Capsicum annuum
Overview
Uses: Chili Pequin pepper production
Benefits: Easy to grow. Small pointed fruit, often less than 1" long. 30,000 to 60,000 SHU (approximately 5 to 8 times hotter than a Jalapeno)
Zones: 3 - 12
Sun: Full
Life Cycle: Annual
Mature Height: 24"
Mature Width: 18"
Bloom Season: Summer
Summary
Pequin Pepper Plants, also known as Chili Pequin Plants, are best known by their small, red, berry-like fruit that's prized as a spice throughout Mexico, Texas, and the southwestern United States.
Chili Pequin Peppers are prized for their heat and their flavor. Typically rating between 30,000 and 60,000 SHU (Scoville Heat Units), these peppers are around 5 to 8 times as hot as a Jalapeno pepper. Their flavor is best described as smoky, citrusy, and nutty. Pequin Peppers are often smoked, often with mesquite, which obviously enhances their already smoky flavor.
Producing fruit that averages around .75" in length and .5" in diameter, Chili Pequins are small but mighty. They're great fresh or dried! Perfect for salsas, sauces, and taking everyday cooking to the next level.
Care
Pequin Pepper Plant Care
Provide at least 8 hours of full sun daily. The more sun a Chili Pequin Plant gets, the spicier its peppers will be.
Water regularly after planting or repotting, keeping soil moist but not wet until the plant is established. We suggest attempting to make sure your Pequin Pepper Plant gets about 1" of water every week during periods of growth.
Flower development will occur mid to late summer. Some flowers may be pinched to encourage a bushy plant. Flowers will eventually turn into Chili Pequins.
Immature fruit will be green. Mature, ready-to-harvest fruit will be red in color.
Chili Pequin plants that get lots of sun and not a lot of water typically produce hotter peppers. Stress, such as not a lot of water, causes the production of capsaicin which results in a higher SHU rating.
This plant is an excellent companion for cucumber!
Planting with tomatoes will repel many pests and attract beneficial insects to your tomato plants.
Do not allow prolonged exposure to temperatures below 40°F. Will die if exposed to frost. Often stunted by any temperatures below 60°F. Does best in temperatures above 65°F.
Size
Size of Pequin Pepper Plants for Sale Online
The Chili Pequin Plants that we sell online will ship in a greenhouse grade grow pot. Each plant will be appropriately sized for its pot. Please contact us with any specific questions.
Size of a Pequin Pepper Plant When Fully Grown
Chili Pequin typically grows to a size of around 18"-24" tall and 14"-18" wide.
Additional Information
Botanical Name of Pequin Pepper
Toxicity and Risks of Pequin Pepper
Pequin Pepper Plants are considered toxic due to the fact that they contain capsaicin.
Capsaicin is the chemical in pepper plants that give them their spicy flavor. Too much capsaicin may cause such things as stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea, and (in severe cases) death.
Capsaicin is also very irritating to, and may damage the eyes and skin. Use caution when handling jalapenos or touching any part of the plant. Rubber gloves and eye protection may be used as a protectionary measure.
Also, they're members of the nightshade family, and produce toxic alkaloids.
These toxic alkaloids are most present in the unripe fruit, the stem, and the leaves of a pepper plant.
These parts of the plant may cause injury to a person or pet if consumed in high doses.
