What’s a meal around the dinner table without salt and pepper? These seasoning staples can enhance your dish’s flavor, and black pepper is ideal for adding a little kick. It’s easy to pop to the supermarket and pick up a packet of peppercorns, but have you ever thought about growing your own?
It should only be grown outside in tropical zones (or in temperature controlled greenhouses). If temperatures drop below 65 F, they stop growing. Frost kills the plant. Peppercorn can grow up to 13 feet long on supporting trees, poles, or trellises.
How to grow black pepper from seeds
Growing your own produce can be incredibly rewarding. If you’re looking to flex your green thumbs and take your veg patch to the next level, why not plant and harvest your own black peppercorns?
Once you get the hang of it, growing your own peppercorn plant is easier than you might first think, and it could even save you some pennies. (Fun fact: the humble peppercorn was, in fact, a valuable asset and used as currency in Ancient Rome).
To get started on growing your own pepper, you need to source your peppercorn seeds. Unfortunately, due to the way peppercorns are dried and processed, those sold at the supermarket are unlikely to sprout. Therefore, you can’t just remove a couple from the grinder and pop them in the soil. Instead, it’s best to get your pepper seeds from a garden center.
What environment do peppercorn plants like?
The pepper plant (Piper Nigrum) is native to India, so it likes warm temperatures. However, under the right conditions, you can grow and harvest your own peppercorns.
A conservatory is an ideal environment, as pepper plants thrive in bright or dappled spaces where they can get lots of sunlight and keep warm. Don’t worry if you don’t have access to a conservatory, though. You can always plant your seeds in pots outside and bring them indoors during the colder months.
The pepper plant is actually a vine, and it loves to climb towards the light. A trellis, balcony, or stake will give the vine support and help it grow tall and strong.
How to Grow Black Pepper (Piper nigrum)
FAQ
Can you grow black pepper in USA?
Can I grow my own peppercorns?
What climate is needed to grow peppercorns?
What’s the difference between black pepper and peppercorn?
Should you grow a peppercorn plant?
Lastly, growing peppercorn plant is strongly recommended. Growing your own peppercorns allows you to experience the satisfaction of cultivating and harvesting this versatile spice right at home. While it sometimes requires specific conditions and care, the reward of enjoying freshly ground pepper in your dishes is worth the effort.
Can you plant peppercorns from a grocery store?
** Do not plant peppercorns bought at the grocery store because they have been dried and are usually treated so that they will not germinate. Instead, you will need to order peppercorns from a garden center or online, or buy existing plants.
Can you grow peppercorns outside the natural environment?
When growing beyond the natural locations where any plant is native, we can manipulate our local environment to mimic the preferred conditions that peppercorns do best in. This doesn’t guarantee you grow peppercorn plants successfully, though. Growing peppercorns is easy if you can get close to the conditions it prefers, as a general rule.
How do you grow peppercorns in a container?
To get the peppercorns started in containers, use good quality potting mix. Plant the seeds or plants 3 inches apart from each other. Keep the soil moist with a spray bottle. Depending on the size container you use, thin the weakest plants out to give them more space. Each plant needs at least 12 inches in all directions.