Pretty Purple Pepper in the Garden
Pretty Purple Pepper is not only a variety name, but an accurate description of the plant and its fruit! Let’s talk a little about growing this wonderful pepper variety in the garden.
How Does it Look?
It’s really hard to capture with a photo how lovely both the plant and the peppers are! The stems are a deep purple-maroon color, and the leaves have a violet sheen to them (which I can’t seem to capture). And the peppers — they are a gorgeous, glowing purple.
This pepper has been quite hardy in my garden. It’s faced a near-freeze with grace, and is thriving in a 3-gallon container. I drop by it at least once a day because it’s a feast for my eyes.
(You can click on the photo for a larger image.)
Germinating the Seeds
I find that germinating seeds for this pepper to be easy. Even in a cooler temperature than normal, the plant came up within 10 days. I imagine that if I used a heat mat, that would shorten to 5-7 days.
I germinated this particular plant at cooler-than-normal temperatures as an experiment. Pretty Purple Pepper sprouted well, but the other seeds had a hard time, and most didn’t germinate at all.
(Here’s more information about germinating hot pepper seeds, if you need a few tips.)
Container Growing
I mentioned that I am currently growing this plant in a 3-gallon container, and it is thriving. While it would do better in the ground, it’s quite suitable for a lovely container plant on a patio. Not only is the plant pleasing to look at but it also has purple-and-white flowers. When the plant has flowers and peppers at the same time, it’s a sight to behold!
Other Hints for Pretty Purple Pepper
As I mentioned, this plant has had some tough conditions. Not only has it faced temperatures in the 30’s, but it’s also faced extended periods of high winds. The weather has been dry, and sometimes the soil isn’t as damp as I’m sure the plant would like. Through all this, Pretty Purple Pepper has sailed on without a problem.
What About Eating Them?
You can certainly eat these peppers, but they are quite hot — my guess is around 40,000 Scoville Units. I don’t eat a lot of them, because they are so lovely on the plant. But I reccomend them  in stir-fries and also for a vinegar pepper. And although I haven’t tried them as such, I imagine they would be good pickled.
I like Pretty Purple Pepper, and it has an ongoing spot in my garden. I hope you like it too!
Update
Here’s another photo just a couple weeks later of the same plant!
Peppers in the Garden
So what’s new with the peppers in the garden? We’ve had a cold winter here in South Florida, which has affected the peppers (sweet and chile). However, the days are warming, and hopefully we won’t have any more nights in the 30’s!
So what’s with the peppers in the garden — and what about another pepper germination update? Here goes!
What’s in the Garden?
The biggest plant by far is my (oldest) jalapeno. Even though I have it growing in a 5-gallon container, it looks pretty happy, and already I see tiny peppers being born!
The plant most unhappy is a tie between my Thai Hot and a generic yellow bell. Both have gone through some mighty cold weather that the jalapeno didn’t, and they are both showing stress. However, the yellow bell does have one pepper on it, and it starting to sprout more leaves, so maybe it’s turning the corner. The Thai Hot has had a lot of flowers, but so far no peppers.
Some of the peppers that are just humming right along are Anconcagua, Park’s Whopper (a sweet banana type) and Corno di Toro. Also doing well are Pretty Purple Pepper and Purira (both chile peppers).
What’s in Staging?
My staging area is for plants that are too big to be inside anymore, but still a little too small to be in the garden proper. I have them in 1-gallon pots in a spot that gets about 6 hours of sun a day.
So here’s what’s in staging:
- Bhut Jolokia (one of the hottest pepper in the world).
- Cambuci Hot (2)
- Sweet Pickle (1)
- Redskin (2)
- Nardello Sweet (2)
- Mini Belle (2)
I had two Bhut Jolokia plants, but one of them I think I put out in staging a little too soon — it kind of melted away. The larger of the two seedlings seems to be doing fine, though.
Waiting in the Wings
I have a few more Redskin, Sweet Pickle and one Mustard Habanero. For some reason, the other one failed to “take” after it sprouted. This one waiting in the wings has taken it’s own sweet time, and it will still be another week or two away from moving out to staging.
If you’re wondering about the Peter Pepper I mentioned in my last report, alas, the peppers didn’t make it. They sprouted, but never grew strong enough to shake off the seed coat. I’ll try again sometime later this year.
Upcoming Chile Peppers
I’ve got some more chili pepper seeds that I’ll be planting over the next few weeks. They include:
- Datil
- Fish Pepper
- Early Scotch Bonnet
- Aurora
- Purple Jalapeno
- Jaloro (a yellow jalapeno)
Still debating on if I should plant some Starburst, Medusa and Riot. All three are chile peppers, but more ornamental than for eating. I probably will, seeing as the front garden (which faces the street) could use some color.
I’ll go out and take some photos in the next week, so you can see how pretty the large jalapeno is. Pretty Purple Pepper is also neat, as it has varigated foliage.
Meanwhile — gotta take care of the peppers! Which brings me to ask — what are you growing, or planning to grow?
Germinating Hot Pepper Seeds
Germinating hot pepper seeds is a little different from germinating sweet peppers, at least in my experience. And the more exotic the pepper, the more particular they may be about sprouting.
Here are some tips for growing hot chile peppers from seeds.
Peppers Like it Hot!
While you can coax sweet and bell peppers to germinate in a moderate soil of 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit, the chile peppers like their roots warmer…sometimes much warmer! In fact, some of the hottest of the peppers — like habanero, jolokia and scotch bonnet — prefer soil temperatures of 85 degrees or more before raising their little heads.
If you’re lucky enough to be gardening in a warm climate where the soil is already 80 degrees or more, you’ll likely be able to get the seeds to sprout. If you’re like the vast majority of us, those hot pepper seeds will need a little help. Even I need help in S. Florida during the winter and early spring!
Have They Spouted Yet?
Another trait hot peppers like jalapenos, cayenne, datil and more share is a long germination time. While sweet peppers can spring above ground within 7 to 10 days, hot peppers tend to take longer. Sometimes a lot longer!
I’ve found that most of my hot peppers sprout within a 12 to 18 day period. However, the very hottest can take up to a month (and boy, is the wait ever hard).
Help for Germinating Hot Pepper Seeds
Warmth is the biggest key in successfully germinating the chile pepper seeds. If you have a very warm spot in your home, like on a radiator, you may be good to go. For the rest of us, a seed germination mat is the best way to safely and gently warm the soil.
Something else I’ve found very useful, which surprised me in my trials, is using Terracycle
Between the heat mat and the Terracycle, I’ve been able to shave time off the normal germination period, between 2 and 7 days. That may not sound like a lot earlier, but for anyone who’s (impatiently) waiting, any time saved is helpful.
One thing you don’t need for germination is light — seeds germinate fine in the dark. However, once the seeds have germinated, you’ll need to ensure the seedlings get 12 to 16 hours of light a day. A sunny windowsill is great, but I’ve also found that using fluorescent light bulbs works well (especially when I run out of space on my windowsills). 🙂
If you are looking for a seed germination mat, here are some for your consideration. Happy hot peppers!!!