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The Aji Charapita is a pepper that grows naturally in Peru, nicknamed "the mother of all peppers" because it has not been modified by humans and has lived in northern Peru for hundreds or even thousands of years. It is also the most expensive pepper in the world (approximately €23,000 per kg).

Better known in the USA, it is a hit among Michelin-starred chefs because it has a unique taste and is difficult to find outside of Peru. However, it grows very well here!

So why not try the experience? It has a uniform round appearance with a smooth texture to the touch, resembling a berry—the pepper is very aesthetic. Placed between 30,000 and 50,000 on the Scoville scale, it is a rather hot pepper. The plant can reach 50-100 cm in height and its fruit is harvested Yellow.

• heat level: 30,000 to 50,000 on the Scoville scale.
• plant size approximately 50 cm.
• small fruit, approximately 1 cm long.
• fruit color: Green during growth, Yellow at maturity.
• genus: Capsicum Chinense.
• ideal germination: between January and April.
• harvest: between September and November.

What Equipment for growing my peppers?

To optimize your results, we recommend that you equip yourself with:

Aji Charapita Pepper Seeds.
An enclosed growing space such as a mini greenhouse.
Coco coir pellets, peat, or cotton (to germinate the seeds).
Labels (to avoid mixing up your seedlings).
Potting soil (ideally a mixture of 50% black peat and 50% blonde peat) or flowering-specific potting soil, which will also work.
Fertilizer for Peppers or Tomatoes, or 5-5-10 fertilizer for those in the know.
A water sprayer or watering can.
Gloves (if you don't like the feel of soil).
Pots with a diameter of 7 or 8 cm at first, before using 10-liter or larger pots depending on the pepper for transplanting.

To make your life easier, we offer our mini greenhouse for growing your peppers.

How to Germinate my Pepper Seeds?

Planting peppers is a process that requires patience and some knowledge, but don't panic—we'll explain everything you need to know to germinate your pepper seeds!

Pepper seedlings are typically started early in the year, generally between January at the earliest and March for the beginning of spring. To do this, you will need the equipment listed above.

You then have 2 options:
Plant your seed directly in a pot full of potting soil at half a centimeter deep
Place a seed on a coco coir pellet or on a piece of cotton.

In both cases, once the seed is in place, you will need to spray enough water to moisten the soil or cotton without soaking it, then place your coco coir pellet or cotton in a container like a mini greenhouse that will retain heat and humidity, thus providing oxygen. If you are using a flower pot, you can simply stretch plastic wrap over it and make small holes with a toothpick to oxygenate the plant.

The ideal is to maintain a constant temperature of 28 degrees. You can place your container behind a sunny window, on or near a radiator, or on a heating mat designed for this purpose.

OUR TIP:

Place your mini greenhouse on your internet router!

Remember to air out your growing area from time to time to prevent the appearance of fungi while keeping the soil moist. Once the first leaves appear, you will need to ensure your seedlings get enough sunlight for 12 to 14 hours per day. Once the second set of leaves is well developed, you can then transplant them.

Once potted, keep your plant near a heat source and exposed to sunlight (ideally try to filter the light to avoid heat stress).

After the Ice Saints around mid-May, you can move your plant outdoors and plant your pepper in the ground if you wish, or leave it in a pot and place it on a balcony, a window sill, or even along a wall, preferably on the south side.

How to water my Aji Charapita Pepper?

For watering your Aji Charapita pepper, be careful not to overwater. Too much water can drown the plant and lead to its demise. You simply need to let the soil dry between each watering to avoid insect proliferation and drowning the plant.

Once the plant is well developed (once your plant reaches about thirty centimeters), you can cause water stress by stopping watering the plant for several days before resuming watering (be careful not to abuse this technique, though—it would be a shame to let your pepper plant die).

How to properly prepare my harvest?

Once your pepper plant is in place, here are our tips to optimize your future harvest:

When your pepper plant reaches a height of 15 to 20 cm, you can pinch the top of the stem (without breaking it), which should allow the plant to grow bushier and produce a little more.

If flowering is early for one of your plants, remove the first flowers to prevent them from demanding too much energy from the plant.

If your pepper plant is outdoors, insects will take care of pollinating the plant, which will then produce peppers. If your plant is indoors, you will need to do this manually: take your clean finger and rub it gently against each flower, from one to another.

Don't hesitate to use a bamboo stake or rod to support your plant.

When to harvest my Aji Charapita Pepper?

For harvesting your Aji Charapita pepper, as with others, you will need to watch its color! This pepper is harvested once it turns Yellow.