Zou-Pi / Shar Pei Pepper Seeds - Capsicum Chinense - Rare & Delicious
Quantity: 10 Seeds
Species: Capsicum Chinense
Scovilles: 5,000 - 10,000
Although all peppers originate from the Americas, this variety has been bred, developed, and grown in china for quite some time. The plant grows to be about 4 feet tall, and 3 feet wide. The plants will greatly benefit from having a cage or some sort of support to help hold the branches when they become weighted down by heavy fruits. When planted early in the season, these peppers are one of the first varieties to ripen too. The pods fresh pods have a very unique taste; they're somewhat smokey, and have a fruity flavour. The heat level is very low, so it can be used in many dishes without overpowering them. They can also be dried and ground into a delicious powder, or ground into flakes. Due to their unique appearance, the plants are highly ornamental, and make for an excellent conversation starter.
All seeds are organic and open pollinated.
Growing Instructions
Its best to start pepper seeds as early in the season as possible; we start them here on the farm in January. It's good to sow them in a sterile growing medium; most available seed starting soils should do the job nicely; we use sunshine mix (peat moss and perlite). The soil should be made moist, but not damp. Sow the seeds 1/4 inch below the soil surface. Store in a warm area until tiny sprouts emerge from the soil. A heat mat aids in this step, but is not necessary. Seeds can take between 4-8 weeks to germinate, but they can sometimes take less time too. Once germinated, and the first true leaf has formed, it's time to pot up to a larger container that contains a good quality potting soil. Transplant to their final location when the nighttime temperatures are consistently 8°C or higher. These peppers grow very well in pots or containers; I recommend using a 5 gallon pot of larger. Peppers do best when grown in full sun, but partial sun can yield okay results too.