Monkey Face

Season Overview

Description

Chilies are perennial, cold-sensitive plants that belong to the nightshade family (Solanazeae). There are many varieties whose fruits differ in shape, color and pungency. Like sweet peppers, chillies belong to the genus Capsicum, of which there are 5 different types. The most important is Capsicum annuum, which includes varieties such as cayenne and jalapeño. Varieties of this species can be found in almost all pungency levels except extremely hot. Another species is Capsicum chinense, to which the habanero belongs. They originate from Peru and include extremely hot varieties. Unlike the white flowers of the other chili species, the Capsicum baccatum species has yellowish to greenish spots on its flowers. The fruits of some varieties are also striking, hanging from the plant like bells or 'UFOs' (Bishop's Crown). For the species Capsicum frutescens, the flowers and fruits, which are always upright on the plant, are typical. The species Capsicum pubescens is still relatively unknown in Europe. As its stem quickly becomes woody, the name tree chilli is sometimes used. Striking features of this species are its hairy leaves, the blue-violet flowers and the black seeds. The fruits are thick-fleshed and spherical. It is interesting to note that its fruits can be perceived as differently hot by different people due to the special composition of capsaicin and dihydro-capsaicin.

Growing tips

Chili should be grown in nutrient-rich soil in a sunny location. For a rich harvest, the first flower (terminal bud/'king flower') should be broken off. This promotes flower and fruit formation on the side shoots. However, this is not as important for chili peppers as it is for peppers. Pull the plants with 3-4 shoots and remove the remaining shoots. In Central Europe, cultivation is usually annual, but the highest yield is only achieved 2-3 years after planting. To achieve this, the plant must be overwintered indoors. The fruit is harvested from July to September, depending on the variety and weather conditions.

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Very humid

Soil

Light (sandy)

Nutrient requirement

High

Seeding distance

40 cm

Row spacing

50 cm

Seeding depth

1 cm