How to grow and care for decorative capsicum peppers, and can you eat them?
The bright colors of the decorative pepper Capsicum mix will enliven the most boring kitchen and turn the balcony into a real garden. This unpretentious plant will be strewn with colorful fruits even with minimal care. However, not every housewife who has planted this pepper will answer the question of whether it is edible or not.
Description of the variety - is it possible to eat decorative peppers?
This plant is native to tropical Central America., where pepper is still found in the wild. In ancient times, in the territory of modern Mexico and Guatemala, people used the distant ancestor of this pepper to prepare various dishes and decorate their homes.
Since then the plant has changed a lot. Nowadays there are many different varieties of pepper, one of them is Capsicum decorative, and even it has varieties.
Capsicum is often called pepper, like many of its relatives, but this is a misconception that has even penetrated its name. The fruits are quite spicy, but do not belong to the pepper genus. Capsicum is closer to eggplants and tomatoes, as it belongs to the nightshade genus (like bell peppers).
The plant is classified as a shrub, but at home it is not large in size. In a pot, Capsicum grows from 20 to 50 cm. It has thin, highly branched branches, elongated leaves, tapering towards the end.
Despite the fact that pepper is decorative, its fruits can be eaten. They are most often spicy and are used as a substitute seasoning in some dishes. The fruits are dried, ground and added to food.
Pros, cons and features of the variety
The variety has many advantages:
- unpretentiousness - this pepper does not need constant care;
- rapid growth - able to grow, bloom and bear fruit within a season;
- a wide variety of colors, types and shapes;
- The plant produces a lot of fruits, which can be used as food.
But even such a plant has disadvantages. For example, in Siberia and other regions with a cool climate, it will not be possible to grow it on a plot - it is afraid of the cold and dies in frosts. What is noteworthy is that it will not grow in very hot regions either: temperatures above 20°C and low humidity are detrimental to the plant.
Other types of ornamental and exotic peppers:
Growing decorative pepper “Little Miracle”
Fruit characteristics and yield
The color, shape and size of the fruit depend on the subspecies, but most often there are Capsicums with red, yellow or purple peppers. When the ripening period begins, the entire bush is strewn with small bright fruits, sometimes they can hide under the leaves, and sometimes protrude upward like small horns. In some varieties, they are very elongated and twist.
The color of the fruit changes depending on the degree of ripeness, which is why peppers of different shades can coexist on one bush.
How to grow
It doesn't take much time or effort to grow Capsicum.. The plant is unpretentious and has a high rate of growth and development. For this reason, pepper is very popular among gardeners.
Lighting and location
Most of all the plant loves light, so it will be difficult to grow it in a dark room.It is most convenient to grow it on a windowsill, but too much direct light can burn the plant, so a darkened window facing south is preferable.
Attention! Capsicum does not like cold or hot places: look for a place where the temperature ranges from +10 to +20°C.
Features of watering and humidity
Moderate watering is enough for Capsicum throughout the year.. But in summer, during flowering, plants need to be watered quite often: once every 3-4 days with settled water. The basic rule of watering is not to leave the soil dry.
Watering is reduced if:
- the fruit began to set and begin to ripen;
- the temperature dropped below +15°C (reduce to once a week).
It is necessary to spray the plant every dayto maintain the required air humidity.
How to feed correctly
To feed Capsicum you will need several kilograms of mineral fertilizer. The plant is fed from March to September 2 times a month. However, if additional lighting is installed in winter, then you will have to feed much more often - once every 20 days.
Read also:
What is Dungan pepper and how to use it
What is good about the Ogonyok pepper variety and how to grow it
Features of reproduction
Capsicum is propagated by standard seed methods and cuttings.. Before planting, seeds are soaked for 1 hour in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. They can be planted immediately after soaking or first placed in a damp cloth where they will hatch. As soon as the root appears, the seeds can be planted. After this, they are placed in the ground to a depth equal to the diameter of the seed.
So that the seeds germinate as quickly as possible, the container is placed in a warm place with a temperature of about 25°C, and as soon as the first shoots appear, it is moved to a cooler place.
Cuttings are carried out only in spring or autumn, for this purpose the cuttings are planted in the ground.
Reference. Capsicum cuttings quickly take root in the ground. As soon as this happens, you need to perform pinching.
Prevention of diseases and pests
Diseases and pests can appear from insufficient care. If you rarely spray the plant, red spider mites may settle on the leaves. Excessive watering leads to root rot; with a lack of fertilizer, Capsicum growth slows down. A few hours without a warm heater in winter causes the plant's leaves to soften and it to wither.
The most common problem is mealybugs.. These white insects carry microorganisms that attack the leaves. For treatment, wipe the plant with a cotton swab dipped in soapy water. If the problem has become threatening, apply an infusion of tobacco or garlic to the stems and leaves of Capsicum with a cotton pad.
Reviews
Gardeners who tried to plant Capsicum were satisfied with their choice.
Vladimir, Novgorod: “We placed the pepper on the glassed-in balcony, where there is both sun and shade. We started watering regularly and fertilized it a couple of times. The pepper quickly gained strength: it began to bloom thickly, and then the harvest ripened. Such wonderful fruits have grown. We tried the peppers - they have a specific taste, you won’t get poisoned, but I didn’t really want to eat them either.”.
Elena, Rostov: “I bought Capsicum seeds and planted them in pots. The plants are not capricious, they love light and water, and do not require special care. They grew quickly and bloomed with small white flowers. After a few weeks, small fruits appeared - green peppers, then they turned yellow, then red. Very beautiful! I gave several pots to my friends.”.
Conclusion
Capsicum is an excellent plant for the home: its bright fruits will cheer you up even on cloudy days. Easy to grow, it will be a pleasant addition to a life full of troubles and worries and will bring back a piece of bright summer to winter evenings.