J
Vegetables
Piri-piri chilli
Capsicum frutescens
A small, very hot chilli, the heart of Portuguese piri-piri sauce.
- Light
- Full sun (6 h or more)
- Height
- 0.5–1 m
- Watering
- Moderate: 2–3 times a week in summer
- Soil
- loose and well-drained
- Edible?
- Yes: the fruit
- How to plant
- Sow in trays 0.5 cm deep; plant out at 4–6 leaves, 40 cm apart.
- Care
- Needs heat to ripen. In a pot it can be overwintered indoors and regrows the next spring.
Calendar by climate
Warm coast
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Mild Mediterranean
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Southern interior
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Continental interior
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Cold interior and uplands
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Atlantic
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Canary Islands (subtropical)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
SowPlantHarvestPruneFeedTreat
Dates are for growing outdoors. You can start seedlings earlier indoors or in a greenhouse, but plant them out only once the frosts are over.
Feeding and doses
Mild Mediterranean
- High-potash liquid feedJul≈20 ml / 10 L
Pest prevention and doses
Mild Mediterranean
- AphidsPotassium soap · Jun10–20 ml / L
Approximate doses: always follow the product label. Spray in the evening, never in full sun or on flowers visited by bees. No sulphur above 30 °C.
How easy to grow by climate
- Warm coastEasy
- Mild MediterraneanEasy
- Southern interiorEasy
- Continental interiorNeeds regular careFrost and a short season
- Cold interior and uplandsNot recommended outdoorsHard, long frosts
- AtlanticNeeds regular careRain and humidity: fungal disease
- Canary Islands (subtropical)Easy
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