Chile – Padron

Padrón peppers (Spanish: pimientos de Padrón) are a variety of peppers (Capsicum annuum) from the municipality of Padrón in the province of La Coruña, northwestern Spain. These are small peppers, with a color ranging from bright green to yellowish green. Their peculiarity lies on the fact that, while their taste is usually mild, a minority (10-25%) are particularly hot. Whether a given pepper ends up being hot or mild depends on the amount of water and sunlight it receives during its growth.

The peppers are customarily fried in oil and served as tapas. See Fried Padron Pepper recipe

Growing from Seed

Sow Chilli Pepper seeds on the surface of a good, free-draining, damp, seed sowing mix and cover with a fine sprinkling of compost or vermiculite. Place seed trays in a propagator at a temperature of 18-25C (64-77F) until after germination, which takes 7-10 days. Do not exclude light as this helps germination.

When seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant into individual 7.5cm (3″) pots of compost and grow on in cooler conditions.

Transplants

When plants are well grown and all risk of frost has passed, transplant them into grow bags and containers, or plant them in well prepared beds of fertile, moist, well drained soil. Chili peppers may be grown undercover in a greenhouse or polytunnel, or grown outdoors in a sheltered position in full sun. When growing chilli peppers outdoors, gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over a period of 7 to 10 days prior to transplanting them. Space pepper plants at a distance of 50cm (20″) apart.

Details

Ease of Growing: Moderate
Grown as: Annual
Days to Maturity: 80-85 (Spring/Summer)
Growing Habit: Bush
Hardiness: Very Tender
Crops: Spring Transplant
Growing Season: Long
Cultivar Type: ?

Growing Conditions: Warm, Hot
Outdoor Growing Temp: 60°F – 95°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 65°F
Start Indoors: Yes
Start Outdoors: No

Sun: min. 6 hours daily (Warm, Hot)
Water: Moderate
Feeder: Heavy
Suitability: Needs summer shade
Small Gardens? Yes
Containers? Yes
Attracts beneficial insects? No
Color: Green
Fruit Size: 1 to 2 inches long
Plant Height: 18.0-24.0″
Plant Diameter: 12.0-14.0″
Hardiness Zone: 4-12
Disease Resistance
Taste Profile: Mild flavor ideal for searing with a touch of salt.

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