Description
Key Facts
- Adds a lovely tang to pizza, salads and antipasto.
- Mild to Medium
- Easy to grow.
- Takes about 2 to 3 months to grow
Background
The Peperoncini pepper:
- Originally brought to Italy by Christopher Columbus from the ‘New World’
- Mild to medium – specifically used for it’s ‘tangy flavour’
- Ideal for pizza, salads and antipasto platters.
- Days from seed to harvest – about 65 (2 to 3 months)
- About 75 cm high
Example peperoncini pepper recipes
The peperoncini pepper is often pickled green and adds a lovely tang to pizza, salads and antipasto platters.
The unique ‘tangy’ flavour is more important than it’s heat – which is reflected in the recipes it’s used in.
Typical recipes:
- Spaghetti aglio olio e peperoncino
- bomba Calabrese
- Arrabbiata sauce (see video)
How to grow peperoncini pepper at home
The peperoncini can be grown from seed with a high germination rate.
How to grow peperoncini outdoors (garden, balcony, etc.)
Peperoncini peppers prefer direct sunlight, well drained soil and need to be frost free.
If you want to grow them outdoors then the best option is to start them indoors about 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost and then transfer them when the nights are warmer.
They can be grown easily from seed but it’s very important to provide the right amount of moisture and to thin them out as they grow.
Fully grown they can be upto 75 cm in height i.e. an individual pot might be the best option.
How to grow peperoncini pepper indoors (hydroponics or aquaponics)
Because of the importance of moisture and light the peperoncini peppers are ideally suited for hydroponics with additional lights.
Not only are they easier to grow, but you will also get fast results.
Minze Vries –
It flavour and a bit different, but there are nice options to grow