Pimento pepper
Key Facts
- Great dipper for dill vegetable dip or with olives.
- Very Mild
- Easy to grow.
- Takes about 3 months to grow
- Available from Amazon
Background
The pimento pepper (also know as sweet pepper) is a variety of bell pepper.
- Like Bell peppers originally from Mexico & Central America.
- Very mild – but sweeter than bell peppers.
- Ideal for roasting, in dips and combined with olives.
- Days from seed to harvest – about 90 (3 months)
- About 40 to 60 cm high
Typical Pimento pepper recipes
Great dipper for dill vegetable dip or with olives. They’re also a wise choice for roasting. Also often used as an ingredient.
Example recipes:
- Pimento Cheese spread
- Southern Pimento Cheese
- Roasted Pimento Peppers
How to grow pimento pepper at home
The pimento pepper can be grown from seed and will ripen from green to a vivid red colour and are somewhat larger than cherries, despite their name.
How to grow the peppers outdoors (garden, balcony, etc.)
The peppers prefer warmth & direct sunlight, well drained soil and need to be frost free.
That is why if you want to grow them outdoors then the best option is to start them indoors about 4 to 8 weeks before the last frost and then transfer them when the nights are warmer.
Surface-sow or barely cover the seeds indoors, and keep warm and moist. When sprouts appear move them to a sunny window. Set out well-developed transplants after last frost date when weather is warm. Peppers need rich moist soil and warm sunny conditions to flourish. Best sown in early spring.
Fully grown they can be upto 40 to 60 cm in height i.e. an individual pot might be the best option.
How to grow the pepper indoors (hydroponics or aquaponics)
Because of the importance of moisture and light the peppers are ideally suited for hydroponics with additional lights.
Not only are they easier to grow, but you will also get fast results.
Great flavour when grown fresh, and ideal for summer bbq or outside meals. Not to hard to grow and worth considering if you’ve got enough space.