Black pepper is a staple in many dishes, and nothing beats homegrown ones. Fresh peppercorns straight from your vegetable plot have a more intense and complex flavor than the ground ones at the store.
Apart from its culinary uses, this spice stimulates salivation and the production of gastric juices that aid digestion. In the olden days, people used it as medicine because it had anti-inflammatory properties. If you want to grow black pepper, here are some things you should know.
Black Pepper Plant Overview
The black pepper plant is scientifically known as Piper nigrum and belongs to the Piperaceae family.
It is a flowering vine cultivated for its black, white, and red peppercorns. The plants produce small, heart-shaped leaves and pendulous spikes that flower and eventually turn into dark fruits called peppercorns. The peppercorns are dried and used as is or ground into table seasoning.
As a tropical plant, the black pepper enjoys warm, wet conditions with mild winters and can only be grown outdoors in zones 11 and 12.
They are not frost tolerant, and nowhere in America are the winters warm enough for year-long black pepper growth. Therefore, it is mostly grown as a perennial. However, in tropical regions like India, Indonesia, Philippines, and Mexico, they can be grown as an annual.
There are over 75 varieties of black pepper plants cultivated worldwide. Some of the best varieties in terms of yield, disease-free, climate, and other factors are listed below.
Thekkan
Thekkan peppers are one of the best varieties in terms of peppercorn yields. They have highly branched spikes, with a single spike containing 800-1000 berries.
They are fairly resistant to insects and diseases, particularly quick wilt.
Karimunda
Karimunda peppers are another high-yielding variety. They are native to Kerala and are mainly grown in pepper farming areas of Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
These pepper plants have small oval leaves with even margins, dark green leaves, and spikes. Chefs and home cooks love using this pepper because of Its robust flavor and aroma. These peppers have a balanced yet complex flavor with citrus and pine notes.
Panniyur
Panniyur peppers are a black pepper variety developed by the Kerala Agricultural University at the Pepper Research Station in Panniyur, India. They are cultivated in many pepper-growing regions in India.
These plants have long spikes with large berries and mature faster. They start producing peppercorns as early as two years after planting.
Aimpiriyan
Another black pepper variety is the aimpiriyan. It is cultivated in the Wynad region of India and produces larger berries than other peppers. These large berries contribute to a higher yield per harvest.
These peppers have a bold, spicy flavor with a touch of heat.
Below are instructions on how to plant black pepper.
When to Grow Black Pepper
The best time to plant your black pepper plants depends on whether you are growing them indoors or outdoors.
If you are growing them outdoors, the ideal time is at the onset of the monsoon season which starts anywhere from April-May to June-July depending on where you live. Black peppers are tropical plants and need consistent moisture to survive.
If you are growing them indoors, you can plant them anytime if you create the right conditions for the plants to flourish. Ensure you maintain a warm humid condition with temperatures between 75-85°F / 24-29°C for optimal growing conditions.
Where to Grow Black Pepper
Black pepper plants should be planted in a full sun area, with partial shade during the hottest time of the day. If your plant is indoors, leave them by the windowsill so that they receive plenty of sunlight.
You may need to rotate the plant regularly to ensure even growth. But if you lack a suitable windowsill, consider growing them under grow light. The plants need 12-16 hours of light daily from the grow lights.
Unless you live in a tropical climate, ideally with temperatures between 20°C and 30°C (68°F and 86°F) and high humidity levels, it is unwise to grow your black pepper outdoors.
They need warm temperatures with high humidity. However, if you have a greenhouse where you can maintain these conditions, you can grow them outdoors inside the greenhouse.
How to Plant Black Pepper
Black pepper seeds take four years before they can be harvested. Therefore, it is better to grow it in a container or through propagation. But if you are not in a rush, you can grow these plants for their beautiful foliage.
Direct sowing
Before sowing the seeds, prepare your soil and seeds.
Buy high-quality ones from garden centers. Soak them for 24 hours before planting. Hard, dry seeds will be less responsive to the soil nutrients.
Amend your soil with well-rotted garden compost or manure to manage nutrient and moisture levels. Remove weeds and debris that could hinder the plant’s growth.
Also, ensure the soil is well-draining. You can add mulch, or the compost should be enough.
Dig a quarter-inch-deep hole in your soil. Place your seed in the hole and cover it with the soil so it can receive the nutrients it needs to grow.
Sow two seeds per spot in case one of them fails to germinate.
Plants the seeds at least 3 inches apart to allow room for vine growth.
Water the plant thoroughly and 2 to 3 times per week.
Maintain temperatures around eighty degrees Fahrenheit.
Germination can take up to a month.
Pepper plants are vining and will need support as they grow. Construct a trellis or stake for them to climb on.
Indoor Planting
If you live in a non-tropical area, you might need to grow your plants indoors in a pot. You can plant your seeds anytime if you can maintain a warm temperature.
You need the right kind of pots for container planting. Choose a big pot with a 15-inch diameter. Larger pots allow sufficient space for root growth.
The pot should have drainage holes at the bottom to prevent waterlogging.
Fill your pot or tray with a well-draining potting mix.
Sow two seeds into the center, ¼ inch deep, and water well.
Place them near a south-facing window or under grow lights to ensure they receive enough sunlight.
Pepper plants thrive in humid environments. You can increase humidity levels by using a humidifier or grouping plants.
Water regularly. The top inch of the soil should be slightly dry between waterings.
Plants need support as they grow, so provide a trellis or stake for them to climb on.
Propagating black pepper is ideal for gardeners who want black pepper crop yield faster. They can be propagated using a few methods, but stem cutting is the most common and simplest.
Before cutting, choose a mature and healthy non-flowering black pepper plant. Ideally, they should have a few leaf nodes.
Ensure your knives or pruners are clean and sharp to reduce damage.
Cut the stem just below one of the nodes at a 45-degree angle. Make a clean cut.
Remove the lower leaves from the cutting, leaving only the top two sets.
Dip the cut end of the stem in the rooting hormone powder according to the package instructions. This is optional.
Fill your pot with the potting mix and moisten it slightly. Make a hole in the center and insert the stem cutting, leaving at least one node above the soil surface.
Water the potting mix thoroughly and place the pot in a warm, humid location with bright, indirect sunlight.
Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Rooting can take several weeks.
Once the roots are well-established, harden off the plant before transplanting it into a larger pot or your desired location outdoors.
Below are some important conditions you have to maintain to grow your black pepper well.
Light
Black pepper plants need 6 hours of direct sunlight every day, with afternoon shade during the hottest part of the day.
Direct sunlight for extended periods can lead to sunburn and scorching. If you are putting them out in sunlight, morning sunlight is better. It is much gentler than the afternoon sun.
Soil
As mentioned earlier, overwatering peppercorns can lead to problems. Therefore, they prefer well-draining soil.
An ideal soil mix is loamy and rich in organic matter. Peppercorn plants have specific nutritional and water needs, so it is crucial to use a soil mix that remains evenly moist but not soggy.
Adding extra organic matter, such as compost, can help retain moisture if the soil dries out too quickly.
These plants cannot thrive in poor soil conditions. Black pepper plants also require slightly acidic soil with a pH range between 5.5 and 6.5. Soil acidifiers can help achieve this pH range if it is too alkaline.
Water
If you are growing black pepper plants outdoors, water them early in the morning before they get too hot in the afternoon.
The soil should be moist, but avoid overwatering, as it can lead to fungal diseases that damage the roots. Let the soil surface around the plant dry out completely before watering again.
At the same time, black pepper plants are not drought-tolerant. Water stress can lead to stunted growth, reduced yield, and even plant death.
You can try bottom watering. It is a technique in which plant pots are semi-submerged in water for an hour using the saucer to allow the soil to soak moisture through the pot's drainage hole.
Temperature and Humidity
Black pepper plants thrive in temperatures between 23-32°C (73-90°F) with an average of 28°C (82°F). This promotes healthy growth and peppercorn production.
If this ideal temperature range is not possible, black pepper can tolerate temperatures as low as 10°C (50°F) and as high as 40°C (104°F). They can survive, but growth will be slow outside the ideal range.
However, prolonged exposure to very cold or excessively high temperatures can damage the plant and reduce yield.
Fertilizer
Peppercorns do not need fertilizers that much. You can fertilize them in the spring if it is required.
Use a balanced fertilizer with a relatively equal ratio of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), like a 10-10-10 during spring and summer. Fertilizing is not necessary during the fall and winter months.
The fertilizers should be diluted according to the manufacturer's instructions and used every 4 to 6 weeks.
Alternatively, you can use organic fertilizers like organic compost, manure, or perlite. These fertilizers provide slow-release nutrients and improve soil health.
Pruning
Black pepper plants can grow up to 30 feet long if left unpruned, so regular monitoring is essential.
Pruning the main growth point at the leaf nodes encourages the production of lateral shoots, leading to more flower spikes. As these flower spikes fade, they turn black, revealing fresh peppercorns.
It is best to prune about six months into the growing season, as this is when the flowers begin to set.
In perennial gardens, the plant can be pruned aggressively in the winter, prompting new growth in the spring. Regular maintenance involves pruning away dead, damaged, or diseased leaves throughout the growing season.
Black peppers will start green, turn red, and grow black after they are picked and left to dry. The best time to harvest these peppers is when it is red. Once the peppers have turned red, pluck them from the vine.
You can also harvest green peppercorns to produce green peppers. They taste more earthy and citrusy, but if you want black peppercorns, red is your way to go.
Blanch the peppercorn in boiling water to clean the exterior. Spread the red peppercorns on a tray and dry them in the sun for at least three days.
You can also put them in a food dehydrator. They will turn black and hard when they are ready. If you want white pepper, remove the skin from the black peppercorns. You can store whole peppercorns in an airtight container.
If you want ground pepper, grind the peppercorns in a pepper grinder or mortar and pestle. You can also ground them before storing but note that whole peppercorns retain their flavor the longest.
