Tabasco pepper
Capsicum frutescens · Solanaceae
📷 Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
The gardener's calendar
Tabasco pepper is in full bloom: enjoy it, watch watering in hot weather and let spent flowers feed pollinators before pruning.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Blooming
- June to September
- Adult size
- Up to 100 cm in height
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Tropical plant, sensitive to cold (0°C)
- Origin
- Central and South America
- Soil type
- Well-drained, rich in organic matter
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
This tropical chili needs constant warmth: minimum 15°C at night. In cold regions, grow it in a mobile pot that can be moved outside only in May-June.
The common mistake
Planting too early in April-May in cold soil: the plant slows down and flowers drop.
The pro's trick
Mist the flowers during very hot and dry spells to improve fruit set.
Seasonal watch
From September onwards, reduce watering and bring indoors before the first frosts (well before -5°C).
Care
Watering
Keep the soil constantly moist but without waterlogging, especially during the growth and flowering phase. In cooler periods, reduce watering while making sure not to let the soil dry out completely. Regular watering promotes better fruit production.
Light Exposure
Place your bird's eye chili in full sun, ideally 6 to 8 hours per day minimum. Bright exposure guarantees abundant flowering and optimal fruiting. Indoors, position it near a south-facing window.
Soil and Repotting
Use rich, well-drained and slightly acidic potting soil. For container growing, repot in spring in a pot with a diameter slightly larger than before. A potting soil-compost mix works very well to promote growth.
Fertilizing
Apply a balanced fertilizer every 2 to 3 weeks during the growth period (spring-summer). Once flowers appear, use a fertilizer richer in potassium to support fruiting.
Pruning and Pinching
Pinch young plants at the 4-6 leaf stage to encourage branching. Remove flowers and fruits for the first two months to strengthen the overall structure. You can prune lightly after fruiting to rejuvenate the plant.
Diseases and Pests
Watch for red spider mites and whiteflies, particularly indoors in heated environments. Powdery mildew can occur in humid, poorly ventilated conditions. Ensure good air circulation and treat as needed with solutions based on sulfur or neem.
Did you know?
The bird's eye chili gets its name from the birds that consume it in nature to disperse its seeds: these small bright red fruits are irresistible to tropical birds. Unlike most mammals, birds are not sensitive to capsaicin, the molecule responsible for the heat, making them ideal accomplices in the species' propagation.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- TomatoSolanum lycopersicum
- Sweet pepperCapsicum annuum
- EggplantSolanum melongena
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- Night jessamineCestrum nocturnum
- Potato vineSolanum laxum
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.