It grows thick-walled fruits 1 to 2 inches long and full of seeds.
They ripen from green to red at maturity with a Scoville rating of 50,000 to 100,000.
At about 1 foot tall, the Thai pepper plant grows well in containers.
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Some of the dozens ofpepper varietiesare sold as ornamentals which also are edible.
It’s advisable to wear gloves when working with this hot chili pepper.
Amend with compost or other nitrogen rich organic material.
Avoid spots where other nightshade plants were grown the previous year.
With a mature height of 1 foot, Thai pepper plants don’t require support.
More is even better.
Avoid planting near taller plants that block light.
Work aged compost or manure into soil before planting.
Water
Deep, thorough watering every two to three days keeps soil moist without waterlogging.
Nighttime temperatures outside this range can reduce your yield.
Fertilizer
Fertilize Thai pepper plant a month after planting out with an NPK 5-10-10.
When fruit starts to set feed a second time with a product that includes calcium.
Once plants are established, avoid nitrogen rich fertilizers which can inhibit fruit production.
Tomato fertilizers work well for pepper plants.
Pollination
All pepper plants produce flowers with both male and female parts.
However, wind and bees are needed to complete pollination.
Thai Pepper vs. Tabasco
Thai pepper and tabasco pepper are sometimes confused though they are different species.
Heat levels are similar but the peppers taste different.
Growing conditions are similar but tabasco peppers can be harvested sooner, ripening in about 80 days.
Harvesting Thai Pepper
Thai peppers are harvested in both the green and red stages.
Wait until green peppers reach full size before picking.
Green peppers will have lower heat levels and not have the same flavor as a fully ripe red pepper.
Use a snipper to remove peppers from the plant to keep stems intact.
Stemless peppers deteriorate quickly after being cut.
Tip
Peppers continue to ripe on their own after harvest.
Place them in a warm room and check every few days for any that may need to be discarded.
They generally ripen fully in about two weeks.
Fill in around the roots, firming soil to keep the plant upright.
Water well and place the pot to receive full sun daily.
Potted plants may need to be watered twice daily.
Check soilwith a moisture meteror poke your finger in about 2 inches.
Never let the soil get completely dry, which can lead quickly to wilting.
You’ll need a germination tray or small pots and potting or seed starting mix.
A heat mat and artificial lighting can improve sprouting and early growth but aren’t necessary.
Companion Plants for Thai Pepper
Thai pepper works well as a companion plant.
When discovered early, these pests can be knocked down with a strong spray from a hose.
Treat infestations with a mild soap and water solution.
The larvae then tunnel through all parts of the plant, ruining the fruit.
Once fruits are breached, insecticides won’t fix it.
Remove and dispose of any fallen fruit.
Thai pepper is also vulnerable to fungal, bacterial and viral diseases.
Reduce the likelihood of these problems by providing the best possible growing conditions and using disease-resistant seeds.
Thai peppers can take around 130 days to grow.
They’re usually green at around 100 days and have ripened to red at 130 days.
All Thai peppers are edible, even those sold as ornamentals.
Thai pepper plants are perennial in USDA growing zone 9 to 11.
