DESCRIPTION
The Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper is the first of its kind for ornamental peppers and an All American Selection winner in 2006. Compact plants have semi-glossy, dark purple to true black leaves with pearl-like, bubbly clusters of 1/2" fruits that start out shiny black, eventually maturing to red. The Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper is a vibrant, unique accent to a bedding or container garden. Peppers are edible but very hot. Grows 16-20 inches.
Germination: 7-10 days
Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 75-85ºF. Cooler soil temperatures slow germination time.
Seed Sowing Depth: ¼” deep
Starting Indoors: 8-10 weeks before the last frost. Sow in flats/cells/pots. Provide 75-85ºF soil temperatures. Fertilize the seedlings every 7-10 days with a liquid or water-soluble fertilizer (diluted to ¼ of suggested measurement). Transplant seedlings 18-24” apart after the last frost.
Sowing Outdoors: Not recommended, especially in northern areas
Tips: Pinch-off early flowers or tiny fruit on any seedlings before placing them in the ground. The Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper should be planted in fertile soil and amended with compost if needed.
Ornamental Pepper (Capsicum Annuum Black Pearl) - Grow this one-of-a-kind foliage plant from Capsicum seeds. Enjoy the only ornamental pepper plant with intense, dark foliage in all your mixed containers. The foliage of ornamental pepper Black Pearl starts out greenish when young, but with maturity it darkens to a glossy black. The round Black Pearl peppers start out purply-black and mature to a dark red. These ornamental peppers are hot to taste, but they are not recommended for eating. Capsicum Black Pearl plants are award winning and popular!
Start ornamental pepper seeds indoors in small pots. Cover the flower seeds lightly and keep moist. Place a piece of clear plastic over the pots to help hold in moisture and create a humid environment. Place the pots in an area where the temperatures are consistently in the 70s. Once the Capsicum seeds germinate and sprouts are visible, remove the plastic and place the pots in a very bright window that has at least 6 hours of light per day. The ornamental pepper plants can be transplanted out after about 8 week of growth.
