(Piper nigrum 'Peppercorn')
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Peppercorn is an introduced warm weathered, very tender, perennial flowering vine that is native to India, but can be found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, the vines of this plant reach the height of 10-13' and features green ovate-oblong leaves, 6” flower stalks that bare 50-150 white flowers, and drupes of fruit that are green when immature and turn red when ripen and dry black. This plant can be grown in a container and is both edible and medicinal!
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Family: Piperaceae
Genus: Piper
Species: Nigrum
Variety: Peppercorn
Native to: India
Introduced into: Andaman Is., Assam, Bangladesh, Benin, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caroline Is., China South-Central, China Southeast, Comoros, Cook Is., Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Himalaya, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Guinea, Gulf of Guinea Is., Haiti, Honduras, Laos, Leeward Is., Marianas, Mauritius, Mexico Gulf, Nicobar Is., Philippines, Puerto Rico, Réunion, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, Vietnam, Windward Is.
Ease of Growing: Medium
Grown as: Perennial
Maturity: It may take up to 4 years to reach blooming and fruiting size. Peppercorn reaches its prime productive state in 7 years and can continue to fruit for 20 years.
Hardiness: Very Tender. Peppercorn is not at all hardy and can't stand any frost.
Crops: Spring Transplant, Summer
Growing Season: Long
Growing Conditions: Warm, Hot. Peppercorn is very unhappy if it isn't warm, so in cooler areas it should be in the warmest spot in the garden. If this still isn't warm enough then grow it under cloches. It will tolerate some shade when growing in hot climates, but does better in full sun.
Outdoor Growing Temp: 50°F - 105°F. Temperatures below 65°F will cause Peppercorn to stop growing and any frost will certainly kill it. Peppercorn can also withstand up to 104°F in semi shade but prefers a temperature between 70-95°F.
Start Indoors: Yes
Start Outdoors: Yes
Light: Greenhouse or Outdoors: Partial sunlight
Indoors: Brightest light possible
Water: Low.
Feeder: Light.
Suitability: In the lowlands, or humid and hot tropics.
Containers?: Yes.
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: No.
Height: 10-13'
Spacing: 3"
Sow Depth: 1/4”
Produces: green ovate-oblong leaves, 6” flower stalks that bare 50-150 white flowers, and drupes of fruit that are green when immature and turn red when ripen and dry black.
USDA Grow Zones: Indoors/Greenhouse: 2-9
Outdoors: 10-11
Genus: Piper
Species: Nigrum
Variety: Peppercorn
Native to: India
Introduced into: Andaman Is., Assam, Bangladesh, Benin, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caroline Is., China South-Central, China Southeast, Comoros, Cook Is., Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Himalaya, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Guinea, Gulf of Guinea Is., Haiti, Honduras, Laos, Leeward Is., Marianas, Mauritius, Mexico Gulf, Nicobar Is., Philippines, Puerto Rico, Réunion, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, Vietnam, Windward Is.
Ease of Growing: Medium
Grown as: Perennial
Maturity: It may take up to 4 years to reach blooming and fruiting size. Peppercorn reaches its prime productive state in 7 years and can continue to fruit for 20 years.
Hardiness: Very Tender. Peppercorn is not at all hardy and can't stand any frost.
Crops: Spring Transplant, Summer
Growing Season: Long
Growing Conditions: Warm, Hot. Peppercorn is very unhappy if it isn't warm, so in cooler areas it should be in the warmest spot in the garden. If this still isn't warm enough then grow it under cloches. It will tolerate some shade when growing in hot climates, but does better in full sun.
Outdoor Growing Temp: 50°F - 105°F. Temperatures below 65°F will cause Peppercorn to stop growing and any frost will certainly kill it. Peppercorn can also withstand up to 104°F in semi shade but prefers a temperature between 70-95°F.
Start Indoors: Yes
Start Outdoors: Yes
Light: Greenhouse or Outdoors: Partial sunlight
Indoors: Brightest light possible
Water: Low.
Feeder: Light.
Suitability: In the lowlands, or humid and hot tropics.
Containers?: Yes.
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: No.
Height: 10-13'
Spacing: 3"
Sow Depth: 1/4”
Produces: green ovate-oblong leaves, 6” flower stalks that bare 50-150 white flowers, and drupes of fruit that are green when immature and turn red when ripen and dry black.
USDA Grow Zones: Indoors/Greenhouse: 2-9
Outdoors: 10-11
When: 6 weeks before last frost date
Germinating Peppercorn Seeds Indoors:
1) Soak your seeds in warm water for 24 hours.
2) Fill seed starting trays to within 1/4 to 1/2 inch of the rim with moist soil mix.
3) Firm the surface with the back of your fingers, then scatter seeds evenly over the medium.
4) Press seeds into the soil 1/4" add a label with the plant name and date.
5) Cover the finished pots with plastic and set them in a warm bright place or under lights at a room temperature of 70°F.
6) Keep the soil moist as the seedlings sprout and develop.
Temperature: 70°F.
Average Germ Time: 30 days
Light Required: Yes
Depth: 1/4"
Moisture: Keep seed moist until germination
Transplanting Seedlings into Larger Pots:
1) When your seedlings have two sets of true leaves, pot them up into a larger container filled with a loamy soil mix.
2) After the last threat of frost, harden off the seedlings in the garden for about 10 days.
3) Once the seedlings have been hardened off, you can plant them in the garden.
Transplanting Seedlings into Larger Pots for Indoors
1) When your seedlings have two sets of true leaves, pot them up into a larger container filled with a loamy soil mix.
2) Place your container indoors somewhere in a moderate light area such as a western facing windowsill in temperatures above 60°F.
Germinating Peppercorn Seeds Indoors:
1) Soak your seeds in warm water for 24 hours.
2) Fill seed starting trays to within 1/4 to 1/2 inch of the rim with moist soil mix.
3) Firm the surface with the back of your fingers, then scatter seeds evenly over the medium.
4) Press seeds into the soil 1/4" add a label with the plant name and date.
5) Cover the finished pots with plastic and set them in a warm bright place or under lights at a room temperature of 70°F.
6) Keep the soil moist as the seedlings sprout and develop.
Temperature: 70°F.
Average Germ Time: 30 days
Light Required: Yes
Depth: 1/4"
Moisture: Keep seed moist until germination
Transplanting Seedlings into Larger Pots:
1) When your seedlings have two sets of true leaves, pot them up into a larger container filled with a loamy soil mix.
2) After the last threat of frost, harden off the seedlings in the garden for about 10 days.
3) Once the seedlings have been hardened off, you can plant them in the garden.
Transplanting Seedlings into Larger Pots for Indoors
1) When your seedlings have two sets of true leaves, pot them up into a larger container filled with a loamy soil mix.
2) Place your container indoors somewhere in a moderate light area such as a western facing windowsill in temperatures above 60°F.
How:
Transplant your seedlings into the garden once the soil has warmed after all dangers of frost. Peppercorn prefers a damp, rich and loamy, good draining soil that has a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 in an area that offers full sun-semi shade. 6 to 8 hours of indirect sunlight per day.
When outdoor temp: 65˚F to 95˚F.
Spacing: 3"
Support: No.
Transplant your seedlings into the garden once the soil has warmed after all dangers of frost. Peppercorn prefers a damp, rich and loamy, good draining soil that has a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 in an area that offers full sun-semi shade. 6 to 8 hours of indirect sunlight per day.
When outdoor temp: 65˚F to 95˚F.
Spacing: 3"
Support: No.
Light:
If you are growing your Peppercorn indoors, it will need a very bright light. If you are growing it outdoors or in a greenhouse, it will need partial shade.
Soil:
Peppercorn needs a damp, rich and loamy, good draining soil that has a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Avoid heavy clay soils, they can cause root rot.
Water:
Do not let the the soil of your Peppercorn dry out. If the soil surface is dry to the touch, it needs to be watered. Do not over water.
Temperature and Humidity:
Peppercorn prefer an area with 50% humidity with bright light. For this reason, bathrooms and kitchens are an ideal location for this variety. This plant will stop growing if temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Fertilizer:
The Peppercorn is a light feeder and should be fertilized in the spring when growth will increase. This plant requires a 10-10-10 balanced fertilizer which should be used every 2 weeks throughout the summer. Add 1/4 Tsp. per gallon water. Discontinue feeding your plants through the fall and winter to prevent burning them. The growth of your plant will begin to slow at this time and the need for fertilization declines drastically.
Pruning:
You may want to prune your Peppercorn in order to remove any dead foliage or to control plant growth in small spaces.
If you are growing your Peppercorn indoors, it will need a very bright light. If you are growing it outdoors or in a greenhouse, it will need partial shade.
Soil:
Peppercorn needs a damp, rich and loamy, good draining soil that has a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Avoid heavy clay soils, they can cause root rot.
Water:
Do not let the the soil of your Peppercorn dry out. If the soil surface is dry to the touch, it needs to be watered. Do not over water.
Temperature and Humidity:
Peppercorn prefer an area with 50% humidity with bright light. For this reason, bathrooms and kitchens are an ideal location for this variety. This plant will stop growing if temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Fertilizer:
The Peppercorn is a light feeder and should be fertilized in the spring when growth will increase. This plant requires a 10-10-10 balanced fertilizer which should be used every 2 weeks throughout the summer. Add 1/4 Tsp. per gallon water. Discontinue feeding your plants through the fall and winter to prevent burning them. The growth of your plant will begin to slow at this time and the need for fertilization declines drastically.
Pruning:
You may want to prune your Peppercorn in order to remove any dead foliage or to control plant growth in small spaces.
As the fruit matures, the corn color changes from green to red. When the corns have turned red, they are ready to be harvested.
Green corns: If you would like to opt out of this plants spiciness, you can pickle the corns when they are green.
Black Corns: Black peppercorns are the result of red ripe berries drying out.
White Corns: is the result of when a mature fruit (completely red) is picked and its husk is removed.
Green corns: If you would like to opt out of this plants spiciness, you can pickle the corns when they are green.
Black Corns: Black peppercorns are the result of red ripe berries drying out.
White Corns: is the result of when a mature fruit (completely red) is picked and its husk is removed.
When the fruit matures, the corn color changes from green to red. When the corns have turned red, they are ready to be harvested. Harvest the fruit and allow to dry, harden, and turn black.
Culinary:
Taste: hotly pungent spice.
Culinary Uses:
Fruits: Raw. The fruits are normally ground into a powdered spice known as Black Pepper or can be pickled.
Green peppercorns: These are often preserved in brine or vinegar and served in pickled form.
White peppercorns: They don’t have the flavorful skins that black peppercorns have which makes them less pungent.
Black peppercorns: The whole peppercorns, when ground, yield black pepper.
Culinary Uses:
Fruits: Raw. The fruits are normally ground into a powdered spice known as Black Pepper or can be pickled.
Green peppercorns: These are often preserved in brine or vinegar and served in pickled form.
White peppercorns: They don’t have the flavorful skins that black peppercorns have which makes them less pungent.
Black peppercorns: The whole peppercorns, when ground, yield black pepper.
Medicinal
Piper nigrum is used traditionally for the treatment of various diseases including; cough, cold, dyspnea throat diseases, intermittent fever, dysentery, stomachache, worms and piles.