The Pinetree Hot Pepper mix is most of the hot peppers we sell plus a few others, giving you the benefit of scattered maturities, different shapes and colors, and varying degrees of hotness. A good sampler for a few of each.

Check out Pinetree owner and chef Jef’sFermented Hot Sauce made from this pepper mix.

50 seeds

PLANTING

Caspsicum annuum

Germination:10-14 days

Germination Temperature:Optimum soil temperatures 75-85F. Cooler soil temperaturesslowgermination time.

Seed Sowing Depth: deep

Starting Indoors:8-10 weeks before the last frost. Sow in flats/cells/pots. Provide 75-85Fsoil temperatures. Fertilize the seedlings every 7-10 days with a liquid or water-soluble fertilizer (diluted to of suggested measurement). Transplant seedlings 18-24 apart after the last frost.

Sowing Outdoors:Not recommended, especially in northern areas

How much does a packet plant:20-25 foot single row

Harvest:Use a sharp instrument to cut the peppers from the plant. Pick the first fruits when they reach usable size, this helps accelerate the growth of the other peppers on the plant. Leave some peppers on the plant to mature so they can change color and sweeten up.

Tips:Pinch offearly flowers or tiny fruit on any seedlings before placing them in the ground. The Pinetree Hot Pepper Mix should be plantedin fertile soil and amended with compostif needed. It helps to use row cover early in the season, giving the plants extra warmth, especially in the north. Side dress when flowers begin to form.

Photo byTimothy L BrockonUnsplash