it is little known outside of the Caribbean or places that have a large West Indian population. The flavor is really impossible to describe. When you cut it it smells like its going to be hot and I suppose it can be said to have the flavor of a hot pepper but without the heat if that makes sense. It is most definitely not a sweet tasting pepper like a bell pepper.

GROWING PIMENTO SEEDS

1. where gloves

2.always wash your hands even after you take you gloves off

3.have some lime juice to dump on your hands if they are burning as its said to relief the burning

4.never rub any sensitive area like your eyes and so forth.

5.before you take your gloves off be sure you are completely finished at what you are doing

6.some times double up on your gloves as the burn can still find its way in at times

PLANTING THE PIMENTO PLANTS

Sow pimento seeds indoors ¼" deep. The seeds germinate best in warm soil, so gentle bottom heat may be helpful until seedlings emerge. Wait to transplant outdoors until soil is warm.

Pimento varieties come from tropical humid regions. The temperature, moisture, and air circulation all play a role in growing plants from seeds. Too little heat, too much moisture, and lack of air circulation will cause poor results. Pimentos often like to take their sweet time germinating. They can be up in a week, and some will take almost a month. Even with paper towel germination testing, they can take long. I am not sure why, but it is a normal occurrence. So plan and make sure you start them early enough! Also, remember they like heat to germinate so make sure you have a heating mat or something to keep the soil warm. Placing them up on top of the fridge often works too since it is normally warmer up there. In Trinidad we plant all of our peppers with a good shovel full of compost in the planting hole, and then give them a good dose of compost tea every few weeks for the first 6 weeks of growth. We also mulch around each of our pepper plants with a good 1 to 2″ thick layer of compost. Pimentos can be grown all year long in frugal containers. It is suitable for apartment dwellers and gardeners who live in cool regions where the number of growing days are limited. Many pepper enthusiast grow peppers in pots so they can have fresh peppers all year long. It’s best to use 5 gallon containers so the roots do not get too over-crowded.

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