Tabasco pepper

Cultivation

Tabasco peppers begin as green fruits, turning orange before finally becoming red. They reach full maturity about 80 days after germination. The plant itself can grow up to 1.5 meters tall and produces cream or light yellow flowers. These flowers later give way to fruits that point upward on the plant. Native to the Mexican state of Tabasco, the seeds need significant warmth to sprout, with an ideal growing temperature between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius. When grown outside their original region, the peppers are planted two to three weeks after the last frost, once soil temperatures are above 10 degrees Celsius and the weather is stable. The plants are sensitive when setting fruit; temperatures that are too high or too low, or nighttime temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius, can reduce the fruit set. The best location offers plenty of light and heat, along with fertile, lightweight, slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5 to 7.0) that drains well. A steady water supply is essential for good performance. Growers ensure fertilizers and soil are rich in phosphorus, potassium, and calcium but low in nitrogen, as too much nitrogen can hinder fruit growth.