How to grow Chinese Pepper

Capsicum chinense

Full Sun
OR
Dappled Sun
Medium

They can be grown in containers but the high yielding plants will be grown in the ground.

Growing Chinese pepper from seed

In the perfect conditions these plants will reseed readily and can bear the fruits most of the year with short periods of rest.

Try to aim for a seed spacing of at least 1.95 inches (5.0 cm) and sow at a depth of around 0.2 inches (0.5 cm). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 18°C / 64°F to ensure good germination.

Harvesting Chinese pepper

The aji dulce can be harvested when fully grown and still green and at different stages after that. They will turn orange or red and a variety of shades make a colorful “sofrito”.

Seed Saving Chinese pepper

Let the fruit mature on the plant and slice in two. take out the seeds and dry them in a paper towel. Save them in a small paper envelope.

How long does Chinese pepper take to grow?

These estimates for how long Chinese pepper takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Days to Germination How long does it take Chinese pepper to germinate?: 14 days
Average 14 days | Min 2 days | Max 32 days (376)
Days to Transplant How long until I can plant out Chinese pepper?: + 35 days
Average 35 days | Min 35 days | Max 37 days (3)
Days to Maturity How long until Chinese pepper is ready for harvest / bloom?: + 137 days
Average 137 days | Min 36 days | Max 245 days (134)
Total Growing Days How long does it take to grow Chinese pepper?: = 186 days

Chinese pepper Etymology

Dutch-Austrian botanist Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin erroneously named the species in 1776, because he believed that they originated in China

Other names for Chinese pepper

Pepper

Capsicum sinense

Misspellings: Capsicum chinenese